Tulum

Tulum (also called Tuluum) was a Mayan pre-columbian walled city used as a port for Coba. Ruins of Tulum are on the east Yucatan peninsula coast on the Mayan Riviera in the Quintana Roo on the Gulf of Mexico.

Tulum pueblo used to be a quite village several years ago. Located 2 km from the archeological site. Tourism off the ruins was limited, there were only few shops and cabanas on the beach. In 2005 population was over 10,000 citizens. The hotel zone included about 40 small hotels, many of them in traditional Mayan style.

Tulum Ruins:

The Maya site was also known as Zama or also the city of Dawn. I mayan language Tulum also means fence, wall or trench which served for defense purposes, against an invasion. Most of the structures on this site are from post classic era, somewhere between 1200 and 1450. During spanish Yucatan conquest the city was occupied the early years, but later at the end of sixteenth century it was abandoned. 

Juan Diez was the first one who mentioned Tulum. He was from Juan de Grijalva expedition in 1518.

Incidents of Travel in Yucatan is the book where the ruins were described in detail for first time in 1843. 

Tourism:

The archaeological site is of the best preserved Maya sites on the mayan riviera coast. Thanks to its proximity to tourist resorts on the Mexican Caribbean coast like riviera Maya, Cancun, Akumal, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres, Uxmal and Xcaret the city became very popular for tourists. So more hotels and lodging could be built in the resort during last time line period. Many people come to see the ruins by bus transport every day.

Ruins of Tulum are 3rd most popular site in Mexico. First two are Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza. It is so thanks to views of Caribbean and that it is close to beach resort Cancun. Visitors go to: the site, the town or pueblo and to the hotel zone or also to the beach with cabanas. Some people comes to do snorkeling.

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