The Maya chose this location for reasons both practical and spiritual. The clifftop position provided defense and a commanding view of approaching canoes; the beach below offered protected landing for trading vessels. Unlike the massive pyramids of Chichen Itza or Coba, Tulum's structures remained relatively small - this was a port and religious center, not a political capital. The site flourished from 1200 to 1521 CE, one of the last Maya cities still inhabited when the Spanish arrived. The Castillo dominates the clifftop, its temple aligned to catch sunrise light through specific windows during equinoxes. The Temple of the Frescoes preserves Maya murals depicting agricultural deities. The entire complex fits within stone walls that gave the site its modern name - 'tulum' means wall in Maya. Unlike most archaeological sites, you cannot climb the structures; the combination of visitor numbers and Caribbean salt air necessitates strict preservation.

Modern Tulum divides into three distinct areas separated by a few kilometers of jungle road. Tulum Pueblo - the town - straddles Highway 307, a working Mexican community of supermarkets, bus stations, and budget accommodations where most workers in the tourist industry live. Tulum Playa occupies the coast, a narrow sand road lined with boutique hotels, eco-lodges, and beach clubs where rooms cost hundreds of dollars per night and electricity often shuts off at midnight for sustainability reasons. The ruins sit slightly north of both, accessed by a separate road through a gauntlet of souvenir vendors. Many visitors never see the pueblo, shuttling directly between Cancun airport and beach zone, missing the authentic Mexican life occurring just inland. Budget travelers base in the pueblo and commute to the beach; luxury visitors rarely leave the zona hotelera.

The Yucatan's limestone bedrock contains more than four thousand known cenotes - sinkholes where collapsed cave ceilings expose the underground river system that permeates the peninsula. Near Tulum, several cenotes have developed into swimming and diving destinations. Gran Cenote offers crystal-clear waters, underwater stalactites, and resident turtles in a cave setting minutes from town. Cenote Dos Ojos - Two Eyes - connects to one of the world's longest underwater cave systems, drawing certified divers from around the world. Smaller cenotes throughout the jungle range from developed sites with changing facilities to wild swimming holes requiring local knowledge to find. The ancient Maya considered cenotes sacred, portals to the underworld; modern visitors simply consider them the best swimming on the peninsula. Water temperatures hold steady year-round at around 24°C, refreshingly cool after the tropical heat above.

Tulum's identity has shifted dramatically in recent years. What began as an alternative to overdeveloped Cancun - a place for backpackers and yoga practitioners seeking Caribbean beauty without resort culture - has itself become a destination. Instagram drove the transformation; Tulum's photogenic combination of turquoise water, jungle, and bohemian-chic aesthetics proved irresistible to influencers whose posts attracted followers who became visitors who demanded amenities. Beach clubs now charge substantial cover fees. Restaurants serve fusion cuisine at international prices. The new Tulum International Airport, opened in 2023, brings direct flights from major cities worldwide, while the Tren Maya connects the region by rail. Long-term visitors debate whether Tulum has been ruined or simply grown up; new arrivals often don't know what they've missed. The ruins remain unchanged, indifferent to the economic ecosystem that has grown around them.

The ruins open at 8 AM; arriving at opening avoids the tour bus crowds that descend from Cancun and Playa del Carmen by mid-morning. Afternoon visits offer different light but more company. The site closes at 3 PM - plan accordingly. From the parking area, you can walk or take a shuttle to the entrance; the walk passes through a commercial zone that's unavoidable but brief. Inside the ruins, paths lead to all major structures and the clifftop viewpoint overlooking the beach below - you can descend to swim, a rare opportunity to combine archaeology with Caribbean waters. For the cenotes, rent a car or bicycle; taxis work but add up. The zona hotelera runs on beach time - restaurants open late, nightlife starts after midnight - while the pueblo keeps working-class hours. Cancun airport remains the main gateway, two hours north by bus or shuttle.