Templo del Dios Descendente

Tulum

Templo del Dios Descendente in the Tulum Ruins is named after the relief figure of a descending god, aka the Diving God. Look for it above the building's door. The image, perhaps the most iconic of Tulum, is associated with the highly revered god of bees. At the spring equinox, a ray of sunlight shines through the temple, aligning perfectly under the image.

Planning a trip to Tulum? Here's some more advice to help you plan:
15 more experiences in Tulum to add your itinerary
On your way? How to get around Tulum
Deciding when to go? The best time to plan your visit
Tulum's 7 unmissable beaches

Suggest an edit to this attraction

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Tulum Ruins
0.06 MILES
Tulum is one of the most visited archaeological zones in Mexico and for good reason: it’s sublime. The ruins sit on seaside cliffs, high above turquoise…
SFER IK
2.63 MILES
Wandering barefoot through the contemporary art museum at Azulik hotel, you feel like you’re in a giant cocoon. Nature surrounds you, inside and out:…
Reserva de la Biosfera Sian Ka'an
21.48 MILES
While floating down a canal that Mayans dug by hand centuries ago, you see tall grasses on either side and colorful birds flying overhead. You hear the…
Tankah Tres
1.55 MILES
At the end of a sand road is the hamlet of Tankah Tres (aka Tankah Bay), a seaside community of vacation homes and small hotels in Mexico, all facing a…
Cobá Ruins
27.38 MILES
Cobá's ruins include the tallest pyramid in Quintana Roo (the second tallest in all the Yucatán) and the thick jungle setting makes you feel like you’re…
Templo de las Pinturas
0.05 MILES
This two-story temple has some of Tulum's most intricate decorations, including relief masks, carvings, columns and partially restored color murals on an…
El Cielo
28.09 MILES
Living up to its heavenly name, El Cielo's shallow turquoise waters are ideal for snorkeling and swimming among starfish, stingrays and small fish…
Grupo Cobá
27.29 MILES
The most prominent structure in the Grupo Cobá is La Iglesia (the Church). It's an enormous pyramid; if you were allowed to climb it, you could see the…

View more attractions

Nearby Tulum attractions

1. Templo de la Estela

0.03 MILES

This is the temple where Stela 1 was found, an artifact now on display in the British Museum. Based on the stela's inscriptions, it is believed it was…

2. Estructura 25

0.04 MILES

On the south side above the main doorway you'll see a lovely stucco frieze of the Descending God, also referred to as the Diving God. The upside-down,…

3. Templo de las Pinturas

0.05 MILES

This two-story temple has some of Tulum's most intricate decorations, including relief masks, carvings, columns and partially restored color murals on an…

4. Tulum Ruins

0.06 MILES

Tulum is one of the most visited archaeological zones in Mexico and for good reason: it’s sublime. The ruins sit on seaside cliffs, high above turquoise…

5. Casa del Cenote

0.1 MILES

A small tomb was found in this house, which gets its name from a cenote found at its southern base. The Maya believed cenotes were gateways to Xibalbá …

6. Tankah Tres

1.55 MILES

At the end of a sand road is the hamlet of Tankah Tres (aka Tankah Bay), a seaside community of vacation homes and small hotels in Mexico, all facing a…

7. SFER IK

2.63 MILES

Wandering barefoot through the contemporary art museum at Azulik hotel, you feel like you’re in a giant cocoon. Nature surrounds you, inside and out:…

8. Bahías de Punta Solimán

5.97 MILES

These two beautiful, protected bays are separated by a narrow point, 123km south of Cancún and 11km north of Tulum. To get here, head east (toward the…

View more attractions

placement: superzone
path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],

targeting:

{
  "url": "mexico/yucatan-peninsula/tulum/attractions/templo-del-dios-descendente/a/poi-sig/1606004/361702",
  "destination": "Tulum",
  "continent": "North-America",
  "country": "Mexico",
  "city": "Tulum",
  "position": "superzone"
}