Grand-Sirenis.com

Carolyn and I are considering visiting Tulum Pueblo. Does anyone have any experience with Tulum Pueblo ? We plan to visit the ruins, and them perhaps the town itself. Looking for any tips etc.

Regards,
Ian

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Grand Sirenis RM 01/09, 08/10, 05/11, 05/12
Grand Paradise Bavaro 02/10
Barcelo PV 01/13
Melia PV 01/13
Sirenis Cocotal (DR) 11/12-2013

I haven't been, but you might look here: http://forums.locogringo.com/forums/tt.asp?forumid=92

Thanks Brundle.

I was on the LocoGringo site itself, looking at Tulum info, but totally glossed over the forum. Will definitely check it out.

Regards,
Ian

_________________
Grand Sirenis RM 01/09, 08/10, 05/11, 05/12
Grand Paradise Bavaro 02/10
Barcelo PV 01/13
Melia PV 01/13
Sirenis Cocotal (DR) 11/12-2013

i'y,
The Tulum Ruins are north of Tulum Pueblo. I recommend touring the ruins first, they open around 9:00 a.m.(but this is Mexico). Admission to the Archaeological Zone must be paid in pesos and should be less than $50 pesos per person, adjusting for three years inflation. The ruins site is quite large and will probably take a couple of hours to absorb. Definitely take water or sodas with you, drink it! My rule of thumb is "twice what I think I'll need." I carry a lightweight daypack and have been known to wrap several bottles and cans in a beach towel for insulation. The load gradually lightens as the day progresses. When you are sated with the antiquity, you have two options, the beach or the pueblo. There are beach clubs with beverages and food to the left when you walk out through the wall and down the steps, but they are not "close." We did walk about two miles of the beach road to a restaurant(now closed), then caught a passing cab into town, we'd had enough hiking for one day, we did stroll in town for some shopping before returning to the resort.
When it is just we two, we'll ride the collectivo, $30pesos per person max, anywhere between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. If you take the collectivo, tell the driver "Tulum Ruinas." You will be let out on the highway, about three tenths of a mile from the official entrance to the ruins. Partway in there is a plaza with shops, food and souvenirs, and a station for the tram option($20p?) to the official entrance. A taxi will drop you almost at the plaza.
If you decide to go to the pueblo, either catch a cab at the cabstand or go back out across the highway and catch a collectivo. The collectivo terminus in town is on the northbound side of the main street, just stay on 'til it stops and the driver gets out, you'll get a glimpse of most of downtown.
There are a number of restaurants, and a wide selection of shops, and a bank. Prices are tourist level, but one may haggle. There wasn't the high pressure sales thing like Playa del Carmen, "You MUST come into my shop!" and there weren't the condo tour sharks like Playa del Carmen.
Do check the collection of fora on LocoGringo.com., "Akumal and Riviera Maya" as well as "Just Tulum." One of the pull-downs up top, "places" or maybe "things to see," will pull up an aerial tour series of photographs with properties and points of interest highlighted. Grand Sirenis will be to the right(north) of Yal-ku. Tulum will be several pages left(south).
Googlearth will give you a feeling for spatial relationship and distance as well. As you zoom on the Yucatan, zoom on the mainland coastline due west of the south end of Isla de Cozumel.
Hope this helps.
Richard

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Mas aventuras, y'all!!

Richard....

INCREDIBLE information .... I think I'll be absorbing it all for a week or so.

We were thinking about a later afternoon trek to the Ruins, and then to the Pueblo for the evening. Any thoughts ?

Ian

_________________
Grand Sirenis RM 01/09, 08/10, 05/11, 05/12
Grand Paradise Bavaro 02/10
Barcelo PV 01/13
Melia PV 01/13
Sirenis Cocotal (DR) 11/12-2013

Ian,
I don't know closing time at the Ruins. Afternoons in May are liable to be HOT; reiterate: Water! Drink it! Also possibility of afternoon or evening thundershowers, refreshing sometimes, but stifling humidity and heat when the sun comes back out.
Other than that, probably a good way to do things. I'm not sure of evening dining hours, but I think local tradition leans toward later rather than earlier. There is another website I've seen, Todotulum.com(?), that has much commercial info on the pueblo, hours and such, but I think the information is by sales subscription, so maybe not encyclopedic.
The collectivos run as late as 10:00 p.m. if I remember correctly. Cabs are available later than that.
Scream when I overload you.
Richard.

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Mas aventuras, y'all!!

Overload me ? I DARE you to try, Richard !

We've been to GS 3 times now, and this will be our FIRST time to visit an archeological site, so the more info, the better. We've been to Playa and Akumal, but during the day only, and we don't have any desire, really, to see the night-life in Playa, and Tulum Pueblo look a little more "cozy".

I am also intrigued about the Muyil ruins (I believe they are in Sian Kaan Biospehere), so still doing a bit of research.

Feel free, Richard, to impart all your wisdom. It is just such wisdom (and desire to equip others with as much knowledge as possible) that makes this forum an EXCEPTION Community to belong to !

With much thanks and appreciation,
Ian

_________________
Grand Sirenis RM 01/09, 08/10, 05/11, 05/12
Grand Paradise Bavaro 02/10
Barcelo PV 01/13
Melia PV 01/13
Sirenis Cocotal (DR) 11/12-2013

Ian.
If you go to the ruins at Tulum during the day, then, as Richard says take plenty of water with you. Once inside there is no where to buy it and it is damn warm. Also there is an amazing beach with great surf to play in. You have to climb down some steps but it is great the water is pale turquoise and very refreshing after taking in the ruins.

Water is on the TOP of my list for resources for the trip.

_________________
Grand Sirenis RM 01/09, 08/10, 05/11, 05/12
Grand Paradise Bavaro 02/10
Barcelo PV 01/13
Melia PV 01/13
Sirenis Cocotal (DR) 11/12-2013

Ian,
I hate to beat the same old drum, but back to LocoGringo.com forum section, either "Newbies" or "Akumal-Riviera Maya." "Ruins" is probably too general a term to plug into their search feature, but "Muyil" or "Muyil Ruins" may get you some good information.
Ruinas Xel-ha, the Zona Archaelogico, is a little way south of the entrance to the Xel-Ha Eco-parque and on the west side of the highway. The main draw there is some quality fresco work surviving. There has been a good deal of clearing and excavation in there, identifying three clusters of structures. One has the opportunity to follow a sac-be, a Mayan road, from the main village out to the Jaguar Temple near a freshwater cenote(swimming is discouraged: cocodrillos!). Good athletic(walking, running, cross-training) shoes are recommended, heavy sandals barely adequate, and if I was going any deeper off-road, I would carry my hiking boots down and see how waterproof they are from the inside. Mrs. 'flanger and I spent a long morning there and only saw two other parties: a newlywed couple from Ciudad Mexico and a family from Illinois. Again, take water. Drink it!
Another to consider.
Richard

_________________
Mas aventuras, y'all!!

I think we've narrowed down our plan now (of course, subject to change). Think we may do the Tulum beaches (what's your recommended area for that Richard?), then up to the ruins late afternoon, and then to the Pueblo for a few hours in the evening.

LocoGringo.com is such a great resource as well. I just always return here as GS is home base for us in Mexico. Only place we've ever been to in Mexico.

Ian

_________________
Grand Sirenis RM 01/09, 08/10, 05/11, 05/12
Grand Paradise Bavaro 02/10
Barcelo PV 01/13
Melia PV 01/13
Sirenis Cocotal (DR) 11/12-2013

Ian,
I really can't help with the beach scene since our favorite place was shut down. It was supposedly something to do with ecological impact or such. Sorry.
Richard

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Mas aventuras, y'all!!