First time in Playa - ruins, beaches etc. ???

Rox · 03-23-2008

It's going to be my first trip to Playa and Mexico in general. I'm soooo excited. It's been too long since I've been on a real vacation like this. I'm pretty sure I'll do the Chichen Itza tour and maybe Tulum. I would love to do Coba Treasures tour but we arrive on thr and leave on thr. So unless somebody can recommend another company that we can do a similar Coba tour with. Small group of course. Ek Balam sounds great too (my friend just came back and she said she went there and really liked it) but there's only 2 of us so a private tour is out unless we find more people to go with. It's so hard to decide when you only have a week!!! So much to see and so much to do. Especially since it's my first time in Mexico too (a day trip to Tijuana doesn't count - does it lol). So any tips for a real newbie would be appreciated. And any great beaches that are the closest from Riu Tequila? Or if we have to venture out more what is the best and most uncrowded beautiful beach we should set our sights on? We don't drive so good public transportation is a must. What's the best way to get around? What's a great mexican restaurant in Playa too? Thanks.

Tommygurl · 03-23-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rox

It's going to be my first trip to Playa and Mexico in general. I'm soooo excited. It's been too long since I've been on a real vacation like this. I'm pretty sure I'll do the Chichen Itza tour and maybe Tulum. I would love to do Coba Treasures tour but we arrive on thr and leave on thr. So unless somebody can recommend another company that we can do a similar Coba tour with. Small group of course. Ek Balam sounds great too (my friend just came back and she said she went there and really liked it) but there's only 2 of us so a private tour is out unless we find more people to go with. It's so hard to decide when you only have a week!!! So much to see and so much to do. Especially since it's my first time in Mexico too (a day trip to Tijuana doesn't count - does it lol). So any tips for a real newbie would be appreciated. And any great beaches that are the closest from Riu Tequila? Or if we have to venture out more what is the best and most uncrowded beautiful beach we should set our sights on? We don't drive so good public transportation is a must. What's the best way to get around? What's a great mexican restaurant in Playa too? Thanks.

Hi Rox!
Have a great trip! Some advice would be not to try to book in too many tours! It is nice to have beach days & time to explore! A week goes really fast! I am not too sure where the Riu is but you can always catch a colectivo to Tulum or Akumal-the beaches there are gorgeous! A colectivo is the best way to get around imo. They go from Playa all the way down the 307 highway to Tulum....actually they also go to Cancun as well! They are very cheap! Also taxis in town are super cheap.
Lots of great eats in & around Playa. There is a food forum on here that will help you out in deciding where to go! We enjoy Carboncitos!
I was in Tijuana when I was 13. I agree doesn't count

Enjoy, search around! Have fun planning! Welcome!

Babaloo · 03-23-2008

welcome...and so many questions
i'd suggest you read the forum and peoples trip reports to get a gist for what people like doing here
with that said...
...i'd suggest you limit your ruins to no more than two - the tours will be full days and can be tiring...and hot.

Many people love going to Akumal for snorkeling and Tulum (El Paraiso Beach) for a beautiful stretch of beach. Public transportation (ADO buses from Playa or colectivo will get you there)

Food?? Many choices. Check out the Changarros y mas forum for food talk. I personally love the corner of Constituyentes and 30th avenue for El Fogon, HC de Monterrey, El Jurado for huaraches and just around the corner, La Pesca for incredible cazuela de camerones.

Joana · 03-24-2008

Welcome!
Ditto to what the others said re: too many tours to ruins.
If you like the area as much as all of us here do you will be back soon anyhow......... so save some for the next time!

Aside from the beaches in Tulum and Akumal (which have already been mentioned and which you can get to by bus or collectivo) there is also the beach at Xpu-Ha (which you can get to by collectivo or taxi as well).
Tulum beach you could combine with a trip to the ruins f.e.- take the bus to the ruins and then later head on to the beaches.
But this site also offers great tour under the "trip planning tab" above that go to various places (also to the cenotes, which I will mention right now below.....hehe)

One thing you haven't mentioned, which is also well worth doing as it is unique to the area is going to a Cenote. Those are fresh water wells in the jungle, source of fresh water and holy places for the Maya way back when (and even now in some cases). There are many different ones all along the highway, each has it's very own vibe- and you can reach them via collectivo or taxi.
Some of the ones that get mentioned a lot are Dos Ojos, Gran Cenote, Cenote Azul or Cenote Kristalino.

As for restaurants I'd recommend the same that Babaloo mentioned- HC Monterrey is a must, imho- try the Arrachera nacional!!!!

Rox · 03-24-2008

Thanks guys for all the great replies. I know I can't do too much in 1 week. I already booked a trip to Chichen Itza which includes the ruins, Grand cenote and a visit to a village. I might go to Tulum as well because the beach on the pictures looks fabulous. Other than that I might go to that park Xpu-Ha to do snorkelling. Then I'll have some time to veg on the beach/pool and check out those restaurants. Again thanks for the info. Much appreciated. I can't wait. I hope the weather is nice.

03-23-2008	#1 (permalink)
Rox sandflea Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2	First time in Playa - ruins, beaches etc. ??? It's going to be my first trip to Playa and Mexico in general. I'm soooo excited. It's been too long since I've been on a real vacation like this. I'm pretty sure I'll do the Chichen Itza tour and maybe Tulum. I would love to do Coba Treasures tour but we arrive on thr and leave on thr. So unless somebody can recommend another company that we can do a similar Coba tour with. Small group of course. Ek Balam sounds great too (my friend just came back and she said she went there and really liked it) but there's only 2 of us so a private tour is out unless we find more people to go with. It's so hard to decide when you only have a week!!! So much to see and so much to do. Especially since it's my first time in Mexico too (a day trip to Tijuana doesn't count - does it lol). So any tips for a real newbie would be appreciated. And any great beaches that are the closest from Riu Tequila? Or if we have to venture out more what is the best and most uncrowded beautiful beach we should set our sights on? We don't drive so good public transportation is a must. What's the best way to get around? What's a great mexican restaurant in Playa too? Thanks.

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03-23-2008	#3 (permalink)
Babaloo añejo Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Paamul, Q Roo Mexico Posts: 10,291	welcome...and so many questions i'd suggest you read the forum and peoples trip reports to get a gist for what people like doing here with that said... ...i'd suggest you limit your ruins to no more than two - the tours will be full days and can be tiring...and hot. Many people love going to Akumal for snorkeling and Tulum (El Paraiso Beach) for a beautiful stretch of beach. Public transportation (ADO buses from Playa or colectivo will get you there) Food?? Many choices. Check out the Changarros y mas forum for food talk. I personally love the corner of Constituyentes and 30th avenue for El Fogon, HC de Monterrey, El Jurado for huaraches and just around the corner, La Pesca for incredible cazuela de camerones.

03-24-2008	#4 (permalink)
Joana Niiiice!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The House of God Posts: 4,878	Welcome! Ditto to what the others said re: too many tours to ruins. If you like the area as much as all of us here do you will be back soon anyhow......... so save some for the next time! Aside from the beaches in Tulum and Akumal (which have already been mentioned and which you can get to by bus or collectivo) there is also the beach at Xpu-Ha (which you can get to by collectivo or taxi as well). Tulum beach you could combine with a trip to the ruins f.e.- take the bus to the ruins and then later head on to the beaches. But this site also offers great tour under the "trip planning tab" above that go to various places (also to the cenotes, which I will mention right now below.....hehe) One thing you haven't mentioned, which is also well worth doing as it is unique to the area is going to a Cenote. Those are fresh water wells in the jungle, source of fresh water and holy places for the Maya way back when (and even now in some cases). There are many different ones all along the highway, each has it's very own vibe- and you can reach them via collectivo or taxi. Some of the ones that get mentioned a lot are Dos Ojos, Gran Cenote, Cenote Azul or Cenote Kristalino. As for restaurants I'd recommend the same that Babaloo mentioned- HC Monterrey is a must, imho- try the Arrachera nacional!!!!

03-24-2008	#5 (permalink)
Rox sandflea Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2	Thanks guys for all the great replies. I know I can't do too much in 1 week. I already booked a trip to Chichen Itza which includes the ruins, Grand cenote and a visit to a village. I might go to Tulum as well because the beach on the pictures looks fabulous. Other than that I might go to that park Xpu-Ha to do snorkelling. Then I'll have some time to veg on the beach/pool and check out those restaurants. Again thanks for the info. Much appreciated. I can't wait. I hope the weather is nice.

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