TULUM
About the place and its name: Tulum is one of sites more formerly
registered and known by world western, because already in 1518 the Spanish cronista
Juan Diaz narrated to have seen a as big city "as Seville" with a tower,
that doubtlessly was the Castle of Tulum, which in that time still was occupied
by the inhabitants of that independent headquarters. The sources of century XBI
designate to the site with the name of "Zamá", that possibly
talks about to the Mayan word for "morning" or "dawn", which
is comprehensible since the site is located in the highest portion of the Eastern
coast, in where exactly to contemplate the dawn is a specially remarkable spectacle.
The name of Tulum, therefore, seems to be relatively recent. Translated to the
Spanish like "wall" or "wood fence", in clear reference to
the wall that is conserved here, this name seems to be used to designate to the
city when already it was in ruins, and is indeed with this name with which it
is briefed in century XIX, when Stephens and Catherwood "redescubren it completely"
left, just before the beginning of the War of Chaste.
Direction and
routes of access: It is located 128 kilometers to the south of Cancún
and is easily accessible through the federal highway 180, that is already a modern
one via of four tracks in the Cancún section - Beach of the Carmen, and
two ample tracks in the section Beach of the Carmen - Cancún. From Cancún,
numerous travel agencies exist that organize guided visits and the local lines
of buses offer a regular service between these two points.
Brief
history of the site: The at the moment visible buildings in Tulum, belong
in their totality to the last period of pre-Hispanic occupation of the Yucatan
Peninsula: the postclassic means - delayed (1200 - 1550 d.n.e.). Perhaps nevertheless,
the presence of some clearly associable elements to older periods, like wake 1,
dated for 564 d.n.e., as well as of the structure 59, that contains some stylistic
elements of the classic period, indicates that the establishment can have originated
at a time considerably older, the classic one early (ca. 400 0 500 d.n.e.). In
agreement with the archaeological studies published years in the last, sufficiently
consistent evidence exists to assure that Tulum would have been one of the main
Mayan cities of centuries XIII and XIV. Ernesto Vargas is outstanding its strategic
location between the provinces (kuchkabaloob) of Cochuah and Cozumel, which, added
to its location on the highest elevation of the region and its efficient defensive
system, would have located to him like an inescapable establishment for any commercial
route and the operation of the rich marine resources of the coast of Quintana
Roo. In agreement with the author before mentioned, Tulum would have worked politically
like an establishment (or batabil) independent of the dominion of other provinces,
until practically the arrival of the Spaniards in century XVI, when definitively
it was left.
General performances: Being the site more known
and publicitado of Quintana Roo, Tulum the zone cannot need in the itinerary of
any visitor. Although more by the beauty is known him their beaches, must insist
on the importance of their paintings murals and on the interesting urban adjustment
of their buildings. The quota of $20,00 access is of and the schedule of visit
from 08:00 to 19:00 hours during the summer and from 07:00 to 18:00 hours during
the winter, of Monday to Sunday. It does not have to let be mentioned that it
is necessary to park the vehicles in the parking of the commercial center, which
requires the payment of an additional quota, not controlled by the INAH; the passage
from near 1 kilometer located between the parking and the entrance to the site,
can be made on board on foot or of a small train (related either to the INAH),
whose tariff is of $10.00. It is recommended not to acquire the products that
offer the salesmen located in the access area to the site, by found located irregularly
in that zone.
Services that are offered: The site counts on parking
in the area of the commercial center, sanitary and an area of expedition of tickets.
In the town, as well as in the commercial center, located to little more of a
kilometer hotel facilities exist, as well as diverse on sale dedicated establishments
of foods and crafts of the region. A grouping of certified guides exists who offer
their services during the hours of visit
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