Classic shot of Tulum Archaeological Site by the coastline.

The Tulum Ruins in Mexico has recently grown into one of the most popular destinations in the country. Although undeniably beautiful, it’s no secret that its soaring popularity means large crowds. From being a relatively unknown gem to a tourist magnet, you may be wondering – Are The Tulum Ruins Still Worth Visiting in 2023?

About the Tulum Ruins

Beautiful seaside jagged cliffs at the Tulum Ruins

Tulum offers visitors an inside look to a rare pre-Columbian Mayan walled city. Historians believe that the origin of the ruins started as early as 564 AD, with construction mainly undertaken from the 1200s to the 1400s. What is truly unique about Tulum is that it sits on the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula on the Caribbean Sea, juxtaposing the rugged ruins with pristine blue waters.

When visiting Tulum, make sure you don’t miss the archaeological site’s highlights – these include El Castillo, Temple of the Descending God, and Temple of the Frescoes.

Being that Tulum is in close distance to Cancun other surrounding tourist hotspots, it is currently the third most-visited archaeological site in Mexico, just behind Teotihuacan and Chichen-Itza.

So Are The Tulum Ruins Worth Visiting? – Our Opinion

Time to decide if Tulum is worth visiting…

If you’re basing yourself out of the town of Tulum, the Tulum Archaeological Site is worth visiting no matter what. Being that the ruins zone is quite compact, it doesn’t take long to explore Tulum. Plus, it’s the most famous attraction within the Tulum Area, so if you don’t visit, it would be like visiting Rio de Janeiro for the first time and skipping Christ the Redeemer.

However, if you’re basing yourself out of Cancun, then you should think about this question carefully. We’re not saying Tulum isn’t worth visiting on its coastal beauty alone – because it is. Still, we won’t sugar-coat it – Tulum is crowded. Many tours pass through from neighbour towns, and it’s highly unlikely that you’ll get the site all to yourself.

Finding the Right Tulum Tour from Cancun

I got here early thanks to my tour guide and look – no tourists!

With all this in mind, that’s why we think it’s crucial that you find a high quality tour that strategically allows you to visit Tulum as early as possible to avoid the crowds. Cheap tour companies are abundant, but it’s so important to choose the right tour – I’ve heard reports of scamming, poor quality tours and just overall unenjoyable experiences that seem to be good to be true.

The Tulum Archaeological Site opens at 8am every day, and you want to be entering pretty much when the doors open. We entered Tulum at 8am and left at 10am, and by the time we were exiting, we had to fight crowds off because of how crowded it had become! Luckily, we had a good 1.5 hours where it was relatively empty and easy to take photographs due to our early start.

Lastly, we only think Tulum is worth visiting on a day trip if it’s coupled with other attractions, such as lagoons, cenotes and beaches. Our tour visited the hidden underwater cave of Cenote El Sueño and this was honestly the best part of our entire day trip.

Such a breathtaking and once-in-a-lifetime experience to be able to witness something so alluring! I would really recommend you check out this Cenote if there’s only one you visit during your time in Cancun.

Asher is ready to explore some marine life!

We also visited the stunning Yal-Ku Lagoon, a sanctuary for marine life where you’ll be able to swim with colourful fish and possibly even barracudas – (don’t worry, they usually lay low close to the floor).

Our tasty lunch at Punta Venado Beach Club.

Finally, we were treated to a tasty authentic Mexican by a white sandy beach and turquoise waters at Punta Venado Beach Club to cap off a fantastic day. Our tour guide and overall management of the tour was excellent, and we really felt that the fantastic tour made the trip to Tulum worth it.

To book the same tour as us, click here.

You can also find more information on the tour provider’s official website, Cancun Adventures.

Are you planning to visit the Tulum Ruins from Cancun? Do you have any questions for us? Let us know below!

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Thank you to Cancun Adventures for providing an unforgettable day trip. While this blog post was written as part of a collaboration with Beyond The Bay, our experience is a true representation of how we felt about the tour.

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