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

[nodakdive]

As DandyDon pointed out, you didn't say how long you'd be there, and that makes some difference as to what you might want to do. What I wouldn't do is basically what you're doing, but that's me. What I've learned in my trips to Cozumel is that there are many great restaurants, and though it's not extremely difficult to get to some ruins when staying on Cozumel, staying in Playa del Carmen cuts about 3.5 to 4.5 hours off the trip. If you're going for a day, 3.5 to 4.5 hours (or more depending on the day) is a big chunk out of a day. So, I'm going to assume that the person insisting on ruins is willing to compromise on what "seeing ruins" (this trip) is going to be.

As Mike suggested, go to your resort and dive with the onsite op. I have no personal experience with them, but it's usually much more relaxed to dive with the onsite operation. For the ruins, I'd suggest the Coba trip. I've only seen pictures of Coba, Tulum and Chichen Itza. My understanding is that Tulum is very beautiful, but it's just the one pyramid. Chichen Itza is the big dog, but it's
quite a trip from Playa, as mentioned, you'll be on a bus longer than you're at the ruins. Coba is "ruins in the jungle", and quite extensive, possibly larger in area than the Chichen Itza site, but it's not nearly as excavated. So, if your spouse insists on the very best, you're probably in for that long trip, but Coba seems to split the difference nicely, and actually, I think you could do Coba and see Tulum in one day, and be back in Cozumel by 6pm if you wanted. Assuming you're there for a week and I ran the circus....

1. Dive with the resort's dive op. Let them know your skill level and your desires. They'll do their best to accommodate you.
2. Make at least one trip to the malecon (ferry pier area, some call it "downtown") for supper, if it's just one night, go on Sunday night and check out the square.
3. Rent a car or get a taxi and go to the east side. If I was going to eat over there, I think I'd go to Coconuts.
4. If you, by God, have to get on the ferry, go for it, but make a day trip to Xcaret, which is just south of Playa. STAY FOR THE SHOW AT NIGHT.
5. Skip ruins entirely this trip. San Gerviaso, on Cozumel, as the "ruins" at Punta Sur park, probably won't suffice for the spouse. If you MUST do ruins, then Xcaret is out, and I'd probably take the sig otter to Coba and Tulum and then hang in Playa del Carmen for awhile after. Maybe have supper. Unless you're in Coz for more than a week, save Chichen Itza for the next trip.
6. The Museum, downtown, is well, quaint. It's a few hours worth.
7. Heed DandyDon's comment - "Eh, don't worry or try to get it all in one trip..."

As for a cheap dive op, which I wouldn't spend any time trying to figure out for this trip, I think Dive with Martin has low rates and lots of loyal followers. Picking a dive op on Cozumel is easy and hard. It's easy because there are lots of really great dive ops. It's hard because what will make a great dive op for you requires knowing "what you want" on many different levels. For a first trip, just dive with the hotel op. They'll take good care of you. I've heard of divers not having expectations met in Cozumel, but I've never heard of anyone being "ripped off" by a dive op. As mentioned above, it's a competitive business there, and all the ops want you to have a great, safe time. Frankly, if you dive all week, get downtown a couple nights and over to the East side, that's a week worth of trip right there.

Have a great 40th!! You'll love Cozumel!!

-Blair

 

[DandyDon]

My understanding is that Tulum is very beautiful, but it's just the one pyramid. Chichen Itza is the big dog, but it's quite a trip from Playa, as mentioned, you'll be on a bus longer than you're at the ruins. Coba is "ruins in the jungle", and quite extensive, possibly larger in area than the Chichen Itza site, but it's not nearly as excavated.

Uh, no - there is a lot more than one pyramid at Tulum. You really should visit some of these, or there are several articles online. Tulum has many structures, overseeing a lovely beach, a stairway down the cliff, even some nice bikinis.

Coba is indeed in the jungle, quite spread out, and there are mounds around that have not been explored - true, but there's plenty to see. I was amazed that most there that day walked all the way back to the big pyramid there. Bicycling was more my thing, after I remembered how to ride one after decades, but there are tricycle porters for hire too. There are two main trails and we pretty much had the second one to ourselves, but we made them both. We went in August, gawd it was hot, and I finished off both quarts I carried. My bud ignored my suggestion, only carried one, spent a lot on small bottles at the pyramid, then wussed out and hired a tricycle porter to take him back along the second trail. February is not as bad and he might not need insect repellent, but I'd carry a can just in case.

We did the ferry from Coz to PDC, got our rental car, did Coba & Tulum, and were back to Coz for dinner. Chichen Itza and Ek Balam are much further. I doubt both can be done in a day trip from Coz, but I'd still rather drive than do the tour bus - the way they do those.

 

[vlkr]

i always advise people to be on the square sunday eve. there is usually a party with people of all ages interacting/ local food/ live music/ an opportunity to be with the locals.

 

[DandyDon]

i always advise people to be on the square sunday eve. there is usually a party with people of all ages interacting/ local food/ live music/ an opportunity to be with the locals.

And no cruise boats all day..!

 

[BettyfromToronto]

I saw a cruise ship in port on Sunday January 8th.

 

[njones259]

I saw the same ship but I don't remember it being a big one,I think one of the smaller lines.

 

[mstevens]

For "ruins", pick one destination instead of making yourself crazy trying to go to more than one place in a day. The obvious choice here is Chichen Itza.

Reserve a rental car in Playa del Carmen and take the ferry after your day's diving. Drive to Chichen Itza and spend a night there or in Valladolid. There are two hotels right at the ruins from which you can easily walk. You can catch the lecture and light show before going to bed. Get up early in the morning to go to the ruins before it gets hot and before the tour buses from Cancun show up. Have breakfast, check out of your hotel, then head to the ruins and hire a guide there. Tour the ruins at your leisure, looking at what you want to see at your pace.

When you're done, probably at midday or early afternoon shortly after the tour buses arrive by the hundreds, drive back to Playa del Carmen. Stop in Valladolid for lunch and at the prison for a hammock. Shop on 5th and get supper in Playa del Carmen, or catch the ferry back, possibly in time for a night dive.

If you don't feel like driving, you can get a car and driver in Playa del Carmen.

Yes, this'll cost you an extra night in a hotel if you have a week booked somewhere on the island, but it's the more civilized alternative to a 14-hour bus tour. A nice car with A/C, a night at Villas Arqueologicas (former Club Med), and a private guide won't be a whole lot more than the bus tour for two and it'll be a whole lot nicer.

 

[ggunn]

I saw a cruise ship in port on Sunday January 8th.

It happens. The notion that there are never cruise ships at Cozumel on Sundays isn't really reality; although most cruise ships cycle through their home ports on Sundays, not all do. There will assuredly be far fewer of them on Sundays, but you will see them occasionally.

 

[robint]

Tulum, when I visited in 2003

The ruins at Tulum are very small.... only a small cluster of bldgs and the actual bldgs are small and crude compared to the rest of the Mayan ruins you can find in the Yucatan. The Mayan empire was on decline when Tulum was built.
Coba, on the other hand, was a much earlier city and huge. It has the largest pyramid in Yucatan Mexico that you can still climb. It also has a nice ball court. (Tulum doesn't have one)

Coba, same trip

and for Chichen Itza, I have a full webpage with photos and videos here:
Mayan Ruins - Chichen Itza

go to Chichen Itza if you want your mind blown!! BUT you really really really want to spend time there, and get a professional guide at the front gate. You cannot learn on your own or with a book as much as you will with one of these guys!! Worth every penny!!!

robin

 

[mstevens]

I cannot emphasize enough the value of a professional guide at Chichen Itza. It's not terribly expensive and worth far more than you pay.