If this was your first trip to Cozumel, what would you do.....?

[DandyDon]

Whatchu talkin 'about Willis

Did the Coba guide and you two walk the trail, take bikes or one of those tricycles that porters push? I'm guessing that y'all walked, and skipped the second path that most missed? Just curious.

Ek Balam is my next quest...just haven't totally talked the Mrs. into it yet...

....somehow, my lovely bride doesn't get the same joy from trudging thru a hot, sticky, bug infested, jungle looking at a pile of old rocks as I do

Of the four, Ek Balam is the one I'd like to do again most. After doing Chichen Itza that morning, we didn't feel up to climbing the acropolis at the back to see the artwork up close.

BTW, mapquest doesn't do much for routing around the area altho it does at least know where some of the towns are now, but google directions is getting a lot better there.

 

[deborahdelamar]

Ek Balam is spectacular, though I almost bought the farm there when a coral snake fell out of a tree & missed landing on me by a few millimeters. Guide freaked out. It's a great road trip & can be combined with stops at Rio Logartos or Tizimin or Valladolid -- all on the same road north to south. Lots of furniture-making towns along the route, too. There may be Federales looking for speeding gringos on that road, tho.

 

[sharky60]

Did the Coba guide and you two walk the trail, take bikes or one of those tricycles that porters push? I'm guessing that y'all walked, and skipped the second path that most missed? Just curious.

Of the four, Ek Balam is the one I'd like to do again most. After doing Chichen Itza that morning, we didn't feel up to climbing the acropolis at the back to see the artwork up close.

BTW, mapquest doesn't do much for routing around the area altho it does at least know where some of the towns are now, but google directions is getting a lot better there.

Yes, we walked. This was several years ago, and no other option was given to us.

I do remember the guide telling us he was taking us down an area that most don't normally go...maybe that is the second path? or because he thought I was some sort of Mayanist, we got a "special tour"... really don't know.

 

[DandyDon]

Yes, we walked. This was several years ago, and no other option was given to us.

I do remember the guide telling us he was taking us down an area that most don't normally go...maybe that is the second path? or because he thought I was some sort of Mayanist, we got a "special tour"... really don't know.

Oh they rent trail bikes, $3 I think - and I remembered how to drive one after scaring a few trees. They have porters with tricycles like you see at the Cozumel docks, only tourists get to ride.

 

[Dr Dog]

Keep it coming guys and gals, I have been checking stuff out as you bring them up.

Less than 2 weeks to go..

 

[RonFrank]

Go with the house dive Op. You will likely not get an hour of bottom time as new divers tend to suck air and the dives are deepish. I think Paradise reef is the shallowest we did at 50'. So having an Op that gives you max dive time and long SI's will mean you will likely be sitting in the boat a lot. Make sure you tell them of your experience. They may find shallower sites so you get longer dives.

One new diver joined our boat for half a day and was mad as he could not get more than 30 minutes on a tank. The rest of the divers were doing 70-80 minute dives. So he sat around waiting for 45 minutes, and then we did an hour+ SI before our second dive.

Do a night dive while you are there. Generally Paradise reef is standard, but you will see stuff that is not out much in the daylight. Octopus, Corals, Free-swimming Eels, lots of Lobster and Sharks get more active to name a few.

You will want to go into town more than once. Unfortunately Cab fare is like $20 each way from down south (if memory serves), but maybe you can find someone to share to cost. San Miguel is a fun city with lots of good food and shops. Definitely go on Sunday if possible.

You have plenty of advice on the Ferry trip. You trip is going to be busy!

Have fun and dive safe.

 

[ggunn]

You have gotten a lot of mostly good advice. Here's mine:

Don't try to cram so much into your vacation that it stresses you out. If something doesn't turn out the way you planned, let it go. Have plenty of unscheduled time when you can just sit and look at the water.

And don't drink too much. Vacation time is far too precious to waste on a hangover.

 

[Dr Dog]

And don't drink too much. Vacation time is far too precious to waste on a hangover.

I drink like once a year, I suspect I will have a few drinks on my birthday, but with 3 dives planned, I doubt I will be awake too late to get into any real trouble

 

[cdemith]

With less than 24 dives under your belt -- I'd recommend you forget the brain damage of a search for another dive op, and just dive with the resort's house dive operation at the Allegro, they are competent and aren't going to 'rip you off', and this is one of those things based on your circumstances that falls under what you stated -"not worth being concerned about'. The differences between your house op and others on the island will be purely nuances at this point in your diving experience, you won't know the difference, and you aren't even looking for very specific services or experiences anyways, and certainly at this point there is a lot be said for the convenience and pleasure of having your dive op located where you are staying.

Do yourself a favor and search the forums for Prodive reviews and you can put the dive op questions behind you.

If you're not thrilled with going to ruins on the mainland and just need to see some, Tulum is going to be the closest (besides the ones on Cozumel - hint, hint), Tulum is very cool and has some other pluses to it if you can swing convincing your gal to go to them, if not the big dog is Chitzen Itza. It's way out there and you'll spend more of your time getting there and back then actually seeing the ruins. But Chitzen Itza is the most popular and its big, and touristy. Tulum, is smaller, more laid back and offers you the beach there, the town of Tulum, beach bars and even a cenote to swim in and you are going to cut about 3 hours of travel off.

Went to Riv Maya in October. Skip Chichen Itza. It is WAY too far away and WAY too touristy. You will be hounded with people selling junk. Go to Coba. It is half the distance, you can go on the ruins, it has forest cover, is spread over a large area (rent the bikes), and is just IMHO far better than Chichen. Stop by the bar just outside afterwards for un cerveza for a near perfect day! Go on your own, don't pay a tour operator or a guide. There are plenty of signs that explain a lot. Don't go late though, it is too big to appreciate in an hour.

 

[briankinley2004]

Rumor has it there are a couple or three brothels on the island and its perfectly legal