Besides the cenotes, the archeological site of Mayan ruins are one of the most popular things to do in Tulum. And boy are they popular. We only had a short time in Tulum and opted to have a morning at the Tulum ruins. Although beautiful, the insane amount of people made it difficult to appreciate the ruins themselves. We did get a later start than I had hoped , so I would definitely be willing to try to see the ruins again in the future.
Getting to the Tulum Ruins
Unlike San Ignacio in Belize, Tulum is a proper city with the downtown, beach, and ruins at least a 20 minute bike-ride from each other. We had hoped to get to the ruins immediately when the opened, but due to different shenanigans like packing, breakfast, and tummy problems, we arrived around 10 am. By the way, if you are coming from or going to Belize, be sure to check out my border crossing post.
When you first arrive, there is a massive amount of shops and stores. If you walk your bike through this, you will find the road to the ruins with giant bike parking area. We didn’t realize difference and ended up walking further than we needed to. We got to the entry area and there were people everywhere. Some people listening to introductory speeches from their tour guides, other waiting for family/friends, and still others heading for the entrance. We paid by kiosk, which was super fast (recommended!) and headed toward the entrance, where you scan your ticket at the turnstyle.
It is slow walking on the entrance path, due to the number of people. The area is laid out well with this path going only in one direction. After a five minute walk and some stairs, you will need to enter the ruins through one of the tunnels built into the gate. I had to duck because of the height.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 3 (out of 4) stars, would do it again.
- Location: Just north of Tulum, probably a 5 minute drive, 30 minute bike ride from downtown
- Cost: 30 – 40 pesos (?)
- Restrooms: At the entrance
- Duration: 2 – 3 hours (depending on you!)
- Don’t forget: Sunscreen, water, and snacks.
Highlights:
- Oceanside ruins – those views!
- Getting to compare the architectural styles to those in Tikal
Lowlights:
- It was busy, busy busy! Tours and people were everywhere.
- Fair-like market while walking into/out of the archeological site.
Walking around the Archeological Site
The site itself is gorgeous. Morning at the Tulum ruins was great in part because it was still a bit cool and less crowded than when we left. I loved that some of the ruins were on the cliff-edge with stunning views of the ocean. The site is well-maintained with helpful plaque descriptions and roped off areas. It was not nearly as large, complex, or open to be walked on like the Tikal Ruins in Guatemala, but it was interesting to compare the architectural differences between the two areas.
There are are a few quieter areas that I encourage you to seek out. We found one spot, where you could look down the line of ruins lined up on the cliffs. Some of gardens and shady areas are also lovely to take a short break from the sun. There are wooden stairs down to a protected small beach. Even this area had a handful of people and attracted the rowdy teens, so we opted out.
Dealing with the Crowds
A tour would have been nice to learn more about the different structures, but I felt like I learned a lot simply by standing next to the different tour groups. Honestly, they were hard to escape being next to. At one point I was taking a picture of an iguana on a cliff-side structure and in the next moment I was being surrounded by a tour group, where the leader stopped a yard or two away from me.
We tried not to let the crowds bother us. We meandered around and read the signs. I do wish we would have brought more water. When we felt like we were finished, we headed to the exit. Leaving the area was even more chaotic than entering because all the shops were fully open and selling their goods.
Overall Thoughts: morning at the Tulum ruins
Our morning at the Tulum ruins was pretty much as expected – busy and hot. I thought the ruins themselves were interesting and beautifully set on the ocean cliffs. But it is hard to separate out how I viewed the ruins with so many people and tours. I think it is a popular day trip from Cancun to visit these ruins in Tulum, which explains the massive buses in the parking lot and overwhelming amount of tour groups.
In general, the ruins are worth the visit, but I would try to be there 10 minutes before the site opens, so you can experience them on your own. Or perhaps near closing or the late afternoon would be better? I think the lighting might be easier to photograph at the end of the day. Let me know if you’ve found a better time to visit the Tulum ruins.
Have you done a morning at the Tulum ruins? What was your experience like? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Travels,
Hanna
