Tulum is a very small town about an hour and a half to the south of Cancun on Mexico’s Caribbean coastline. In fact the town (pueblo) is small enough for you to walk around and take in all the amazing sights.

Town

The roads here are very flat which makes it ideal for discovery the area by bike. Taxis here are very cheap but you must always remember to agree a price with the driver before you get in the vehicle. Although Tulum has seen some development in recent years it still remains a quiet unspoilt town. Surrounded by tropical jungle the town has a luxurious beachfront Hotel Zone. Tulum has a good selection of restaurants, bars and shops.

Ruins

Tulum is home to some amazing well preserved Mayan ruins which are the most popular tourist attraction in the area. Located on a hill overlooking the sea these ancient ruins were discovered in the 1800′s.

Enjoy a romantic barefoot walk along the powdery white beach and marvel at the beautiful angel fish who will swim around your feet as you paddle in the clear blue water. Although you will be walking in bright sunshine the sand here never gets hot underfoot as it is made up of hollow grains of coral which allow the air to circulate through them and not heat up. Not far from the Tulum coastline is the Great Mayan Reef which is the largest coral reef in the Western Hemisphere. The reef was badly damaged in the 2005 hurricane season but the coral reefs are now repairing and many of the different shoals of fish are returning. Just a short distance along the coast is Akumel beach where you can swim with the turtles. Tulum is all about it’s natural beauty so there are not really any watersports on offer here apart from diving and snorkelling. Just half an hours drive from Tulum is the wide sandy beach at Playacar which offers a selection of watersports including jet skiing and body boarding.

A day out at one of the ecological parks in the Tulum area is a must on your cheap holidays to Mexico. There are three parks to choose from, Xel-Ha, Tres Rios and Xcaret complete with caves for snorkelling, submerged rivers, cool welcoming lagoons, swimming with

Eco park

dolphins, landscaped gardens, water rides for all the family and Mayan theme shows.

When it comes to souvenirs the best place to go is to Suenos Maya which is just behind the Mayan ruins. Here you will find handmade jewellery, wooden carvings and lots of other traditional items to remember your holiday by. Around the ruins there are stalls selling all kinds of Mexican handicrafts including ponchos, blankets and pottery.

Tulum is an excellent base for exploring the Mayan Riviera, watch out for the many last minute holiday deals to Mexico which are always available thrughout the internet.

Akumal (place of the turtles) is a small tourist resort located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, 62 miles (an hours drive) from Cancun. From here you can take a day trip to Playa del Carmen where there is a ferry to Cozumel which is great for scuba divers or take a 20 minute drive to visit Tulum

Tulum

 where you will find lots of Mayan ruins. About 15 minutes from the town is Puerto Aventuras where you will find a museum with relics showing the history of Akumal.

Akumal

Akumal is very family orientated so if you are looking for exciting nightlife you will need to visit Playa del Carmen where you can drink and dance the night away until the early hours of the morning.

There are bars and several restaurants in the town which serve both Mayan traditional cusine and fast foods like burgers and pizza.
Handmade jewellery, folk art and original clothes are sold in the local shops and there is an artesian market which sells fruit and vegetables from local farms, pottery, hammocks and handmade blankets.
Founded in 1958, the town was originally used as a base for scuba divers. The two sandy beaches here, Akumal Bay and Half Moon Bay, are excellent for snorkelling and swimming.

The coral reef here is part of the 445 mile long Mesoamerican Reef which stretches along the Yucatan Peninsula to Honduras.

Yalku Lagoon consists of several small lagoons which are an excellent location for swimming, snorkelling and bird watching.

There are lots of cenotes (natural sinkholes) on the outskirts of the town which the early Mayans believed were sacred wells of the gods. Tourists can swim in their fresh waters and explore the hidden caves.

During the nesting season from the end of April through till October, sea turtles and green turtles lay their eggs on the beaches here in Akumal. However the sea turtles suffer many losses as the eggs hatch between June and November which is during the hurricane season here. The sea turtles are an endangered species and are protected by federal law here in Akumel.

Whilst on your family holidays to Akumal you can enjoy all the fun at one of the three waterparks which are located near the town.

There are lots of holiday deals to Mexico throughout the internet, you won’t be disappointed by this wonderful, magical country with all it has to offer.