Sian Kaan Tour info wanted

[bluestraveler2]

I'd like to hear from anyone who has taken a tour in Sian Kaan. I' d like to know with whom you toured, what was it like, how much was it, and would you recommend it.

[beachreader]

I'd like to hear the same. Failing something interesting turning up here, I was just going to go to the CESiak office in Tulum pueblo to see what they had going.

[AdGuy]

Hey Gang,

I covered our CESiak trip in the third part of my four-part trip report. Some of your questions may be answered here...

http://www.tulum.info/showthread.php?t=572

If you have specific questions, ask away! :cool:

[bluestraveler2]

I knew you'd done a review on Sian Kaan, but when I put in a seach for it it didn't come up. So my next best option was to put out a request and sure enough you came through. I think we would also like to go to Ek Balm, but we've never seen Tulum Ruins nor Coba and they are closer. So maybe for a first trip down, these ruins should be seen first. Or would you recommend skipping Coba and heading out to Ek Balm? Another good reason for going to Ek Balm is getting to go to Valladolid. Thanks Adguy!

[AdGuy]

I think we would also like to go to Ek Balm, but we've never seen Tulum Ruins nor Coba and they are closer. So maybe for a first trip down, these ruins should be seen first. Or would you recommend skipping Coba and heading out to Ek Balm? Another good reason for going to Ek Balm is getting to go to Valladolid. Thanks Adguy!

If you haven't been to Coba, Tulum, or Ek Balam, I'd recommend Coba.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i317/FloridaAdGuy/DSCF1081.jpg

Get there early (by 9:00am), definitely get a guide, and plan on spending a few hours. After lunch in the town of Coba, swing over to the Punta Laguna Monkey Reserve (they're within 20 miles of each other).

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i317/FloridaAdGuy/December2006TulumPictureson16MB191.jpg

If primates 'aren't your thing' you can hit a cenote (Grand or Cristal) or visit the Muyil ruins on the south side of Tulum.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i317/FloridaAdGuy/DSCF1178.jpg


http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i317/FloridaAdGuy/December2006TulumPictureson16MB120.jpg

[bluestraveler2]

Oh yeah, I definately want to see the monkeys. I won't go to the zoo anymore because it depresses me to see the animals caged. To see them swinging in their own habitat..Wow, I can't imagine anything more impressive. I'm a dedicated bird watcher as well. I have 3 gigantic bird feeders outside my kitchen and dining room windows. We've had 30+ American Gold Finch feasting or should I say gorging themselves on Thistle seed since last summer. We keep wondering when they are going to stop, but I think they have told all their friends about this free buffet that never ends! Sooo.... I can't wait to see the birds. One of my reasons for zooming in on Hamaca Loca was the fact that it was so close to Sian Kaan and the jungle. I was told by a very know it all teacher friend that there isn't a real tropical jungle where I'm going. I beg to differ. From your excellent pictures, it obvious there is jungle! The monkeys you captured with you camera aren't walking on the ground , but swinging from trees. Jungle trees with snakes and mosquitos. I did cut and paste the sign for Monkey Reserve, but I'm not sure how to get there. Any good advice on that would be helpful.

[AdGuy]

Getting to Coba and the Punta Laguna Monkey Reserve is pretty easy. Just head north from Hamaca Loca and turn left onto the Coba road at the little police station where the signage is...

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i317/FloridaAdGuy/December2006TulumPictureson16MB513.jpg

Continue to head on the road (passing the Highway 307 intersection) and go past cenotes, small markets and through a couple of small towns. You may run into some roadwork as well but nothing that should slow you down too much. The close quarters may play havoc with your nerves though...

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i317/FloridaAdGuy/DSCF1054.jpg

You'll probably be on this road for about 30-40 minutes before coming to a traffic circle (returno). To go to Coba you'll travel 3/4 counterclockwise around the circle (they'll be signage) or to go to the monkey reserve you'll go only 1/4 of the way around. Punta Laguna is about 15 minutes from the circle and Coba is about 5 minutes.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i317/FloridaAdGuy/December2006TulumPictureson16MB149.jpg

A good resource is the Can-Do guide map on Chichen Itza. It covers Coba, Valladolid, Ek Balam, and other small points of interest along the way. It's money well spent.

[lambert13]

Hey Adguy........... which cenote is that in your post? Looks breathtaking.

[AdGuy]

Hey Adguy........... which cenote is that in your post? Looks breathtaking.

Grand Cenote, located only 4km west of Tulum pubelo...

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i317/FloridaAdGuy/DSCF1212.jpg

Also, Cristal is nice as well. It's located a couple of kilometers south of Tulum pubelo...

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i317/FloridaAdGuy/December2006TulumPictureson16MB256.jpg




.

[beachreader]

Is there a difference in terms between the seriously cave-type cenote (like Hidden Worlds, or the one I had to rappel into on the Alltournative tour), and the more open-air jungle pond-type like Crystal?

Just curious if there's a technical term that distinguishes between the two.

[AdGuy]

Not sure of a technical term...the main difference is cost! Cristal is under $4 (and includes admission to Escondido across the highway) and Grand is under $8. Compare that to Hidden Worlds which is around $40 per person! http://www.33smiley.com/smiley5/emotions/2.gif



.

[beachreader]

Sorry, I just picked Hidden Worlds at random. I just meant the more cave-y ones as opposed to the more pond/lake-y ones. But thanks, good to know that Hidden Worlds is really expensive; I'll stick to the others round and about.

[minniemex]

Not sure of a technical term...the main difference is cost! Cristal is under $4 (and includes admission to Escondido across the highway) and Grand is under $8. Compare that to Hidden Worlds which is around $40 per person! http://www.33smiley.com/smiley5/emotions/2.gif



.

Do I detect http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_2_107.gif an increased use in smileys??

[firecop680]

Should you wear your swim trunks to the smaller places or do they have a restroom you can change in?

[Gale in KY]

I feel the same way Lee, about Xel-ha or Xcaret for snorkeling with those BIG prices for admission when you can go to Yakul and Akumal Bay..for about $5 at Yakul..and free all day everyday in Akumal.

It's a no brainer. :D

[minniemex]

I don't know about anyone else, but I don't like the cline you get at Xel-ha, Xcaret, & Yal Ku - once you move, you really can't see much clearly - I assume in the cenotes, you have clear water & it is fresh??

[lambert13]

I don't know about anyone else, but I don't like the cline you get at Xel-ha, Xcaret, & Yal Ku - once you move, you really can't see much clearly - I assume in the cenotes, you have clear water & it is fresh??

One thing that can affect visibility in cenotes and caves is stirring up sediment on the bottom. I do not have much experience with swimming/snorkeling/diving in cenotes, but that is a problem I have encountered. The deep cenotes are relatively unaffected by that though.

[beachreader]

Minniemex, do you mean sediment, or that wavery kind of visibility you get in some of those places? I had that happen to me years ago in either Yalku or Xpu-Ha (before it was turned into a resort), and I was told it happens when fresh water mixes with salt water, as it does in lagoons. I thought, so why the heck is everyone so excited about this? I can't see a bloody thing! It felt like my mask had a film on it or something and I found it very disorienting.

I haven't snorkeled in a place like that since then, but the true cenotes are fresh, clear water, though I suppose the sediment might be an issue in those surface/pond-y type cenotes (see, this is why we need a distinguishing word for different types of cenotes!). The deep cave cenotes are just rock at the bottom, so very clear (scary clear) water. Of course, you're not looking at all kinds of pretty fish, either.

I think I'll just stick to snorkeling in full-on salt water on calm days so I can see cool stuff that moves. Stalagmites are cool, but after a while...

[minniemex]

Minniemex, do you mean sediment, or that wavery kind of visibility you get in some of those places? I had that happen to me years ago in either Yalku or Xpu-Ha (before it was turned into a resort), and I was told it happens when fresh water mixes with salt water, as it does in lagoons. I thought, so why the heck is everyone so excited about this? I can't see a bloody thing! It felt like my mask had a film on it or something and I found it very disorienting....

Yes, thats what I mean - called halocline (mixing salt water with fresh water)
I can never see a thing clearly, but everybody raves about the snorkeling in it - must have something to do with my eyes - I am nearsighted, maybe that makes it worse??

[beachreader]

Oh wow, so it was just me? I kept asking everyone if they could see, and they said yes, but I couldn't.

Funny thing is, my eyesight is fine. I don't wear glasses or contacts or anything. Weird.