Tulum ruins timing?

[beachreader]

What time is "first thing in the morning" for the ruins? I generally get up pretty darned early, and it would be cool to see them at sunrise, but I'm guessing there's a locked gate or something?

Do the tour buses show up at like 9:00, or not 'til 10?

[irishgirl]

Hi Beachreader. From everything that I've read, they always say get there at 8 (I assume that's when they open), in order to beat the tour busses that I believe start arriving between 9 and 10. I'll try find confirmation and get back to you. Tracy

[TnTWalter]

yep! We were there just after opening with about 10 people total...when we left we saw many people heading down the dirt path and a big tour bus parking....we left around 9:15 I believe... I do wish I had swam in the cove though....not a soul down there...

[Gale in KY]

Fran..be there when the gates open at 8am. I was there on a Monday and it was around 10am before the first tour bus showed up...was on my way to the parking lot by then. Two hours is plenty of time to enjoy Tulum, it's not the big, can't climb on any of the structures, but it is really interesting. I spent more time at Muyil, was there all by myself,,didn't even pay the entry fee until I was on my way out..the gatekeeper was no where to be found when I went in...lol..

We had our choice of parking spots too, showing up at Tulum at 7:45am..nobody in the parking lot to direct the parking at that time of the morning. That was kind of nice, as shade is at a premium in the lot, so we did get to park next to a little tree that provided just a bit of shade for the steering wheel..lol.

[think]

We got there just a little after 9, and it was already starting to get crowded. By the time we got back to the ruins and started walking around a little bit, it was very crowded. We left maybe going on 11 and it was insane. Of all the ruins, I'd say Tulum is the one you REALLY need to get there early for.

[austxdan]

Last year we did the same thing Gale did. We got there about 10 til 8:00 am and drove in and parked where we wanted. We walked down and bought tix, and in we went. There are rarely any tourists in my pix from 2007, except perhaps toward the end. On our way back to the car, about 9:00 or so, there were hoards of tourists streaming in and the parking lot was full of buses.

Yes - by all means get there by 8:00.


Dan

PS - Oh, and then after our little tour of the ruins, we had an appetite so hit Zamas for breakfast on the way back to Tita. A perfect morning!

[james]

Or... go in the late afternoon. Also a nice time!

[FITZ]

When they first open at 8 or around 3ish are low tourist times, and less sun. I am looking forward to checking out the night tour.
Beachreader, I'm surprised you haven't been to the Tulum ruins. You've got to get off the beach once in awhile!!!!!!!!

[miguel]

Go early or late; it's hot as hades there...

[beachreader]

I've been to the ruins before, but it was probably 15 years ago, and if my friend comes with me this trip, she's never been.

So if they open at 8:00, is it possible to slip in any earlier, or do they take security pretty seriously?