Discover the interesting town of Tulum
The name Tulum actually refers to three distinct places of interest all in the same area - the beach, the city and the ancient Mayan ruins. Combined, these places are referred to as Tulum, while the name is usually altered somewhat to refer to the specific places. For example, you might ask your driver to take you to the Tulum Beach, to the Tulum Ruins or to Tulum Pueblo (the city). Each of the three facets of the city make it that much more enjoyable to visit.
The first area you may well choose to visit is that of the Tulum Ruins. Located roughly 120km south of Cancun and only 2km from Tulum Pueblo, you can easily hire a car and find the attraction on your own. The Mayan site may have been formerly known as 'Zama' or 'City of Dawn' and is very interesting to view. Filled with carvings and interesting architecture, the site was only abandoned near the end of the 16th century. While local Maya used to visit the temple to burn incense and pray, use of the ruins has discontinued almost completely due to the large amounts of tourists that now visit the site. If the weather is good and you enjoy swimming, you might try bringing your costume with. Just below the ruins is one of the best beaches in Tulum and you can enjoy the beautiful waters of the Caribbean by swimming from the ruins to the Boca Paila beach.
Boco Paila is pleasurable place of white beaches and blue waters. One of the last places where you will find inexpensive cabanas for rent instead of pricey high-rise hotels, Boco Paila is a great place to head if you're looking for value for money. You'll also find a few drink stands, BBQ joints and a great beach for swimming and tanning - but be warned... clothing is optional on this beach!
Tulum Peublo has grown from a quiet village to a small city in only a few decades - mostly from tourism. Offering access to the ruins and the beach, Tulum Pueblo is mainly a conglomeration of hotels, boutiques and cabanas. This part of town is known as the 'hotel zone' and is the place where most tourists tend to spend the majority of their time. However there is also the Mexican side of town - a place where you can enjoy the flavor of traditional food or a drink at night. Why not give Tulum a try - you may find that it offers everything you need from a foreign destination.
