A week in the Yucatan
Hello all,
I haven't posted in awhile, the ever so exciting world of earning a living has made travel seem such a distant indulgence, though it is helping to bankroll a healthy fund for a serious honeymoon, a topic for another time...
In the meantime, traveling the North American way - one week at a time - my fiancée and I are flying to Cancun the first week of November. The plan is to bus down the coast to Tulum, up into Valladolid and Chichen Itza, then back to Cancun for the flight. The itinerary in excruciating detail:
Day 1
Fly into Cancun
Stay at hostel in downtown(Recommendations? Our usual criteria in decreasing order of importance = party atmosphere/people, location, price, cleanliness. Looking at International Club Hostel)
Day 2
Bus down to Playa del Carmen, with a stop on the way for snorkeling in Puerto Morelos. (Going only on Lonely Planet here, can anyone second that this would be the best snorkeling found in Riviera, or suggest other sites?)
Couch surf in PDC, hopefully party with the locals
Day 3
Head out to Cozumel for resort course + 2 tank dive, sight suggestions? I'm gathering the Palancar sites are good for beginners?
Ferry back to couch surf still in PDC
Day 4
Bus down to Tulum, enjoy the beach
Stay in one of the beach cabanas. (Recommendations? Looking at Zazil-kin, Papaya Playa)
Day 5
Check out the ruins in the AM, then bus to Valladolid
Check out Cenotes de Dzitnup
Stay in some hotel (Recommendations?)
Day 6
Check out Chichen Itza in the AM, bus to Cancun
Back to a hostel, maybe couchsurf again
Day 7
Maybe see Isla Mujeres
Partake in the debauchery of the Zona Hotelera for a night.
Day 8
Fly back home, booo.
Possible additions I'm thinking of – snorkeling in Akumal, and a stop in the Coba ruins to see a bit of the jungle. To do these, I'd drop the day in Cancun/Isla Mujeres, add one to Tulum. Another idea I'm tossing around is the 'Rio Secreto' underground river trip with Alltournative out of PDC, looks pretty damn cool, though the price is a bit steep. Anyone done something like that?
Aside from the questions in the itinerary, please add any suggestions for the area. Where can I jump of a cliff into a cenote? Would I have much chance seeing sea turtles anywhere this time of year? (not in a tank)
I looked at the eco-parks, but I think that's something I'll do some day when I'm towing kids along. For now it looks like there are better deals for snorkeling, which would be the main attraction for us.
Probably a bit ambitious for a week, but the bus rides are so short and cheap – and I'm not usually on vacation to “relax.” All suggestions welcome, please let me know how it all sounds.
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