The archaeological site of Tulum is spectacularly situated on a clifftop, majestically overlooking a palm-fringed beach and the turquoise Caribbean Sea.
The fortified civilisation has ramparts still remaining — you pass through a narrow gate in the walls to enter the compound. The walls were built several metres thick and between three to five metres tall to protect the outer three sides of Tulum, during the late post-classic period 1200-1521 AD, which was a period of conflict between Mayan city-states. The restored buildings are Toltec in influence with features such as serpent columns at the temple's entrance of El Castillo, the watchtower; and diving relief figures above the doors of the Templo del Dios Descendente and El Palacio.
Once you have toured around the Mayan structures, you may like to descend the cliff path to cool off in the sea below.