Tulum and Beach

In my attempts to give you the lowdown on the unrivaled Caribbean coastline of the Riviera Maya, I have had the opportunity to swim with turtles, drive dune buggies through the mud, and even throw on a helmet, turn on my flashlight, and trudge through underwater caves and fresh water cenotes.

When I was told that on this day I would have the opportunity to explore the ancient ruins of Tulum and swim in the pristine white sand beaches that stretch for miles just below, I couldn’t have been more excited. I thought, “you don’t have to tell me twice,” and I quickly packed up my towel, threw on my favorite bathing suit and hit the road. Off to Tulum I went!

The Logistics

Okay, maybe 7 am seems a bit early for well-relaxed Playa del Carmen vacationers, but I assure you it’s worth it on this day to pull yourself out of bed. But in all fairness my dear travelers, I must warn you to be patient, as it may take a bit of time for you to arrive to your magical destination.

Though the shuttle van picked me up at 7:20 sharp, we didn’t arrive to the ruins until 10 am. To begin with, the ruins are about an hour away from the city center of Playa del Carmen. And though you will be in a spacious and comfortable air conditioned van, multiple guests will have to be collected which may be a bit frustrating. On the bright side, we got to pick up a couple staying at a beautiful resort with a family of flamingos on the premises. I’ve never actually seen them in person before! The perks of living in a tropical paradise means you never know what you are going to see, so keep your eyes open!

So, after the last person was picked up, and we waited for a few minutes to switch to an even more spacious van that would take us to the ruins, we were off.

Face to face with ancient history

Tulum was one of the last cities built by the Maya and was at its height between the 13^th and 15^th centuries. In the Yucatec language, Tulum means “wall,” which refers to the large barricade that surrounds the ruins. According to our tour guide, this was to prevent the lower class citizens from entering the settlement, which made me a bit sad I must admit. Inside he described the strategic placement of the buildings and the ways they were built in connection to the passing seasons and astrological changes. These people were no dummies to say the least, and the positioning of their settlement to overlook the beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean is exquisite. Additionally, as the smallest collection of ruins in the area, you will have the opportunity to explore in greater detail, and I certainly recommend doing so!

A few things to keep in mind

Prepare beforehand! As you begin to pack for this trip, I would make sure to bring sunscreen and wear your swimwear underneath your clothes. I would also choose a hat or a good pair of sunglasses, some comfortable walking shoes, and a little pre-reading on the ruins beforehand. Oh yes, and how can I forget? Bring your own food and drink! This tour does not provide any food options and only two small bottles of water for the day.

There is nothing worse than feeling like you can’t enjoy your beautiful surroundings because you’re getting baked in the sun, your feet hurt, or you’re too damn hungry to think straight. Thankfully I came prepared, minus the pre-reading beforehand. Though I was well-hydrated and well-fed, thanks to my own brown-bag lunch, I would have appreciated a bit more backstory to the ruins. There is just so much to know, and with a larger group and time constrictions, the tour guide can only explain so much.  

From ancient history to the pristine beaches of Tulum

After about a 45 minute guided tour of the ruins, we had around an hour of free time to explore as we wish. Here I opted to jump in the water and experience my first beautiful beach of the day.

Though you have to walk down a small, but steep series of steps, and there is still some sea algae on the shore, myself and most of my fellow travelers opted to jump right in. After the sun had beat on my face all day, it was nice to be in my bathing suit and let the water nurture my spirit. It’s quite a spiritual experience to think that people almost a thousand years before I had swam in that exact ocean. I bet they never thought! 

Beach # 2

After heading back to the meeting point at 12pm, we were off to beach numero dos. Here I was given a wristband and guided to a private beach club with a personal lounge chair of my choice. I was told to return to the van about an hour or so later, and to do with my time as I wished. So, what did I do with all that free time? I slept :). Life isn’t always easy for a travel guru in Playa del Carmen (note the sarcasm)! Unfortunately, I slept with a book on my arm, which left an unpleasant tan line, but it was well worth it! I then ordered a lovely frappuccino, and jumped in the warm water. I felt relaxed and was back to my destination in Playa del Carmen around 3pm.

Concluding thoughts

So my friends, if you are looking for a slow-paced tour filled with history and relaxation, than this tour is for you.

Of course, if you wanted to experience the ruins of Tulum and the surrounding beaches on your own you could easily do so by public transportation or rental car, but quite honestly there is some sense of relief when you know everything is simply planned for you.

All in all, this was a full day but a relaxing day. Though there was a restaurant, bar, and coffee shop at the second beach, I was happy to have brought my food before, and I was extremely happy to have had a hat and sunglasses.

I was also quite glad I brought my book to read on the beach. In conclusion, this tour made for a beautiful and educational day that I won’t forget and know you won’t either!

Want to experience the magical ruins and stunning beaches of Tulum?

You can book Tulum and Beach here!

Have YOU been on this tour before? Give us your feedback in the comments below?

 Have a question for Travel Blogger Kristina? Get in touch!