Riviera Maya - Mexico: Xel-Ha & Tulum

GetAway Travel Service

Our Travels

	We visited enough hotels for now - let's take a break. An excursion to Xel-Ha and Tulum is the perfect way to spend a day.
Xel-Ha
Xel-Ha (pronounced shell-hah) is a 10 acre "eco-park" that offers a beautful calm cove which is the perfect place for both experienced and beginner snorkelers. Xel-Ha has clear warm waters and brilliant fish. We recommend an all-inclusive excursion package which includes transportation from your Riviera Maya hotel, entrance to the park, snorkel gear, food and drinks (for after the swim!). The food service is actually quite good and the swimming is fantastic. You can easily spend much of the day here.
Here is a great shot of the jungle surrounded lagoon at Xel-Ha. There is a cave you can swim into to get your picture taken, cliff diving, rafts you can rent and lots and lots of fish to see. The water moves calmly to the sea and there are no waves and currents to pull you about.
We don't want to pass up any chance to see animals! These pretty birds are part of the attraction at Xel-Ha
Xel-Ha also has a dolphin swim option. It is extremely popular, so if you want to add this to your list of things to do, make sure it is booked ahead of time so you won't be disappointed.
Not only do these dolphins swim and interact with you - but they fly as well!
Well we just spend the morning at Xel-Ha and finished with seeing the flying dolphins. Now we go to Tulum and see the flying Mayans!
Tulum is a Maya fortress city that directly overlooks the Caribbean. It came into prominence in the 13th century as a seaport, controlling commerce along the coast. It remained inhabited well after the arrival of the Spanish. Besides the archaeological treasures, Tulum has a very nice accessible beach area if you have the time to use it.
Tulum was actually a small city inhabited by about 600 people. It is a walled city and most of the inhabitants probably lived outside the walls leaving the interior for government and religious officials.
The Castillo is the most imposing structure at Tulum. The sun will rise across the Caribbean sea from behind the temple, completing the Mayan sun gods journey from night into day. Sacrifices were made to this god at the top of the temple. It was probably a great honor to be the sacrifice, but an honor we would hope to skip nonetheless.
The ruins at Tulum are quite beautiful. To get from the visitor center to the walled city is about a 5-10 minute walk mostly in the sun. A shuttle is available for additional cost and is well worth the price.
A quick look at the Iberostar Tucan & Quetzal