Exploring_the_Ruins_of_Tulum
By Justin Burch 

While Cancun is home to beautiful hotels, resorts and numerous attractions, the area surrounding the city is known for its wealth of Mayan ruins. About 2 hours south of the city rests one of the most beautiful ancient sites in Mexico, the ruins of Tulum. This beautiful site is one of the finest attractions for a Cancun vacation. Though smaller than the well-known Chichen Itza, Tulum’s majestic setting sets it apart. Perched above the Caribbean Sea on a rocky cliff, the ruins are simultaneously captivating and foreboding.

Founded in the early 1200s, the city of Tulum reached its zenith in the 1400s as a port city in a decentralized Mayan kingdom. After the Spanish came upon the settlement in 1518, the conquistadores spoke of Tulum in the same breath as Seville. Though Tulum certainly wasn’t as large as Seville, the Spaniards perceptions speak volumes about the splendor of the site. The Spanish would later occupy the city for 70 years until the settlement was abandoned.

As the city is protected by walls on three sides, the sea on the fourth, the approach to the site is an experience in itself. You’ll enter the site through a breach in one of these 16-foot walls. As you traverse the walkway across the top, you will notice that the wall once separated portions of the city. Beyond any defensive purpose, these walls divided the ceremonial and governmental sections of the city from the residential areas.

Directly in front of you, Tulum’s Castillo (Castle) towers above the other structures. Besides the remarkable view it offers, the Castillo probably served as both the community’s primary place of worship and a type of lookout or primitive lighthouse. At the entrance of the Castillo, a plaza dividing the structure breaks off into a pair of distinctive temples.

Veering to the left of this plaza, you will enter the Templo del Dios Descendente (Temple of the Descending God). The diving or descending god depicted as an upside-down figure above the entrance to the temple appears throughout the ruins of Tulum. Though the figure’s precise significance is unknown, it may be representative of the setting sun, rain or lightning. It is also believed that the character served as a god of bees, a theory stemming from the fact that honey was one of the Mayan kingdom’s most important exports.

On the opposite side of the Castillo plaza is the Templo de Las Series Iniciales (Temple of the Initial Series). The name of the temple derives from the discovery of a stela, or stone marker, bearing a date well before the foundation of the city, presumably brought to the city from another part of the Mayan kingdom.

When you’ve finished exploring the Castillo, two other temples await your visit. The Temple of the Frescoes features restored murals depicting Mayan Gods and symbols of nature's fertility such as rain, corn and fish. North of the Castillo, The Temple of the Winds served as a storm warning system. To this day, approaching storms send whistling sounds through the center of the structure.

To make your visit to Tulum as enjoyable as possible, here are some additional travel tips. The ruins are open from 8am to 5pm daily, but most tours don’t arrive until about 10am. Hence, if you are able, try to visit Tulum first thing in the morning before it get too hot and crowded.

When you arrive at the site, here are a few things to keep in mind to avoid any headaches. Before you get to the ruins you must pass through the visitor's center, a collection of shops and restaurants. From the visitor’s center, you can choose to take a 15 minute walk down the road or board the site’s shuttle for $2. If you have a video camera in tow, expect to pay a $4 fee. It also costs $4 to enter the site, but the fee is waived on Sunday.

Lastly, be wary of the guides roaming the grounds. Many may have official badges, but don’t be surprised if you’re subjected to strange lines about the Mayan kingdom’s connection to aliens. If you enjoy a good story, however, it might be worth the plunge.

This article was written by Justin Burch. Justin writes select pieces about travel in Mexico for the Casa Magna Cancun Resort.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_Burch

Though Cancun and the Yucatan Peninsula are known by travelers as premier beach destinations, the area is also one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world. On all sides of Cancun, national parks and nature preserves provide visitors the opportunity to see unspoiled ecosystems and all their unique species. From observing marine life while scuba diving to bird watching amongst Mayan ruins, exploration of wildlife has become one of the region's most popular activities. As you explore nature in the Yucatan, keep an eye out for some Mexico's most interesting creatures.

The Yucatan Peninsula is home to at least 125 species of mammals and approximately 25% of Mexico's total mammal population. When touring the sites outside of Cancun, try to spot some of following creatures:

• Central American Spider Monkey - Some of the best sites to spot groups of playful spider monkey are the ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza and Coba. Each of these popular sites is visited by numerous tours from Cancun and highly recommended by tourists and travel experts alike.

• Jaguar and Puma - There are five species of large felines native to the Yucatan. Though these cats can sometimes be difficult to find, plenty of tourists have photographed these beautiful animals throughout the local nature preserves.

• Coatimundi and Kinkajou - As two of the region's most unique small mammals, a chance encounter with one of these oddly-named creatures is always a treat.

Of all the mammals native to the Yucatan, nearly 25% of the species spend their lives underwater. The warm, peaceful waters off the coast of Cancun have long had the ability to attract scores of whales and dolphins unlike anywhere else in the world.

• Whales - In the waters surrounding the Cancun area, at least 19 different species of whale can spotted throughout the year. While there are some aquariums and aquatic preserves that house whales, the best way to see these great open-water creatures is aboard a Caribbean tour or charter boat.

• Dolphins - Favorites of children and adults alike, 11 different species of dolphin inhabit the Yucatan waters, including the playful Bottlenose Dolphin.

In addition to the diversity of aquatic mammals found in the Yucatan, divers and marine experts come to Cancun to catch a glimpse of the wide array of tropical fish and unique sea creatures. At least ten species of shark patrol the Caribbean waters surrounding Cancun, including the peaceful Whale Shark. Here are a few of the other creatures to look for while out in the water:

• Local Freshwater Fish - In addition to the incredible diversity found in the Yucatan's freshwater populations, there are a handful of local species sought out by experts and curious travelers alike. Two of the most popular local species are the Yucatan Mosquitofish and the Mojarrita. For more of a challenge, try to track down the rare Blind Eel or Blind White Dama.

• Rays - While common varieties of rays can be found near Cancun (Southern Stingray, Manta Ray, Spotted Eagle Ray), the most interesting species is the Cownose Ray. Known for their domed heads that split into two distinct lobes, the Cownose Rays migrate south each year from the Gulf of Mexico in schools as large as 10,000.

The Yucatan Peninsula is also an excellent destination for bird watching as nearly half of all Mexico's winged creatures reside in the area. One of the best sites for bird watching is the Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve, a natural area known for its incredible flamingo population. The Isla Contoy is another favorite destination of bird watchers and one of the best sites in the world to see nesting seabirds. At the ancient city of Uxmal, Cave Swallows are known to take flight en masse and float above the ruins. Even if you don't have a chance to visit any of these special sites, you will be granted excellent bird watching opportunities wherever you travel in the Yucatan.