Tulum Mayan Ruins, a must to visit place in Mexico

Tulum Mayan ruins is a well known touristic destinations in Mexico and a must to visit place.

For me seeing the Mayan pyramids was a dream since I was young. I was fortunate to visit them when we went down south escaping the cold Canadian winter 🙂 My husband and I went many times to Mexico and visited almost everything. That year we went to Riviera Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula.

 

Tulum was the first Mayan archeological site we had ever seen. We started with the right foot,
but I have to admit that I was overwhelmed by all that was there to see …

I posted a collage previously, but here is the whole story. * Click on the photos for a larger format:

The most photographed place at Tulum Mayan site is “Templo Dios del Viento” translated to “God of Winds Temple”. – The water is so incredibly blue-turquoise all along the Mayan Riviera, from Cancun down.

In fact, Tulum Mayan ruins are the only ruins built on the sea. All the others are inland. Mayans probably preferred to use the jungle as a natural protective barrier.

The reason why Tulum is on the coast is that it was a port for Coba, the nearby inland Mayan Site.

The site was a trading center as well as a fort protecting the Mexican Caribbean coast.
* In the Yucatán Mayan language, Tulúm is the word for fence. The two towers above look like observation points at the sea entrance to Tulum.

– Unfortunately they couldn’t defend themselves against the Spanish conquistadors eager to take over the “New World”. Drastic changes happened leading to the disappearance of this ancient civilization roughly at about 1500

Tulum Mayan ruins and stone structures

A thick stone fence was surrounding the whole site.  You can still see part of it here and there right from the entrance:

Many structures built of stone are scattered all over the place there. Some were administrative buildings, some residential, others had religious purposes.

What’s characteristic for the Mayan temples in the Yucatan peninsula are the columns:

Mayan built the columns from cylindrical pieces of stones cut and stacked together.

Most Popular structures at Tulum Mayan ruins

Here is a side view of the main building of the site, called “Castillo” – translated: The Castle.

I found that a view of “Castillo” through the tropical vegetation was more artistic than a front classic view, so here it is… Coming from the North, I am always attracted by the palm trees, Ha, ha 🙂

But what impressed me most was the Temple of the Frescoes. This building was an observatory from where Tulumians were watching the movements of the Sun.

At a closer look, you notice a beautifully carved face of the Mayan Diving God:

On the left side of the face you can see some more stone carved artifacts dedicated to Venus. I’m not sure about the relation between the two, but this is what it was 🙂

After you visit the Tulum Mayan ruins archeological site, you should not miss the bar restaurant at the entrance/exit. Here you can treat yourself with some refreshing drinks and snacks.

… and the giant iguana, pet of the site, is an bonus for the kids:)

Tulum Mexico Souvenirs:

Now, you can even have a Note Book with an image of the Tulum Mayan ruins as a cover:

Just click on them for details!

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Tuesday Photo Challenge – Stone | Photo Cover

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