In the Yucatecan language, Tulum means “wall”, referring to the large barricade that surrounds the settlement. In the Mayan language, Tulum was called Zama, which means “dawn”, an appropriate name given its eastern location. It seems that “Tulum is the name given to the site by explorers Stephens and Catherwood in 1841. Tulum is the site of a pre-Columbian Mayan walled city that serves as the main port for Coba. The ruins are located on 12-meter-high cliffs, along the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, in the Caribbean Sea, in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Tulum was one of the last cities inhabited and built by the Mayans; it was in its heyday between the 13th and 15th centuries and managed to survive about 70 years after the Spaniards began occupying Mexico. The diseases of the old world brought by the Spanish colonists seem to have been the cause of their disappearance. One of the best-preserved coastal Mayan sites, Tulum is today a popular site for tourists. The ceremonial complex of Tulum, built on a 12-meter-high limestone cliff, was surrounded on three sides by fortification walls, while the fourth side faces the Caribbean Sea.
In fact, the very name Tulum is colonial and means “wall”. The original local name may have been Zama, which means “sunrise” in reference to the position of the site facing east, across the sea. If you leave 307 and head into the city away from the main avenue, you can discover tons of small establishments and get to know the quiet city of Tulum. From beachfront seafood shacks to high-end restaurants in the jungle, Tulum is an unexpected treasure for foodies.
This places Tulum and its neighbors in a perfect spot to enjoy the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, white sand beaches and world-class diving and snorkeling. Whether you want to grab a bite to eat or go on a culinary adventure, there are some fantastic restaurants all over Tulum. The transportation company will send a driver to pick you up at Cancun Airport and take you directly to your hotel in Tulum. Residential buildings were built outside the sacred walled area that was reserved for the rulers of Tulum.
Based on craniometric measurements, the skull is believed to conform to the mesocephalic pattern, like the other three skulls found in the Tulum caves. Tulum was the last big city built and inhabited by the Mayans between the 13th and 15th centuries. If you want to take a taxi to Tulum, they are everywhere in Cancun & Playa del Carmen and will take you directly to your accommodation in Tulum. Tulum, like other cities and islands in the region, is adjacent to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second longest coral reef system in the world.
Local police patrol the secondary highway to the Tulum-Cancun highway and fines drivers who do not use the paid private parking lot. Tulum was an important commercial and religious center between the 11th and 16th centuries AD, and, with a spectacular location near the sea, it is one of the most evocative ancient sites in Mexico. The bus system is very useful here and you can easily take a bus to Playa from Cancun Airport, then change buses to continue to Tulum.
