Western Caribbean Cruise Question
 

Hi,

Taking a Norwegian Cruise, the Western Caribbean, with ports of call @ Roatan Bay Islands, Honduras, Harvest Caye, Belize, Costa Maya & Cozumel, Mexico. We do not plan on doing all of the Mayan Ruins, but are wondering which one would be the can't miss option. The
Tulum Mayan Ruins in Cozumel are really the only one I've heard of. The other options are Chacchoben in Costa Maya and Nim Li Punit in Harvest Caye. Any input or ideas would be great.

Thanks,

tj

The Tulum ruins are next to the city of Tulum right on the coast... not in Cozumel. While in Cozumel, if you wish to see these ruins, you will need to take the ferry to Playa del Carmen and taxi down to the Tulum area, same thing going back. How much time do you have.

Perhaps re-post your question asking which ruins to visit, putting the names of the ruins in your title.

Nim Li Punit is one of the smaller sites in Belize. From Harvest Caye, passengers go ashore, then travel about 70 km (a bit under an hour?) to reach the site. There are better sites in Belize, but all are farther away.

I've been to Mahahual (good beach) where the ship docks, but I haven't been to Chacchoben. The site is about 60 km inland from Mahahual.

The Tulum site is a good one. The ship moors at Cozumel (an island) and passengers first travel to Playa del Carmen by ferry. Tulum is about an hour south of Playa del Carmen. If you don't go with a tour arranged on the ship, there are LOTS of tour companies at the ferry terminals.

One of the differences among the sites is the trip to get to the site. In Belize, you travel along a highway (satisfactory condition) mostly through sparsely populated areas. Not much tourism yet in this part of the country (unless you go to Placencia).

The trip to Chacchoben is also through sparsely populated areas. On the trip to Tulum, you will be travelling through some of the most touristy parts of the region -- you won't see much rain-forest.

And I like the food better in Mexico.

Thanks all!