LifeofPi

Hi!

We'll be spending 5 days in Mexico's Maya Riviera in April. We plan to spend 2 days/nights in Cancun (the 2nd day will be spent on a road trip to Chichenitza and back). Day 3-5 will be spent relaxing at Ikal del Mar close to PDC; with one of those mornings visiting Tulum... My specific question has to do with snorkelling and if we should spend the extra time/money to go on a cozumel snorkel trip..or will we have just as good of a time snorkelling at one of the spots on our way back from Tulum (ie at Akumal)..if so which are the best snorkel spots along the coast...we're not very interested in the big snorkel parks, but rather something more natural/yet safe (but not too sure about cave snorkelling)...

Thanks!

pepper131

Skip Cozumel. On your way to or from Tulum, stop in Akumal. Either go to the Lol-ha Restaurant and hang out on their beach and snorkle in Akumal Bay or go to Yalku Lagoon which is at the end of the road.

Diana

Hmmm. This is a toughie.

imho, the snorkeling in Yalku and HMB in Akumal do not begin to compare to the snorkeling in Cozumel, but it is pretty much an all day affair to get over there from PDC and back without it being a very long and busy day.

Here are some options:

Cenote snorkeling - fun and different but not really many fish.

Akumal - Yalku Lagoon and Half Moon Bay. This is nice because there are some great beach bars and restaurants there, and you can spend the whole day there. Some cute little shops too.

Puerto Morelos - you can take one of the co-op boats out to the good (pristine) reef and spend some time at Pelicano's (good beachfront restaurant).

I'd probably stop at Gran Cenote early in the day and then head to Akumal
to Half Moon Bay, and then lunch at La Cueva del Pescador or Turtle Bakery and then on to Yalku Lagoon if you are ready for more.

It might not be as spectacular as Cozumel, but I think you will have more fun and not be exhausted by the end of the day. Too, you will be close by so that when you are done, you are just down the road from "home."

Have fun - we'll be in the area too in April.

beantown

LifeofPi - you can book snorkling directly through Ikal. Nathalie is on staff at the hotel and coordinates trips out on a boat out from their dock. Given your very packed agenda, and how much you'll probably want to relax at Ikal, you may not want to burn the travel time.

cdt

We stayed in Akumal last month and snorkeled daily. We preferred Akumal Bay to Half Moon and Yal-Ku.

If you go to Cozumel, beware of the cheapie snorkel trips sold by the ferry dock. You may wish to make prior arrangements to snorkel at Chankanaab and/or Palancar.