Tulum,Quintana Roo

In this section we will describe the various archaeological sites in Quintana Roo, the musts for tourists and what can they easily ignore; learn some history and get to know its culture.

A worldwide place known for its beautiful beaches and splendid natural sights, Quintana Roo has one of the greatest archaeological sites of the world.
Tulum, a truly fantastic place, full of history and mystical touch makes it a favorite place to visit and enjoy.

How to get to this place?, It is quite simple, Tulum is located 128 kilometers from Cancún, taking the Federal Highway (307) to the south. It takes an hour and 55 minutes or buy a ticket at the bus station or a package tour to Tulum. The two-hour ride is worth. My advice, don’t forget to take a cushion to place it on your seat to be more comfortable and mosquito repellent, wear light clothes and walking shoes for long walks.


Now let's talk about the history of this majestic place. In ancient times was Tulum was known by the name Zama, which means sunrise or dawn. It was one of the most important cities of the thirteenth century and was one of the most important trade routes at the time, it is something like a customs office, where all goods had to be checked.

Translated to Spanish Tulum means “muro” (wall in English), referring to the wall surrounding the castle, this name seems to have been used to name the city when it was already in ruins back in the XIX Century.
This building has a very good structure, it appears that the Mayans were excellent engineers and architects. Tourists can see the buildings that once formed the heart of the city, surrounded by the majestic wall. These three side-walls delimit the boundary of the site, north, south and west. The Mayans had a perfect view of the Caribbean Sea as its eastern part was directly facing the beach.

The castle is the most important building of the complex, because of its huge size. With three entrances with columns decorated with snakes gives them quite a character.
In front of the castle there is a platform that used to be a dance floor. There are two other buildings that complement the ensemble.

The activities that can be done in Tulum are diverse and quite interesting. For obvious reasons, the hiking is the most important of all. Great sceneries to take beautiful pictures to remind of such a place. The beach is so near you´re tempted to try it. And speaking of memories you cannot miss the souvenir shops where you can buy your miniature replica of the castle.

For now, hope this small guide to Tulum can be useful to plan a trip to this lovely place and we’ll continue talking about some other archaleogical sites you will love too.

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QUINTANA ROO

Located on the eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula, Quintana Roo offers the beautiful waters of the Caribbean Sea, top-notch tourist resorts, white-sand beaches, marvelous ecological reserves and ancient Mayan ruins.
Here you can visit Cancun, an important destination for national and international tourists, which has a 30-km (19-mi) stretch of beaches and an impressive hotel zone. Isla Mujeres offers all kinds of tourist attractions, including pre-Hispanic ruins, the remains of an old hacienda and a modern aquatic park where you can go snorkeling among hundreds of colorful fish that inhabit the coral reefs. Nearby lies Cozumel, Mexico’s largest island, where you can go kayaking through mangroves and scuba diving along the Great Mayan Reef, the second largest reef system in the world. The reef runs through the Parque Marino Nacional de Arrecifes de Cozumel and the Parque Natural de Chankanaab.

Along the Caribbean coast, in the direction of state capital Chetumal, you’ll find numerous tourist attractions in the Mayan Riviera, which is lined with luxurious resorts, exclusive spas and golf courses. In this region you can visit the archaeological zones of Coba and Tulum, a walled city overlooking the sea. At Playa del Carmen, the Mayan Riviera’s cosmopolitan city, you’ll find excellent tourist facilities at ecotourism parks Xcaret and Xel-Ha, and at the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, which was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

ISLA MUJERES

Located off the coast of Cancun, in the state of Quintana Roo, Isla Mujeres is one of the main islands of the Mexican Caribbean. The island is 8 km (5 mi) long and 2 km (1.2 mi) wide. It has a pleasant tropical climate, with an average temperature of 27º C (81º F).

On this island, which is rich in culture and natural resources, you’ll find numerous tourist attractions, including beaches with fine sand, archaeological ruins like the Templo de Ixchel, and historic buildings, such as the Hacienda Mundaca. For outdoor recreational activities you can visit the Parque Marino Garrafon (Garrafon Marine Park), the ideal place to go scuba diving or snorkeling in coral reef areas inhabited by hundreds of colorful fish. The island has top-notch hotels with beach clubs offering amazing views of the Caribbean Sea. In the downtown area you’ll find a wide variety of stores where you can buy all kinds of souvenirs, such as beachwear, T-shirts and crafts made of wood and conch shells. As for the cuisine, the restaurants serve international and local fare. At night, in the bars and nightclubs, you can enjoy reggae and Afro-Caribbean music until the wee hours of the morning.

COZUMEL
Cozumel, a Caribbean island 19 km (12 mi) east of the Quintana Roo coast, is Mexico’s largest island with a territorial extension of 647.33 km2 (258.93 mi2). The average temperature is 26º C (79º F) and the climate is warm and humid, with strong rainfall in the summer.

The island is covered with lush jungle vegetation and surrounded by rocky coastlines, white-sand beaches, lagoons and mangroves. The waters encircling the island have an impressive group of coral reefs that are part of the Great Mayan Reef, the second largest reef system in the world. Marine reserves of great ecological importance, such as Parque Marino Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel (Cozumel National Reef Marine Park) and Parque Natural Chankanaab (Chankanaab Nature Park), were created to protect areas with a wide diversity of marine life, and they have drawn the attention of researchers and marine biologists such as Jacques Cousteau. Moreover, they are great places to do scuba diving and ecotourism outings.

The island’s only town is San Miguel de Cozumel, which has a relaxed Caribbean atmosphere and Mexico’s most important international cruise dock. Tourists flock to Cozumel looking for the peace, quiet and comfort that the island’s hotel zone offers. During your stay, you can also enjoy excellent golf courses, spas, and restaurants serving up a wide array of regional fish and seafood dishes. And of course there’s the thriving nightlife in the bars, where one can drink national and exotic beverages with new friends under a moonlit sky.

Visit: http://www.visitmexico.com.mx/

Cozumel Tour

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