Travel Guide: Tulum, México, Part 2

Hola, mi gente! In case you haven’t been around in a while, I recently shared some preliminary information to prepare you for travelling to Tulum if you’re curious to see what the hype about México’s boho beach town is about. You can check out that post here. Today I will be focusing on activities and attractions. There is a lot to cover so let’s dive right in.

What To Do In Tulum

*Beaches- The Mayan Riviera like the rest of the Caribbean is blessed with gorgeous beaches. Most of the beaches in Tulum specifically are located in the Hotel Zone. Technically, the beaches are public but for those connected to hotels, you will have to pay to use the amenities such as chairs, umbrellas etc. I think it’s also important to mention as I did in this previous post that there has been a proliferation of sargassum (seaweed) along Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Even though the seaweed is normal and necessary in small amounts, in larger amounts it poses a hazard for the regional ecosystem. Scientists believe that it is due to a combination of factors such as the disposal of agricultural fertilisers and untreated sewage as well as rising ocean temperatures. Instead of focusing on the inconvenience of the seaweed’s presence though, I think we should consider how we can adopt more environmentally friendly decisions including when we travel.

*Mayan Archaelogical Sites - The Mayans built Tulum in the 13th century as a port city. It facilitated their trade of valuable materials such as turquoise and jade. Today, the limestone cliffs and castle remnants provide a glimpse into what was once one of the most beautiful cities in the ancient Americas. Should you have a few extra days, check out one of the other Mayan sites in the Yucatan namely, Coba, Muyil, Chichen Itza and Uxmal. It would be a pity to visit Tulum and not see any of these emblems of Mayan civilization.

*A Temazcal Spa - I haven't experienced the healing goodness of a Temazcal spa as yet but it's at the top of my to-do’s for when next I’m in the Yucatan. In this traditional Mayan treatment, a shaman creates a steam bath in a dark dug-out. While continually throwing water on a mount of hot rocks, the holy man or woman chants, guiding the guest to release mental and physical burdens as the aromas of copal incense, rosemary, peppermint and basil fill the air. It sounds rejuvenating.

Enjoying the calming jade water of one of Tulum’s many cenotes

*The Cenotes - These are natural pits or sinkholes, which result from the collapse of limestone bedrock, exposing groundwater beneath. Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula is famous for them. In fact, the word cenote comes from the Yucatec Maya word ts'onot, used in reference to places with accessible groundwater. In addition to being a precious source of potable water, the ancient Maya viewed ts'onotes or cenotes as passages to the afterlife and used them for carrying out sacred rites. They are such a wonder of nature (and history)!

*The Sian Ka'an Wildlife Reserve - the Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site skirts the southern part of Tulum. The ecosystem is home to monkeys, birds, crocodiles and coatis among other species. Additionally, the reserve contains archaeological sites. This is another place that I haven’t visited but hope to see in the future, fingers crossed.

Well, that wraps up Part Two of my Tulum Travel Guide. Be on the lookout for the next part in which I will discuss eating and shopping.

Photography Credit: #’s 3 & 4 by Davyd ; all others by me