Tulum was a small town that was founded upon a cliff above the Caribbean coast. A defensive wall surrounds the structure on three sides lending an even more dramatic presence to the site. The buildings are said to be of Mixtec style, and are not of the typical Mayan quality of workmanship. The dense forest surrounding the site kept it hidden and occupied for decades after the conquest. The fact that it's population may only have been half a thousand further supports the possibility it remained hidden for quite some time.