Vacation Photos: Tulum, Mexico

Mayan tree roots and stones.

So, we were in the land of the Maya and also the Caribbean.
Cancun is full of things to do, but just a short distance away there are many interesting side trips.

A beautiful Cancun beach here . What a spectacular view!

We planned on visiting Tulum, one of the most beautiful and interesting Mayan cities, so we took a two hour tour. Our tour guide, Melina Solis, did an excellent job on giving information about the Mayan Ruins and an informative lesson at each sight we visited. It was clear that she was passionate about her hometown Cancun, as well as her job.

Tulum is surrounded by a huge stone wall. Its height is irregular since it follows the contours of the land and it is rectangular shaped with only three sides; that which faces the sea was naturally protected. 

Without a doubt, the wall had a defensive purpose although it also served to establish the limits of the "sacred" area. It has five doorways or entrances:

One facing west, two to the north and two more to the south. Tulum is also the Yucatan Mayan word for fence or wall.  

Tulum is the only ocean front city the Maya ever built; also the only one that is walled, and it contains 60 well preserved buildings. 

The highest and the most outstanding building in Tulum is the Castle, El Castillo, (above) perched on Tulum's highest cliff. This temple-topped pyramid also served as a watchtower and a lighthouse to make navigation easier. 

When the two torches aligned, it showed the way through the reef.

I really, really, really love this Cancun beach! xx

Note: The city of Tulum was at its height during the 13th-15th century and was an important trading post for the Post classic Mayans.
The wall averages seven metres in thickness and is three to five metres high. This fortress has evoked theories that the inhabitants of Tulum were threatened by other people.
One theory is that the wall was put by the ruling class further distance or even protect themselves from the
common people. This theory supports the idea that the
Mayan civilization was brought down by peasant revolution.