Help with Playa del Carmen Itinerary
 

HI, planning a trip for my sister's honeymoon (living vicariously through them), will be booking 6 nights/7 days at Royal Playa del Carmen AI resort. My husband and I visited Cancun 2 years ago, so we are somewhat familiar with the area. They are very active, in late 20s, and was wondering if you can help with the itinerary.

Sat Travel/arrive in Playa
Sun Xel-Ha
Mon Cozumel for snorkeling spend day there
Tue Free day/relax at resort
Wed Chitzen Itza Tour
Thur Xcaret
Fri Tulum
Sat Back to States

Questions :

1) Plan to instruct them to take bus from playa del carmen to xcaret, xel-ha, and tulum as i've read this is very doable. Can someone confirm this for me? Once in Tulum, how can they go to the ruins? Any anything else to do in Tulum i.e. good place for lunch, walk around, other activities, etc.

2) There are snorkeling in Cozumel tours available through Aquaworld for about $100pp, which include buffet lunch and snorkeling session. Anyone ever done this? Or should they just take the ferry over, and if so do they rent snorkel equip there? and then where would they go from there? Or any suggestions to spend a day in Cozumel?

3)Is Coba worth adding to itinerary? or too many ruins for one trip?

4) Anything else I'm missing? Zip line? Jungle tours? Cenotes?

Thanks -will also post in Caribbean site

Sorry...but you really have them running, running, running on their honeymoon.

I would pick only one of these: Xel-Ha, Xcaret or Cozumel. Since the main focus will be snorkling - Xel-Ha would be your best bet.

I really love the Alltournative tours - they are action packed with unique activities such as cave snorkling or ziplining. They do a zipline on the Coba tour - I'd seriously consider this.

For Chichen, make sure they have at least 4 hours at the site. Just recently noticed that most organized tours allow 2 hours at the ruins (the Palace tours) - not enough time.

Would they consider renting a car for day? If so, that's when they should go to Tulum ruins. Then find them a nice place for dinner - like Oscar y Lalo's on Soliman Bay.

We had our honeymoon near PDC 5 yrs ago. Stayed at Ikal del Mar. We found that alternating an active day with a beach was perfect. And we took full advantage of the on-site spa. Maybe they'd like some down-time for spa treatments as well.

I completely agree with Pepper, unless they're totally hyperactive people! If I were you, I'd give them at least a day after they arrive to enjoy the resort, and the wonderful town of Playa Del Carmen. Just walking around the town of Playa makes for a lovely day -- exploring the cafes, beach, stores, etc.
Pepper gave you fantastic advice...

I also agree that you have them running a lot. Have them contact Edventure Tours. Tell tham what you like and they will arrange activities for them and take them everywhere. They offer all kinds of things....snorkeling cenotes, zip line tours, runins, jungle tours, etc.
Here's their site:
http://www.edventuretours.com.mx/Home/index.htm

Thanks for the input, I understand about the running around- being that they are younger (okay, i'm in my 30s but they are 29 and that seems really young to me), and they enjoy theme park type activity rather then the the club/bar scenes or laying around the beach all day.

Okay, so here is my revised itinerary

Sat Travel/Arrive in Playa
Sun Tulum/Xel-Ha
Mon Xcaret
Tue Free Day
Wed Chitzen Itza
Thur Free Day
Fri Cozumel
Sat Back to states

This gives them 2 free days along with each of the saturday (they get in early and leave late). Is this better?
I didn't realize Tulum and Xel-Ha are so close (8 miles). I don't think they need more than 2 hours at tulum ruins, and then they can go to Xel-Ha for lunch and most of the afternoon.
Has anyone taken the bus system or is it better to rent a car for a day or use the taxi?
Thanks for the websites info, will definitely look that up. Which tour would you recommend for chitzen itza? the ecoadventure and alltournative tours did not have it as an option. Coba looks attractive too, so i'll have to ask my sister if she wants to use up one of her "free days" or substitute if for Cozumel

Still...I don't see what they are going to do different in Cozumel that they can't do in Playa.

There are some wonderful uniquely Yucatan activities...zip-lining, cenote snorkling, more ruins.
*Selvatura has cenote and zip-lining.
*Alltounative has cenote/cave snorkling with sea kayaking and snorkling.
*Alltournative also has the zip-line or rapelling into a cenote with the Coba ruins (only pyramid they can climb; Chichen is closed for climbing).
These things are much more interesting (IMHO) than a ferry ride to Cozumel and hanging with cruiseship daytrippers.

We always rent a car - makes for easier diversions.
Get them some maps from cancunmap.com - the Mayan Riviera Map and the Playa del Carmen Map. These are the only guides they will need.

frankie - (((hug)))

I agree with Pepper again, lol! This is wonderful place for a rental car, it's so easy to do things on your own in this area. And, a cancunmap is worth its weight in gold, and cheap!

xxooxx pepper!

Okay,last question, can you rent a car from the resort or do you have to go back to the airport?

I read an article about a year ago about corrupt police stopping tourists in cancun and demanding money or threatening folks they would be taken into the local authorities. It came across an AP newswire, so I think it was pretty legit. Anyway, when we went 2 years ago, we used the tour buses, so we don't have personal experience, and I didn't know if this was still and issue.

It's generally cheaper to rent from the airport area. But I'm sure their AI will have cars available - usually around $80/day.

Some talk about corrupt cops; we haven't encountered any...but we always go the speed limit.

If they are going to be gone from the hotel that much, why stay at a AI?

Keith

Keith has another excellent point. Als are only a good bargain if you are at the resort 90% of the time and eat all your meals there...

Ditto

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