Stay on Coz but do some mainland stuff too?

[divv]

Hi folks.
I am looking at Mexico for my first time in December/ January.

Assuming my US visa (needed for flights) comes through in time I will spend a week in Coz before Christmas, then go to mainland Mexico to explore some towns (non-diving) then I want to come back to do some more diving at the end of the trip before flying home (flights are in and out of Cancun).

Having read various threads it seems to me the consensus is that Coz dives are much better than mainland but I wouldn't mind checking out the wreck and doing at least one double tank cenote dive.
I would also like to see some ruins.

Accommodation wise, (bad time of the year - expensive or full!) I could find availability in Cancun at One Cancun Centro (comments?).
Alternatively (and this is what I am leaning towards) I can stay on Coz again, and catch the ferry to the mainland to do the cenotes, ruins, etc and also do a few more Coz dives inbetween?

Is this workable?

Thanks!
Diane

 

[Dogbowl]

Hi folks.
I am looking at Mexico for my first time in December/ January.

Assuming my US visa (needed for flights) comes through in time I will spend a week in Coz before Christmas, then go to mainland Mexico to explore some towns (non-diving) then I want to come back to do some more diving at the end of the trip before flying home (flights are in and out of Cancun).

Having read various threads it seems to me the consensus is that Coz dives are much better than mainland but I wouldn't mind checking out the wreck and doing at least one double tank cenote dive.
I would also like to see some ruins.

Accommodation wise, (bad time of the year - expensive or full!) I could find availability in Cancun at One Cancun Centro (comments?).
Alternatively (and this is what I am leaning towards) I can stay on Coz again, and catch the ferry to the mainland to do the cenotes, ruins, etc and also do a few more Coz dives inbetween?

Is this workable?

Thanks!
Diane

I would advise against staying in Coz and “commuting” to the mainland every day. Way too exhausting, unless you’re young and very fit. Even then it really is a waste of precious travel time.

Why are you going to Coz then mainland then back to Coz when your flights are in and out of Cancun? Seems awfully inefficient. Why not just go to Coz then mainland?

 

[divv]

Hi Dogbowl, thanks for the input.
From what I could see the flights were much cheaper return to Cancun as opposed to a multicity scenario.. The reason I was looking at going back to Coz at the end was because I could find what seemed to be reasonable accommodation there, as compared to what was available in other places (PDC etc).
I was thinking of 2 - 3 days of coming to the mainland and the rest of the days on Coz so I wouldn't be using the ferry every day but being new to Mexico/ Coz I have no idea what its like which is exactly why I'm asking for (and appreciate!) the input!
(I'm 50 so neither young nor old.. )

 

[Dogbowl]

Fair enough. Yes I agree it’s often cheaper to fly into Cancun and do the bag drag into Coz. If you’re staying say 2 weeks in Coz and only going over to the mainland 2-3 days and not consecutively, and you’re prepared it will be a “full” day, and your stamina is good, I think it’s doable.

Have fun! Mexico is addictive.

 

[divv]

Thanks.. I appreciate the feedback.
The only diving I have done that side of the world so far was the Bahamas.. most of my diving is Red Sea or Indian Ocean.
But I want to see Mexico for other reasons too which is why this trip is planned..

 

[Dogbowl]

Thanks.. I appreciate the feedback.
The only diving I have done that side of the world so far was the Bahamas.. most of my diving is Red Sea or Indian Ocean.
But I want to see Mexico for other reasons too which is why this trip is planned..

The cenotes are very special. I really enjoyed them. I spent a week at Playa del Carmen in September and going to Coz in 3 weeks. Tulum (the ruin south of Playa) is beautiful.

I’ve never dived the Red Sea nor Indian Ocean but hear great things.

You mentioned you need a US visa. Which country are you coming from? Are you connecting in US?

 

[divv]

I am from South Africa and virtually all the flights go through the US...

Red Sea and Indian Ocean ARE great yes.

 

[Dogbowl]

I am from South Africa and virtually all the flights go through the US...

Red Sea and Indian Ocean ARE great yes.

It is the middle of the night here in east coast North America. When everyone wakes up tomorrow, you will get lots of other suggestions and recommendations. There are lots of die hard Coz fans here. They will be very helpful.

 

[FT]

Possibly cheaper accommodation in or towards Tulum, and not much further from the Playa del Carmen ferry than going all the way back up to Cancun. Ruins in Tulum are well worth a visit, as is Coba. Or if you want to visit Chichen Itzel and Ek Balam, stay one overnight inland to get to C.I. before the crowds.

Or if you are energetic and don’t want to switch hotels, a day trip to cenotes and Tulum is quite doable in a day by ferry from Cozumel. Chichen Itza could be visited on your last day before flying out. Again, recommend staying closer to,it than Cancun.

 

[divv]

Thanks FT. I'll check out Tulum further...