Tulum, the Maya city facing the sea
Almost every Maya city on the peninsula ended up deep in the jungle. Tulum is the exception: it was built on one of the most prominent rises on the coast, with its eastern side open to the Caribbean. Mexico's national institute of anthropology and history (INAH) describes it as a walled coastal city with well-preserved murals.
Most of the buildings you see today date from the Middle and Late Postclassic (between 1250 and 1550), when Tulum was one of the leading Maya cities. But the site was occupied earlier: Stela 1, found there, carries a date of AD 564.
What "Tulum" means and what the wall was for
The name translates as wall, fence or palisade, which fits what still stands: a wall enclosing the main complex on the north, south and west, with five gateways and two watchtowers. The fourth side didn't need a wall: it's the cliff above the sea.
Its coastal location tied it to trade routes and marine resources. That's why Tulum is described as a city linked to seaborne trade more than to jungle farming.
What you'll see on the guided visit
- El Castillo, the tallest building, on the edge of the cliff. Mary Tours describes it as the beacon that guided sailors.
- The Temple of the Frescoes, known for its murals.
- The Temple of the Descending God, named for the upside-down figure over its doorway.
- The beach below the cliff, with white sand, which makes Tulum one of Mexico's best-known postcards.
Tulum's temples follow the East Coast architectural style: small buildings, colonnades and flat roofs, very different from the great pyramids of Chichén Itzá or Uxmal.
The Casa Tortuga cenotes
After the ruins, the tour heads to Casa Tortuga, a cenote park near Tulum. You visit four different kinds of cenotes: open, semi-open and cave cenotes with stalactites, linked by trails and with changing rooms. Lunch is served at the park, and both lunch and cenote entry are included in the tour.
It's a great way to see, in a few hours, the difference between an open-air cenote and a cavern. If you want to understand how they form, we have guides on what a cenote is and on the different types.
How the day works from Mérida
The tour leaves the Mary Tours office in downtown Mérida early in the morning, takes the highway with a stop for restrooms and a snack, and reaches the Quintana Roo coast mid-morning. The archaeological site comes first, with a guide accredited by the tourism ministry, followed by the cenotes and lunch. You return in the afternoon, with another stop along the way.
Note that entry to the Tulum archaeological site is not included and is paid on site. Details for each departure are in the catalogue on this page.
Tips for Tulum
- Comfortable closed shoes: the site is explored on foot and the ground is uneven.
- Swimsuit under your clothes and a towel for the cenotes.
- Biodegradable sunscreen: it's required in the cenotes.
- A hat and water: there's almost no shade between the buildings.
- Cash for the archaeological site entry and drinks.
- Insect repellent for the cenote trails.
Fun facts
- Tulum means wall, fence or palisade.
- Its wall has five gateways and two watchtowers; the sea side didn't need one.
- A stela at Tulum bears the date AD 564, centuries before the buildings you see today.
Related tours
Coupon −$300 MXN per personCaribbean · 14 h
Tulum and the Casa Tortuga cenotes
The only Maya city built facing the Caribbean
from $2,500 MXN per person
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6:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 6:00 AM Boarding — We leave from the downtown office. If your accommodation is on the way, we collect you there — agreed beforehand on WhatsApp.
- 6:30 AM Motorway to the rest stop — An hour and three quarters, with fifteen minutes for toilets and something light.
- 8:30 AM On to Tulum — An hour and a half more to the Quintana Roo coast.
- 10:00 AM Tulum archaeological site — Guided visit to the walled city: El Castillo, the Temple of the Frescoes and the Temple of the Descending God, with the sea behind.
- 12:15 PM Casa Tortuga cenotes and lunch — Four cenotes of different kinds, with a guided route, trails and changing rooms. Lunch is on site.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — Four hours back, with a stop halfway.
Included: Guide accredited by the Ministry of Tourism, Round-trip transport, Lunch, Cenote entry
Not included: Tulum archaeological site entrance, Drinks
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- 1:30 PM Bacalar magic town — Three and a half hours free: the San Felipe fort, the square, the piers, the cafés and the crafts.
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- 4:45 AM Boarding — We leave from the downtown office. If your accommodation is on the way, we collect you there — agreed beforehand on WhatsApp.
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- 7:45 AM Drive to Puerto Juárez — Two more hours to the pier in Cancún.
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Archaeology · 11 h
Chichén Itzá, Izamal and Valladolid
Four stops in one day, and none of them rushed
from $1,200 MXN per person
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8:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to Izamal. The guide uses the drive to set up what comes next.
- 9:00 AM San Antonio de Padua Convent — The story of the 16th-century Franciscan convent told in its atrium, then free time to walk the yellow town.
- 11:15 AM Chichén Itzá — Guided walk through the Temple of Kukulkán, the Sacred Cenote, the Ball Court, the Tzompantli and the Jaguars and Eagles platform.
- 1:45 PM Regional lunch in Kaua — Buffet of Yucatecan dishes: cochinita, relleno negro, lime soup and meat-free options.
- 3:00 PM Selva Maya cenote — The swim lands exactly when the sun is at its worst. Changing rooms and showers on site.
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Included: Air-conditioned transport, General culture guide, Regional buffet lunch
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Frequently asked questions
Does the Tulum tour include entry to the ruins?
No. The Mary Tours trip includes transportation, a guide, lunch and entry to the Casa Tortuga cenotes; the Tulum archaeological site fee is paid separately.
How many cenotes do you visit at Casa Tortuga?
Four, of different types: open, semi-open and cave cenotes.
How old is Tulum?
Most of the visible buildings date from the Middle and Late Postclassic (1250–1550), although a stela from the site bears a date of AD 564.
Can you swim at Tulum beach during the tour?
The tour focuses on the guided visit and the cenotes. What's allowed inside the archaeological zone depends on the site's current rules.
Is there a group discount?
Yes. Booking from this page gives you a per-person coupon for groups of 4 to 20.
