The Mayan Ruins of Tulum

Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 60 On the Caribbean Coast of the Yucatán Peninsula lies one of the best-preserved coastal Mayan cities… the walled City of Tulum.

Smaller than its famed cousin Chichen Itza but similar in architectural style, this city was one of the very last built by the Mayans and was primarily occupied from the 13th to the 16th centuries when Spanish occupation of the Peninsula caused the city to be abandoned.

It’s an incredible series of buildings all containing their own mythologies and legends. So while Hubby and I were in Mexico for our friend’s wedding, we all took a day to visit the site and enjoy Tulum’s stunning buildings and beaches.Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 19 Many of the buildings still stand almost in their entirety, unchanged by the ravages of time except for the colorings that used to decorate the walls.
Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 6Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 7The Great Palace is undoubtedly one of the most impressive structures located at the heart of the city with its tall pillars and magnificent entrance.Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 18But each building has its own character and story.Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 59And the views of the city from the taller points are impressive with massive structures peeking out from the dense jungle.Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 35Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 9Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 10Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 12Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 58Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 16Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 15Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 11Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 17We even spotted a few reptilian friends sunbathing on the warm stone ruins.Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 5Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 57And scaling the massive protective walls.
Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 3But Tulum is first and foremost a coastal city and the warm waves of the Caribbean Sea can be heard echoing throughout the ruins.Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 20Tulum’s beach is located right underneath the Mayan city and offers the perfect opportunity to jump in the surf to cool off in the intense heat.Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 21Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 32Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 23That cool water felt amazing in the harsh Mexican sunshine!

Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 30And there are plenty of interesting rocks on the coast in case you’re looking for an opportunity to live out any mermaid fantasies…Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 27Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 31Tulum Mayan Ruins MexicoAfter a cooling dip we took the opportunity to explore the ruins further and more of the dense and incredible jungle surrounding.Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 37Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 1We saw an incredible variety of plant-life.Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 38Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 36Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 42Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 40Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 4And so many different flowers in bloom!Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 53Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 54 Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 41Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 43Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 33Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 56I especially appreciated all of the wild Hibiscus flowers we found.Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 51Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 52After leaving the ruins we were, as expected, forced to exit through an enormous shopping area complete with actors in traditional Mayan garb, a Starbucks, and plenty of little shops stocked with tourist wares.Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 44 We did find one aspect of the tourist-y exit amusing though… for a few bucks you can hold and play with an enormous iguana.Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 45 How could we say no?
Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 47 If only for the hilarious photos of all of us trying to kiss our iguana…Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 48which we found substantially more amusing than he did…
Tulum Mayan Ruins Mexico 49It was a stunning experience… though tempered with the expected onslaught of vendors trying to sell you everything under the Mayan sun. But ultimately our visit to Tulum only increased my desire to visit more ancient ruins in the Americas (perhaps Machu Picchu next?) and ignited my interest in Pre-Colombian American history.

Because the truth is there’s an incredible world of diverse history that reveals itself best when seen in person… and WOW can traveling to new places ever be addicting!

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