Hotels near Tulum Archaeological Zone

The Tulum Archaeological Zone is the reason many people come, and it does not disappoint - the only major Maya city built on the coast, its weathered temples perched on a limestone cliff above a turquoise cove. Once a walled port guarding Caribbean trade routes, its centrepiece is El Castillo, the clifftop temple framed by sea and sky in every photograph. A wooden staircase leads down to a small crescent beach below the ruins where you can swim, and resident iguanas sun themselves on the ancient stones.

Pro Tip: Arrive right at the 8am opening to beat the heat and tour buses, and bring swimwear so you can cool off at the little beach tucked beneath El Castillo.