5 Reasons Why Tulum Is Once A Visit In Lifetime

Mexico’s Tulum has become, thanks to its white-sand beaches and Mayan ruins, a great alternative to a Cabo vacation. Here are 5 reasons for visiting this laid-back beach town.

* Enjoy the astounding ruins

The 13th-century Mayan archaeological ruins are not Mexico’s largest, but their beachfront location makes them a truly jaw-dropping sight. The clifftop watchtower, or Castillo, is a vestige from when the area was used as a port and is one of the country’s most photographed sites.

* Enjoy the spectacular wildlife

Tulum is home to an amazing array of animals, from monkeys and jaguars to sea turtles and iguanas. One place to get a closer glimpse at all of them is at the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, the largest protected area in the Mexican Caribbean and one of the world’s top ecotourism destinations. Sian Ka’an offers refuge to thousands of species of flora and fauna, which is why, in 1987, it was granted a World Heritage site designation by UNESCO.

* Explore the cenotes

Tulum is surrounded by cenotes, or underwater sinkholes, attracting divers, swimmers and adventurers year-round. Once revered as sacred by the ancient Mayans, Gran Cenote, located about 4mi (7km) inland from the beach, is a particularly popular location. And don’t fret, snorkels and other scuba-diving equipment are available to rent on-site.

* Zip-line through paradise

Don’t want to dip into the water? That’s okay – you can fly above it. Sports companies such as Aventuras Mayas offer more adventurous travelers the opportunity to speedily travel through the jungle on its Riviera Maya zip lines. The company provides tours that take around six hours and can also include a chance to rappel down a 60ft (18m) rock face and snorkel through an underground cenote.

* Enjoy the incredible selection of fruits

Tulum offers delicious fruits in abundance, with coconut standing out as a particular favorite for tourists. After a night at the bar, nothing will rehydrate you as quickly as the juice of a young, green coconut or a fruit salad with a delicious coconut milk dip.