History of the Site

Tulum mainly thrived between the 15th and 16th centuries. This city was never conquered by the Spanish, but it was abandoned by the Maya 75 years after the conquest. Many archaeologists believe that this city was important because of the role it played in trade and religious pilgrimages. Tulum was originally called "Zama" which means "dawn". This is because it is on the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula facing the sunrise over the Sea. Today, Tulum is one of the Yucatan Peninsula's biggest tourist attraction.

My Personal Experience

At Tulum, there is a wall that encircles three sides of the city (the fourth side is on the Sea). There were narrow entrances every so often on the wall. Once inside, there is a large clearing with scattered trees, and a number of structures still remaining - mostly temples. There were also a number of ruins of other smaller buildings scattered around the city. When I visited Tulum, I went right to the edge of a cliff that hangs over the Caribbean Sea. It was exciting to stand next to El Castillo, overlooking the water. It was fun to climb up into what seemed to be a "lookout" on the corner of Tulum and look out over the entire city. There were many people swimming off a small beach at the bottom of a hill. The city still seems so regal to me.