Heading off to visit the Ruins in Tulum

Our day started pretty early with our Carnival Cruise excursion to the Mayan ruins in Tulum. We were awake before most of the ship and got to enjoy a very early morning coffee on the lido deck, even before they had food out for the buffet. There were virtually no other passengers around. Since there was no time for a sit-down breakfast, we opted to grab breakfast burritos from the BlueIguana Cantina. We were able to take them to the theater and eat them while we waited to meet up with our tour group to board the ferry boats that would take us to Playa Del Carmen.

Once we arrived in Playa Del Carmen, we lined up to get on the tour buses to take us to the ruins. The bus ride was comfortable and air conditioned. The ride itself took about an hour each way to get to and from the ruins. Our guide even pointed out Mayan villages along the route.

Shopping Center at the Mayan Ruins??

I wasn’t sure what to expect when we arrived to the site, but I was surprised and disappointed by the huge tourist trap that greeted us. Once you park, you have to walk through a fairly decent sized shopping plaza filled with all kinds of food shops and touristy trinkets to buy. I found this part of visiting the ruins to be a major downfall that took away from the overall experience. I was glad we were on a guided tour because I could see where parking and getting through the maze of shops and people vying for your attention could get really confusing.

As you exit the shopping areas, you will be greeted by people dressed up in traditional costumes and trying to get you to pose with snakes or other animals or things for a photo opportunity. On the advice of our guide, we ignored them and they moved on to try to entice other tourists passing by. Our tour guide told us they’re known to swindle tourists…so buyer beware – but hey, if you really want the photo then go for it. Their costumes are pretty impressive.

TIP 1: Make sure you use the public restrooms in the shopping plaza before heading to the ruins. You’ll thank me later!!

To walk or ride – the choice is yours

Once you leave the shopping complex, the walk to the ruins can be a bit long – especially if you have mobility issues or maybe you’re just not in the best of shape. If you’re in decent shape, maybe a 10 to 15 minute walk…if not so great shape, it could take up to 20 minutes to walk it. We decided to make the trek on foot, but you can pay for the trolley. When you get to the end of the road, make sure you turn left as the directions aren’t clearly posted. If you are part of a tour (like we were) you can walk on in with your tour group. There might be a small wait to line the group up, especially if you had some that took the trolley and others who chose to walk. If you’re there on your own, I would advise you to get there early as the line was pretty long to enter.

TIP 2: Make sure you have a hat and sunglasses, there is virtually no shade once inside the ruins. A great sunscreen is also highly recommended! When we went, the sun was beating down and it was HOT, HOT, HOT! And don’t forget to take bottled water with you!!

Now for the good part! The ruins – which are absolutely stunning!

But first, did you know that the ruins were originally known as “Zama” which means City of Dawn or City of the Morning? Tulum served as a trading post and possibly a home for refugees looking for resources that had been depleted. One of the valued resources traded by the Mayans was obsidian, a black volcanic glass used as a sharpened tool or used spiritually for prophesying the future. Our tour guide even brought along a Mayan woman who was eager to make jewelry made of obsidian for those wanting to purchase them.

Tulum’s ruins are nestled on top of the cliffs along the Caribbean’s coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Since the ruins are on the coast they offer spectacular views! The ruins of El Castillo overlook the beautiful, turquoise waters of the Caribbean and would serve as a lighthouse for incoming ships. When they would light the windows, they would perfectly align with the break in the barrier reef to allow ships safe passage.

Since we were on a cruise excursion and had limited time, it didn’t give us the opportunity to explore all of the ruins as thoroughly as we would have liked. But this excursion gave us an incredible glimpse into the past. It’s just an incredible experience to view these ancient structures and hear the stories the guides tell along the way. The views behind El Castillo are stunning and there’s even a beach that you could go down to if you had more time to visit.

So for us, the conclusion is to absolutely visit Tulum ruins. Just be aware of the common scams for visitors so you don’t lose money when purchasing tickets or paying for parking. I would recommend taking a tour which can take some of that pressure off of you. If you’re on the fence, I say you should experience it at least once. You might just be pleasantly surprised by booking this excursion or visiting on a land trip.

Have you visited the ruins in Tulum? If so, what were your favorites while here? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!!