Ikal Del Mar Playa del Carmen

We made our way via ferry from the mainland over to Cozumel (about 30 minutes) found a hotel and hit the town for some window shopping and drinks. We happened to arrive on the day they were having an “Ironman” race on the island (their first). This is were they first swim 2 1/2 miles, bike 112 miles and then do a marathon of 26.2 miles! The winner made it in just over 8 ...

We next moved south to Playa del Carmen (about 1 hour drive), originally a small fishing town, tourism began with the passenger ferry service to Cozumel, an island across the Cozumel Channel and world famous scuba diving destination.


While passing through, many people realized that it was a nice place to relax away from the crowds of Cancun with the same quality beaches and turquoise waters. Based on the hurricanes damage since ...

Today, my husband and I arrived in Cancun international airport after 6 hour flight from Seattle. No hassle going through immigration and custom. However, before going out from the airport, we were greeted by "friendly" people that were selling timeshare. They told us if we were going to use public transportation, they are the only one who can help us with it. I think that's a lie. Since we rent a car ...

... and I have to tell you they can be loud and I am a little over them. Sorry to any Americans reading this but hey that’s how I feel at the moment. There are a group of about 4 couples staying here and they just can’t talk at a normal level but have to let every other person hear what they have to say. They also cannot understand our accent. Yesterday at the pool, I was getting out onto the hot concrete and said “ouch ...

... had time to consider the fear of turbulence, or the risk of flying up the spine of Central America over all those naughty active volcanoes. No sooner said than done, we landed in Guatemala City, casually disembarked and were led a meandering route through the very recently modernised airport, to collect our bags which, somewhat in line with how lucky we'd been on the flight, arrived in moments, together and intact. We had been warned that exiting the airport ...

... summit but still about 17,000 feet.). I can see why people wouldn't want to leave this place, its pretty much a great pace for life. Today I just went to the beach with a few people and hung out, the beaches are a brilliant turquoise with plenty of palm trees for shade. I'm starting to settle into life in the Yucatan, hopefully I'll be doing some Ruta Maya stuff perhaps this weekend or next week. See some ruins and then make my way to Belize or Chiapas, no rush of course.

... to feel the warmth again. I jumped straight onto a bus to Playa del Carmen which was a reasonably cheap and short ride. I hadn't booked anything but I had scouted out a hostel. It was only about 20 metres away from the bus stop. I checked in. The place had an amazing view of the Carribbean Ocean, very nice. The water had some great turqouise colours to it. Man it was hot. Time to slip into the boardies, pluggers and t-shirt. Now that ...

... i stripped off to discover that all but approx 3.6% of the surface area of my body was burnt! slathering on more aftersun i posistioned myself so as much of my body was under the fan as poss, read a couple of pages of the book id borrowed form elaine, and passed out about 10:30pm, rock and ****ing roll baby! the dinner wasnt a total waste of time, i gathered the following for your delectation: anna PHOTO_ID_R=liz_012.jpg] hairy scary mary enjoy!!! xxx

... are in the area. However, do not go to Playa del Carmen. The place is ruined. The beach is right next to the ferry to Cozumel and the town is full of all-you-can-eat-buffet-with-16-kinds-of -meat type places, not sure who they are aiming that at(?). Went to Cancun for the day, fitted right in with the locals by having burgers and milkshake for breakfast. Shocking place, so bad infact we hid in the cinema all afternoon hoping it would all be a bad dream ...

Ellen and I found a last-minute deal to a place called Club Caracol just outside Playa del Carmen, on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Canada 3000 had just negotiated the all-inclusive destination and we were the first to visit. Actually it was us and a Canada 3000 pilot and his wife. As it turns out Club Caracol was new only to North America. The Spanish and the Italians had been coming to the place for some time. And it was reflected in the menu. We'd never had ...