leanne

Please advise on how the snorkeling is right off the beach at the Iberostar in the Mayan Riviera. Thanks

BranV

Snorkeling isn't very good on the Mayan Riviera. Many times the water is pretty choppy, and all the waves churns up the sand. Plus it's kind of hard to snorkle with big waves bobbing you up and down. But it's very easy to arrange a trip to Cozumel for snorkeling, and I hear they have Cenotes you can arrange snorkeling trips to as well.

Meridaman

I don't understand why someone would say the snorkeling isn't very good along the Mayan Riviera. I think it's wonderful in some places. Not sure which Iberostar your staying at but if your staying in the one close to Playa del Carmen you can walk about 10 min south along the beach and there is a nice reef that you can swim to from shore. Also I highly recommend a day trip to Yal-Ku Lagoon in Akumal. Very calm waters and you will see turtles, stingrays, hunreds of fish as well as wonderful coral formations. If you need further info email me or visit my website. www.geocities.com/travel_with_tommy <BR> <BR>Tommy

Carole G

Tommy is right. There is great snorkeling and diving on the Maya Riviera from Puerto Morelos down to Xcalak on the Belize border. The only place snorkeling isn't much good is in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, although the beaches and ocean are really beautiful there. Our coast is blessed with many wonderful, different beaches some with breaks in the reef allowing for more surf, and many protected by the reef where there is little wave action like in Akumal and Tankah area. We also have many cenotes near Tankah for great diving and snorkeling. IMAX films, Amazing Caves, http://www.amazingcaves.com/home.html did a segment at Dos Ojo's and Hidden Worlds near Tankah. The cenotes are on the mainland coast, not Cozumel. <BR> <BR>Some web sites to visit for more info and pictures below. <BR> <BR>http://CasaTropical.com <BR>Casa Tropical Tankah... Romantic, beachfront villa, located on privately owned,1/2 acre, Tankah, Mexico, a 1 hour drive south of Cancun airport, 3 miles north of the Tulum ruins, with other major archaeological sites within driving distance. Great views with barrier reef just offshore, and a cenote up the beach for diving, snorkeling or swimming, jungle style. Two separate guests quarters with kitchenette, private patios, maid,gardener,manager. <BR> <BR>Weather http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/76590.html <BR> <BR>Weather Base <BR>http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/w...=509567&refer= <BR> <BR>Hidden Worlds snorkel & dive tours of cenotes <BR>http://hiddenworlds.com.mx/ <BR> <BR>Xel-Ha <BR>http://www.xelha.com.mx/ <BR> <BR>Aktun Chen <BR>www.aktunchen.com <BR> <BR> Check out this web site for tours lead by the Friends of Sian Ka'an group. It is a non-profit organization and tour guides are usually biologists. Very informative tours lead by a very worthwhile organization. <BR>Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve <BR>http://www.cancun.com/siankaan/ <BR> <BR>

Debbie

Chill folks, I think all that BranV meant was that if you walk into the water right off the Iberostar and the resorts between there and PDC (RIU, Club Viva Maya, Allegro, etc), there is not much to see snorkelling wise as there are no reefs per se where everyone from these resorts will be swimming - all that is out there is sandbars, more sandbars, boats and water sports so it's not conducive to snorkeling in the waters directly in front of the resorts zone. <BR>Cozumel, Akumal, etc etc are all the better spots.

Boch

If you want to give it a try, check out www.travelgavel.com. It's a new vacation auction site -- and has some great deals because not many folks know about it yet!

CherryMing

Here Debbie goes again with RIU & Iberostar. And she says she doesn't work for them. Yeah right.

Susan

I have to add my 2 cents here. Why are people going through old posts (some of which are more than 6 months old) in which Debbie has replied, and then these people feel they have to post snarky comments? Debbie lives in Toronto as do I, although I don't know her at all - if she's got a job with Riu, I'd be extremely surprised! (And envious!) We all post on what we know - does it ever occur to some of you that maybe those are the only places she knows in the Mayan Riviera? <BR><BR>There are 2 or 3 other people who definitely promote their own businesses here.

PJamma

Yeah Susan works for them too...

Susan

Actually I don't work for them - I'm an IT consultant (many years in the telco industry in Canada) and my first and last experience at an all inclusive was probably 20 years ago in the Bahamas. I love to travel and I love Mexico. I've often been told that I should get a job planning trips for people. Sounds appealing, but I know in reality that what I like might not work for everyone else! I'm much more interested in small independent hotels than staying in a big all inclusive. So my travel planning is usually just for my husband and myself. This year we've got a week in Isla Mujeres and then a few days in Mexico City. With the snow starting to fall in Toronto, I can't wait!

Debbie

Susan & fellow Torontoian, thank you so much for defending me. I really don't understand this - I've seen people always recommending specific resorts/places throughout these boards and yet only I get accused of working for the RIU/Iberostar/pick one. Good gawd if only I were so lucky!<BR>We've travelled only all-inclusive because we like the ease and convenience and I can't help it if after 9 all-inclusives throughout the Caribbean we've simply fallen in love with Cozumel and the Mayan Riveria. In particular my husband likes the scuba diving in the area. <BR>We've been to Jack Tar in St. Kitts, <BR>Club St. Lucia, Club Antigua, Club Cozumel Caribe, Diamond Resort in Cozumel (this was many years ago before they became Allegros), Sol Melia Rio de Oro in Guardalava Cuba, Holiday Inn in Aruba, and RIU Yucatan twice. Does this sound like someone who works for RIU or Iberostar?<BR>Anyhow Susan, you have a great time in Isla Mujeres. It hasn't been a bad winter here yet but it'll still be great to getaway, eh?