Xcaret or Xel Ha

Old May 17th, 2002, 06:54 AM
  #1  
Ken
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Xcaret or Xel Ha

Are Xcaret and Xel Ha both sort of aquatic amusement parks? Can anyone tell me the differences between the two? Thanks.
 
Old May 17th, 2002, 07:42 AM
  #2  
Nancy
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Hi Ken,
That is a perfect description - "aquatic amusement parks."
You will get widely varying opinions on the two and whether or not they are worth visiting.
We were so unimpressed with Xel Ha, we did not go to Xcaret.
If you have children 6 to 12 or if you have never done much travelling, or if you are a Disney fanatic, you might like them.
They are overcrowded, touristy, expensive, and over-hyped.
I also will never go to another place that has a "swim with the dolphins" program - YUCK!
On the up side, it has given my husband and I something to laugh about for years.
If you have a group or large family, it might be fun. We felt like a couple of sardines the whole time we were there. The big tour buses show up about 11 or 12, and 300 people lurch off demading FUN!!! Yipes.
 
Old May 17th, 2002, 11:33 AM
  #3  
KEn
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Nancy, thanks for the reply. I think this is something I'll not do. I'm going to spend another week in Tulum this summer. I'll have a car this time so thought I'd branch out a bit. These places are NOT what I'd want to be doing, which is mostly laying on the beach with a good book and a cold beer.
 
Old May 18th, 2002, 05:30 AM
  #4  
Nancy
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
A-HA!
A man after my own heart!
Here are your "must do's" for the Tulum area (most can involve reading and/or drinking beer)!
Spend at least one day at Akumal - just up the road. There is a great bar right on the beach with decent food, or you can stroll across the road to La Cueva del Pescador for lunch.
If you get there early enough for breakfast, eat at Turtle Bakery. Saturdays, it gets very crowded with locals and their families, so if you go Saturday, get there early to get a close parking spot. You can also go on a snorkel or diving tour - they're easy to book.
Spend a half day at Casa Cenote. All the cenotes you see ads for on Hwy. 307 are crammed with day-trippers down from Cancun. Case Cenote is a salt/fresh-water cenote fun for some uneventful snorkeling, and then you cross the street over to the beach bar/restaurant.
There were only a few other people on the beautiful beach, the tuna steaks were awesome, and the margaritas killer.
You can spend a day at Playa del Carmen. One of the most beutiful beaches I've ever seen! Lots of funky shops and restaurants. Very laid back and casual.
You can take a day trip over to Cozumel from PDC. (Ferry is 45 min.)
You can go horseback riding on the beach at Loma Bonita or Dos Amigos.
We just got back a few weeks ago - I'm jealous!
Have a great time, and if you've never read it, "Don't Stop the Carnival," by Herman Wouk (I think) is a great beach read!
 
Old Jun 17th, 2002, 03:16 PM
  #5  
B.W.
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
We have a different opinion of Xcaret, and have HIGHLY recommended it to our friends. We've been there twice with our kids (9&11) over the past 3 years and have done the Swim with the Dolphin both times. Their dolphin program seemed very eco-friendly to us. Not to get a flame war started with any eco terror types out there, but we found it clean, professional, responsible, and a fantastic way for the kids to learn about these great creatures.

I don't know where the comments about the crowds comes in After having been dragged to 6 Flags Over Texas, we thought Xcaret was virtually abandoned! Great beaches, exhibits (the sea turtle exhibit and protection program is awesome!).

So, we're just an average yuppie family of 4 with two kids and we thought it was great and well worth the rather steep entry fee.
 
Old Jun 19th, 2002, 02:24 PM
  #6  
kel
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Have been to Xel-Ha several times. Am not a swimmer but find i can snorkel with the best of them. We travel with 5 other families & last year we chartered our own bus to get there early to avoid the crowds. Our kids ages range from 9-19 and i think everyone had a great time. The older kids were able to spend the whole day exploreing and the "adults" were amazed at what we had missed.We are going again in a week.Great family fun.
 
Old Jun 20th, 2002, 08:49 AM
  #7  
Debbie
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Have to throw in my dos pesos. Xcaret and Xel-ha are both great little spots. As for overcrowded, well show me someplace that isn't overcrowded in this day and age!
Xcaret - closer to Playa del Carmen. A huge place with the underground river swim being my favourite still. Lots to see and do here. The trick is simply to head out on your own early in the morning. Be there when the park opens and this gives you plenty of time before those busloads of people show up. We did the u/g river swim as soon as we got in the park and it was virtually empty.
Xel-ha - a good distance away from PDC and closer to Tulum. A gorgeous place. Again, we cabbed it down and were there when the park opened (and on a Saturday which is when a goodly number of people are too busy travelling in/out of all the resorts). We took the little trolley car right down to the end of the river and got us a spot under a palapa right by the bridge (that takes you on up to the cenotes). We enjoyed several hours of almost pure isolation with just a few people drifting by on the inner tubes.
What people don't understand about Xel-ha is that on the quickie tour bus stops, all you get to see is the massively crowded center section (where the restaurants are) but on further exploration there is much more to this wonderful little spot.
 
Old Jun 21st, 2002, 08:23 AM
  #8  
Dolphin
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Dear B.W.,
No disrespect, but no matter how clean and professional the 'swim with dolphin' parks seem, they are certainly NOT 'responsible'.
These parks kill dolphins, just so that your kids can get close to them. That's not responsible at all.
 
Old Jun 23rd, 2002, 08:32 PM
  #9  
michael
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I went to Xel Ha 2 years ago in August. I don't have much snorkling experience but I thought it was great! There were some crowds, but if you are staying in Tulum it should be tolerable for a few hours. Above that though, I would recommend snorkling at the lagoon in Akumal. My wife and I are going with another couple to PDC in a month and I am trying to talk them into to going.
 
Old Jun 24th, 2002, 07:25 AM
  #10  
pat
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
What should 300 people do on holiday other than have FUN Nancy. People don't go on holiday to be miserable.They go to have FUN.
 
Old Jun 24th, 2002, 08:56 AM
  #11  
Nancy
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Pat,
See Ken's reply. He wants to lie on the beach with a book and read.
I want to SCUBA and snorkel with as few people around as possible.
My idea of fun is NOT splashing around with a hundred 10 year olds in a murky lagoon where all of the fish have been scared away, they torture dolphins, and
the place is so overcrowded you're elbow to a**hole with everyone in Mexico.
I said I didn't like it. I also said people who have small kids, people who haven't traveled much, or people who like Disneyland WOULD like it. Which group do you fall into?
 
Old Jun 24th, 2002, 09:55 AM
  #12  
pat
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I am in my late 50s and have brought up my kids. They splashed about and did all the things kids do and enjoyed there holidays. You probably p****d people off when you was a little kid no doubt. I too like to sit on the beach with a nice cool beer and enjoy the sunshine and I like to snorkel but I don't begrudge others doing there own thing. Maybe you should consider going to somewhere like outer Mongolia if everybody get on your nerves. Chill out.
 
Old Jun 24th, 2002, 10:41 AM
  #13  
Chuck
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Pat,
You're the one who needs to chill. Not everybody is amused by or wants to spend their vacation with a bunch of little snotnosed kids running around like a bunch of wild indians. Nancy gave her honest opinion of a place someone asked about. She said people who had kids would like it. People spend a lot of money on vacation and they should be able to do what they want. I bet Ken the original poster is happy he got the information he did from her. I made the mistake of going to Xelha with my family and we all hated it. Everybody has their own opinion so just give yours and don't diss other peoples.
 
Old Jun 24th, 2002, 12:07 PM
  #14  
pat
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Chuck you hit the nail right on the head when you said " People spend a lot of money on vacation and they should be able to do what they want" That's what I have said all along, if you had read my replies properly. I rest my case.
 
Old Jun 24th, 2002, 02:43 PM
  #15  
Chuck
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Pat get a clue. You're such a hypocrite. You flamed Nancy just because she doesn't like to do the same things the 300 bazillion other people overrunning Xelha do. I'm sure YOU are exactly the black socks and sandal wearing type she is trying to avoid at Xelha. You didn't prove any case except that you are ignorant of the real meaning of free choice.
 
Old Jun 24th, 2002, 02:57 PM
  #16  
Ana
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
My two cents are these:

Xcaret by far is the best value. $ 50 and you spend the whole day. Beach, snorkelling, the river float, lagoons, ecovillage, and then to top the miscellaneous shows during the day, the marvellous night show.
Good value all around.
 
Old Jun 25th, 2002, 08:10 AM
  #17  
Mexichick
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I loved both parks, but my favorite had to be xel-ha because of the amazing snorkel lagoon. I didn't feel crowded at all and was thrilled with the thousands, yes thousands of fish in the lagoon. The water was clear and beautiful. The river float and underground river at Xcaret were great as well. Honestly, I would go to both if you have the time.
 
Old Jun 26th, 2002, 12:16 PM
  #18  
pat
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Chuck, I think you just lost your bet. Black socks and sandals just don't suit me.I'm more the strappy smart sandal type because you see I am female. I'm perfectly well behaved and in fact if you if you didnt see me you wouldnt even know I was there.So I can hold my head up high. Hope you can say the same.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
brubenow
Mexico & Central America
5
Nov 14th, 2019 04:54 AM
Jules6132
Mexico & Central America
5
Sep 5th, 2013 09:15 AM
jandee
Mexico & Central America
22
Nov 9th, 2011 05:53 AM
travelgal612
Mexico & Central America
4
Oct 28th, 2009 08:05 AM
Paci
Mexico & Central America
4
Nov 3rd, 2004 07:57 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -