Tulum Riviera Maya

Tulum, whose name means "wall" or "fortress" in Yucatec Maya, is an important archaeological site on Mexico's Caribbean coast. One of the few Maya settlements built right on the sea, it served as a major trading hub and religious center in the 13th and 14th centuries. The complex was protected by a city wall that was open on the seaward side, with watchtowers standing at its corners. The settlement's history goes back to the 12th century, and the first European contact took place in 1518. Later, during the Caste War, Tulum became a center of Maya resistance.

Today you can explore a variety of temples and buildings, some of them built in the stately Puuc style. The tallest structure, known as El Castillo (the Castle), has vaulted rooms and serpent-shaped columns. Also worth seeing are the Temple of the Descending God, which is associated with the setting sun and beekeeping, and the Temple of the Frescoes, with its wall paintings of sea creatures. The Temple of the Wind God has an unusual architectural feature: it was built on a natural hill in a rare semicircular shape.

The site was also designed for astronomical observation, particularly for tracking Venus and creating the Maya calendar. At the winter solstice, small window openings in the walls let in beams of sunlight in a precise pattern. For preservation reasons, not all structures are open to the public, but the surviving ruins offer an impressive glimpse into Maya culture and defense systems in this picturesque coastal setting.