One day in Cancun: cenotes and souvenirs?
December 20, 2016 2:26 PM Subscribe
I will have one day at the end of a Yucatan vacation in Cancun or Puerto Morelos and would like to 1. do some souvenir shopping and 2. go swimming in a cenote or two. Where should I stay, and where should I go for these things?
Thanks for all of your suggestions on my previous post. I decided on 4 days on Isla Holbox for maximum relaxation and low-key beach-related laziness.
I will have one full day at the end of my trip before I fly out of the Cancun airport and would like to do some souvenir shopping (ie, crafts-type things) and see a cenote if possible. Would like something relatively cheap (under $150), don't need to be on the beach.
Questions:
- Where should I stay? Cancun? Puerto Morelos? My flight out is in the afternoon, so don't need to be right next to the airport.
- Can you recommend a good tour company to get me to a cenote? Or is there some easy way I could get to one without renting a car?
- Where's a good place to do shopping for crafts? Mercado 28 in Cancun? Would prefer stuff that is handmade, or at least not mass-produced in China.
Thanks for all of your suggestions on my previous post. I decided on 4 days on Isla Holbox for maximum relaxation and low-key beach-related laziness.
I will have one full day at the end of my trip before I fly out of the Cancun airport and would like to do some souvenir shopping (ie, crafts-type things) and see a cenote if possible. Would like something relatively cheap (under $150), don't need to be on the beach.
Questions:
- Where should I stay? Cancun? Puerto Morelos? My flight out is in the afternoon, so don't need to be right next to the airport.
- Can you recommend a good tour company to get me to a cenote? Or is there some easy way I could get to one without renting a car?
- Where's a good place to do shopping for crafts? Mercado 28 in Cancun? Would prefer stuff that is handmade, or at least not mass-produced in China.
Response by poster: Yes, I definitely want to snorkel/swim in a cenote. Not super-interested in ruins for this trip.
posted by lunasol at 2:55 PM on December 20, 2016
posted by lunasol at 2:55 PM on December 20, 2016
we visited this cenote. it was really nice then, and i think they have improved a few things like the super rickety ladder you used to climb out. Has a cliff to jump from. it isn't huge though and is pretty far south. We used prodive mexico but went several places to snorkel including Yal-Ku lagoon. I know you could get close on a collectivo but not sure how you would get from the highway to the cenote.
posted by domino at 3:07 PM on December 20, 2016
posted by domino at 3:07 PM on December 20, 2016
I am using Viator - haven't gone yet so can't review but they seem reputable (I think they're owned by TravelAdvisor?), they have a lot of options and the process of booking was seamless.
posted by ohsnapdragon at 3:48 PM on December 20, 2016
posted by ohsnapdragon at 3:48 PM on December 20, 2016
Puerto Morelos is very similar to Isla Holbox in feel and activity level, so keep that in mind if you're thinking about switching things up for the last day. It's a small town, getting more touristed in the past few years, on a not great beach (But better than the beaches in Holbox, which is in the gulf, so no waves really).
There are tour trips and cenotes you can book easily in PM.
Be aware that if you're hitting CUN airport during a popular vacation time, the backup at the airport can take a while and adjust your schedule accordingly.
The cenote that blew my mind was Dos Ojos. Unlike the other cenotes I'd been in which were large underground open caverns this one had a cavern that was very dark and very closed in. Each person carried a flashlight to see and held on to the person in front of them as they squeezed through the stalagtites and stalgmites in single file. There were some spots that you had to go completely under water to pass through. It was very claustropobiic so if you lean that way at all, avoid this cenote at all costs.
It was my favorite by far and the one which made the most lasting impression.
There is another more traditional style cenote here as well, I don't know if you tour both or have the option to go to one or the other.
posted by newpotato at 3:52 PM on December 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
There are tour trips and cenotes you can book easily in PM.
Be aware that if you're hitting CUN airport during a popular vacation time, the backup at the airport can take a while and adjust your schedule accordingly.
The cenote that blew my mind was Dos Ojos. Unlike the other cenotes I'd been in which were large underground open caverns this one had a cavern that was very dark and very closed in. Each person carried a flashlight to see and held on to the person in front of them as they squeezed through the stalagtites and stalgmites in single file. There were some spots that you had to go completely under water to pass through. It was very claustropobiic so if you lean that way at all, avoid this cenote at all costs.
It was my favorite by far and the one which made the most lasting impression.
There is another more traditional style cenote here as well, I don't know if you tour both or have the option to go to one or the other.
posted by newpotato at 3:52 PM on December 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
Take the bus downtown. While on the bus, ask the driver where is the "market". Go there and bargain up a storm. Even walk away; they'll sometimes take your deal. I did it for a hat while there. Such fun.
posted by usermac at 4:04 PM on December 20, 2016
posted by usermac at 4:04 PM on December 20, 2016
I was very surprised to find that prices for souvenirs in the airport were either the same or lower (!) than in the town, for the same stuff (even though I bargained!) So if you have to choose between shopping or doing something else, know that you'll have plenty of shopping options in the airport.
posted by fingersandtoes at 5:35 PM on December 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by fingersandtoes at 5:35 PM on December 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Puerto Morelos has a local craft market just south of downtown. The Jungle Spa also hosts a weekly Mayan craft fair; Ive been told it's not significantly different than the craft market but I keep missing the Jungle Spa market.
Just south of Puerto Morelos is the Ruta de Cenotes - a road that is miles and miles of undertouristed Cenotes. Or you can visit a nearby famous one if the tiny ones on this road aren't what you want.
$150 is a huge amount of money. What did you need for that budget?
Swimming in a cenote should be less than $10. Maybe $3?
I'm pretty sure the small beach condos in Puerto Morelos are $50 or less per night Car rental is expensive due to insurance, but cheaper than having a tour bus drive you around.
I go to Puerto Morelos every year for a week or so. Message me if you need more specific info.
posted by littlewater at 11:22 PM on December 20, 2016
Just south of Puerto Morelos is the Ruta de Cenotes - a road that is miles and miles of undertouristed Cenotes. Or you can visit a nearby famous one if the tiny ones on this road aren't what you want.
$150 is a huge amount of money. What did you need for that budget?
Swimming in a cenote should be less than $10. Maybe $3?
I'm pretty sure the small beach condos in Puerto Morelos are $50 or less per night Car rental is expensive due to insurance, but cheaper than having a tour bus drive you around.
I go to Puerto Morelos every year for a week or so. Message me if you need more specific info.
posted by littlewater at 11:22 PM on December 20, 2016
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Do you want to snorkel and swim around in one? I mean if you just want to see one... I don't know that it is worth a trip to look at a big hole in the ground with water in it. If you just want to *see* one... there is one a Chichen Itza, if you wanted to also see a ruin during that day.
posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 2:36 PM on December 20, 2016