The Paten Path: The Ruins of Tulum

Like many travelers, I pride myself on finding the rare hidden gem. The beaten path is a place many backpackers and adventure travelers avoid at all costs. We have the primal need for exploration; to pioneer a new experience; to be where few people had been before. Comparing notes of how unique our experience was compared to others is often how us travelers spend our evenings at hostels. Reminiscing over our new-found experiences, which we so diligently collect and store in our minds and hearts, is also an amazing way to meet new friends. And hearing about their adventures gives us inspiration for tomorrow. But us travelers have a little secret; sometimes the beaten path is not so bad. In fact sometime the beaten path is down right amazing! It is a path often traveled for a reason after all. That’s how I felt during a recent trip to Mexico as I reluctantly agreed to see the Mayan Ruins of Tulum. Only a 15 minute collectivo ride from our hotel, it didn’t seem like that much of a sacrifice from our schedule of finding the perfect secluded stretch of beach, or most devastatingly blue cenote to explore without the burden of a crowd spoiling our experience. The day was hot and in our haste to arrive to the site before herds of fanny pack wearing tourists, we forgot to back water. We wandered around the ruins sweaty and dehydrated; however this did not dissolve the magic of the ruins. Dramatically situated on top of rocky cliffs overlooking the stunning turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, you can see why visitors travel to this site by the millions each year. Tulum was one of the last cities to be inhabited by the Mayas, reaching its height between the 13th and 15th centuries. Armed with a little bit of knowledge gained from reading about the ruins the night prior, the experience was more rich and enjoyable. The sweeping views of the ruins perched on the rocky cliffs made for some dramatically beautiful photos. The soft breeze blowing off the ocean, the stunning scenery, mixed with the awe and wonder of a city left to crumble by a sophisticated ancient civilization is permanently itched in my memory. A true traveler follows their heart and if something is worth visiting they will go no matter what. As long as a little planning to minimize the crowds, or mid-day heat, or whatever it is that could diminish your experience, the epitome of the beaten path can be a magical destination worth experiencing.