Chichen Itza is the largest of the archaeological cities of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. It is one of Mexico’s most visited tourist destinations. It was granted World Heritage Site status in 1988 by UNESCO World Heritage Site and was recently selected as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Many tourists visit Chichen Itza as a day trip, especially from Cancun, more than 100 miles away. This archaeological site is also an hour and a half away from Merida, the capital of Yucatan. The Mayan communities near Chichen Itza have developed many wonderful sites for travelers to rejoice in the Maya Cultural heritage. It is recommended you avoid a day-trip visit to Chichen Itza and schedule a night or two to enjoy all the activities nearby. This allows time to see more than just a portion of this large site. If you stay a night here, come to the archaeological site early in the day before the sun is so hot, and before most of the day-trippers arrive. This is a large park and usually visitors are on a tight schedule, consider the services of a guide. They can be found in the museum at the entrance and are very nice and reasonably priced. If you tire of their company, they will not be offended if you mention that you would like to visit on your own. A guide can give you information on sleeping overnight at the site.

If you want a real peaceful weekend vacation, then Tulum might be the greatest area for you. Far away from the city you’ll find this Mexican countryside and coast, a refresher from the busy city. This tiny town  is two hours away from crazy Cancun. The Riviera Maya is the area of Mexico’s Caribbean coast from Cancun to roughly Tulum, which is about a half hour south of Playa del Carmen on the Riviera Maya.

Staying in Tulum will give tourists different options on how to spend their vacation. The area is divided into three different sections: these are the Mayan ruins, the hotel zone and the pueblo. Tulum Pueblo is referred as El Pueblo by locals. It is the center of shopping and strolling over stores in Tulum. Tourist industry are mainly located here where many of the stores, supermarkets, bus stations, inns, hostels and small hotels are found. Aside from shopping, the area is also where you can find exceptional restaurants, pubs, banking, cafes, etc.

Lastly, the Mayan ruins or the Tulum Ruinas is the archaeological site where the Mayan ruins of Tulum stand. It is also a road flanked by various restaurants, a commercial area, a profound parking lot, a small bus station and middle range hotels. All these areas are only minutes away from each other.

The Mayan ruins of Tulum are the third most visited historical site in Mexico, apart from Teotihuacan and Chichen Itzá. The Tulum ruins are often said to be the most well stored Mayan ruins in the world.

Along the Riviera Maya, the beaches of Tulum are one of the most beautiful beaches that attract thousands of tourists from different points of the world.