Tulum: A Quiet Getaway
November 5th, 2009 WalterOne of the best- conserved coastal Maya sites, like the tall building that impressed me deeply is the great El Castillo. The Temple of the Descending God is to the left of El Castillo when looking out to sea. Above the door of the temple is a stucco relief of a figure prevalent at Tulum, the upside-down winged god that also shows bee-like features. This figure is sometimes referred to as the “diving god” for the reason that of its location. The Tulum ruins are the third most-visited archaeological site in Mexico,
Tulum is now a popular site for tourist, it’s protected on one side by steep sea cliffs and on the landward side by a wall. The wall also was about 8 meters thick and 400 meters long on the side parallel to the sea. This gigantic wall would have taken an enormous amount of energy and time, which shows how vital defense was to the Maya when they constructed the site here. On the southwest and northwest corners there are small structures that have been recognized as watch towers, showing once more how well secured the city would have been. There are five narrow gateways in the wall with two each on the north and south sides and one on the west. Near the northern side of the wall a small cenote would have provided the city with fresh water. It is this remarkable wall that makes Tulum one the most renowned fortified sites of the Maya.
Tulum hotels are, for the most part, small, low-rise and quite simple. Although the numbers of resorts along the beach are growing, this region still feels pretty undeveloped. I’ve learned electricity around the beach area is restricted and it isn’t available twenty four hours a day since power is only supplied by generators.Many hotels only have lighting in the evenings and it is fairly extraordinary to have rooms with electrical sockets. Although there is no air-conditioning, most hotels do have rooms with ceiling fans.
Tulum has an amazingly good collection of little beach bars and restaurants including Mexican, vegetarian and Italian. There are a great variety of activities accessible including snorkeling, diving and fishing tours. Tulum truly is the place to escape and relax .Staying in a little beach cabana, just steps away from the ocean; you’ll appreciate the simpler things in life, like lying in a hammock under a shady palm tree, exploring the natural wonders of this area and walking along the beach to dinner under a blanket of stars. If you want to run away from the hustle and bustle of the city and just want a quiet place to get away from it all, Tulum is just the thing.
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