This is unique among Mayan ruins in that it perches on a bluff over the Gulf of Mexico – a truly lovely seaside setting, with a beach below you can frolic at after tromping through the site. With architecture similar to Chichén, Tulum was built late in the game (around 1200 AD) and abandoned by the end of the 16th century. With both smaller scale buildings and a smaller population (1,000 to 1,600), it was thought to have been founded to expand coastal trade routes. Located near a charming beach resort town of the same name, it’s just under an hour from Playa del Carmen, two hours from Cancún, and three hours from Mérida. Unfortunately, it’s extremely popular with cruise shore excursions, so is often slammed with tourists, and unlike other ruins, many structures are roped off.
Read more in my post 12 of the Top Archaeological Sites on Mexico´s Yucatan Peninsula.
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