Chichen Itza & Tulum Mexico
I’ve traveled to Mexico numerous times over the years, and it’s a country I never get tired of exploring. Colonial cities, dramatic landscapes, beautiful beaches, incredible food—and, most importantly for me, ancient ruins.
I’ve always been fascinated by archaeological sites. First, I explored them through the camera as a professional travel photographer. Years later, many of those same photographs became reference material for my watercolor paintings.
The Maya ruins of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula have provided plenty of inspiration for both.
Christmas in the Yucatán
Several years ago, my family spent Christmas break in the Yucatán.
We actually flew on Christmas Day, which turned out to be surprisingly brilliant.
No lines.
At ALL.
We breezed through security and, a few hours later, were enjoying considerably warmer weather near Tulum.
I generally avoid heavily developed resort destinations when I travel. Cancún isn’t really my thing, and Tulum has certainly changed considerably over the years as tourism has exploded. Fortunately, the resort where we stayed had almost entirely Spanish-speaking guests. In fact, we might have been the only english speakers in the entire place.
That was fine with me.
My Spanish is good enough to get myself into—and occasionally out of—trouble.
But I wasn’t really there for the resort.
I wanted to see the ruins.
Photographing the Maya Ruins of Tulum
My two bucket-list archaeological sites for this trip were Tulum and Chichén Itzá.
Because I was traveling with my family, I resisted going into full professional-photographer-berserker mode.
No getting everyone out of bed at some horrifying hour for sunrise.
No returning three times because “the light might be better later.”
We even took organized tour buses to both archaeological sites.
Not normally my favorite way to travel, but I’ll admit it:
It was convenient.
Of the two sites, Tulum was my favorite.
The ruins are much smaller than Chichén Itzá, but the setting is extraordinary. Ancient Maya stone structures sit on cliffs overlooking the brilliant turquoise water of the Caribbean Sea.
It’s difficult to beat that backdrop.
The Caribbean breeze also helped keep the temperature relatively comfortable while we explored the site.
Lizards?
Check.
Amazing viewpoints?
Check.
Signs telling me not to stand somewhere?
Also check.
Did I occasionally pretend not to understand them?
Yo soy un gringo. No hablo español.
Which we both know isn’t entirely true.
Better to ask forgiveness, right?
For photographers, Tulum offers a wonderful combination of ancient architecture, tropical vegetation, limestone cliffs and Caribbean water. I could easily have spent an entire day waiting for the light to change.
My family probably would not have appreciated that quite as much as I would have.
Exploring Chichén Itzá
The second major archaeological site on our trip was Chichén Itzá, one of Mexico’s most famous Maya cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The scale here is completely different from Tulum.
The enormous pyramid of El Castillo, or the Temple of Kukulcán, dominates the archaeological site, but Chichén Itzá contains much more than the pyramid everyone recognizes from photographs.
There are temples, columns, carved stone reliefs, ceremonial structures and the enormous Great Ball Court.
Once again, I could have happily spent an entire day photographing the site.
Next time, I intend to.
Next Time: Valladolid
When I return to this part of Mexico, I’d like to spend some time in Valladolid rather than experiencing the region entirely from a resort.
We passed through the city on the way to Chichén Itzá, and even through the windows of a tourist bus I could tell I wanted to come back.
Valladolid looks like exactly the kind of place I enjoy: colorful colonial architecture, historic streets, local restaurants and a much more convenient base for exploring the interior of the Yucatán Peninsula.
It would also give me more time to explore the surrounding countryside, search out cenotes, photograph wildlife and return to the archaeological sites when the light is actually doing something interesting.
I’d especially love another opportunity to photograph the colorful turquoise-browed motmot, one of the spectacular bird species found in the region.
Preferably while standing somewhere I’m actually allowed to stand.
From Travel Photography to Watercolor Painting
When I originally photographed Tulum and Chichén Itzá, I was thinking primarily like a photographer.
Years later, after returning seriously to watercolor, I began looking through my travel archives differently.
Suddenly these weren’t simply old photographs.
They were future paintings.
The photograph shown here became the reference for one of my poured watercolor paintings. I used the original image for the architecture and composition, but painting gave me the freedom to reinterpret the scene.
That’s one of the biggest differences between my former career as a photographer and what I do today as a watercolor artist.
A photograph records what was in front of me.
With watercolor, I can change almost everything.
I can simplify the architecture, eliminate distractions, exaggerate the light, completely change the colors or create an atmosphere that never existed when I pressed the shutter.
The photograph becomes the reference. The painting becomes my interpretation of the experience.
Returning to the Yucatán
I definitely haven’t finished exploring the Yucatán.
Next time I’d like to slow things down: stay in Valladolid, explore more Maya archaeological sites, photograph cenotes, wander through colonial towns and spend considerably more time waiting for good light.
And, inevitably, I’ll return home with another ridiculous number of photographs.
Some will remain photographs.
Others may sit on a hard drive for years before eventually becoming watercolors.
That’s one of the reasons I continue traveling.
I’m not just collecting photographs anymore.
I’m collecting future paintings.
Más aventuras nos esperan.
More adventures await.
Learn more about my watercolor techniques & Classes/Workshops
Planning a Trip to Mexico
If seeing Mayan ruins in Mexico is on your bucket list there are regular flights to Cancun from the US and internationally.
Flights to Cancun (closest international airport)
Getting Around (Transportation)
Most people take a tour bus (or hire a taxi) to the ruins. You can easily explore on your own time with a vehicle:
Where to Stay in the area:
Most visitors stay in the Cancun area but there are also choices in Tulum and Valladolid
Hacienda Chichen Resort & Yaxkin Spa– offers a relaxing stay near the Chichén Itzá archaeological site, making it a convenient base for exploring the ancient Maya ruins and Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.
Hotel Olbil– in Valladolid is a convenient base for visiting Chichén Itzá while also exploring the city’s colorful colonial center, nearby cenotes, and other attractions across the Yucatán Peninsula.
Verde Morada Hotel Encuentro is a boutique stay in Valladolid that makes a convenient base for exploring Chichén Itzá, nearby cenotes, and the historic attractions of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.
La Zebra Tulum– is a beachfront boutique hotel on the Caribbean coast, offering a relaxing base for exploring Tulum’s beaches, cenotes, and nearby Maya ruins.
Mexico & Chichen Itza Travel Guides
I still buy at least one physical travel guide before most international trips. Phones die, internet connections disappear, and apparently I’m old-fashioned enough to appreciate having something made out of paper in my backpack.
I frequently use Lonely Planet guides for trip planning, and there are also dedicated Chichen Itza books for travelers interested in the history and archaeology of the Mayan Culture.
Lonely Planet Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan Travel Guide
Chichen Itza Travel Guides:
Chichen Itza Travel Guide 2026
Chichén Itzá: Ancient Marvel of the World explores the history, photography, and cultural significance of Mexico’s iconic Maya ruins and one of the world’s most fascinating ancient civilizations.
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Ryan Fox AWS, NWS, TWSA
Ryan Fox Painting
(919) 645-8345