travlbum

Heading to Cancun to stay in a Time Share. Need help on day trips, We will be there 4 nights, 5 days. The TS is at Casa Maya. Should we head to Playa del Carmen? Any other suggestions?

hopefulist

Try a search for "Cancun day trips" - this comes up a lot.

KVR

This tour company will give you a good idea of things to see and do in and around Cancun. We have used them several times.

http://www.cancun-discounts.com/canc...FfFcMgodpSYA8g

You can also book tours/excursions from your hotel's tour desk.

travlbum

Thank you Hopefulist. When you search, the posts are more than 5 years old. KVR - I will look into your tour company suggestion, Thanks.

I would really like to get a personal recommendation from a Fodorite. Hotel Tour desks tend to be expensive.

KVR

What type of things are you wanting to see and do? Staying in Cancun instead of the Playa del Carmen area means long travel times to get to most attractions. We prefer tours and being chauffeured around, we have used that tour company I listed several times as they also offer other areas of Mexico.

Directly in Cancun you can go to AquaWorld for snorkeling, jet skis, parasailing, dinner cruises, etc.

http://www.aquaworld.com.mx/

The La Isla Mall is a good place to spend an afternoon. There is a small dolphin show there also.

There are also catamaran trips to Isla Mujeres.

zootsi

I would rent a car for a day, drive down to Tulum to see the ruins in the am (about an hour from Cancun), eat lunch in downtown Tulum which is a lot of fun, then drive to Coba to see the ruins. The drive from Tulum to Coba is less than an hour. If you have time you can stop for a swim at one of the many cenotes on the Tulum road. Another day trip would be to drive to Akumal (about 45 mins) and do some snorkeling at Yal-Ku lagoon, eat lunch on the beach at the Buena Vida, then snorkel and swim at Akumal Bay.
The driving is very easy on route 307, just watch out for speed bumps, and take the raised lane on rte 307 to bypass the busy Playa del Carmen traffic.
Playa Del Carmen is also a lot of fun, a very lively little city with a nice beach. Driving into Playa can get hectic however.
Of course if you don't want to drive, you can find a tour van that will take you to all of these places, and most of the guides are fun.

RAC

Chichen Itza, Isla Mujeres, Isla Contoy, Isla Holbox, Rio Lagartos and Celestun (flamingos), Valladolid, Xcaret, Xel-Ha, snorkeling at Yal-Ku, Akumal Bay (sea turtles), Puerto Morelos (closest to Cancun), Cozumel, Coba, Tulum, Sian Kaan.

Katzgar

there are some existing plantation railroad rights of way to trace.

suze

Take the ferry to Isla Mujeres!

hopefulist

Ooo - points well taken. Here are 2 really highly rated tour operators with some unique offerings:
http://www.edventuretours.com.mx/
http://alltournative.com/


Also, my photos with blog and travelogue links on the main page of each collection are below in case you're interested - all my recommendations from 2 trips in 2010 to the region are embedded there. This was a highlight as was snorkeling with dozens of sea turtles in Tulum (no guide needed):
http://thejungleplace.com/

Happy trails!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

KVR

Be careful when looking at tours. Since many of the more popular sites and activities are in the Playa del Carmen area, many of those tours leave from there and not Cancun. It can be a pain and expensive to get to Playa to start out on a tour.

If you're interested we have been Playa del Carmen x 3, Cancun x 2, Cozumel x 4 and Isla Mujeres x 1. I have all our vacation photos posted at:

http://kvrlvnphotogallery.shutterfly.com/pictures/5

SandraPromain

Hello! Here is my trip report about my last vacation in Cancun, i'm sure it will be helpful.

http://www.fodors.com/community/mexi...vel-report.cfm

I booked some of my tours through discovery mundo and did some other by myself. If you have any doubt it will be my pleasure to help you, this forum has been a savior on planning my trips!

travlbum

Thank you ALL sooo much for the helpful tips!!! I'll look into them over the weekend. We leave on Tuesday. Can't wait for some R&R!

maryellen12

Ditto to all of the above. BUT you have limited time so my picks are

Snorkeling at Puerto Morelos

Ferry to Isla Mujeres then rent a golf cart Go to hotel/restaurant next to El Garrafon for nice lunch and snorkeling Then explore rest of Island


Chitzen Itsa (sp)long trip but the best Mayan ruin in the area

Xel Ha. For a commercial but enjoyable day. Snorkeling is still,good

Stayed at Casa Maya a couple of years ago and had a good time. Try to avoid time share presentation but still as bad as some...