Built on a bluff overlooking crystal-blue Caribbean waters, the ruins of Tulum represent Mexico’s most scenic archaeological site. To reach them, you’ll travel by ferry from Cozumel to the beach town of Playa del Carmen on the mainland. There you’ll board the van for the scenic, hour-long drive along the coastal road to Tulum. Your guide will escort you around the ruins, sharing the history of the ancient Maya and explaining the meaning and mysteries of the pyramids and other buildings, frescoes and iconography. The landmark structure, El Castillo, sits high on a cliff from which you can take in spectacular panoramic views of the site and the sea.
The excursion continues to the village of Tankah, where you’ll discover the traditions of the modern Maya as you stroll around the community surrounded by forest. At a rustic, open-air restaurant, enjoy a buffet lunch featuring Yucatan specialties, before returning to the ferry in Playa del Carmen.
Travel to mainland Mexico to the archaeological site whose setting – atop a cliff, overlooking the Caribbean – is unrivaled.