Tulum
80 miles south of Cancun, near Playa del Carmen, there is a real jewel. The combination of the beautiful Caribbean coastline, the Mayan ruins of Tulum and the small secluded town is something you must experience. There is no other place in Mexico that resembles Tulum.Tulum Pueblo - The Town
A small and somewhat isolated town that offers in its tourist zone hotels, shops and traditional Mexican food stands (tortillas). However, there is no bank or ATM in town.Accommodations - Tulum Hotels
If you want to spend a night or two in Tulum, the best option is to look for a cabana near the beach.Tulum Ruins - The archaeological site
Tulum is one of the best-preserved coastal Mayan sites at the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula known as "Riviera Maya". It is one of the most-visited sites in Mexico (after Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza).Tulum ruins are unique and unlike other Mayan cities in Mexico, Tulum is relatively small, surrounded by walls (used to be a fort), and with many evedences of the interesting Mayan Diving or Descending god. The highlight of the site is El Castillo pyramid, built of a cliff just above the sea.
Eco Tourizm
Near Tulum there are parks that you may want to visit.Xel Ha and Xcaret are two Eco parks that offer many water-based attractions. If you travel with kids, these are great ways to spend a day with them.
Be aware that these places are overpriced, and once you go inside after paying about 50 USD you will find that some activities require additional payment...
I went to Xcaret and was a bit disappointed. The advertisement of the place is exaggerated and gives the impression that this is a great park with a lot of animals and attractions, which is not true (yes, they have beautiful big parrots, some flamingoes and other animals you can find in any zoo, but that's about it). I did enjoy the horses show, followed by the cultural show in the afternoon (if you go to this park, don't miss it).