Gale in KY
22nd November 2006, 09:08 AM
With or without a car:
I usually make my way around on my own..with a car or by taxi..it might be worth your while to rent a car for a day or maybe two just for sightseeing. Without a car, I would suggest Cesiak's Tours..I really enjoyed a couple I did with them. As a rule, I find the organized tours way too expensive, for what they charge you can rent a car for a day and do several different things on your own schedule..there are a couple of car rental agencies in Tulum Pueblo, including the one I like, Buster. There is also a Hertz, Alamo, and Executive rental in Tulum. You may get the best rates if you reserve your vehicle by internet before your trip, for pickup in Tulum.
Without a car, I would suggest Cesiak's Tours..I really enjoyed a couple I did with them.
Cesiak Tours
http://www.cesiak.org/alldayde.htm
I love to Kayak, and did a Kayak tour with them a couple of years ago that was amazing..it wasn't this one but this is very similar
http://www.cesiak.org/kayak.htm
It all depends on what you prefer to do. Besides the ruins in Tulum, there is also Coba and Muyil that are within an hour of Tulum. I actually prefer Muyil, and there is a tour operator there at the docks that gives a great boat tour of the laguna. Muyil is about 20 minutes south of Tulum on Hwy 307, also called Chunyaxché.
Go fishing! Any of the hotel owners can recommend somebody to take you out for a morning or afternoon of fishing. There are quite a few fishing tour operators from Tulum to Punta Allen.
Punta Laguna Monkey Reserve (I mention that alot) but this is something you would really want a car for. Not a tourist attraction, a real working Monkey reserve. Go early, take water and use bug repellant, this is in the jungle. Take Coba Rd. out of Tulum towards Coba.
Grand Cenote and Carwash Cenote would be easy to get to with a taxi, just a little ways out of Tulum on Coba Rd. ...you could arrange for the driver to return to pick you up at a designated time.
Aktun Chen is not too far away...it is a really neat with it's dry cave and snorkeling..It bothered me that they have the animals caged there, but it was also cool to see the wildlife of the area close up. Looks like their website is down at the moment, but I will post the link anyway, it is probably temporary
www.aktunchen.com
If you want something a little more active, Alltournative and Selvatura both offer zip lines in the jungle and alot more. Playa.Info has some tours too..I have not done these, so I can't recommend one over the other but I know alot of people rave about Playa.info's tours. With all that beachtime, you might want to explore the jungle a bit. Alltournative offers a couple of great tours to Coba and Cenotes..they can be booked thru playa.info or direct with Alltournative.
Not really a tour, but something I think all of us who love Tulum should do..make time to visit and make a donation to Fundación Talleres Cero, AC
This organization has been offering programs to the children of Tulum since 1992 and has a small library on site that works to expand the children's education and reading abilities..much like the little library in Akumal...it is a wonderful way to give something back to the place we all love so much and the locals who help make our vacations so awesome.
They don't have a website, but Locogringo did a spotlight on them some time ago, the phone number is still a working number and if anyone is interested, I can find an email address for Sally
http://locogringo.com/past_spotlights/oct2000.html
I have never visited the mega tourist places like Xelha or Xcaret, so I can't give a thumbs up or down, except to say that like the All Inclusive resorts, they are probably not "true" Mexico..but many people enjoy them, they are both an all day and into the evening destination.
If snorkeling is of interest, grab a taxi and spend the day at Akumal Bay..sea turtles and mega marine life..it is by far the best snorkeling I have ever experienced..and you can do it right from the beach..no need to book a tour. There is a dive shop there if you need to rent equipment, a few really great restaurants..Lol-ha Beach Bar has a great atmopshere and some of the best guacamoli I have ever eaten, their margaritas are pretty good too. Lucy's has to die for homemade ice cream and her fish tacos are the BEST...the Loncheria, right next to the Arches when you enter Akumal has great food at cheap prices. There are several little gift shops around the village, art galleries etc. It is a good place to kick back for a day. I would recommend buying your own snorkel gear at home before you go though, to get the best fit.
Locogringo has an abundance of info about Akumal Bay, Half Moon Bay just to the north, and Yakul Lagoon..all three are 5* snorkeling opportunities.
locogringo.com
That should keep ya busy for a week or two!
I usually make my way around on my own..with a car or by taxi..it might be worth your while to rent a car for a day or maybe two just for sightseeing. Without a car, I would suggest Cesiak's Tours..I really enjoyed a couple I did with them. As a rule, I find the organized tours way too expensive, for what they charge you can rent a car for a day and do several different things on your own schedule..there are a couple of car rental agencies in Tulum Pueblo, including the one I like, Buster. There is also a Hertz, Alamo, and Executive rental in Tulum. You may get the best rates if you reserve your vehicle by internet before your trip, for pickup in Tulum.
Without a car, I would suggest Cesiak's Tours..I really enjoyed a couple I did with them.
Cesiak Tours
http://www.cesiak.org/alldayde.htm
I love to Kayak, and did a Kayak tour with them a couple of years ago that was amazing..it wasn't this one but this is very similar
http://www.cesiak.org/kayak.htm
It all depends on what you prefer to do. Besides the ruins in Tulum, there is also Coba and Muyil that are within an hour of Tulum. I actually prefer Muyil, and there is a tour operator there at the docks that gives a great boat tour of the laguna. Muyil is about 20 minutes south of Tulum on Hwy 307, also called Chunyaxché.
Go fishing! Any of the hotel owners can recommend somebody to take you out for a morning or afternoon of fishing. There are quite a few fishing tour operators from Tulum to Punta Allen.
Punta Laguna Monkey Reserve (I mention that alot) but this is something you would really want a car for. Not a tourist attraction, a real working Monkey reserve. Go early, take water and use bug repellant, this is in the jungle. Take Coba Rd. out of Tulum towards Coba.
Grand Cenote and Carwash Cenote would be easy to get to with a taxi, just a little ways out of Tulum on Coba Rd. ...you could arrange for the driver to return to pick you up at a designated time.
Aktun Chen is not too far away...it is a really neat with it's dry cave and snorkeling..It bothered me that they have the animals caged there, but it was also cool to see the wildlife of the area close up. Looks like their website is down at the moment, but I will post the link anyway, it is probably temporary
www.aktunchen.com
If you want something a little more active, Alltournative and Selvatura both offer zip lines in the jungle and alot more. Playa.Info has some tours too..I have not done these, so I can't recommend one over the other but I know alot of people rave about Playa.info's tours. With all that beachtime, you might want to explore the jungle a bit. Alltournative offers a couple of great tours to Coba and Cenotes..they can be booked thru playa.info or direct with Alltournative.
Not really a tour, but something I think all of us who love Tulum should do..make time to visit and make a donation to Fundación Talleres Cero, AC
This organization has been offering programs to the children of Tulum since 1992 and has a small library on site that works to expand the children's education and reading abilities..much like the little library in Akumal...it is a wonderful way to give something back to the place we all love so much and the locals who help make our vacations so awesome.
They don't have a website, but Locogringo did a spotlight on them some time ago, the phone number is still a working number and if anyone is interested, I can find an email address for Sally
http://locogringo.com/past_spotlights/oct2000.html
I have never visited the mega tourist places like Xelha or Xcaret, so I can't give a thumbs up or down, except to say that like the All Inclusive resorts, they are probably not "true" Mexico..but many people enjoy them, they are both an all day and into the evening destination.
If snorkeling is of interest, grab a taxi and spend the day at Akumal Bay..sea turtles and mega marine life..it is by far the best snorkeling I have ever experienced..and you can do it right from the beach..no need to book a tour. There is a dive shop there if you need to rent equipment, a few really great restaurants..Lol-ha Beach Bar has a great atmopshere and some of the best guacamoli I have ever eaten, their margaritas are pretty good too. Lucy's has to die for homemade ice cream and her fish tacos are the BEST...the Loncheria, right next to the Arches when you enter Akumal has great food at cheap prices. There are several little gift shops around the village, art galleries etc. It is a good place to kick back for a day. I would recommend buying your own snorkel gear at home before you go though, to get the best fit.
Locogringo has an abundance of info about Akumal Bay, Half Moon Bay just to the north, and Yakul Lagoon..all three are 5* snorkeling opportunities.
locogringo.com
That should keep ya busy for a week or two!