Cozumel or Mayan Riviera for non-diving wife?

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Harro10

Harro10

Contributor
Messages
616
Reaction score
230
Location
Hailey, Idaho
# of dives
200 - 499
My wife has been great to me. I recently have had some free time and have gone on three unaccompanied diving trip with no complaints at all (Cozumel twice and Bonaire). I would like to take her on a nice vacation. She does not dive but does enjoy snorkeling. I have never been to the Mayan Riviera area except for cenote diving. If any posters are familiar with both areas which do you think would be a better choice for her to enjoy?
Yes. I will be trying to squeeze in a couple of dives.
She has never been to Mexico. If we go to the Mayan Riviera we will probably stay in an AI. In Cozumel I am sure she would enjoy the many restaurants so we would look for a hotel somewhat close to town - maybe the Hotel Cozumel.
 
It depends on what she likes to do. If shopping and a variety of restaurants and bars is a requirement, then go with Cozumel. I don't have experience with the AI's. Based on the enterances that we pass down the highway, my guess is that they're like AI's anywhere - doesn't matter what stretch of beach you're on or where it is, they've got the typical luxury amentities in the rooms and the variety of buffets, restaurants, bars and pools. We've been renting a condo once or twice a year for the past few years in Akumal. It's very laid back and relaxing. There are about 5 or 6 restaurants, 2 beach bars and a few (about 3 or 4) shops. It's not a big tourist area. But, there are lots of day trips - Mayan sites like Tulum and Coba, water parks like Xel Ha, and the dry caves at Aktun Chen and kind of neat. For a tourist fix, Playa del Carmen is about 20 minutes away. The snorkeling in Half Moon Bay and Yal Ku Lagoon is really good. There's are also several non-developed beaches down the coast. For day tripping you would need to have a car.

The ocean dives in Akumal are very nice. No walls, but very healthy reefs with huge corals and sponges and lots of marine life. The current is usually very light so it's a relaxed drift dive. Avg depth is 50-70ft. Very few boats and rare to see another group on the same site or even close to it. Usually 3 dives/day at 9, 11:30 and 2pm. Back to the beach/shop between each dive.
 
I like Playa Del Carmen. My wife and friends hang out at the resort or go shopping in town, and my buddy and I skip out to the cenotes.
You can always take the ferry to Coz for the day.

Stayed at the RIU resorts 3 times (RUI Yucatan, Playacar) and always had a great time.
 
Thanks for the replies. Shopping is not an issue (I hope). I just have the impression that the beaches are nicer and the ruins are much more impressive for day trips on the mainland.
 
This may not be what you want to hear but - let's say I had an ear infection and couldn't dive - yet I wanted to let my wife dive - I think I'd (selfishly) rather be in Cancun. (Unless she really really likes to read.)
 
If you're at an AI, you'll have all the AI trappings to occupy you. Yes, the beaches along the Riviera Maya and 100% better and less crowded (outside of the resorts). It is VERY laid back. If you need touristy t-shirt shops and jewelry stores, Carlos & Charlies or Senor Frogs, you'll me miserable in a day. I have enough craziness, traffic and annoying strangers in my days. When I go on vacation I want to completely escape. We rent a place in Akumal on the beach with no phone, no tv and a dive shop that's a small concrete building with palapa roof two buildings down the beach.

For ruins, I'd recommend a day trip to Coba. There are a couple really good tours that provide you transportation, an archeological guide and a lunch at a Mayan town. Coba is in the jungle and a pretty significant site in Mayan history. Tulum is really neat because it overlooks a great beach. Also a good day trip because you can get ruins, beach and Tulum has some good restaurants.

There's a good site with tons of info about Riviera Maya and pretty active boards for info on the area and a board about AI's. www.locogringo.com
 
Thanks again,
The locogringo site is a good resource. We are looking for something on the bucolic side if we go the AI route so we will stay away from Cancun or Playa del Carmen.
 
The AI's on the Riviera side are the best. There is so much to do at the good AI's and then ad in Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Tulum, and my favorite..nice quiet Akumal. The best AI's IMHO: The Palladium and Barcelo Maya. Both are close to Cenotes. Both have amazing beaches. Both have great food, esp. Palladium. Both have great entertainment. Both have good dive operators. Scuba Caribe at Palladium and Dressel Divers at Barcelo.
Stay away from Allegro at Playacar. The entire Playacar area is crowded and a bit dirty. If you want to stay right in Playa del Carmen, check out EL Faro and Blue Parrot.
Cancun has amazing properties and the best beaches in the world. But...Cancun is like Vegas on the beach. No one even speaks Spanish there. IMHO its WAY too Americanized.
Stayed on Coz once before I was a diver. It was fun, but not like the Mexican Riviera.
Nowdays, Its Coz.
 
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