Mayan Ruins around Tulum

Saturday, 29 March 2014

▲ Staying on the beach at Tulum on my recent Mexico visit it was inevitable that Mayan ruins would be part of the trip. Starting with the ruins right in Tulum of course, with El Castillo picturesquely balanced on the hilltop above the beach.

 

◄ We also travelled inland to Coba where you’re still allowed to climb the towering Ixmoja pyramid.

 

 

 

But my favourite Tulum area ruins is the site at Muyil, 25km south of Tulum. It’s not so well known so it’s pleasantly uncrowded, but still has a collection of interesting structures including the towering El Castillo. ►

 

 

 

 

 

 

But you can also walk the boardwalk from the ruins to the nearby lakeside. ▼

▲ And climb the wooden lookout tower beside the boardwalk. From the lakeside boats run across the lake to a ‘Mayan Canal’ where you can float down the winding waterway, carried along by the steady flow between the lakes. You can also do the same trip from the Tulum beach side of the lake.

▲ Finally no visit to the region is complete without a dip in at least one of the Cenotes, often dramatically beautiful limestone sinkholes filled with crystal clear water. This is Gran Cenote, near Tulum, which also features extensive flooded caves popular with scuba cave divers.