Tulum, Coba, Cenotes???

[justjimmy]

Hi all.
Faith and I are coming down next month for our 9th time.

The first few years we did most of the organized tours.
This year we want to try some new things.

Maybe Coba and a cenote and Tulum (not the ruins) and a cenote.
We are willing to rent a car for a couple of days but I was wondering about the collectivos.

I know they can get us to Tulum. Are the any cenotes along the way to get dropped off?

Any info would be helpful or any other suggestions

5 weeks and counting.

Jimmy

[Laura Mapchick]

Where are you staying, were you thinking about doing all these in one day?

[justjimmy]

Hi Mapchick.

We're staying at the Real Gran Caribe. No way in one day!
Coba, cenote one day. Tulum or Akumal one day.

I'll have a better idea when I get my new maps :lol:

Jimmy

[CancunCanuck]

Hi Justjimmy!
There are soooo many cenote options out there. Bigger parks that will cost you around $50 USD are Hidden Worlds, AktunChen, Kantunchi for example. We like the little ones that are easier on the pocketbook, Cenote Azul (50 pesos) or Casa Cenote (20 pesos) for example. As you drive down the highway, there are lots of little cenotes, just keep eyes out for cardboard or battered wooden signs and pull over. Can't help with the collectivos on this one, sorry, we always drive!

[justjimmy]

Got your PM. Thanks Canuck.

Not to hijack my own thread, but, I also need recommendations on downtown restaurants. I started a thread on this last week but no replies.

Jimmy

[CancunWithMe.com]

Jimmy,

If you want to venture, I would recommend you rent a car hands down. Best and most inexpensive way to explore the Riviera Maya. The only true down fall of renting a car is that if you are in any type of significant accident, you might be required to stay in Mexico a few extra days, until all financial obligations are met.

There are many cenotes in the area, and if you have a car you can literally spend about 2 or 3 days going to new ones. Some are a few meters away from the main road, such as El Gran Cenote (between Tulum and Coba), while others can be up 10 km back in the jungle via a long dirt road.

Most of the cenotes are south of PDC, and you can take a colectivo from Cancun to PDC, and then another from PDC to Tulum. Colectivos will drop you off anywhere off on the main highway, but some of the cenotes might be hard to get to by foot from the main highway.

My favorite cenotes are Dos Ojos and El Gran cenote, these two also happen to be the most expensive cenotes to go into, at 100 pesos each (350 at Dos Ojos if you want a guide). Most of the people that don't like Dos Ojos too much, usually didn't do the tour with someone that knew the cenote, hence didn't make it into the bat cave, nor get to see some of the key points of the cenote (like where to see the light from the other cenote).

Hidden worlds is a nice park, and if you book online you save $10, and if you are interested I can send you a coupon for an additional $10 savings for up to 4 adults. However one of the better, relatively new tours I enjoy is Rio Secreto. I have been to many of the cenotes and caves in the area, and none blow me away like this place. If you get there yourself (easily done via colectivo) the price is 49, but again if interested in going there I could send you a coupon for $9 savings per ticket, for up to 4 adults