If you’re visiting Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or anywhere in the Riviera Maya, taking a day trip to the Tulum Ruins is an absolute must! Picture this: ancient Mayan temples perched on a cliffside overlooking the turquoise Caribbean Sea—it’s one of the most breathtaking archaeological sites in Mexico.
Whether you’re a history lover, a beach bum, or just looking for an easy and unforgettable adventure, Tulum is the perfect mix of history, nature, and stunning scenery. So grab your sunscreen, your camera, and let’s explore this magical place together!
Unlike other famous Mayan sites like Chichén Itzá, Tulum has something extra special—its location. Sitting right on the edge of a cliff above the Caribbean, the views are just as spectacular as the ruins themselves.
Plus, Tulum was once a major Mayan port city and one of the last strongholds of the civilization before the Spanish arrived. Walking through the ruins, you can almost imagine what life was like here centuries ago, with many of its view unspoiled.
I went on a solo day trip, pre booked with a tour company to experience Tulum as my lovely girlfriend had to work. Included in this is Tortilla making in a Mayan Village and a small dip in a cenote. I was picked up from my hotel and the Tulum entrance fee was taken care of for me within the booking.
Gotta get that selfie with the Tulum sign!
When you first arrive at Tulum entrance, you will be bombarded by various food and souvenir sellers, some people even holding monkeys for photos for a fee (being an animal lover I do not agree with this). The first thing I would do is make sure you have suncream, shade and some electrolytes as I think Mexico’s are elite). Although Tulum ruins are next to the water, it gets HOT! And I mean so hot you can feel your feet melting.
From the entrance it around a 15 minute walk to the ruins and ticket entrance. I was with our tour guide who was very knowledgeable and stopped along the way to talk about the flora and fauna, he even sorted out tickets for us, which makes life so much easier.
Again going on a tour just made this experience much more interesting if you want to understand the history of this place. Our guide was super knowledgeable and he also gave us enough time to wander around at our own pace, and he was kind enough to be my photographer as I was flying solo! Below are a few highlights of the ruins.
El Castillo (The Castle)
This is Tulum’s most famous structure—a pyramid-like temple that sits right on the cliff’s edge. It was used as a lighthouse and ceremonial site, helping Mayan traders navigate the coast. The backdrop of the Caribbean makes it one of the most photogenic ruins in Mexico! 📸
2. Temple of the Frescoes
This small but fascinating temple still has remnants of ancient Mayan murals inside. These paintings give us clues about the Mayans’ beliefs in gods, the underworld, and astronomy.
3. Temple of the Descending God
Named after the unique upside-down figure carved above the entrance, this temple is believed to honor a Mayan deity related to the wind, rain, or the setting sun.
From Tulum ruins we then took a shot coach ride to Cenote dos ojos (in English 2 eyes cenote). Here we were greeted by a Mayan lady and her daughter, where they taught us how to make our own tortillas by hand and cook on the hot plate. This is the first time I have ever made a tortilla and I think it went pretty well.
My tortillas and the beautiful blue waters of a Cenote, my first ever Cenote experience!
After this, in the same village is the cenote, this is a small open cenote, which provides you with a very fresh cooling dip after such a hot day. Fun fact! All of the cenotes around Yucatan and Quintana Roo are looked after by the Mayan people, each charge a small fee to use (and for the upkeep).
Overall it was a very packed but informative day, where I embraced Mayan culture and cooking. Top advice is to make sure you tip your tour guide and any people that provide a service (like the lovely Mayan Abuelita).
So why not give Tulum ruins a go, or maybe you fancy making some Tortillas. There is always something to do in Tulum!
Nomadic dani 
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