TravelChic13

Greetings fellow travelers,

I will be heading to Mexico's Quintana Roo for the second time this July. Am looking for things to visit/see/do that are not typical tourist items.

Have already been to Coba ruins, Crococun Zoo, Puerto Morelos, released sea turtle hatchlings, and swam in an underground cave and a cenote. All this arranged by either myself or a very nice local who I met in Playa. (Did not use tour companies.)


Will probably visit the ruins and small town of Punta Laguna.

Can anyone suggest other small towns, seaside villages that are off the beaten path?

Have little desire to see Tulum of Chitzen Itza ONLY due to the numbers of tourist that frequent those sites.

Will use Playa del Carmen as my home base.

Thanks in advance,
Travel Chic

Fra_Diavolo

You might spend a night in Valladolid, and visit the spectacular but little visited ruins of Ek Balam, ten miles north. It is also about twenty miles from Chichen Itza, so it would be possible to visit those ruins early in the morning before the crowds arrive by the bus load.

Merida, the major city in the area is worth at least two days -- preferably on a weekend, when they close down the streets, set up bandstands and fill the air with music of all sorts, and people of all sorts stroll and dance. There are Gulf beaches north of the city, but I haven't visited them.

virginia

there is a small but interesting ruins almost directly across rte 307 from xel-ha. you can climb on the ruins and the one closest to the hwy has good paint still showing. mind the ant trails.
you could drive south from tulum beach area to boca paila or all the way down to punta allen. this can be a rough road, you may want to ask about current conditions.
or follow the 307 south from tulum to majahual. this town was hit hard by hurricane dean and may not have much going on yet.
this page is interesting: http://www.locogringo.com/past_spotlights/aug2004.cfm
you should research sian kaan biosphere tours as well.

beachmountainhounds

I have been to Isla Mujeres twice and absolutely loved it! It's like stepping back in time with cobblestone streets and scuba adventures into the "cave of the sleeping sharks." It's been quite a few years, but hopefully nothing has changed. Very easy to get to from Cancun and worlds apart from the hustle and glitz of Cancun. Also great prices and great rental opportunities if you don't want to stay in one of the small hotels.

Have fun!