Kristy88

Not in Cancun, but anywhere south of there - Playa, Akumal, Tulum use filtered tap water in the rooms? I know hotels provide filtered water in the restaurants and give you bottles in rooms, but I just don't want to shower in unfiltered water. The thought of that just grosses me out - no offense. Anyone know of any good - preferably non expensive, all inclusive hotels that have this?

Kristy88

If there are any in Cozumel also, please let me know.

KatieR

Kristy88, I can't answer you question, sorry. We are taking our first Mexico trip in a few weeks. I've found the forums on tripadvisor to be quite active. You might want to try posting your question there.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ForumHome

scdreamer

Wow, I've traveled for years and years and never even THOUGHT about filtered water for showering. Are you not going to swim anywhere either?

Kristy88

I planned on snorkelling every day in the ocean. The reason I was concerned about Mexico is because I heard human/animal waste can be in the water. I was curious what was making everyone sick from drinking the water and found this article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveler%27s_diarrhea

I never suspected it was E Coli because most people get diarheah and not vomitting from Montezuma's Revenge. According to that page and a few other's I've read apparently it is from E Coli, Cryptospordium and a few others that are in human/animal waste that isn't filtered through their water supply there.

I know the ocean isn't the cleanest place either, but if I'm going to take a shower and wash my hair - the thought of having remnants of human waste in there grosses me out. No offense to anyone and maybe I'm overreacting, but I am a bit of a hypochondriac.

suze

Yes you are over-reacting.

Besides where exactly have you "heard human/animal waste can be in the water" in the resort areas of Mexico?

I don't know about Cancun because I always vacation in Puerto Vallarta but the city itself has a very good water system. What you are worried about *might* be a consideration if you were staying out in under-developed rural areas. It's not certainly not true for any of the popular tourist destinations (Cabo, Cancun, Mazatlan, PV, etc.)

suze

And I hate to break the news but lots of things poop in the ocean

Kristy88

At some of the hotels in Akumal they said on their website their water wasn't potable but they do supply a bottle of water in the rooms and filtered water in the restaurants. I really want to stay in Akumal, Tulum or Playa Del Carmen - preferably not Cancun.

suze

I think you need to ask your question of each specific hotel you are considering.

I doubt there is one answer YES or NO for if all the possible places to stay in Akumal, Tulum and Playa have their own filtration systems. I'm guessing some do, some don't.

Also know water is not considered "potable" does not mean it is raging with e-coli either.

KatieR

Hi Kristy88, in planning this first trip to Mexico I ended up using a travel agent for the first time - usually I just research & then book on airline websites or Expedia or Orbitz. She was recommended here on these forums in response to a question I asked. Her name is Anna Lynne & she is a specialist in the Riviera Maya & Playa area. I've asked her many, many questions before booking & she answered all in a respectful, professional and knowledgeable manner. I may now be a convert to using travel agents for trips out of the country. Here's a link to her site: http://www.lonepalmtravel.com/

Kristy88

Thanks Suze and KatieR I will look into it further and Katie I will look into contacting that travel agent because I do have a few questions.

KatieR

Kristy88, I hope she is able to help you. I totally understand your questions. Although we've traveled quite a bit, Mexico raised more questions for me than usual. Hence my ending up with a travel agent, thanks to this forum. Have a wonderful trip!

zootsi

Kristy, we just got back from 8 wonderful days in Akumal. Our room was supplied with a 5 gallon dispenser for drinking water. We took many showers in the 'non-potable' water and were absolutely fine. I did notice when I got a drop on my lips it was slightly brackish tasting - but I am still alive . I think the reason for the water issues in the Yucatan is that the whole area is very porous limestone, so things like seawater, rainwater, etc can easily seep down into the water table and taint it. We have stayed many times in Playa, Akumal & Tulum (never in a big resort), and have always found the same situation - bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth, non-potable water for everything else.
Relax - you will love this area! Check out locogringo.com for tons of info on beaches, hotels, etc.

jdvc1389

Iberostar!!! My boyfriend and I went there in November and it was without a doubt the best travel experience in our lives.. Clean, beautiful, friendly, and safe water!

jw2

All God's children got E-coli. If you got no E-coli, you got very bad diarrhea (hate to spoil your day but most of the solid mass in your stool is e-coli carcasses.

However, getting a good dose of E-coli strains which produce toxins you have no immunity for, that'll give you turista (or Davy Crocket's revenge, if you are a mexican reident visiting the US).

Travelers' diarrhea usually consists of only diarrhea (toxins paralyse then active "pumps" that move water out of the colon contents and give you a more solid stool). Vomiting is unusual in simple travelers' diarrhea, as are fever, and abdominal pain (beyond "get to the banyo mui pronto, gringo, or you will be in a world of embarassment...").

Abdominal pain, fever, bloody stools, vomiting - all require medical attention to rulpe out more serious infections/infestations.

So far as I know, no municipality or resort with "running water" just scoops up ground water from puddles or pumps it right out of the local pond, feces and all: if you see those 10 gallon pots on rooftops, they are receptacles for the minimally treated low pressure municipal water supply. That water continues to contain a number of bacteria, etc. and is generally used only for washing and usually also for cooking.

Locals who can use bottled / treated or at least boiled water for drinking. The piped water contains no clumps of poo. You are not showering or bathing in toilet water....

It usually IS filtered (but filtration removes just the debris, and does not reduce bacteria / viruses, amoebae.

Just do not sing in the shower.

Also - to be on the safe side: realize that "FILTERED" and "Treated" or "Purified" water are not at all the same thing!

baldone

plenty of poo in the ocean. a snout full of water while snorkeling might send an amoeba to the brain. and that is not just gross, but deadly.

gmoney

I too can highly recommend AnnaLynne, she is an expert in this part of the world. As far as water I can say that the Barcelo has it's own water treatment plant and take cleanliness very seriously. I have stayed there twice with no problems. I'm pretty sure I heard that most of the big resorts have their own water treatment as well (Palladium, Iberostar, etc.) but you can check it out.

This is from the unofficial Barcelo site which has tons of info:

http://www.unofficial-barcelo-maya.com/site/node/22

suze

Truly what balone says. I can understand someone new to traveling in Mexico perhaps being 'ishy' about the tap water. But IF you're going to be snorkeling in the ocean everyday, it really is kind of a silly concern imho. Why would you be grossed out taking a shower, if you aren't by swimming with it all around you?

emd3

If any resort does this, my guess is it would be Grand Velas Riviera Maya. They have an extensive enviromental program. You can read about it here, at the bottom of this page:
http://rivieramaya.grandvelas.com/ht...x-services.asp

jw2

Not to beat an already ailing horse BUT:

Tap water & sea water are very different things: unless swimming near a raw sewage outlet, the number of "coliform" bacteria and human type viruses in seawater is zero. These are the things that make you sick. They ARE happy to live in FRESH water along with the protozoans and amoebae that cause dysentery.

You are not likely to drink sea water. Quantity of exposure increases risk.

The "eat your brain" amoebas referred to above are found in the silt of freshwater, warm, lakes & sluggish streams. There is a very rare seaborn organism but in very limited areas and not around the Carribbean / eastern Pacific.

Unless certified as safe (osmotic / treated) don't drink the water from the tap. High-end properties usually post a notice that their water IS treated - if not, it's probably not.

Keep your mouth shut in the shower.

Amazes me how people who regard foo-foo bottlesd water as a necessity of life can't stay away from the tap in developing countries!

PS - areas of the USA also qualify as "developing" where water treatment facilities are iffy - usually resulting in "Davy Crockett's Revenge." The same formula applies as in Mexico or anywyere else: Higher than desired coliform counts + people from distant parts without immunity x drinking the water = tourista.