Tulum, Quintana Roo
Tulum on the map of Mexico
Tulum is a city in Mexico. It is located on the Caribbean coast on the east side of the Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo.
Geography
The town of Tulum is divided into two parts. The former fishing village of Tulum is located on the highway Cancun - Chetumal, about 2 km as the crow flies from the beach. Here are the administration, post office, banks, shops, schools, bus station and taxi ranks, almost the entire municipal infrastructure. An approximately 7 km Directly along the coast is long emerged Zona Hoteleria that expands resistant to the south. It is dominated by hotels and holiday resorts, as well as first souvenir and supply shops. The two parts are connected with a wide access road, which is the highway link to Valladolid in the extension.
The climate of Tulum is tropical with an annual average of 25 ° C. The position on the Yucatecan limestone slab, seep into the precipitates immediately and do not form surface waters nevertheless have a steppe -like landscape with dry forests, selva called. An exception are the cenotes, irrigations of the limestone slab, where the ceiling has collapsed, leaving behind a year-round water -filled hole. These lakes have its own microclimate with humid tropical vegetation.
Directly in front of Tulum's coastline lies the Caribbean Reef, a coral reef, which extends from the northern tip of the Yucatan to go to Belize. It protects the beach from high waves. The Caribbean coast is a gateway for hurricanes. The word hurricane probably has its origins in the Mayan language and means " God of Wind ". Tulum is in direct danger area.
In Tulum next to Mexicans from all parts of the country are now many Europeans have settled, mostly Spaniards, Italians and French. You operate, inter alia, Hotels, restaurants and craft shops.
In Census 2005, the city had 14,790 inhabitants. She's since March 13, 2008 the administrative seat of the newly established Municipio Tulum.
History
The Caribbean coast was probably inhabited continuously since the Mayan time due to their natural resources and the coastal trade. The historic Tulum, then probably a kind of new estate of northerly Tankah, probably had a firm place in coastal trade network that stretched from El Meco about El Rey, Cozumel, Xel Ha, Xcaret, Tankah / Tulum on Muyil up to Belize and Honduras. After arrival of the Spaniards, the Maya sites were abandoned and the coastline sank into insignificance. A scattered settlement by fishermen and subsistence farmers was still be operated, as shown by Spanish sources.
Since the decision of the Mexican government in 1969 to found the tourist center of Cancun, the then existing fishing village of Tulum moved slowly into the tourist and regional planning focus. The resort recorded a steadily growing population. Due to the economic development of recent history Tulum experienced a rapid gain importance, so that the city since 2008, is the center of the newly established county of the same name. An international airport is under construction.
Culture and sights
With its running in a north-south direction fine sandy beaches which slope gently into the sea, and the offshore reef, which attenuates the surf strong, offers the Zona Hoteleria of Tulum good recreation and swimming. Also popular are snorkeling or diving trips to the reef. You can do deep sea sport fishing trips. The formerly widespread accommodation of tourists in simple huts ( cabanas, palapas with hammocks ) made of wood or woven mats is almost completely replaced by hotels and resorts.
In and around Tulum, there are several cenotes, where you can swim and dive. One of them, the Grand Cenote of the city lies about 8 km north-west on the road to Valladolid.
Important tourist attraction the Mayan ruins of Tulum are east of town on the highway to Cancun. The ritual center of Zama is located at the northern end of Zona Hotereria and has since built on a cliff, well visible from the beach.
Local tour operators offer day or half- day trips to surrounding attractions and recreational opportunities, such south of Tulum Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, which was established in 1987 by Unesco as a World Heritage Site. Covering an area of 5,280 km ² diverse habitats found with a rich animal and plant life. The protected area extends over the mainland, fresh and salt water lagoons and coastal and marine areas, including the offshore reef.
The non-governmental organization Cesiak maintains the north of the conservation area, an information center and organizes lectures and training to ecosystems and species protection. Projects for environmental education aimed primarily at the elementary school students of Tulum; the education program is funded from the tourism revenue of the information center.
Moreover, one can make trips to the lagoon of Akumal or to the Mayan ruins of Coba and Muyil.
Economy and infrastructure
The city is right on the to Tulum running on the coast 4-lane Carretera federal 307, which connects the northern tourist resorts Cancun and Playa del Carmen with Chetumal, the capital located in the south of Quintana Roo.
Tulum is connected with long-distance buses via Valladolid to the Yucatec capital Mérida. The highway is already partially expanded to 4 lanes.
To further the development of tourism and infrastructure is an international airport under construction. As grounds therefor, an area north of the access road is provided to Valladolid. The land for the start and railways that are already defined and visible in the satellite view. The airport is located about halfway to Cobá about 20 km north-northwest of Tulum. He is scheduled to start operating in November 2010.
In total there are individual efforts to carry out a greater focus on the Sustainable Tourism Town and regional development, especially as the tourist expansion is limited by the area located at the south Biosphere Reserve.