Day 3
Thanks for all the input guys. Did not know about the museum. Definitely want to check it out and so far no one here is talking about the storm. I am suppose to start my class the next day or two. Waiting to hear from Nat now.
Renting the car here was easy but I admit I liked having the driver from the airport until I could get my Mexican driving attitude adjustment. I recommend anyone driving here have excellent situational awareness and assume that everyone is out to get you.
I also found that my Waze app works just as well here, so far, as at home.
Coba
It was a long, hot, beautiful day although the forecast had made it sound like it would be stormy all day. Had just a few light and brief showers pass by. We arrived at Coba about 8:30 but still one of the first there. 50 pesos to park in a wide open parking area and entry to the site 70 pesos each. There are bathrooms and a gift shop with snacks at the entrance. You can walk it but we rented bikes at 50 pesos and bought a small map. You do not need the map. There are also three wheeled bike “taxis” for hire. If you start out walking but tire there are taxis also available at several sites along the way. We considered a guide and even spoke with one briefly but we finally decided to just do our own thing.
I recommend going early as we did and head straight to Ixmoja, the grand pyramid (the left fork on the map).It is the feature of the site and gets crowded quickly. Then retrace your steps until you reach the other section and do it last as it seems to be less congested even later in the morning. Coba is still part jungle so except for climbing the pyramid we were mostly shaded making sunscreen less a necessity but I definitely recommend insect spray.
Tulum
We finished Coba 11:45. Had a snack then headed back to Tulum. (BTW watch out for speed bumps along the road from Tulum to Coba both as you head out of Tulum and at several small villages along the route). Having read some reviews we were not expecting much and I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised. It is very different from Coba but I enjoyed it just as much, after we got past the tourist traps. And you don’t need to rent bikes here or ride the tram. Its just a short walk to the entrance. We got taken for the parking at the tourist shops, 100 pesos but entry was again 70 pesos each. I strongly recommend sunscreen here.
The site was crowded by then but I found the contrast with Coba interesting with its well excavated and labeled ruins. And of course the dramatic view of ruin and ocean. Tons of iguanas and we were even fortunate enough to see a Mama Un Coati and 3 young ones. All in all a very good day but I wished I had saved Tulum for another morning so less crowded, cooler and I not so tired.
We arrived back at PA about 3:30 and stopped at Taco Paco near the entrance. We each got a fish and a shrimp taco. I admit I was a bit concerned when we saw them. They were heavily breaded but we were hungry at it was actually pretty good.
And I heard back from Nat while writing this up and looks like class starts Saturday so tomorrow, weather dependent will be the museum and maybe Xcaret. Or maybe Cenotes.
