Tulum - The Mayan City of Trade on the Caribbean Coastline

As I prepare to embark on leading another group trip, I am looking forward to my surface interval adventure on the last day of our adventure before heading home.

Traveling Back in Time

Did you know in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, just a little over 80 miles south of the tourism metropolis of Cancun, you can step back into the ancient times of the magnificent Mayan world? Once a booming coastal port providing for the inland city of Cobá, Tulum still stands strong on a Yucatan coastal cliff above the aquamarine waters of the Caribbean Sea.  A reflection of this once thriving city, the well-preserved ruins now stand as the perfect insight into the Mayan way of life from centuries ago.

Last of the Mayan Cities

Tulum got its early beginnings sometime between 250-600 AD, but further developed into

an important part of the Mayan empire during the years of 1200-1530 AD.  One of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya, it is believed the original name of this port city was "Zama", meaning City of Dawn.  The name was later changed to Tulum, the Yucatec word for "wall", "fence" or "fortification", most likely because of the defensible 26-foot thick, 9- to 16-foot high walls on the three land-bound sides of the city, with a 39-foot limestone cliff on the ocean side.  Entrance to the city was via one of five tunnels through these formidable walls.

Tulum - Vibrant Hub of Trade

Tulum - One of the few Mayan cities built with a wall

In its hay-day, with an estimated population of 1,000 to 1,600 inhabitants, Tulum was a thriving trade hub for obsidian, turquoise and jade. Maintaining trade routes all the way down to Belize, other goods imported and exported from Tulum included salt, textiles, ceramics, copper and gold.  The vast majority of the city’s residents lived outside the walls, leaving the interior for the residences of the ruling class and ceremonial structures. A small cenote near the northern side of the wall provided the city with fresh water.

The Prominent Structures of Tulum

El Castillo - the castle

The dominating structure in the city was "El Castillo", the castle.  Once covered in stucco and painted in brilliant reds, yellows and blues, it appears to have been built as the main tower to keep a watchful eye over both the city and sea.  A small shrine on the tower appears to have been used as a beacon for seafaring canoes. This shrine marks a break in the barrier reef that is opposite the site. Here there is a cove and landing beach in a break in the sea cliffs that would have been perfect for trading canoes coming in.  Other prominent structures were the "Templo de las Pinturas", the temple of the frescoes, which appears to have been used as an observatory to track the movements of the sun.  The third major structure appears to have been an important site for the worship of the "diving" or "descending" god known to the Mayans as Kukulcan.  Depicted as and upside-down figure on the "Templo del Dios Descendente", he is also known as the bee god and seems to be associated with the setting sun.

Kukulcan - the Descending God

The Mayans maintained occupancy of Tulum up until the early 16th century. The city managed to survive about 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico.  However, by the end of the 16th century, thanks to the introduction of disease, and the disruption of the Mayan society by the Spaniards, this former stronghold had been completely abandoned.

Visiting the Ruins of Tulum

Being a relatively small archeological site, it is possible to experience Tulum in only a couple of hours, making it ideal to combine touring this site with another half-day excursion nearby like Xel Ha, Xcaret or Playa Del Carmen.  Unlike Chichen Itza further inland, visitors may escape the heat by traversing the stairs to the beautiful beach below and taking a refreshing dip in the sea.  That being said, don't forget to bring the basics - water, a hat, and sunscreen - with you to prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion, as temperatures in this area can get very warm during parts of the year.  Also, remember to wear cool, breathable clothing, a comfortable pair of walking shoes, and insect repellent.  And don't forget your camera and money for souvenirs.  Even though it is one of the most visited Mayan ruins, Tulum is generally never over-crowded.  And for you wildlife admirers and photographers, you will be happy to know iguanas and butterflies are often in abundance here.

So don't forget during your travels to the Yucatan Peninsula to take some time out during your vacation to escape to the past and visit this majestic reflection of Mayan society perfectly placed as the only Mayan ruin to be found along Mexico's Caribbean coastline..."Riviera Maya".

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