The stone fortress of Tulum rises above the Caribbean Sea on the Yucatán Peninsula and is one of Mexico’s most famous Maya sites.

 

 

Although Christopher Columbus did not personally visit Tulum, during his fourth voyage in 1502 his crew encountered Maya traders along the coast of Central America, marking one of the first European contacts with the region’s advanced civilisations. Tulum flourished as a centre of trade, and its walls protected the city from threats arriving by land and sea. The temples standing on the edge of the cliffs served as landmarks for sailors. Its bright structures shone in the sunlight and could be seen from far out at sea. Today, Tulum remains one of the best-preserved Maya cities and a powerful reminder of the rich history of the Americas before European arrival.