|
Advertisement |
|
|
Advertisement |
|
|
|
The gentle
murmur of the waves is a constant companion of the
visitor to Tulúm, at the southern end of the
Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo. The remains of that
great walled city that was once the commercial and
religious center of the Mayans, still rises majestically
upon a small cliff that offers an incomparable view of
the Caribbean Sea.
The Mayans
originally named this city Zamá, meaning sunrise
or morning, and dedicated it to the planet Venus,
which represented Kukulcan, or plumed
serpent.
Kukulcan was to the Mayans what
Quetzalcoatl was to the Mexicas: a hero
elevated to the category of deity, lord of the winds;
the ruler of commerce and farming.
From the
unobstructed panorama that Tulúm provides, the Mayans
observed the heavens and paid special attention to the
movement of the planet Venus as well as
the rest of the heavenly bodies, and related it to the
natural and social events of their environment. Thus,
they were able to predict the seasons for planting and
harvesting, favorable dates for going to war or
establishing alliances with neighboring cities. On
several of Tulúm’s buildings you’ll find images of
Kukulcan plummeting down to earth.
Therefore,
Tulúm was one of the most important cities in the Mayan
World because of its strategic location, which served as
a trading spot. The Mayans were excellent navigators, so
they established commercial trade routes for cocoa,
salt, cotton, honey, ceramics, farm products, obsidian,
turquoise, gold and copper.
Today, Tulúm
is especially attractive for travelers because it
combines the beauty of the Mexican Caribbean with the
mysticism of the Mayan civilization. Tulúm makes us
ponder the close interaction that the Mayans had with
the sea, the heavenly bodies and with nature. You can
still admire the mural paintings in the Temple of the
Frescos. Tulúm is the third most visited archaeological
zone in Mexico.
Recently,
the National Institute of Anthropology and History
installed lighting and audio tour equipment to offer
tourists the magical experience of discovering Tulúm
at Night. Sound, darkness and stars establish a
dialogue with stone to tell the visitor how life once
was in this beautiful city that still throbs between the
jungle and the sea.
Angie Galicia
|
Location:
Federal Highway 307
Chetumal–Puerto Juárez, Tulum, Quintana
Roo, México. 128 kilometers south of
Cancun and 64 km from Playa del Carmen.
How to get there:
From Cancun and Playa del Carmen, go
south on Federal Highway 307. ADO,
Mayab y OCC bus routes have
various schedules going from Cancun,
Playa del Carmen and Chetumal.
Visiting time required:
Half a day.
Visiting hours:
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tulúm at Night: 8 and 9 p.m.
Entry fee:
$ 51.00 MXN (pesos). Tulum
at night: $170.00 MXN
Guided Tours:
There are tour guides within Tulúm
certified by the National Institute of
Anthropology and History (INAH) or by
the Secretary of Tourism
*
Travel agencies
offer guided tours including
transportation from Cancun and Playa del
Carmen.
Where to eat:
El Tabano,
on Beach Road, Tulum
*
Dolci Sapori,
on Calle Centauro, Tulum
*
Hechizo, at
the Sian Ka’an Biosphere entry.
Suggestions for shopping:
The handicraft market at
the entrance to the archaeological zone
*
The Shop in the
archaeological zone.
What to take:
Sun block
*
Insect repellent
*
comfortable shoes
*
sunglasses
*
a hat
*
Light-colored, lightweight clothes
*
bathing suit
*
bottled water
*
camera
*
video camera (you will need to pay
a small fee for a video recording permit
upon entry)
Don’t miss:
The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
on the outskirts of Tulúm Xel-Ha, in
Tulúm’s surrounding area Playa del
Carmen’s La Quinta Avenida, near
Tulúm.
|
|
©1999-2012 Inside Mexico All rights reserved. All
articles, images, pictures and design contained in this website are the property of Inside Mexico and protected by copyright law. NO part
of this site can be used without previous authorization. We will be glad to authorize educational projects
and request that proper credit be given to Inside Mexico and a link provided to our site..
may@inside-mexico.com
|
|
