Our final stop was Tulum on the east coast. [photo gallery] While the buildings may be less elaborate, the setting is certainly spectacular. A thick wall surrounds the site on three sides with the ocean on the fourth. The site has its own small cenote as a source of fresh water. There is a guard house of sorts just above that looks out on the turquoise Caribbean.
Other small buildings spread along the cliffside create dramatic views. It is ironic that the largest temple structure faces inland and is therefore unattractive when viewed from the shoreline. It is completely closed off to the public. <frown> Here’s a panorama (large file).
By far the most interesting building is the small Temple of the Frescos. It has huge humanoid masks (see above) at each corner and badly eroded carvings of the diving god above the doorways. Inside are still visible paintings of various gods. (You can just make out the goddess Ixchel carrying the infant Chaac toward the center of the photograph.)