Tulum Mayan Ruins

If you’re ever in Mexico, chances are you’re going to do an activity that involves Mayan culture. Eastern Mexico has some extraordinary archeological sites, of which the best known and most beautiful are those in Tulum, Cobá (Quintana Roo) and Chichén Itzá (Yucatan).

I went to visit the Mayan ruins in Tulum, Quintana Roo, which was available as a cruise excursion on the Celebrity Silhouette. Almost every cruise line that docks in Cozumel offers this, and even if you’re staying in a resort there, I’m sure the hotel can set you up for an excursion.

The trip started with a ferry ride from Cozumel to Playa del Carmen. I’m used to rough seas, but still managed to get seasick! As did all the other passengers. What a ride! Maybe it had something to do with the boat being a catamaran, I don’t know. Anyway, after that all went super great! In Playa del Carmen we were up for a bus ride and a mandatory stop at one of the shops along the road. I can’t believe someone acutally buys something there. Since this was the first time in Mexico for me, I found it to be very interesting to see how that part of the country looked like. Lots of abandoned buildings on the right hand side of the road, luxurious resorts on the left side. And absolutely nothing to do in the environment. It clearly is intended for the resort guest to not leave the area if you’re not going on an excursion. A bit later we arrived at the archeological site. Lots of colorful wild birds there, and iguanas running wild! It’s actually quite a big area there and the ruins were in good condition. You get a really good impression of how life would have been in Tulum, which served as a main port for Cobá. Main attractions are the Great Palace, and the Castillo, right on a cliff by the seaside!