Tulum, Mayan Ruins in the Yucatan

Tulum
Mayan Ruins easily reached in the Yucatan

Instead of going to Cozumel, I chose a shore excursion that went to mainland Mexico, the "Mayan Ruins of Tulum" tour, for $81.


First, we took a ferry-tender directly from the ship to the pier in Playa del Carmen. The ride was VERY rocky. It took about 45 minutes.
	My first views of Playa del Carmen's beach were beautiful! The area around the pier reminded me of Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls.
We were lined up in groups of 50. After being separated into four bus groups, we walked about two blocks to our bus. It was an hour's ride to Tulum, broken up with a thirty-minute shopping/bathroom stop.

Tulum sign!	First view of the beach at Tulum!	My tour guide, Carlos

While Tulum pales in comparison to Xunantunich (you can't climb on the structures), the buildings are beautiful. Notice the columns!

The most impressive building in Tulum is the Temple of the Frescoes (center). It has the most carvings and original paint still visible. The building's corners form faces (left)! In front of the building, there is a stela (standing stone, right) that reminded me very much of Ireland.
	<--- Here I am with the stela (left) My favorite building, though, was the one next to El Castillo (right). It still had much of its carving. Our guide told us it lines up with the sun on solstices (like Stonehenge does). Cool!
One of the things Tulum is known for is its dramatic setting, atop a cliff, right next to the sea. It was beautiful and windy!
	Our time at Tulum was limited, so I only got to walk this far. Looking back El Castillo is in the distance.
Here is a panorama of Tulum: