Less than a half-hour’s drive south of Tulum, just off Highway 307, you can see the impressive and steep-walled pyramids of the Muyil Ruins. The archaeological site in Quintana Roo, Mexico is also located along the Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve, where you can hike and take a Muyil River float tour.

Even if you skip the biosphere reserve, though, visiting the Muyil Mayan Ruins near Tulum is so worth a short trip. Below, I share a little about this archaeological site’s history, how to get to the Muyil Ruins, what you’ll see, and details you need to know before visiting these pyramids near Tulum. I’ll also include some tips on exploring the Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve.

Ready for more? ¡Vámanos!

The Muyil Ruins near Tulum, Mexico

The Muyil Ruins are a collection of temples and platforms on which people built homes and roads, along with more evidence of a once-thriving community. Archaeologists have found artifacts and construction dating back as far as 350 AD, making the Muyil Mayan Ruins one of the oldest and longest-inhabited centers on the Yucatan Peninsula. For context, the nearby Tulum Ruins were first inhabited about 200 years later.

Muyil Ruins History

Archaeologists also believe that Muyil was a center of commerce, particularly trading jade, feathers, and other goods. Products would arrive by boat via the canals in what’s now called the Sian Ka’an biosphere preserve (a beautiful name meaning “Where the Sky is Born”). Traders would then bring the goods inland, distributing them throughout the area.

Today, visitors can explore part of the Muyil Ruins in Quintana Roo. The other part of the Muyil archaeological site is still off-limits to visitors, since it hasn’t yet been fully excavated and preserved.

Exploring Muyil Ruins: The Highlights

You’ll need about an hour to walk the entirety of Muyil Ruins, though you should plan for twice that if you want to walk in the Sian Ka’an biosphere preserve as well.

The site is flat, making it easy for young children and those with mobility limitations to explore. And both the dirt paths and gravel paths are well maintained, though you should always watch out for tree roots and other uneven spots.

Kid-friendly adventure

My kids and I met up with one of my dear blogging friends, Cassie from Mexico Cassie, and her two kiddos. The site was perfect for a kid-friendly adventure near Tulum: The kids were able to play and pretty much run free, and Cassie and I actually got to chat! (For all you moms of young kids, you know how rare an uninterrupted conversation is.)

As wonderful as talking with a friend is, though, I was absolutely blown away by the Muyil Ruins near Tulum. Perhaps I just haven’t been jaded by the overwhelming number and diversity of ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula, but I simply marveled at the Muyil Ruins.

The buildings of the Muyil Ruins

I could also hardly believe how close we could get to the ruins. Since the Muyil Ruins are off the beaten path and attract few visitors, this archaeological site is fairly underdeveloped making it one of the best non-touristy things to do in Tulum. You can walk right up to a centuries-old pyramid and touch it if you want (although all signs ask visitors to not climb on the constructions).

The most impressive sites in the Muyil Ruins were the 55-foot-tall pyramid and the Pink Temple (building 8). When you are there in person, look toward the top of the building—can you see stone carvings of animals or other figures?

Although these constructions are the most photogenic, keep an eye out for small piles of rocks and raised platforms. Most of these don’t include signage, so I don’t know what they all used to be. Archaeologists probably don’t know, either, since time has since reclaimed many structures, especially minor ones.

The platforms may have been raised areas on which residents built homes out of wood, branches, leaves and other materials. No matter what they are, though, it’s simply magical to see them up close.

Hiking in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve near Muyil Ruins

If you have time, I absolutely recommend taking another hour to explore the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve while you’re at the Muyil Ruins.

You don’t have to drive; you can enter the biosphere by walking from the back of the Muyil archaeological site. Simply continue past the Pink Temple along the path—the trees will begin to grow more densely, and the path gets bumpier and muddier.

You’ll come to a wooden boardwalk and arrive at an entry station, where you’ll need to pay an additional 50 pesos (25 for kids) to enter the Sian Ka’an biosphere.

Exploring the forest and lookout point

From there, you can walk along the boardwalk all the way to the Muyil Lagoon. The boardwalk takes you through lush forest, and similarly to the ruins, very few people visit this area so you’ll likely have most of the hike to yourself.

Halfway between the archaeological site and the Muyil Lagoon, you’ll come to the mirador, or lookout. This wooden structure is about three stories tall. If you’re not afraid of heights—and don’t mind climbing the ladder/super-steep stairs—you can get an incredible view of the jungle within the Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve.

I didn’t climb to the top, since I stayed below with Maxine, my 3 1/2 year old who so wanted to go up with the big kids. Edie, who was 5 1/2, actually scrambled to the top ahead of any grown-ups, much to my chagrin.

A word to the wise for parents: If you have daredevil kids, you might want to skip the mirador in Sian Ka’an. The observation platform is basically a wide-open wooden platform that would be incredibly easy to fall off of. If you do let your kids go up, make sure to have a safety chat beforehand so they understand expectations (sit in the middle of the platform, wait until people are all the way up before climbing down the ladder, etc.).

Muyil Ruins lagoon

We had planned on hiking all the way to the Muyil Lagoon and going on a Muyil River float tour, but the sky opened up when we finished at the lookout. We got caught in a super-heavy downpour. What’s more, Edie—who had been loving the adventure of exploring the Muyil Ruins and the rain forest—ran off without us, and we lost her for about 10 minutes. It was terrifying. Luckily, two friendly strangers spotted her crying on the boardwalk by herself and brought her back to the lookout, where we found her.

At any rate, we didn’t make it all the way to the Muyil Lagoon—we’ll have to save that for the next time we visit the Tulum area. If you’re interested in a canal tour of the Muyil Lagoon, scroll to the bottom of this post to read more on boating the lagoon, from Mexico Cassie.

Logistics: Details you need to visit & Muyil Ruins entrance fee

Muyil Ruins, like every other ruins we found near Tulum, are open all week long from 8am to 5pm. (If you visit around a holiday, though, you should double-check to ensure it’s open before you go.) A dirt parking lot offers more than enough parking for the low traffic the ruins get on an average day.

The Muyil Ruins entrance fee to the archaeological site is 50 pesos per person (less than $3 USD), and the entry desk rarely has change. Make sure to bring as close to exact change as you can.

Amenities at the Muyil Mayan Ruins

There are restrooms located just inside the Muyil Ruins entrance, but nowhere else on the property. Make sure you use the bathroom before you begin to explore!

Across Highway 307 from the parking lot, you’ll find a little bodega that sells snacks, drinks and a few souvenirs. I strongly considered running over there to get t-shirts for my girls, since their clothes were 100% soaked from the torrential rain storm we were caught in!

Muyil Ruins: Off the beaten path adventure near Tulum, Mexico

If you’re looking for what to do in Tulum, and you want to avoid crowds and explore something that’s a little more off the beaten path, then I strongly recommend visiting the Muyil Ruins near Tulum.

Whether you go to Tulum with kids, a bunch of friends or on a solo travel trip, this archaeological site in Quintana Roo is more than worth a visit. You’ll get to see centuries-old ruins up close, hike through the jungle and learn about cultures that came before.

If you’re considering a family vacation to Tulum, you’ll want to read my full and honest post on if Tulum is actually family-friendly or not. If you’ve already booked your trip, make sure to add the Muyil Ruins to your Tulum itinerary!

The post Muyil Ruins: Pyramids off the beaten path near Tulum appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

If you’re considering a family vacation in Tulum, you’ll want to read this post. In it, I take an honest look at visiting Tulum with kids—the good and the bad. Keep reading to learn what you need to know about vacationing in Tulum with kids.

What you need to know for a family vacation in Tulum

Traffic in Tulum is atrocious

When we first drove our rental car into Tulum, it took us more than a half-hour to get from one side of the beach strip to the other. Bumper to bumper traffic on this tiny road made our day trip feel claustrophobic, not relaxing.

Expect traffic, especially as they redo the infrastructure in parts of this growing beach town.

(If you’re flying into Cancun, you’ll probably be driving the roughly 2 hours to Tulum. Read my post all about renting a car in Cancun if you’re going this route.)

Beachside restaurants are expensive—but worth it

You can only access the beach in Tulum if you’re staying at a hotel there, you rent a beach cabana or bed, or you eat at a beachside restaurant. We went to Ziggy’s Beach Club to do just that.

This kid-friendly restaurant in Tulum was such an oasis after battling traffic through town. Staff were incredibly attentive and the food was superb. My favorite part: The entire restaurant was on the sand, so the kids made sand castles and played in hammocks as we waited for our food. What’s more, the seats at the bar are actually swings—so my kids voted Ziggy’s the most family friendly restaurant in Tulum.

Afterwards, we played in the ocean. After all, when you eat at a beachside restaurant in Tulum, you’re paying for the beach too. Ziggy’s also has changing rooms and showers so you don’t have to drive back to your hotel or rental all sandy.

The food and drinks at beachside restaurants in Tulum are American prices ($220 pesos for a margarita, for example, which is about $12 USD) but everything we tasted at Ziggy’s was well worth the price.

Walking on the street is dangerous

We walked around in Tulum’s beach zone to check out the town—and my kids almost got hit by cars twice.

There are no sidewalks on almost all of the road. That means you and your family will have to walk right next to traffic. With all the growth in Tulum, there’s construction everywhere—so you’ll have to actually step into the street to get around ongoing construction projects.

In addition, you and your kids will be inhaling all the exhaust and dust from the cars driving right alongside you. Walking in Tulum with kids was beyond stressful.

Tulum town is much more family-friendly

Only a small part of Tulum is on the beach; the rest of the city is more inland—and is much more charming.

I actually loved exploring Tulum town. We stumbled across a store full of handmade goods from Mexican artisans, La Llorona, where my girls picked out souvenirs and gifts for their grandparents and cousins. A quaint Mexican restaurant, Charlie’s, had live marimba music. And we found street art in the side roads that were refreshingly absent of tourists.

If you do go to Tulum with kids, you’ll want to spend at least part of the day off the beach and in Tulum town.

Visiting Tulum Ruins with kids

You’d totally miss out if you didn’t go to the ruins while staying in Tulum with kids. The ruins are right in town, are fairly inexpensive, and you can explore the whole site in about an hour. Extra bonus in case you’re on the fence: Within the Tulum Ruins is a gorgeous beach you can access as a park visitor, so bring a towel and swimming suit! The beach at the Tulum Ruins was the most beautiful beach where we swam in Tulum.

I wish I had pushed my family to get out the door earlier in the day. There is almost no shade at the Tulum Ruins, and the middle of the day was hot in the full sun. My poor kiddos were wilting before my eyes! So if you go to the Tulum Ruins with kids, go first-thing.

And if you want to explore a ruins near Tulum that doesn’t have the crowds, the heat and the direct sun, you’ll want to read my post on the Muyil Ruins.

Level 10 travel tip: There are soft-serve ice cream joints in the area in front of the Tulum Ruins: A wonderful way to treat your kids in the heat!

Buy kid-friendly souvenirs from local artisans

If your kids are anything like mine, they’ll ask to buy every knick knack, straw hat and lucha libre mask they see at Tulum’s many souvenir shops. But I don’t want to bring a bunch of crap home, and I’d rather support local artisans who are being paid fairly for their work.

That’s why we shopped for souvenirs at La Llorona and Mixik, both sources of gorgeous and authentic Mexican crafts and artwork.

La Llorona is on the road that runs alongside the beach. My younger daughter picked out a hand-sewn rhino and my older daughter chose a traditional Mexican doll. The shop owner was helpful and generous, too: She threw in a complimentary tote bag along with the other gifts we bought for family back home.

And I could barely restrain myself from buying everything in Mixik in Tulum town. The traditional clothing in kids’ sizes was perfect for my nieces, and I felt terrific shopping here because I knew artisans were paid fairly for their handiwork.

Level 10 travel tip: Stop at Charlie’s next to Mixik for lunch. They sometimes have live music! When we visited, Maxine was enthralled with the marimba players.

Feed your family in Tulum at Chedraui

My siblings and I had a running joke when we were in Tulum: We couldn’t stop laughing at our own attempts to pronounce Chedraui, the name of the mega-grocery store in Tulum. All jokes aside, though, this Tulum grocery store is a must-stop for every family vacation in Tulum.

It’s incredibly well stocked with both Mexican staples and foods my kids were familiar with. We bought peanut butter, crackers, granola bars, cereal and tons of other staples that kept my kids fed—while the adults feasted on tacos, guacamole and other insanely delicious Mexican food.

(My kids are not adventurous eaters, but they still have to eat!)

Going grocery shopping in Tulum gave me peace of mind that my kids would always have something familiar to eat. That way, I didn’t have to stress about them getting hangry because they refuse to try black beans.

Level 10 travel tip: To save money in Tulum with kids, eat two meals a day at home. We prep and cook breakfast and dinner at our beach rental, then eat lunch at a restaurant.

Swim in cenotes with kids

When we arrived at our first cenote, my kids couldn’t believe their eyes: The clear water in this sunken limestone cave was unlike anything they’d ever seen before. We couldn’t get in fast enough!

My girls loved swimming in the Dos Ojos cenotes so much that Max, my younger daughter, refused to get out even when her teeth were chattering. (The water is fairly chilly, especially because these cenotes were shaded in caves and not in full sun.)

When you go on a family vacation in Tulum, do not miss swimming in a cenote.

Level 10 travel tip: You’ll want to bring a life jacket for kids, even if they already know how to swim: Many cenotes are deep, and without a swimming pool edge to hang onto, kids get tired. Many cenotes will lend you a kids’ life jacket with the price of admission, but I felt more comfortable bringing my kids’ puddle jumpers, which we swear by (affiliate link).

Planning a trip in Tulum with kids

I must admit I was surprised that Tulum wasn’t more family-friendly. If we went back, I wouldn’t stay on the beach in Tulum unless we were planning on staying at the hotel beach and never leaving. (This option makes it difficult to explore the area around Tulum, including the Tulum ruins and cenotes, though.)

I would, however, do the same thing we did on this vacation: Stay in a rental home outside of Tulum. (This is the amazing house outside of Tulum where we stayed—I’m already scheming for our return trip! And use my referral code to get 15% off your first stay!)

That said, a lot of people take a family vacation in Tulum. I hope this post on what to expect in Tulum with kids is helpful—so you can take advantage of all the wonderful parts and avoid the worst.

Happy travels!

PS – If you fly into Cancun, you may be driving to Tulum. Read my in-depth guide to renting a car in Cancun!

The post Family vacation in Tulum: What I wish I’d known appeared first on To & Fro Fam.