Stuff to do in Mexico

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Wildfire

Original Poster:

9,774 posts

251 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
So we have finally booked our holiday this year to Mexico and are staying at the Azul Fives - Playa Del Carmen for 14 nights.

I've been looking around at things to do when we are there, as we do want to get out and about and see things and not just sit by the pool / beach.

Chichen Itza is a must for me, and I'm more than happy to get the super early tour out to miss the crowds.

I'd like to do a bit of swimming in a Cenote, but there seems to be quite a few different ones.

Anyone got any recommendations on things to do whilst out there?

trickywoo

11,705 posts

229 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
I appreciate this is negative but be careful http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4124028/Fi...

I know bad things happen everywhere but Mexico is in bad place as regards drug related turf wars. Resorts have been less affected than 'local' areas but its a place I'd think twice about visiting particularly with family. If I did I'd be staying in the resort.

Edited by trickywoo on Monday 16th January 12:23

Cyder

7,045 posts

219 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
From what I read before we went there they generally leave the Yucatan peninsular alone because of the tourism it brings to the country.
We felt pretty safe everywhere we went while there.

We went to a couple of Cenote's, the best one was this one. It even has a Tequila museum/shop included. thumbuphttps://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g16756...

Chichen Itza is very good, I was disappointed that you can't climb the pyramid now though.

I do regret not going to Tulum though. Next time.

Chris4410

42 posts

100 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
My wife and I visited two years ago and never experienced any issues, we visited Chichen Itza, one of the Cenotes and went into Playa Del Carmen a few times.

We are in no hurry to head back but it was a nice trip, we particularly enjoyed Chichen Itza

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
trickywoo said:
I appreciate this is negative but be careful http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4124028/Fi...

I know bad things happen everywhere but Mexico is in bad place as regards drug related turf wars. Resorts have been less affected than 'local' areas but its a place I'd think twice about visiting particularly with family. If I did I'd be staying in the resort.

Edited by trickywoo on Monday 16th January 12:23
As above, the cancun playa de carmen area is very safe.

Your post is like saying you wouldn't go to the Grand Canyon because of people getting shot in Philadelphia oavoiding dubai as it's in the Middle East.

Each to their own though,

trickywoo

11,705 posts

229 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
El stovey said:
trickywoo said:
I appreciate this is negative but be careful http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4124028/Fi...

I know bad things happen everywhere but Mexico is in bad place as regards drug related turf wars. Resorts have been less affected than 'local' areas but its a place I'd think twice about visiting particularly with family. If I did I'd be staying in the resort.

Edited by trickywoo on Monday 16th January 12:23
As above, the cancun playa de carmen area is very safe.

Your post is like saying you wouldn't go to the Grand Canyon because of people getting shot in Philadelphia oavoiding dubai as it's in the Middle East.

Each to their own though,
I'm probably missing something but OP is going to Playa del Carmen and there has been a drug related shooting there. Hardly comparing Grand Canyon with Philadelphia.

Fact is violence is Mexico is out of control and increasingly spilling into tourist areas, this isn't the first such incident in a tourist area by any means. Each to their own but there are lots of places to go on holiday that don't involve these risks. I myself wouldn't even go to Mexico on a paid for work basis.

Shaoxter

4,048 posts

123 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
There's quite a few sites within day trip reach, Chichen Itza is excellent although a bit crowded/touristy, Tulum is beautiful, Ek Balam, Coba etc. The cenote we went to was Ik Kil next to Chichen Itza, nice place but lots of people.

However the best temples we went to were Calakmul, Uxmal and Edzna, but they're a few days road trip away.

El stovey said:
trickywoo said:
I appreciate this is negative but be careful http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4124028/Fi...

I know bad things happen everywhere but Mexico is in bad place as regards drug related turf wars. Resorts have been less affected than 'local' areas but its a place I'd think twice about visiting particularly with family. If I did I'd be staying in the resort.

Edited by trickywoo on Monday 16th January 12:23
As above, the cancun playa de carmen area is very safe.

Your post is like saying you wouldn't go to the Grand Canyon because of people getting shot in Philadelphia oavoiding dubai as it's in the Middle East.

Each to their own though,
+1, we drove around Yucatan/QR/Campeche and encountered nothing but super friendly people. Much more authentic than the Americanised resorts too.

trickywoo

11,705 posts

229 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
Shaoxter said:
+1, we drove around Yucatan/QR/Campeche and encountered nothing but super friendly people. Much more authentic than the Americanised resorts too.
When was that?

Shaoxter

4,048 posts

123 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
trickywoo said:
Shaoxter said:
+1, we drove around Yucatan/QR/Campeche and encountered nothing but super friendly people. Much more authentic than the Americanised resorts too.
When was that?
A couple of years ago, pretty sure there were lots of drugs related killings then too.

Would you also avoid Paris/Berlin/Nice as holiday destinations too? If anything you're more likely to be killed in Europe as tourists are actually being targeted, rather than a gang war which tourists have no involvement in.

trickywoo

11,705 posts

229 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
Shaoxter said:
A couple of years ago, pretty sure there were lots of drugs related killings then too.

Would you also avoid Paris/Berlin/Nice as holiday destinations too? If anything you're more likely to be killed in Europe as tourists are actually being targeted, rather than a gang war which tourists have no involvement in.
Its entirely different. Violence and associated police corruption in Mexico is very serious http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-crime-idU...

Lots of other places (Eurooean cities) will have the risk of an isolated incident but be inherently safe. I'm saying Mexico is inherently unsafe. If there is proof to the contrary please post it up.

Wildfire

Original Poster:

9,774 posts

251 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
trickywoo said:
I appreciate this is negative but be careful http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4124028/Fi...

I know bad things happen everywhere but Mexico is in bad place as regards drug related turf wars. Resorts have been less affected than 'local' areas but its a place I'd think twice about visiting particularly with family. If I did I'd be staying in the resort.

Edited by trickywoo on Monday 16th January 12:23
I did see this. After paying for the holiday. That said the clubs etc. aren't really our scene. We're very much looking at things like day trips out and sight seeing.

Muzzer79

9,806 posts

186 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
trickywoo said:
El stovey said:
trickywoo said:
I appreciate this is negative but be careful http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4124028/Fi...

I know bad things happen everywhere but Mexico is in bad place as regards drug related turf wars. Resorts have been less affected than 'local' areas but its a place I'd think twice about visiting particularly with family. If I did I'd be staying in the resort.

Edited by trickywoo on Monday 16th January 12:23
As above, the cancun playa de carmen area is very safe.

Your post is like saying you wouldn't go to the Grand Canyon because of people getting shot in Philadelphia oavoiding dubai as it's in the Middle East.

Each to their own though,
I'm probably missing something but OP is going to Playa del Carmen and there has been a drug related shooting there. Hardly comparing Grand Canyon with Philadelphia.

Fact is violence is Mexico is out of control and increasingly spilling into tourist areas, this isn't the first such incident in a tourist area by any means. Each to their own but there are lots of places to go on holiday that don't involve these risks. I myself wouldn't even go to Mexico on a paid for work basis.
roflrofl

I've been twice. The Resorts in Playa del Carmen are about as safe as I've seen.

Would I go to the ghetto in downtown Guadalajara? Heck no. That's where people shoot each other.

But the area you're talking about is totally not the same. You'd be just as at risk anywhere in Europe.

You're not comparing the Grand Canyon with Philadelphia but you are stating the equivalent of avoiding San Francisco because of shootings in L.A.

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
trickywoo said:
Shaoxter said:
A couple of years ago, pretty sure there were lots of drugs related killings then too.

Would you also avoid Paris/Berlin/Nice as holiday destinations too? If anything you're more likely to be killed in Europe as tourists are actually being targeted, rather than a gang war which tourists have no involvement in.
Its entirely different. Violence and associated police corruption in Mexico is very serious http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-crime-idU...

Lots of other places (Eurooean cities) will have the risk of an isolated incident but be inherently safe. I'm saying Mexico is inherently unsafe. If there is proof to the contrary please post it up.
"The Mexican government makes efforts to protect major tourist destinations like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta and these areas have not seen the levels of drug-related violence and crime experienced elsewhere. There have been several instances of armed crime both within and outside tourist areas in Acapulc"

Foreign office advice.

Wildfire

Original Poster:

9,774 posts

251 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
I've been to worse place, admittedly not for a holiday (ex-FCO).

Anyhow, back on topic, thanks for those who've suggested things so far. Any more?

We're not off until May and have travel insurance in place, in the event the FCO changes it's advice.

BrerRabbit

18 posts

86 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
OK, you asked for it.

Playa Paraiso Beach Tulum (not the one below the Mayan Ruins)

This beach is phenomenal – far better than any of the resorts beaches. Get a cab and ask for Playa Paraiso beach at Tulum. The cab drivers will usually offer to wait in the car park with the other cab drivers drinking coffee and reading papers for about 4 hours or more at NO COST to you. They’ll then bring you 'home'. Once you’ve been there it’s addictive. Even if he doesn’t offer to stay there will be cabs in the car park – no problem getting back.

Arrive early at (say) 9 or 9:30am and you’ll have your pick of the beach loungers at $3 per day. You can get lunch served at your lounger (Burgers etc) from the roaming beach waiter – most sets of double loungers have a table attached at the back. This beach is in MSN’s “25 beaches you must visit before you die” list and I can see why. There is no coral or anything other than sand all the way out! Super smooth. The water is lovely and warm too. It never gets crowded but by midday nearly all of the loungers will be taken but at no point could you call it ‘packed’.

It’s slide number 21 here:

http://www.msn.com/en-in/travel/news/25-breathtaki...


Xplore

(Zip wires/Jeeps/Cave swimming all together)

Fabulous day and I’ll be doing this again – not for people who don’t have a head for heights but stunning views from the zip wires. The Jeep driving bit will take you through the jungle in convoy and I saw 2 rather large Crocs a little too close for comfort. The cave swimming bit has a fantastic end to it which I wont spoil. You can also cave canoe but I don’t like canoeing so can't comment. Great free restaurant for lunch.

Go to 4:28 on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F94wn_mbtW8


The Pyramids at Chichen Itza

Don’t bother unless you are REALLY into history. I’ts a whole day out of your 7 and frankly it’s one mega tourist-trap where you’ll be hassled (beyond belief) once you arrive. It’s a huge site and there literally thousands of traders to try to keep avoiding, its a real pain and kinda spoiled the day.


Coco Bongo

You can party hard at Coco Bongo – one of the best night clubs around with plenty of entertainment to watch as the night wears on. Any age can go, I’m 58 and will be going again! They filmed The Mask inside there.

Go to 2:11 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK2fQIBUnt4


Swimming in the Cenotes:

You’ll find these dotted along the main road directly outside the resort. Ask your rep for their recommendation of which particular one to try.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h55ZGfUeYg


Speedboat through the Mangroves, and out onto the open ocean.

Park up and go snorkelling on the world’s 2 biggest coral reef: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icOG-CsRF4o


Walk the ocean floor (not swim) at Xcaret:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-GqXYPilAo

I’d say the average cost for each of the above is (or was) about £70 and includes transport and drinks and meals. There are many other things to do if you want and in 2 x 14 day trips I haven’t done everything yet! I hear an evening of eating and dancing on a Spanish Galleon in Cancun is a great night out.

Have a great Holiday...I can honestly say I’m very jealous.

bazza white

3,551 posts

127 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
To add to the above.

Xel-ha is a nice day out. Lots of wildlife. Part of the big 3 (xel-ha,explor and xcaret.

Xsenes is a new park. It's good but not worth the money. We were give half day but it was dead as it was new so did it all in a couple of hours and the activities are not something you repeat.

5th avenue for an evening meal. It's buzzing in the evenings and you get some great food and makes a nice change from the hotel.


Pvapour

8,981 posts

252 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
One of the best holidays weve been on, spent two weeks at Cancun in oct, the three main theme parks are incredible, we did the dolphin swim in one of them, fantastic and all rescued animals.

Echo all the possitives above, never felt threatening at any time and locals were friendly even off the beaten track at the temple we climbed, long way from Cancun to

Awesome cinema with big reclining armchairs in the mall north of strip, cant remember name sorry, english films shown

We had a day trip to one of the islands off the coast, was ok but we did this after the theme parks and the island felt a bit 2nd rate in comparison.

Edited by Pvapour on Tuesday 17th January 07:28

Yipper

5,964 posts

89 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
As above, the Mexico situation is changing and needs to be monitored daily. Violence is creeping into touristy areas. Egypt was considered safe a few years ago and is now largely off-limits.

bazza white

3,551 posts

127 months

Tuesday 17th January 2017
quotequote all
I think it will be a one off and not spiral into chaos. It's not in the cartels interest to turn playa into a warzone. The agreement with police is to let them deal do business but not cause trouble, the police will be pressuring cartels to sort the situation in-house. 5th avenue is split into 2 and clubs are also split between the cartels. Until now it's been a good status quo. It's quite strange going to a club where your greeted with Champaign on entry and offered drugs. One bit of advice I'll offer is never go clubbing when your likely to need a dump (holiday squits) there are only about 2 cubicals in a club and one is reserved for trade and consumption and you best not even look in the other.


It's a shame for the blue parrot it's a nice club right on the sea. I thought I was to old for clubbing but had some great nights there.


StevieBee

12,795 posts

254 months

Tuesday 17th January 2017
quotequote all
BrerRabbit said:
Speedboat through the Mangroves, and out onto the open ocean.

Park up and go snorkelling on the world’s 2 biggest coral reef: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icOG-CsRF4o
This is one of the cheaper organised excursions so people seem to think it is a bit 'low-rent' so don't bother with it. It isn't! It's a brilliant day out.

Cichen Itza.....If you can book a really early start, I think it's worth doing. We got there for around 9.30am and the heat wasn't as oppressive and most of the traders hadn't arrived to set up. Did mean a 5.00am start from the hotel (Princess) but we thoroughly enjoyed it!