Airport transfers, Ferry rides, and Dzul-Ha??

[DandyDon]

I could just PM Ggunn, as he's always very helpful and knowledgeable on these things, but I thought I'd post my questions just in case anyone else may like the answers?

(1) I'm trying to remember what the Van Shuttle cost was from the airport to Zone 1? Seems like it was $10 USD, but someone said there was a $7 USD option, too?

(2) May be staying at Casa del Mar next time. Anyone know if that convenience store is still there on the block, and do they still sell Kahlua...?

(3) Also trying to remember what the Playa del Carmen ferry cost was? Cheap I think, but don't remember exactly.

(4) But I wouldn't have opened this thread just for those two questions - I guess I could find the answers with some Searching, but what about this idea...??

Dzul-Ha beach club is known for the best snorkeling - at least pre-Wilma, and not far from Zone 1 hotels. I'm wondering about grabbing tanks and taking a cab to the Fiesta Americana hotel just south of it, riding the gentle shore current across that area, then exiting at the beach club to take a cab back. Anyone done that? Remember what the cab fare was from Zone 1?

thanks!

 

[Actosrep]

Don,
Try this site as it seemed to have a fair amount of information. I have not yet been to Cozumel (going in March), so take this information with a grain of salt.

http://www.travelnotes.cc/cozumel/links/arrive.php

I could just PM Ggunn, as he's always very helpful and knowledgeable on these things, but I thought I'd post my questions just in case anyone else may like the answers?

(1) I'm trying to remember what the Van Shuttle cost was from the airport to Zone 1? Seems like it was $10 USD, but someone said there was a $7 USD option, too?

(2) May be staying at Casa del Mar next time. Anyone know if that convenience store is still there on the block, and do they still sell Kahlua...?

(3) Also trying to remember what the Playa del Carmen ferry cost was? Cheap I think, but don't remember exactly.

(4) But I wouldn't have opened this thread just for those two questions - I guess I could find the answers with some Searching, but what about this idea...??

Dzul-Ha beach club is known for the best snorkeling - at least pre-Wilma, and not far from Zone 1 hotels. I'm wondering about grabbing tanks and taking a cab to the Fiesta Americana hotel just south of it, riding the gentle shore current across that area, then exiting at the beach club to take a cab back. Anyone done that? Remember what the cab fare was from Zone 1?

thanks!

 

[rainmaker]

Ferry from Playa Del Carmen to Cozumel was $11 (one-way) in Jan 2007.

 

[redacted]

Dzul-Ha beach club is known for the best snorkeling - at least pre-Wilma, and not far from Zone 1 hotels. I'm wondering about grabbing tanks and taking a cab to the Fiesta Americana hotel just south of it, riding the gentle shore current across that area, then exiting at the beach club to take a cab back. Anyone done that? Remember what the cab fare was from Zone 1?

thanks!

I snorkeled and scubaed Dzul-ha last summer between hurricanes. At that time, grasses and sponges were pretty much gone but the coral heads off of dzul-ha were still intact albeit a bit bare. I've stayed a FA a couple times and the current on shore has always been mild and running north to south (It's a big eddy). If I stayed at FA, I'd try it again but I doubt if it is worth going out of your way for. Then again, what are your options? Another Corona? You might just want to snorkel it first to see if it is worth scuba. Max depth is 15 to 20 feet.

Enjoy

 

[ReefHound]

1) Shuttle costs $78 pesos. There is only one provider, no options, just set fares to specific zones.

2) no idea

3) There are two ferry providers that offer modern ferries with comfortable AC interiors and beverage service that are $110 pesos each way. I hear there is a new ferry called Ekonoklass that is only $45 pesos but no interior AC areas and no beverage service.

There is no discount for RT so it's best to buy one-way tickets as you need them in case you find yourself coming back at a different time than planned.

4) sounds like a fun way to get in a few more dives economically, don't know what the taxi runs but I'll bet it's a lot cheaper than a boat charter!

It's usually cheaper to pay in pesos because while the exchange rate is about 11:1 most people on the street will round it at 10:1.

 

[scubawife]

(2) May be staying at Casa del Mar next time. Anyone know if that convenience store is still there on the block, and do they still sell Kahlua...?

The store is open and they do sell liquor, so they would likely have Kahlua. If you buy any snack foods (chips, cookies, etc.) check the exp dates first.

(3) Also trying to remember what the Playa del Carmen ferry cost was? Cheap I think, but don't remember exactly.

110 pesos each way, or 45 pesos each way if you want to take the Econoklass ferry. I took econoklass on a moderately rough day and wouldn't recommend it. The motion doesn't bother me but we seriously quiestioned the safety as the boat listed severely and water washed across the inside deck...

(4) Dzul-Ha beach club is known for the best snorkeling - at least pre-Wilma, and not far from Zone 1 hotels. I'm wondering about grabbing tanks and taking a cab to the Fiesta Americana hotel just south of it, riding the gentle shore current across that area, then exiting at the beach club to take a cab back. Anyone done that? Remember what the cab fare was from Zone 1?

Isn't Dzul -Ha closed? The property was sold and last I heard is that it was closing in Dec or Jan and condos will be going up on the site.

From Casa del Mar to the Caleta I paid $4. Fiesta Americana is further then the Caleta so I would guess FA to Casa del Mar will be around $5? (Sorry, I don't know all the zones). Travelnotes.cc has a good taxi fare guide.

 

[DandyDon]

Don,
Try this site as it seemed to have a fair amount of information. I have not yet been to Cozumel (going in March), so take this information with a grain of salt.

http://www.travelnotes.cc/cozumel/links/arrive.php

Informative site, thanks. I wonder what those - - - marks are going to PM and Cancun? I do differ with their note on CUN to CZM flying; rather than just suspended, I would have added "was always a bad idea anyway." :lol2:

1) Shuttle costs $78 pesos. There is only one provider, no options, just set fares to specific zones.

$8 US?

2) The store is open and they do sell liquor, so they would likely have Kahlua. If you buy any snack foods (chips, cookies, etc.) check the exp dates first.

Cool, glad to hear they refurbished it after H.Wilma.

3) Ferry from Playa Del Carmen to Cozumel was $11 (one-way) in Jan 2007.

I thot it was cheap, but I got on and fell asleep quickly both ways, so it didn't sink in. TY.

3) There are two ferry providers that offer modern ferries with comfortable AC interiors and beverage service that are $110 pesos each way. I hear there is a new ferry called Ekonoklass that is only $45 pesos but no interior AC areas and no beverage service.

No TY on the $45 bargain. Especially from Scubawife's experience.

4) sounds like a fun way to get in a few more dives economically, don't know what the taxi runs but I'll bet it's a lot cheaper than a boat charter!

Well it wouldn't be the same as a boat dive, but an idea.

Isn't Dzul -Ha closed? The property was sold and last I heard is that it was closing in Dec or Jan and condos will be going up on the site.

Oh really...? :11:

 

[ReefHound]

1) Shuttle costs $78 pesos. There is only one provider, no options, just set fares to specific zones.
$8 US?

You've been there, you know how it goes. The math is very approximate and inconsistent in Mexico. Some round up, some round down. Some do a simple 10:1 in their head, some punch in the exact 10.83:1 (whatever the daily rate is) on a calculator. Push $8 across the counter and they probably won't give you anything back, push $7 across and they probably won't ask for more. Most people there don't deal with U.S. coins, though.

 

[scubawife]

I hear there is a new ferry called Ekonoklass that is only $45 pesos but no interior AC areas and no beverage service.

There's actually no real "intereior" at all. It's an open ferry w/ bench seating. They do pull down heavy duty tarps w/ clear windows to enclose the main deck. And there's a closed area at the front where you put your luggage. When we got to Playa it was several minutes for them to dock and then we had to walk out onto a very steeply arched ramp. With luggage this was not fun or easy. There were at least 5 people carried off that we saw. The motion didn't physically bother me, but I did have some safety concerns with the degree we were listing, repeatedly and to the point of water washing over the deck. I was just crossing for a day trip and it was really, really calm water then I'd save the money and take it. I'll never do it again with luggage.

 

[redacted]

Quote:
Isn't Dzul -Ha closed? The property was sold and last I heard is that it was closing in Dec or Jan and condos will be going up on the site.

Oh really...?



I believe the cafe is closed and the dock facility is history (or UW habitat), but I always entered from the playa immediatly north of the old facility and headed out. Hopefully, access to that small beach has not been closed. The roadway was still there after Wilma and the playa accessible when we went by there in December '06. Looked like some new construction going on on the east side of the road. The road is only about 25 meters off the water in that area.