Tulum, Mexico ancient Mayan ruins (the only ruins on the Yucatan peninsula that are on the coast)

This video was filmed mid April 2021. The tour guide was required to wear the mask throughout the tour, but not his guest(s). There were a mix of tourists, some were wearing masks at the archeological site and some were not. I taxied to the ruins from my hostel in Tulum which took about 10 min. There are all kinds of licensed/certified local tour guides standing around inside the first entrance offering tours of the ruins. Pueblo asked if I would like to pay $40 for a tour. I said I would pay him $30, knowing I would tip him $10 and he would get $40 anyway (which I did). I highly suggest one of the local licensed guides and feel $30 or $40 is worth it (it may be more depending on how many are in your group). If you are a group, you can split the costs. Their tour fee covered the $1.00 something to ride the transportation to the entrance of the archeological site (otherwise it is about a 20 minute walk with no shoulder or sidewalk). It also covers the $4.00 entrance fee into ruins, and about an hour + professional tour. I highly suggest Pueblo if you can get him because he is highly educated about the ruins, a proud native Mayan descendant, super friendly and nice, has good English, very patient, and he was incredibly exuberant and passionate about giving this tour. Things to note: There is the main entrance (no cost to get in). Inside this entrance are information booths, vendors, restaurants and a Mayan outdoor show to watch. There are also lots of taxis. And there is a transportation trolley you can pay to board that will take you down a long path to the entrance of the archeological site. If you buy something at the restaurant, they will store your belongings for you so you do not have to carry them around with you on the tour. Bring lots of water. Bring your bathing suit. You can access the pathway to Paradise Beach just outside the entrance into the archeological site. It’s about a 20 minute walk plus or minus to the beach entrance. The hour plus tour is super hot and you will welcome a refreshing dip. At the beach you can get alcohol, water, food, etc. You will not be climbing any steep hills and you are not allowed to get too close to the actual ruins themselves. I think the only bathrooms are at the initial entrance (not the archeological entrance) so be sure you go before you start your tour. There are bathrooms at the beach area. You should allow 1-2 hours for the tour itself. On very windy days, they do not allow tourists to access the beaches located on the actual archeological site, this may also be due to Covid reasons. I was hoping to swim at one of the beaches at the site but I was told they were closed. I am not sure if tourists are allowed to swim at these beaches anymore either way. But you can walk to Paradise beach after your tour. Wikipedia: Tulum is a resort town on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, around 130 km south of Cancún. The 13th-century, walled Mayan archaeological site at Tulum National Park overlooks the sea. It incorporates the clifftop Castillo, built as a watchtower, and the Templo de las Pinturas, with a partially restored mural. Address: Carretera Federal, Cancun - Chetumal Km 230, 307, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico Hours: Opens 9AM -3:30 pm every day of the week Phone: +52 984 802 5405