Day Trips to Tulum Ruins from Cancun

The walled city of Tulum is the most advanced of the Mayan constructions. Based on the concept of the four corners, which refer to the cardinal points, the cosmic pattern of the city as a quadrilateral referred to an ordered, rational and dual world, because it was offered equally to men and gods.

All these characteristics make the Tulum Ruins an impressive site, intimately related to the cosmology and customs of the Mayan culture, and also an essential attraction among the activities to see and do in Cancun.

These bus tours from Cancun offer you the chance to see the Tulum Ruins in just six hours.

With them, you will be able to visit the walled city with the assistance of an expert local guide who will tell you the history of the buildings, especially the main palace known as El Castillo and the Temple of the Descending God, which, in addition to having a very particular aesthetic, gives the city the quality of a burial site.

This type of excursion also includes a descent to the beach of Tulum, which is located below the cliff crowned by El Castillo.

Playa Ruinas and Playa Tortuga, located right next to the Temple of the God of the Wind, are two of the most beautiful beaches in the Mexican Caribbean, with nothing to envy to the best beaches of Cancun.

This is an ideal tour if you are looking for a quick tour or if you have a short stay in the city. In that case, here is a list of what you can see and do in Cancun in three days

The price of the tour usually includes round-trip hotel pick-up and drop-off, entrance fees to the walled city and the permanent assistance of an expert local guide.

Details of interest

• Price of the tour... Starts from 59 euros per person, including return transfers, entrance fees to the ruins and the assistance of the local expert guide.
• Duration of tour... Approximately 6 hours.
• Advantages of this tour... You will be able to see the walled city quickly and efficiently at a good price.

The ruins of Tulum and Chichen Itza are the two most famous Mayan archaeological sites in the world. Both have a particular beauty as well as features that give you an insight into what life was like in the Mayan culture.

Although you can visit them separately, as there are several excursions to Chichen Itza from Cancun, with this two-day tour you will save money and get to know both sites in more depth.

The first day is dedicated to Chichen Itza and its treasures, which include El Castillo, the most famous Mayan temple, the Great Ball Court, the Temple of the Warriors and the Sacred Cenote, which is 60 metres in diameter and has vertical walls of more than fifteen metres.

Chichen Itza, considered one of the new seven wonders of the modern world, will leave you open-mouthed with its pyramids and temples.

On the second day you can visit the ruins of Tulum, its main buildings and temples, as well as the beaches below the cliff of El Castillo.

This way you will have been able to get the most out of your visit to Cancun by getting to know the two most important architectural references of the Mayan culture.

Interesting details

• Price of the excursion... Starts from 136 euros per person, including return transfers, entrance fees to Chichen Itza and Tulum Ruins and lunch on the first day.
• Duration of the tour... The tour is a two-day tour, with twelve hours of sightseeing in each day.
• Advantages of this excursion... It is the most complete tour to visit the two most important archaeological sites of the Mayan culture.

This kind of day trip is one of the most complete, as it offers you the opportunity to visit with the assistance of an expert local guide the archaeological site of Tulum, with its buildings and temples, as well as the site of Coba, one of the Mayan cities of the classic period that stands out for the Pyramid of Nohoch Mul, a main construction of 120 steps that is the only one of the Mayan relics in which you will be allowed to climb.

In Coba you can also access the Choo Ha Cenote and have a typical Mexican lunch before heading to the last destination, Playa del Carmen, another of the wonders of the Riviera Maya.

In this last place, you will be able to visit the silver of the Caribbean coast and stroll through its pedestrian streets and designer shops.

These excursions usually last twelve hours and are ideal for the summer months when the heat is at its hottest. If you're travelling to Cancun in April, be aware that the cenotes and Playa del Carmen may be more crowded than usual.

Interesting details

• Price of the tour... Starts from 56 euros per person, including return transfers, entrance fees to the attractions and lunch.
• Duration of the tour... Approximately twelve hours.
• Advantages of this tour... You will be able to visit several places in one tour, saving time and money.
• Disadvantages of this tour.... As it includes many destinations in a short time, you may feel that you don't get to see any of them. You will have to be particularly fast to visit the Tulum Ruins in an hour and a half as these excursions offer.

This is an ideal excursion for those who want to combine a historical tour experience with a fun visit to a natural park.

First you will tour the Tulum Ruins with the assistance of an expert local guide who will take you around the main buildings and take you to two of the most beautiful beaches in the Mexican Caribbean.

Although excursions to Xel-Ha Park from Cancun are a classic, with this tour you won't have to spend another day doing it. After leaving the site you'll be able to enjoy five hours in the park to lose yourself in the nature and jungle of the Riviera Maya.

You'll be able to snorkel, walk along the winding jungle paths, access an open bar for drinks and food and relax in the hammock areas and comfortable lounge chairs.

These tours usually include round-trip transfers from Cancun Hotel Zone with hotel pick-up, entrance fees to the walled city of Tulum and entrance fees to Xel Há Park. This is an ideal tour if you are visiting Cancun with children.

Details of interest

• Price of the tour... Starts from 144 euros per person, including transfers to and from the hotel, entrance fees to the attractions and the open bar at Xel Ha.
• Duration of tour... Approximately eight hours.
• Advantages of this tour... You will be able to combine the experience of visiting a historical archaeological site and then relax in a natural park.
• Disadvantages of this tour... As this tour has many hours of visiting the natural park of Xel Ha, the tour of the Tulum Ruins may seem short.

This option is interesting because it offers a variety of activities. Mainly you will get to know the walled city in the Tulum Ruins, with its historical buildings and access to the beaches below the cliff of El Castillo, bathed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea.

From the coast of Tulum you will cruise along the coral reefs by boat and there is a good chance of spotting turtles and rays. Throughout the tour you will be assisted by an expert local guide.

After Tulum, the excursion heads into the Yucatan subtropical rainforest, one of the wettest in the world, to snorkel again in the crystal clear waters of the cenotes of the Xtun Caverns, which are noted for their stalactites and stalagmites. These are noted for the stalactites and stalagmites that crown the walls and ceilings.

This type of excursion usually includes entrance fees to the attractions, snorkelling equipment and safety equipment, and lunch, which is usually a typical Mexican dish.

It is a tour that can be done with children and one of the best cenotes excursions because of the particularity of the Xtun caverns.

Details of interest

• Price of the excursion... Starts from 106 euros per person, including transfers, entrance fees to the attractions and lunch.
• Duration of tour... Approximately eight hours.
• Advantages of this tour... You can combine very different experiences, such as a tour of the Tulum Ruins and a visit to the Xtun Caverns, a somewhat complicated destination to visit outside of an excursion.

The best way to book an excursion to the Tulum Ruins is in advance online. In that case you will be able to decide the date, the itinerary and know the details of the service providers and the options included in the excursion you booked.

As with the Chichen Itza tours, you can book it directly at a tourist office during your stay in Cancun, but you will not have details of the excursion.

You should also keep in mind that if you are travelling during high season you may have problems booking the Tulum excursion.

If you are visiting Cancun in May, for example, it would be best to book in advance so you don't risk having to change your itinerary or miss out on the walled city due to lack of space.

The answer depends on which tour option you choose. Generally they can last between six and twelve hours. The minimum duration is for the express tour and the maximum duration is for the full day tours that include several destinations.

You should be aware that sometimes including many visits in a short space of time can be of little benefit, as it can give you the feeling that you are not seeing all of the sites in their entirety.

The walled city is very large and has many buildings, and it is also interesting to spend a few minutes on the beaches, which are among the most beautiful in the Caribbean Sea.

Therefore, analysing well what your itinerary will be and what sites you want to see at your leisure could help you to make the right decision regarding the right excursion.

In principle you will visit the Tulum Ruins, which is one of the most important sites of the Mayan culture, but depending on which excursion you choose, you will also visit other sites and have very different experiences.

Below I will tell you what you can expect from each place:

• Ruins of Tulum: It is one of the most famous archaeological sites of the Mayan civilisation and the most visited, only behind Chichen Itza. This walled city has more complex architectural buildings than its predecessors. Its cliff-top location, which leads to the Caribbean Sea, gives the city two of the most beautiful beaches in the Mexican Caribbean.
• Chichen Itza: The most famous archaeological site of the Mayan culture. Considered one of the new seven wonders of the modern world, mystical Chichen Itza is also the site of historical monuments such as El Castillo, the ball court, temples and magical spaces such as the Sacred Cenote.
• Coba: It is the largest archaeological city of the classic period of the Mayan culture. It has the Pyramid of Nohoch Mul, a main construction of 120 steps that is the only one of the Mayan relics where you will be allowed to climb.
• Playa del Carmen: It is the most famous coastal area of the Riviera Maya. There you can enjoy its white sandy beaches and crystal clear water, pedestrian streets and souvenir shops.
• Xel Há: In this natural park set in the jungle of the Riviera Maya you can snorkel, walk along the jungle trails and use the common rest areas with hammocks, chairs and armchairs.
• Xtun Caverns: This is one of the most humid places on the planet, located in the subtropical heart of the Yucatan jungle; it stands out for the stalactites and stalagmites of its caverns and enormous cenotes.

The walled city is very large, so you will have to do a lot of walking. It is advisable to bring comfortable shoes and water for hydration, although most tours will provide drinks.

It is also important that you choose the right tour for you and that it fits in perfectly with your travel plan.

There are many tours and excursions in Cancun and many consist of many visits in a short period of time.

It's not a bad idea, but you should be aware that in places like Tulum you may feel that you don't have enough time to see it all.

It will depend on the type of excursion you choose and what services it offers. There are budget options, such as the express tour to Tulum, with a very good price/quality ratio and there are also alternatives that include several destinations for a good price. An express tour costs around 59 euros.

In any case, it is important to see which option best suits your trip and your budget, always bearing in mind that it should be the most complete option, as far as possible.

The tour that includes a visit to Chichen Itza and the Tulum Ruins starts at 136 euros with entrance fees included and is a good alternative to save time and, above all, money while you get to know the two most important archaeological sites of the Mayan civilizations.

It is recommended because it is one of the most interesting sites in Quintana Roo and because it is a major construction site for the Mayan civilisation. Together with Chichen Itza, they are the two most important Mayan archaeological sites and also two of the most spectacular.

If you visit Mexico, you will definitely find Tulum one of the best things to do on your trip to Cancun and it can be even more interesting if in addition to the ruins you visit Xel Ha, Playa del Carmen or the eccentric caverns of Xtun.

You could visit the Tulum Ruins on your own but without the assistance of an expert local guide you would miss an important part of the archaeological site which is its secrets.

The walled city is beautiful to look at but richer is its history. In addition, guided tour excursions starting in Tulum can continue to other interesting destinations such as snorkelling or visiting cenotes.

In any case, expert assistance, especially on a guided tour, will help you get the most out of one of the Riviera Maya's most distinctive sites. Are you ready to get to know the wonders the Mayas built?