The city of tulum was in ancient mayan name zama meaning dawn the current name tulum means wall enclosure or and was used only since recently when it was in ruins the old name referred to the situation on the west coast and the alignment setting up of its buildings a fact that seems to be confirmed by the remains of buildings dedicated to astronomical observations playa del carmen is located within the riviera maya which runs from south of cancn to tulum and the sian kaan biosphere