East Side Bar Hours

[AggieDiver03]

Will be driving around the Island for the first time next Tuesday, and I was wondering what the hours are of Coconuts, paradise, mescalitos, and others. They are mostly open during the afternoon/early evening, right? When will they be the busiest, it's just me and a buddy, so won't be opposed to a little excitement.

Also, does anyone suggest going around the island to the south first, as opposed to starting out going east through town?

6 days....

 

[Christi]

Will be driving around the Island for the first time next Tuesday, and I was wondering what the hours are of Coconuts, paradise, mescalitos, and others. They are mostly open during the afternoon/early evening, right? When will they be the busiest, it's just me and a buddy, so won't be opposed to a little excitement.

Also, does anyone suggest going around the island to the south first, as opposed to starting out going east through town?

6 days....

Most of them open around 10:00 and close around 5:00.

We are a tourist destination, so everyday is more or less the same with regards to how busy it will be. The only exception is that we have no cruise ships on Sundays, so you won't have the cruise ship tours on the east side.

It's a total matter of preference which way you decide to drive around. However, if it was me, I would start going south, making sure not to miss Paradise beach, Playa Palancar, Coconuts, etc.

Be careful though and please don't over indulge in adult beverages and then drive. Believe it or not, there ARE check points and they do enforce drinking and driving laws here. Not to mention the dangers of drinking and driving!

 

[ggunn]

Also, does anyone suggest going around the island to the south first, as opposed to starting out going east through town?

6 days....

Well, with our group, it's traditional to go east first, starting at about 10am so we hit Chen Rio at lunch time for the whole fried snapper (yum!), and get to the hammocks and shrimp quesedillas at the Paradise Cafe in the late afternoon. The one time we went the other way, we missed Coconuts, but I think their signs are better now.

When you get to Coconuts, look at about the middle of the low Tshirts on the side of the palapa closest to the water for a shirt portraying a VW Beetle converted to a dolphin art car and promoting an artcars website (http://www.artcars.com). My wife designed the shirt, the car is real, and some friends of mine are the owners of the car and the site. Dusty Dave the Dolphin is the car's name, and I have driven it in several parades. We sign the shirt again every time we go to Cozumel.

 

[Wristshot]

Cody,

Having just done the drive around the island myself 13 days ago, I feel competent to suggest: start out driving south. After you leave town, there is very little to see on the route south, so you want to get that over with in the beginning. The road is largely cut through 20-30 foot tall jungle so you cannot see the coast / shore / waves etc on the western side. Heading back north up the east side of the island you get an almost unobstructed view of the ocean (sea?) for the majority of the drive.

Note that there are some beach clubs that charge for entry, and some that don't. Playa Corona (?) and Playa Sol (?) are ones that I have visited on SI, but not from the road.

We stopped at Playa Palancar as it was one of the free ones. It was very nice, peaceful, quiet and comfortable. It had a large covered deck area for drinking and dining. We did not eat there, but just had a cool drink and enjoyed the scenery. The white sandy beach and the water were very pretty. There was almost no surf, and the shades of blue were exquisite.

One of Christi's boats was there on their SI. There were some people, but it was not crowded, and I think it was a little before noon. It was nice for a brief respite to just relax a little while. It may be more hopping at other times, but I suspect it stays pretty mellow since it is rather far south of town (just guessing).

When we reached the southern tip, we started getting to see the ocean from the road, but of course the water is much more active on the southern tip and all along the eastern coast. There was a lot of wind, and small whitecaps on the water.

At Coconuts we ate in the main building as most of the tables "outside" were occupied except for one or two without umbrellas at the edge of the cliff. Midday in July is not the time for a freckled Caucazoid to be sitting out in the sun in Mexico. The place was about 3/4 full, but again it was real mellow. None of the activities like those in the photo albums were happening while we were there. (Too bad!)

The drive back to town across the island was somewhat anticlimactic, but such is life. We thought about stopping at the ruins, but it was really hot, and my buddy had no intention of walking around in that heat, so we bagged it and drove back to town.

Just my experiences and opinions. I am sure that others have different ones.


Wristshot

 

[ggunn]

Not looking for an argument here, seriously... ;^)

Having done the drive around the island some 20+ times over the years, I too feel competent to make a suggestion. We spend the lion's share of our visit on the west side, doing the west side stuff, so our east side day is just that. We spend the whole day over there (VERY leisurely) and do the west side stops another day. I have gone east first most times, south first a few times and didn't like it as much. Of course it's ALL good, and YMMV.

BTW, you don't have to take that boring new road between San Francisco and La Ceiba; you can skirt the coast. Going south, veer right just before the Caleta, or going north, watch for the split and bear left. We usually are heading back to town along the west coast road at sunset. Muy bonita!

 

[sealskin98]

No argument intended here either...but....

I like the southern route to start (tradition here too). Ya get to Paradise Cafe quicker for hammock time!

As for the ruins: yup, it's hot. The horse back rides are kinda neat, but then I like horses. The jungle is a little warm on top of a saddled horse though (poor horse); would like to do a bareback ride if the op. would agree. (I don't mind the horse sweat on me rear end from bareback, got used to that as a kid. Besides, ocean=wash)

Gordon, would I be able to sign the t-shirt also?

 

[HammerNoMore]

No argument intended here either...but....

I like the southern route to start (tradition here too). Ya get to Paradise Cafe quicker for hammock time!

I've done both routes, both in a car and on a scooter. Gordon, before you comment, I been riding motorcycles since I was 18, so I know how to look out for the idiots. My personal preference is the southern route. On a scooter, I'd rather have the shorter drive after the bars, not before. It's a personal preference.

 

[sealskin98]

James...^5's....

Been ridin' motors since I was 10...I wrecked a lot then though. I remember this one fence I went through on a three wheeler...dang them thing take some gettin' used to after ya used to a two wheeler.

 

[HammerNoMore]

James...^5's....

Been ridin' motors since I was 10...I wrecked a lot then though. I remember this one fence I went through on a three wheeler...dang them thing take some gettin' used to after ya used to a two wheeler.

Well if you want to count the "non licencend rides", my first experience involved a barn. It went somthing like, a little gas, a little clutch, oh, not enough clutch, let off the clutch, oh **** wheelie, is that a barn in front of me....


You get the idea....

 

[sealskin98]

Stop it James!...Brings back too many memories.

But we digress...take which ever way ya wanna on island road (flip coin)...then do the other way the next time!