Tulum (“rampart” in Mayan), the only city built on the shore of the Caribbean Sea, was a fortress protected by thick walls. Originally called Zamá (“sunrise”), this east-west aligned Mayan city housed buildings dedicated to astrological observation. It stands on the highest hill in the region and was an unavoidable stop for merchants and sailors travelling along the coast.
The site's most emblematic building, the “Castillo”, sits on a cliff facing the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. It served as a lighthouse, helping navigators avoid the coral reefs. In the evening, for a moment, with the sea before them and the “Castillo” to their right, visitors can feel as though they are the only inhabitants of the site.
The city is also home to various temples, such as the Temple of the Frescoes, used as an observatory to track the sun's movement, the Temple of the Descending God (temple of the sun), and the Temple of the Wind, as well as several houses, such as the House of the Chultun, the House of the Columns and the House of the Great Lord.
While the overgrown vegetation of the Tulum cenote, which once supplied the city with drinking water, may not appeal to today's swimmers, they will find everything they need on the site's beaches.
