Tulum The City in Disguise
If you read the international travel books on Mexico you will find only a few pages about a backpack destination called Tulum. Its claim to fame is the famous Tulum Ruins, the only Mayan ruins located on the coast overlooking the ocean. Travel books speak to the inexpensive if not ‘cheap’ accommodations on the beach and the truly laid back atmosphere where people come to relax and hang out in hammocks.

The travel books are correct on this Tulum, but they leave out some features that only local people and regular visitors know about. Tulum is much more than the Ruins and Cabanas on the beach, it is an eco-center that celebrates both the ocean and jungle. The Mayans have relied and praised the natural diversity in the area and new entrepreneurs are continuing this praise through the creation of unique hotels, restaurants and activities.

Located 60 km south of Playa Del Carmen, Tulum is a Mayan term for ‘the wall’. The name was used to describe one of the few cities surrounded by walls to either keep invaders out or keep its spiritual practices retained in one area. The unique characteristics inherent to this area have drawn people to this magical place for thousands of years. Some say it is due to the environment, others say it is a spiritual place due to its central location in the heart of the Mayan communities. Whatever the reason, it continues to thrive as the little town that could without sacrificing its charm and guarantee of beautiful beaches, peace, tranquility and a unique Mexican village experience.

Successfully, Tulum has undergone business changes within the hotel, food and ecotourism industry. Mayans coexist with Europeans and North Americans who respect the business and private practices of this great village. It is a place for people to come and do what they love in a spirit to share with the international visitors. Everyone, residents and travelers alike, comes to experience the magic of this great community.

The Mayan/Euro/American combo has made vacationing in Tulum an easy and pleasurable experience. There are a variety of living/staying options for travellers who stumble across this village. As a group, businesses have introduced services that cater to all travellers tastes and have successfully united the likes of different budgets along one coastline. This unspoken partnership is what maintains the unique charm of this village.

So once a quiet village, Tulum is now a city in disguise. To the unsuspecting traveler, Tulum remains the sleepy backpackers haven that offers serenity, tranquility and exquisite scenery. For those who know Tulum well, its is the city that projects the image of a Mayan village but truly functions like a city.