Ancient Tulum Ruins

While researching on the 'Net about things to do and see in Cancun, we frequently ran up on remarks about Tulum being so crowded with tourists.  "Can't even get a good, true picture of the ruins because of all the tourists in the shot," one of them even said.  Well, take a look at these shots from the day we went there and see if you will understand why we were so (pleasantly) surprised. There's a travel tip for you at the bottom of this page.  (Of course, maybe we were just lucky...)

Anybody home?

Closer shot of the main temple.

Perhaps a little difficult to determine, but notice the pigment
that's still visible on and around the mask carving on this building.
Undoubtedly, the paint was made from berries, flowers and insects
or whatever.  So, the next time you go to the local paint store for a couple of
gallons of exterior paint, tell the clerk that you want the kind like the Mayans
used 1,200 to 1,300 years ago.  Now that could legitimately be
described as and called "The Weatherbeater".

Climb the hill to the left of the main temple and here's your reward!
(Any wonder why the ancients selected this spot for their sacred city by the sea?)

Okay, here's the tip on how to get great, uncluttered shots of Tulum and to be able to really experience the feeling of its hallowed ground:   Go in the afternoon.

Most of the tours go to Tulum in the morning and then on to Xel-Ha afterward.  Find one, as we did, that ran the tour the other way around.  Xel-Ha was not crowded first thing in the morning and everyone in our group who wanted to swim with the dolphins there, was able get a reservation to do so.  Then, on to Tulum in the afternoon for some solitary reflection time at this ancient site before heading back to the hotel zone.

Go to Miscellaneous Side Trips page 

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This page was last updated on 05/30/04 .