"Tulum-sugar-white beaches, ruins, caves!" Tulum by Kindra

These beaches are gorgeous- sparkling blue, clear waters with gentle waves and nearby snorkeling; sugar-white soft sand, never crowded, peaceful.... a number of high-class luxury resorts are popping up in the Tulum area, a 2 hour drive south of Cancun.

Tulum Ruins from the sea

These ruins are among the smaller ones in the excavated Mexican-Mayan world but they are fabulous because of their rare location next to the sea. You can go to the beach AND see some ruins in the same experience! Many many day-trippers make their way from Cancun, Playa del Carmen and the many all-inclusive resorts in-between so Tulum is not so peaceful. Early morning and later afternoon (the ruins close around 5 pm) visits are the best way to avoid the brunt of the crowds though my sister and I bee-lined it to the beach and cooled off the crystal-clear waters until the crowds dissipated somewhat.

The Bat Cave inside the Dos Ojos Cenote

Tulum has MUCH more than just ruins and beach. For divers and snorkelers, the cenotes in the Tulum region are a great alternative to the sea. The Cenote Dos Ojos is part of the second-largest underground river in the world, with a length of about 26 km. The Dos Ojos system has a number of entrances and pools including each eye (the name means 'two eyes' in spanish) and the Bat Cave. For snorkelers and divers, you can don your wetsuits and gear and then explore the crystal clear (80 metre visibility) waters, illuminating colours, stalactites and animal life that are part of the cave as you move from one section to another through the various caves. AMAZING

• Pros:Beautiful beaches, ruins, caves, food... it goes on
• Cons:None, seriously!
• In a nutshell:Much more than just the ruins, this is worth more than a day trip