wills

Hello all, last year I was helped so much here and I'm back for a few more questions.

This year we'd like to go to Coba, stay the night, visit the ruins and then head to Tankah. We will be renting a car. How does Executive rate? We had a bad experience with another car rental company there and I don't want to repeat it.
Next question: does anyone know how the road to Coba from Cancun is? Would it be all right taking a rental car there?

Thanks so much!

wills

Sorry, forgot one more question, we would like to hit a cenote on the road from Coba to Tankah, any recommendations? We will do a day with Hidden Worlds as well, but it would be fun to see more than one.

Thanks!

julies

We took a rental car there from Cancun a couple years ago. A boring road into Coba but nothing that would cause any problems driving.

colokid

Are you taking the road south from Cancun and then west over to Coba? The drive south is pretty uneventful except for topes and police. Make sure you have a good amount of gas in the vehicle as the Pemex stations once you turn west from Tulum to go to Coba are nonexistant. There are Pemex stations on the highway (307) south from Cancun. The largest amount of traffic you will have to deal with will be in Playa del Carmen. Be careful of the police looking for speeding or seat belts. Do a search on what to do if you are pulled over. Take a lot of water. Get there early preferably when it opens. I've stayed in Tankah also and it's very nice there. Executive is a good company to rent from and I've rented from them before. They just became a little pricey for me but definitely never had any problems with them. The road south to Tulum and then west to Coba are all in good shape and easily driven.

wills

Hi Colokid!
Thanks for responding, you helped me out a lot last year.

So we would like to fly into Cancun, rent a car and drive to Coba. Is there a more direct way than going to Tulum first? Thanks for your help!

MFNYC

You will pass through Tulum (the town, not the ruins) on your way to Coba. That is the most direct route (and may be the only route).

There are several restaurants in Tulum, along the highway, so if you need to stop for a meal while coming or going from Coba, that's a good option. We had some fabulous pizza in Tulum, but I don't remember the name of the place.

We drove from PDC to Coba. It was an easy drive, but as Colokid mentions, there's not much on the road to Coba, once you turn off the main highway in Tulum. When you get to Coba, sign up for one of the tours. You can also rent bicycles to ride to the main pyramid, that you can climb), but it's easily walkable as well.

Reisender

The drive is easy - just be aware of speed bumps they can be HUGE and obey the speed limit. Gas up in Tulum. You can also hire a rickshaw type vehicle with driver at Coba for a small amount of money. Coba is a great ruin to visit.

colokid

You could take the toll road west of Cancun and then south toward Valladolid but then you'd have to backtrack and it's an expensive road. Don't know if it would be shorter in time though.

wills

Thanks so much for the info. Sorry for the reply delay, been out of town.

We had a plan wrinkle and now I am having trouble finding lodging. My Tankah hotel didn't have availability (waited too long). Anybody heard of Posada Dos Amigos in Tulum? Or Residencia Kohunlich? Neither pop up on Tripadvisor. I just need a basic room w/ AC for a few nights. Thanks to all!

wills

Colokid,
How much time does it take to travel from Playa Del Carmen to Coba and Tulum? We might have to stay there instead of Tulum and I am having trouble gauging how long I'll be driving. I want to get to Coba at about 8:30am to beat the heat and crowds. We'd also like to do Hidden Worlds.

Ideas?

Thanks!

MFNYC

When we drove from PDC to COba I think it took around 1.5-2 hours. We arrived around 10:30-11ish and it wasn't crowded. This was during the Christmas break so it was high season. Coba is not a huge sight so a couple of hours there is more than enough. The crowds (bus tourists) start arriving around lunch time.

wills

Thanks!

colokid

The drive from PDC to Coba will take a bit longer than that. It's at least 45 min south to Tulum. Then you turn right at the light onto the Coba Road. Drive west about another hour until you reach a roundabout. Drive 3/4 of the way around to head south toward Coba. To get to Coba by 8:30 I would leave around 6:30 or so. There have been some recent closures on the beach road in Tulum in regard to the smaller hotels such as Mezzanine and Diamante K. Bring lots of water and pesos for the bathroom if necessary. There's also a small charge to park.

wills

You're the best Colokid!

Here's another one, other than inside the airport, on the way down to Tulum, what is the easiest ATM to stop at?

Thanks again for all of your help!

colokid

I remember an ATM at the intersection in Tulum on the southeast corner but it's been a couple of years. The only one I use because it's close to home is the one at Mega in PDC. Maybe someone knows a different one? The Mega is a left turn off the highway (307) and then a few streets down on the right. The ATM is on the bottom level. Not sure if there is one at the Centro Maya shopping center but I would be surprised if there wasn't one.

jamie99

There is an HSBC Bank, along with ATMs, in Tulum Pueblo, right next to the police station, we always go there to change money.

Regarding cenotes, you can stop at Grand Cenote on the way back from Coba ruins, it will be on your right hand side.

wills

Thanks for the replies. I was hoping to find a quick ATM somewhere between Cancun's airport and Playa Del Carmen because as I understand it, I might get a car that needs gas, and I'll need Pesos for gas.

Anyone know the location of the ATM in Cancun's airport and is there some reason that it is more expensive to use?

Again, muchos gracias!

colokid

Yes, that is a pain when you rent at the airport and they don't give you enough gas to get anywhere. I don't know though where the atm is at the airport although I know they exchange $$ for pesos at my departure airport but it costs.

wills

Thanks colokid,
I'll ask the rental car people, hopefully there'll be one somewhere on the way.

wills

Well Everybody, I am back from a good trip to the Yucatan and finishing this thread with a warning for anyone who may search for info.

Avoid Cancun rental car
America Car Rental
Caribbean Rental car
They are all the same company, I found out. Two years in a row (under two different names)now they've managed to almost wreck my plans. Both times they failed to have the car that was reserved and both times were unable/ unwilling to provide an acceptable substitute. This is not a company to use if you want a trouble free car rental. It ended up being particularly bad this time.

IMHO: rent from an American major. The one caveat is that it is impossible to get them to understand and pre arrange a different dropoff than Cancun, but you will be able to do it once there. I really like Mexico but the lack of transparency in business transactions produces stress that just isn't worth it. There is a thread about this company also on Tripadvisor, so I am not alone. Just trying to help!