Tulum Trifecta

Today we got to see more of Tulum! As Theresa told us that the Tulum ruins were the 3rd most famous and important in Mexico (after Teotihuacán and Chichén Itzá), I felt that I needed to complete the trifecta with Anne! So after breakfast, here we are waiting for our taxi in the lobby:



The ruins were only 20 minutes from our hotel, but as Theresa explained, we had to get the new tickets for the Parque del Jaguar (and there are no jaguars) which took about 40 minutes. Luckily, it was shaded and Mama Kim amused herself with phone games on a bench.

We then took a ride in the new golf carts where they bring you to the entrance to the ruins and pay again. Apparently it used to only be this 100 peso charge and Theresa felt the extra amenities weren’t worth the cost, but the golf cart rides was better for my mom - not sure the walk would be bearable in the sun.

When we entered, there were clear and pretty shaded paths - Anne called it “muy tropicale!”



Apparently, the word Tulum in Mayan means wall, and the ruins was a walled city - here I entered and erased the German tourist behind me with Apple Intelligence:



The Tulum Ruins are known because they are on these cliffs and right next to ocean - apparently very unique to be a coastal ruin. Many were here to enjoy the public beach as you can tell some locals and tourists had bikes and bags to enjoy the park itself. I guess that’s why there is the new park fee because not all actually came to see the ruins. 



Here’s the house of the cenote where they relied on the fresh water supply and the underground caves that pervade throughout the Yucatán peninsula:



There were several ruins of platforms and palaces:



Here’s the main ruin or El Castillo:





The site might have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, as it faces east and the ocean. Here are more beach and ruin pics against the backdrop of the crystal waters of the Caribbean:











We saw an iguana again enjoying the sun:



We descended the bluffs, exited through a wall, and hopped on a golf cart. We returned to the front entrance of the park which were lined with souvenir shops, a Starbucks, and performers like these guys:



They were performing Danza de los Voladores, or the Dance of Flyers - a ritual where one plays a flute on top while others hang and spin from the top using ropes. We didn’t see them hang off the top yet as we were off to our next destination.

We climbed into a taxi to head to Tulum Centro. I had researched taco joints and asked our driver what he’d recommend, as he knew all the ones I had mentioned. Anne had initially suggested the idea of taco crawl, and through various blogs pinned a few on my travel map. Our driver explained Taqueria Honorio had handmade tortillas, so we decided to head there. We each enjoyed pulled pork and skirt steak tacos treated by Mama Kim - they were so delicious and my mom said it was so fun! Here, she is intent on squeezing the entirety of her lime and a collage of the lunch:





We were then in search of ice cream from a popular shop but it recently closed. But we did get to see Tulum Centro as we walked several blocks on the main drag:



We then found another taxi for our return and were back at our hotel in 20 minutes. At the hotel, we convened at the main pool where I ordered a piña colada and we all enjoyed the pool, jacuzzi, and setting sun:







We had dinner reservations at Autor, the signature restaurant of the resort and our waiter, Bernardo was very attentive as he offered to take this photo:



A collage of our meal including pineapple with worms on top! We enjoyed a more classic haute Mexican cuisine and ate tuna, duck, tamale, brisket, and desserts of pumpkin and chocolate with Mexican vanilla ice cream:



Multiple trifectas were completed today - the three top ruins of Mexico and sight-seeing Tulum - the ruins, tacos, and the town! What a day in Tulum!