Alluring Ancient Sights
Whenever I’m traveling for work and play, I love to experience a day trip or two to see what’s special in a foreign land. The Riviera Maya has so many different scenes to explore, however no tour of the area would be complete without a visit to at least one Mayan ruin. I’m sure you can guess that I’m not the biggest archaeology buff on the planet, and yet seeing these beautiful ancient sites in Mexico was so impactful and inspiring for me that I just had to share them with all of you!
I know what it can be like right before you leave for a new place. It seems like everyone and their granddaughter needs to get a hold of you, and with so many little things to finish up, you might arrive exhausted and feeling like all you can do is plop on the beach. As always we at Diving Living aim to make it a little bit easier for you to venture out and see the world by curating the best of the best spots. So enjoy our guide to three spectacular day trips from the Riviera Maya. When you’re standing there in awe of a thousand-year-old pyramid, you’ll be glad you left the hammock, trust me.
Carretera Federal No. 307 Km 128, 77710 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
Open 8am – 4pm Daily
Tulum means “wall” in Mayan, and these impressive ruins are left behind from where the lost civilization’s seaport city of Zama (meaning City of Dawn) once stood. A former trade center, the city housed just 600 residents on these rocky cliffs above the gorgeous white sand beach. As one of the only walled cities built by the Mayans, it’s a rare, magical sight made all the more beautiful by a backdrop of turquoise waters. To add to the adventure, make it into a beach day, or go for a tour of the surrounding eco preserve. This is a major tourist destination, so if you seek a more peaceful experience try getting there right when it opens at 8am, or around 3pm near closing time.
Just a few miles northeast of downtown Tulum and across from the airport, in a gorgeous preserved area called Xel-Ha Nature park.
FROM MAYAKOBA: It’s about a 45 minute to 1 hour drive by car. Either hop in your rental car, hire a car service/taxi, sign up for a tour shuttle from your hotel, or go for a private luxury tour. Be mindful that if you opt for a group bus, you won’t be able to avoid the crowds.
FROM TULUM: The ruins are just 2.5 miles from downtown. If you’re staying in the Tulum area, it should be a quick drive or cab ride, but can take up to 20 minutes if you’re coming from the beaches to the south. There are always cabs along the Tulum beach road, and if you’re up for a trek, you can also bike or walk.
The ruins are about half a mile from the parking lot, so you can walk or take the tram. Local guides will be available on-site to teach you about the ruins—but make sure you only hire a guide officially licensed by the Mexican Secretary of Tourism.
64 pesos for the entrance fee (cash is best), sunglasses, camera, beach bag, hat, water, wrap or light jacket.
Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
Open 8am-6pm Daily
Cenotes are beautiful underground pools formed from collapsed limestone caves. There are thousands of them in the Yucatán, and the Mayans considered them sacred portals to the gods. The Grand Cenote just outside of Tulum is perfect for a first time experience. It has a large open-air space that’s easy to access via wooden staircases, a deck for lounging, and a shallow area you can walk around in. If you’re friendly with turtles and bats, you can swim and snorkel around the cold, clear water, or opt for a diving tour to explore the caves.
A few miles west of Tulum, easily accessible right along the 109 highway to Coba.
FROM MAYAKOBA: It will take you about 1 hour by car. Either hop in your rental car, hire a car service/taxi, or sign up for a tour.
FROM TULUM: It can be a 5-20 minute drive depending on if you’re coming from downtown, or the beaches. Hire a taxi or hop in your rental car to arrive at your leisure.
Like with any of these locales, come early or later to avoid crowds. Bringing cash for the entrance fee and gear rental is easiest.
120 pesos entrance fee / 150 for divers, 80 pesos for renting snorkel gear or bring your own, arrive suited up for swimming in shoes that can get wet.
Yucatán, Mexico
Open 9am-5pm daily
One of the new seven wonders of the world, during Toltec times Chichén Itzá was the most powerful city in the Yucatán. For over a thousand years the ancient Mayans would travel there to visit the Sacred Cenote, which they dedicated to their rain god. After the Toltecs took over the city and built it up, it became a center of the ancient civilization. What’s left behind is an impressive collection of well-restored ruins that offer a rare and intimate look into the past. You’ll want to be in a pretty adventurous mood to set off here, as Chichén Itzá is at least two hours from Mayakoba and Tulum. It also tends to be hot and crowded, so we definitely recommend arriving before the 10am buses.
In the central Yucatán, halfway between Merida and Cancun.
To avoid crowds we recommend driving yourself or booking a private luxury tour for an early arrival. Some private tours even grant you early access to the site.
Be ready to be on your feet. This area does get hot and and there’s little shade, so come prepared. To make a day of it, you can include a trip to a nearby cenote, such as the Cenote Yokdzonot. Your entrance to Chichén Itzá grants you same-day reentry, so you might even return for the 45 minute light show that starts each night at 8pm in the summer and 7pm in the winter.
250 pesos for the entrance fee & more if you want headphones with audio commentary, sunscreen, broad-brimmed hat, binoculars.
