Blogs from Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico, North America - page 4

We headed to Mexico in November - hoping to encounter warmer temperatures and fewer tourists (like us). I didn’t rub a magic lamp before we left, but we received our wishes (Where was that lamp when Montezuma’s Revenge hit Jason on the day we were supposed to go to Chichen Itza??). Us- being us, would not be content to just relax on the beach sipping margaritas in the shade of palm trees. Our priorities included soaking up plenty of vitamin D, enjoying the bathwater temperatures of the Caribbean (which was four shades of turquoise at once), and experiencing ancient Mayan cities beyond Chichen Itza. The Maya are a rich and industrious people, as seen by the many cities still standing today in this region. It was hard to narrow it down to just a few—each ruin ... read more

Day 6 - Swimming with dolphins This was the day we’d been really looking forward to as today we were going swimming with dolphins! First though we made a quick breakfast stop at the Gran Bahia Principe Riviera Maya. This hotel has always been popular with our customers, it has a few pools, friendly staff, and good food (you know that’s what we’re looking for) Also it had the nicest beach we’ve seen so far with pure white sand stretching for miles. The resort is made of three hotels in one, which are all linked by a mini train service, so between the 3 hotsl there's plenty going on all the time. Next we head off for Xcaret Eco Park. This park is huge, with so much to do. We’d paid the supplement to swim ... read more

Hola everyone -and thank you Art and Phoebe for sharing your beautiful "nido" (nest) with us! We are having a perfect week here in Akumal - a beautiful and peaceful paradise! And we are seeing turtles! We can see how Akumal got its name - "Place of the turtle" in Mayan. Such a thrill to swim with them in the glorious Caribbean!! We have been snorkeling in Half Moon Bay, Akumal Bay and Yal-ku Lagoon. Magical!... read more

Our last island and we have booked a beach/jungle dune buggy experience. We join about 50 other adventurers and are designated four person dune buggys which look like they have been hired out for at least 30 to 40 years. Buggy is a manual with stick shift which changes gear as we drive at high speed down the dirt beachside road. We ride in formation and have great fun sliding around corners and avoiding oncoming local traffic. Stop for a short break at a beautiful seaside village where we swim and cool down before driving 30 minutes further before stopping for lunch on a beach at Mahu Mahu. Area has hammocks, deck chairs and even locals acting as lifeguards (in the water) to prevent too many Americans washing away!!!. Return to the pier tired and ... read more

I haven’t been feeling well this week, random inexplicable pain. So today was mostly about sleeping, resting and going to the infirmary for some answers. They think I have an infection and have given me some drugs. Will hopefully be pain free soon. But I did briefly get off the ship with Brooks and Catherine, just to explore the area around the pier. There’s not a lot in Costa Maya. The pier was created by the cruise line. There is no city or even town right by the pier. It’s a stop used to access sites on mainland Mexico for tours. Not really a place to stop and see right by the water. Because the pier was created by the cruise line, it is EXPENSIVE! Lots of wandering in and out of the shops. No shopping. ... read more