Tulum and Akumal Tours

Old Jul 18th, 2016, 05:35 PM
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Tulum and Akumal Tours

My family of 5 and I are traveling to Tulum
and Akumal in August and I am wondering how essential the tours are. We are planning at least one to Sian Kaan, but was wondering if we really needed to pay close to $200/person for a cenote tour when we could probably just go by ourselves as we have a rental car. Would love any input on any "must do" or "must skip" tours. Thanks!
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Old Jul 18th, 2016, 06:20 PM
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I thought the tour I took of Sian Ka'an absolutely delightful and very memorable.

I also enjoyed a cenote tour -- but the one I took involved snorkeling underground cenotes and included appropriate clothing, equipment, etc., and really wasn't something that could have been easily accomplished with a rental car. I don't know which tour(s) you are considering, but $200 per person seems high to me.
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Old Jul 18th, 2016, 06:23 PM
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For Tulum and Akumal, we never take tours. We have 4 kids and have taken them all on the bus, colectivo's, etc. to Coba, Tulum, Akumal, Aktun Chen, everywhere basically and do it on our own. You get to do it on your own time, no rushing, no arriving with 40 other people, etc. And much cheaper. If you need any suggestions, please ask as we have done almost everything (we don't rent cars though). The only actual tour we've done is the Chichen Itza as it was our first 20 years ago. And if we've done a boat cruise or catamaran, but all the sites are DIY. Makes it easy with kids too so you aren't tied to their schedule. These sites (Tulum and Coba especially and the cenotes) are amazing for the kids to get to experience. There is so much to do over there, you definitely will never run out of options
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Old Jul 19th, 2016, 04:06 AM
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How about Xel-ha, or any of the other water parks? My kids are 9 and 11, and I feel they would love, but wondering if the parks seem too "contrived". I'm sure they are crowded, but maybe not as much in August. Again, thank you!
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Old Jul 19th, 2016, 07:37 AM
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Well, you can float a Maya built canal in the Sian Ka'an biosphere or you can float one in an amusement park like Xel-ha. IMO there is plenty of authentic Maya culture in the Yucatan to keep your kids busy, but YMMV.
We have seen quite a lot in the area using a rental car.
No need for tours, IMO, except the biosphere, because of the need for a boat (and a guide to explain some of the flora, fauna and history). The other ruins you can read about before going, or bring your guidebook, or hire a guide there. For the biosphere, it's just as easy. and no more expensive, to let them drive you from Tulum than to drive yourself to Muyil.
For cenotes, just get good directions and drive. There are dozens of them. You can bring, or at some, rent snorkel gear, but just swimming is fine too. If you want to dive, I would suggest a tour that includes equipment though, esp. if you are not all experienced divers.
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Old Jul 19th, 2016, 10:03 AM
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We had a rental car the week we stayed in Tulum in 2010 because my husband wanted it for fly fishing. We returned to the area later in the year. If you head to Maya sites like Tulúm and Cobá, I recommend getting there 1st thing in the morning. We had the car and our own snorkeling gear and headed to several cenotes on our own. The 2nd visit we got to interact with spider monkeys at the Jungle Place monkey sanctuary which was a blast - not sure how old your kids are or just what the age restriction is.
http://thejungleplace.com/

My photos with blog, travelogue, and review links on the main page of each collection are below in case you're interested - all my recommendations are embedded there. Happy trails!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections
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Old Jul 19th, 2016, 12:01 PM
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Very easy to drive to Akumal and Tulum. You do not need a tour at Akumal (although the touts will try and tell you otherwise, just ignore them). There is a parking lot outside the arches, 50 pesos, and another one inside the arches near Cueva del Pescador and Turtle Bay Cafe restaurant. Take the kids to Yal-Ku Lagoon, about 200 pesos pp, Xel-Ha is expensive at about $89 last I looked.
There are 4-5 cenotes right off Highway 307 in Puerto Aventuras near the Barcelo Maya resort. I also enjoy Manatee Cenote in Tankah (car needed), 50 pesos, open cenote. There is a good restaurant, Casa Cenote, across the street. They put on a Texas BBQ on Sundays.
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Old Jul 20th, 2016, 08:48 AM
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We love xel ha and have been many times. Your kids are perfect age and I'm sure would love it and you don't have to do a tour. Just go there on your own and ou admission. It's all inclusive so if you go early and stay all day, you can take advantage of two meals. Worth every penny
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Old Jul 21st, 2016, 06:15 AM
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I agree that it's not necessary to have a guide for Tulum or Akumal.
Same with the cenotes except there are a few cave like cenotes that do require guides.
That said, you can find guides for all of the above on site. Also, Akumal now limits the amounts of tours to see the turtles. You have a better chance of seeing them if you do it on your own. You may find it easier to bring your own snorkel equipment.
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Old Jul 21st, 2016, 11:11 AM
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Yes, there are now strick ´imits on the amount of people allowed in every day
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Old Jul 22nd, 2016, 07:24 AM
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To see the turtles at Akumal, walk to the right on the beach, past the live cam and LolHa restaurant (big straw roof) about 100 yards, enter the water and swim straight out. You can see sea grass below you. That's one place the turtles hang out.

Here's the live cam:
https://www.locogringo.com/akumal-beach-webcam
(btw the locogringo site is a good resource)

The tours make a semi-circle of the little bay, starting from the other side of the cove and first going over part of the reef (unspectacular with few fish in our experience), before getting to where we saw turtles.

In subsequent visits, I just did it myself, as described first here.
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