Tulum's greatest attraction is its location. It stands on a bluff facing the rising sun looking out on views of the Caribbean that are nothing less than spectacular. In Maya, Tulum means "Wall", and the city was christened thus because it is a walled city; one of the very few the ancients ever built. Research suggests it was formerly called Zama or " dawn" in its day, which is appropriate given the location. The square at the center of the city was probably once used for rituals or ceremonies and is flanked by the so called Castillo (The Castle) to the West. The Castillo, sometimes referred to as the lighthouse, is the tallest building at Tulum and the most famous. It stands on the above mentioned bluff, commanding a view of the ocean and coast for miles in both directions. The structure underwent several stages of building and the lintels of its upper rooms are carved with the plumed serpent motif. The rooms themselves are vaulted in classic Mayan style.

All pictures in this Mexico photo gallery are copyrighted by Victor Ovies unless stated otherwise. This includes (but is not limited to) the following photo galleries: Mexico DF, Chiapas, Yucatan, Guadalajara, Guanajuato, Puebla, Taxco and the pre-Columbian sites of Chichen Itza, Dzibichaltun, Edzna, El Tajin, Monte Alban and Mitla (Oaxaca), Palenque (Chiapas) and La Venta (Tabasco), Ruta Puuc, Tulum and Uxmal in addition to the Maya Route highlights  You may download and store them for personal use only. Unauthorized reproduction or commercial use of this material is forbidden and will be prosecuted.