Traveling on my own for some diving in Cozumel December & January

[lamarpaulski]

All inclusive for that long a stay will pretty boring re the variety of food. There are many great food places in cozumel so check them out. You can take side trips and dive the cenotes and see the Mayan temples i Chitzen, Coba and Tulum - amazing imho. Probably can go with group if you feel safer that way.

 

[pkpowerofone]

Thanks Mossman. I think I'll go in the summer to catch the whale sharks and see the turtle hatchlings and will save the eagle rays for next time - that will be cool to see! Also I have tropical blood in me and lived in India for 14mths so I think I can handle the heat of July. But thanks for the warning. I might stay a few nights on Isla de Mujeres for the whale shark diving.

 

[DandyDon]

I go to Coz in the summer to cool off. It just doesn't get all that hot on the ocean. Inland ruins on the peninsula yeah, they are roasting, but not on the water.

Since I am cheap, lazy, and don't want to have to work at making dinner plans with others, I like the All Inclusive approach. Like at Hotel Cozumel, it's very nice to have a good breakfast at the hotel before diving and a good lunch there on return. They were all at the dockside cafe last summer. Then for supper, go into town if I feel like it and skip the free dinner at the hotel, or eat there - choose day to day. I do hate paying a taxi fee alone, adding $10 or more to my dinner costs, but then I also hate feeling like I must get myself invited to tag along as the third wheel with others at the hotel going into town. Nice to keep the options open.

3 weeks anywhere would be too long for me. I know that others feel differently, but if you're going to be there that long - mainland cenotes & ruins are good ideas, true, and I'd want to stay on that side of the channel for part of the stay. Multiple ferry rides can get tiresome. Playa del Carmen is not as safe as Coz I don't think, but it should be easy to stick to the safer areas - and then there's Tulum and other places to relocate over the adventure. I really enjoyed staying at the delightful hotel at Chichen Itza's back gate, then a nice breakfast and walking in right at opening time - hours before the buses arrive. If you like ruins, Ek Balam is wonderful and nearby too; if you don't, ok stick to the coast.

Whale shark snorkeling is wonderful and I'd love to do it again. Some will do a day trip from Coz but gawd what a long day, and then only one day of snorkeling with the Dominoes. Holbox is a delightful island to visit and go from there, or many snorkel boats leave from the Cancun area to swim on the other side of the herd.

You might plan on flying into Coz, then out of Cancun, with only one ferry ride - maybe?

Now, staying on Coz for an entire visit is really simple, but exploring the mainland can get much more creative. If you're thinking of the latter, we might suggest a number of ideas. For now, quickly order several of the Can-Do maps/guides: cancunmap.com-Maps and travel guides.Your information source to Cancun,Cozumel,Isla Mujeres & Riviera Maya

 

[bbarada]

We snorkeled with the whale sharks last July 4th. We did it in one day - one very long day. We took the ferry to Playa, got on a bus to Cancun, then on a small boat to just off Isla Mujeres. Then after snorkeling with the whale sharks, went into a sandy beach on Isla Mujeres, stood in about waist deep water drinking Coronas while the boat crew made fresh ceviche. Then back to Cancun, a bus ride to Playa, and the ferry over to Cozumel, and a taxi to Scuba Club.

A very long day, but the whole group felt it was worth it to snorkel with these majestic animals in warm, clear water.

 

[DandyDon]

We snorkeled with the whale sharks last July 4th. We did it in one day - one very long day. We took the ferry to Playa, got on a bus to Cancun, then on a small boat to just off Isla Mujeres. Then after snorkeling with the whale sharks, went into a sandy beach on Isla Mujeres, stood in about waist deep water drinking Coronas while the boat crew made fresh ceviche. Then back to Cancun, a bus ride to Playa, and the ferry over to Cozumel, and a taxi to Scuba Club.

A very long day, but the whole group felt it was worth it to snorkel with these majestic animals in warm, clear water.

I agree, if that's all you can do - it's worth it. I'd suggest relocating to the mainland at the end of the trip, staying closer to the chosen op, doing it 2 days, then flying home from Cancun - but just my opinion.