The Tulum Ruins are worth the trip from Cancun all on their own, but if that's not enough to convince you, there's even more reason to visit. Tulum is now a beachside resort town, so once you're done exploring the past, you can grab a bite to eat, do some shopping, and read on the beach.
A tour of Tulum takes about one to two hours. But don't let the small size of the site fool you–– there's a TON of historical ground to cover.
Tulum is the site of some fantastic and well-preserved Mayan ruins. Unlike the inland sites Chichen Itza and Ek Balam, Tulum was a port city. It's located right on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, and was designed for trade with other nations.
If you want to save money and don't mind taking extra time, take a bus from Cancun to Playa del Carmen and change buses to get to Tulum. An airport shuttle or a taxi cab will both get you to Tulum. The rate will be higher, but you'll save time and energy.
If possible, I'd recommend going to BOTH Chichen Itza and Tulum. They're both incredibly preserved relics of an ancient civilization, and each has its own unique stories to tell. When you purchase a Mayan Ruins bundle tour, you will receive both tours and even more for half the price.
On a Tulum tour, you can expect to pay around 80 pesos for admission, with an extra 45 pesos for professional photo equipment. In USD, that's about $4 to $6. That's a super reasonable price to see everything that the Tulum ruins have to offer!
The closest airport to a Tulum tour is Cancun International Airport. From there, it's a two-hour drive to the site. You can drive a rental car, call a taxi, travel by airport shuttle, or take the bus.
A self-guided walking tour of Chichen Itza lasts for 1–2 hours, depending on how long you spend at each stop and your pace. You will have plenty of time to soak up all of the histories at this fascinating landmark of Mexican history.
Chichen Itza is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It is the site of an ancient Mayan metropolis, complete with a hulking pyramid; The Temple of Kukulcan. It is well worth a tour as an attraction on its own or staying in nearby areas like Tulum or Cancun.
The Ek Balam ruins have fascinated travelers and historians alike for many decades. This once-thriving Mayan city features an unusually shaped pyramid, an acropolis, and many more ancient structures that offer many historical insights into Mayan culture. Best yet, you can still climb to the top of the highest ruins. It is 106 steps to […]
