Tulum

ancient maya · caribbean coast · mexico · archaeology

Walled Mayan City. Tulum was a major port city for another Mayan city called Coba and served as an important trading hub between the 13th and 15th centuries. It was built with protective walls, making it different from many other Maya cities.

Dramatic Cliff Location. The ruins sit on 12-meter-tall (39-foot) cliffs that drop straight down to the Caribbean Sea on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. This stunning coastal location made it perfect for a trading port.

Last of the Great Maya. Tulum was one of the final major cities the Maya built before Spanish explorers arrived in the 1500s. The Maya people lived there for about 70 years after the Spanish came, but eventually abandoned it by the end of the 16th century.

Well Preserved Ruins. Tulum is one of the best-kept ancient Maya sites we can visit today, which is why thousands of tourists explore it every year. You can actually see the original structures, walls, and buildings the Maya constructed centuries ago.