Playa del Carmen

Trip Start Aug 10, 2007
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Trip End Dec 27, 2007


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Flag of Mexico  ,
Wednesday, October 24, 2007

We checked out of our hostel in Cancun this morning and decided to just pack our small backpacks with clothing for the next 4 days - leaving our big ones at the hostel in storage.  It was a great plan as walking the 15 minute walk to the bus station was a lot more pleasant with little bags on our backs.  The heat in this place is immense and you start sweating every time you go outside.  So - a light load was definitely the way to go. 

We got on an ADO bus headed for Playa del Carmen and were there about an hour later.  The bus ride was great and the ADO buses are really good value for money....only cost us 36 pesos each (about $3.60).  After getting some directions from locals we found our way to our hostel - where we were to stay for the next 4 nights...we were hoping it was going to be nice.  It was called Playa del Karma and didn't disappoint.  It was a lovely 'lapa' which is a thatched building made in the traditional Mayan style 5th avenue ........... the shoppers paradise
5th avenue ........... the shoppers paradise
 .  It had a lovely bathroom and there was a spa and breakfast room as well as a little pool outside.  It was going to be bliss. 

We rested a while and then headed off for 5th Avenue which is the famous tourist street in Playa.  There were loads of restaurants and shops and travel agents trying to sell you tours. Just on the other side of the shops was the beautiful beach.  Now this is how I imagined Mexico to be....beautiful white sands, turquoise waters and people just relaxing and enjoying themselves on the beach.  We had a bite to eat at one of the bars and went off to find out a little about snorkeling in the area.  We found a great dive shop where there was a really helpful lady who told us the best places to go snorkeling along the coast.  She suggested Akumal and not Cozumel as apparently a lot of the reef has been destroyed by the recent hurricane.  So that was really helpful.

We had a quiet evening that night and started to plan our next few days.....very excited!
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