Tulum

Sunbathers and swimmers indulging in a visit to Tulum Beach's white, limestone sands and crystal blue waters need only look up in wonder at the ancient Mayan ruins -- some from as early as A.D. 250 -- dotting the cliffs above them to grasp the aura of ancient mystery that surrounds the beach.
Part of the gorgeous and increasingly popular Riviera Maya, Tulum sits 80 miles southeast of Cancun. The beach at the Tulum ruins and the beach just to the south, called Boca Paila, have luckily managed to escape the resort development permeating many of the other Riviera Maya beaches. The unspoiled beauty is marred only by the occasional drink stand or cabana, and is so private that clothing is optional.
The name Tulum, derived from the Mayan word for wall, and the ruins hovering over the beach, most notably the giant pyramid-shaped Castillo, have gained notoriety as 1 of the Mayan civilization's only walled cities. In its heyday, Tulum served as a port of call for mariners and traders, and its walls defined the ancient town's defense against invaders from sea and land.
Today, visitors from across the globe who vacation at Tulum experience 1 of Mexico's finest beaches with an added bonus: the chance to admire the architecture of the ruins and feel the awe of this ancient and notoriously advanced civilization.