Just back from Iberostar Tucan + other Iberostars

[TexasTim]

No pics yet. The beach was bad but very servicable. They were doing concrete work to start repairs . I will post pictures soon. I got sick so can't type for long. The waves were very bad. A few close call rescues were made on the back side of the whales. I consider the whales VERY DANGEROUS some people got sucked out and didn't even notice. Others fell off and repeatedly bumped into and under the whales on the backside. Others overturned kayaks and repeatedly bumped their heads on the whales.

Only expert swimmers should risk. Even the guy selling sunglass dropped all his goods and money and said" HURRY WE GOT TO SAVE HIM" Threw in a jetski and rescued him.

more later

[beer30]

We returned from there last week. the beach is a mess and doesn't look like it will be repaired any time soon. They are SLOWLY pumping sand back up but at a snails pace. A 3 year old boy fell off one of the "whales" and broke his leg while we were there. He spent the rest of the week in a wheelchair but still was having a good time.
The other problem with the beach is the small specs of a tar-like substance that keeps washing up on shore. Very small specs that could only be removed with the wife's nail polish remover. I'm not sure if it is crude oil, bunker oil, or maybe roofing tar but some of our group got into this stuf a couple of times during the week.
If beach is important to you then DON'T GO THERE...period. Use one of the other IB's on the Rivier Maya, they are newer anyway.
We have been to Iberostar resorts in that area 7 years running. Things are changing and I'm not sure why. 1) The variety of food is lesser than it used to be. I'm not saying the food was bad, IT WAS GREAT. Just less variety than in years passed. 2) Alcohol policing is much more prevalent there. We had a 17 year old girl with us who was not even allowed down in the pool bar swimming pool. The bartender said he could lose his job if the supervisor was there. They also checked our passports for age and wristbanding of minors.....First time we've ever seen this here.
As always: Star friends were great and also the nightly shows.

[morphasia]

Gee, thanks for the 'heads up' - I sure won't be fooling around on those whale sandbags when I'm at the Tucan in four weeks. You're the fourth person who's reported people getting injuries. Aww, the poor kid who broke his leg! I wonder about insurance in a case like that, or does the resort have signs stating, PLAY ON WHALES AT OWN RISK?
I still don't regret booking there, because I know what to expect - I've been following the beach situation for weeks. I think my mom and I are going to walk south a bit to enjoy a nice beach. And we'll be in various places like Cozumel, Tulum, PDC and Xcaret where we can enjoy prettier beaches. Others who come back from Tucan state the beach didn't bother them ... but like you said, if you really, REALLY need a good beach, stay away.

[steve balt]

when will they learn. those whales are doing more bad than good.

[Smudger]

Oh dear...how very sad! that nature has taken over what was a beautiful beach area!......we have been twice now to the Tucan and loved it both times......but I couldn't go back and see the devastation..it would be too upsetting.......maybe one day we will go back there..but for us it is a long flight to get there and to find beaches like that........but.....for you folks that have booked the hotel...you won't be disapointed and the pool area is great...and the food is wonderful too!....but for people really wanting a beach holiday...mmmm........mother nature is a very complex lady!! ........

[playadreaming]

Sorry to hear about that. I just got back saturday from the Riu Palace Riviera Maya, and walked to the Quetzal almost daily. I just posted some pictures from the construction at the IB* in my "beach walk" section of my trip report. Hope no one gets injured.

The water was rough the whole week. The one day I talked my wife into walking down past the Sandos, she banged her hand on the construction wall along the beach when she was hit by a wave.