James and Anna's tours in September and October

**Anna** · 08-18-2004

James and Anna's tours in September and October, 2004

Tours in September and October will be as follows:

TUESDAYS - Tulum and Cenotes
WEDNESDAYS - Coba with a Yucatecan Flavor
THURSDAYS - Tulum and Cenotes

Who are James and Anna?
We are the people behind PlayaInfo. We have lived in Playa del Carmen for more than 6 years and we're quite knowledgeable when it comes to this area, Mayan history and culture, snorkeling, cenotes and whatever else will give our tours that extra edge.

What kind of tours are these?
More elaborate itineraries can be found below. Our tours are planned to give you a fun day of culture, history and natural wonders. And most importantly FUN! Look at us your friends who live here and will take you on a great day out!
Our main job is to keep this website running, so we only have time to do a couple of tours each week. Our tours are exclusive, we only take small groups (maximum 12 people) and the tours fill up pretty fast. This means that if you are interested you should book as soon as possible. If you wait too long it's highly unlikely that there will be space left.
Our tours are a whole different experience than the 'cattle' tours - it's more like if a friend showed you around. We make them special by taking you to some places where other tours don't go, and we add a lot of local knowledge and flavor to the day.

Which tour should I choose?
Our tours are designed to be quite different, so if you'd like to go on two (or all) of them, you will not have any repeats.
The Tulum and Cenotes tour is the most diverse and it's a full day, with a Mayan ruin, cenotes, snorkeling and lunch at a paradise beach on the schedule - kind of a 'best of' tour for the Mayan Riviera. Tulum is a great ruin to visit, but on this tour it is not the main focus of the tour - just a part of it. This tour is perfect if you want a taste and an introduction of the wonders of the Mayan Riviera.
The Coba with a Yucatecan Flavor tour is perfect if you're interested in learning a bit more about the Maya and visit an archaeological site that is much larger and older than Tulum. The visit to Coba is the main object to this tour, and we will spend almost 2 hours at the site. Here you'll also have the opportunity to climb the second tallest Mayan pyramid in the Mayan World (the tallest is in Tikal in Guatemala). The cave/cenote we visit in the afternoon is truly spectacular. You should choose this tour if you're extra interested in learning more about the Maya and if you want to visit a wild, largely un-excavated ruin in the middle of the jungle.

How do I sign up?
The only way to sign up is to use the form below. All these tours generate a lot of correspondance and it's very helpful to have it all in one place. Please don't send us a PM or a mail, use the form! Click on the link below to open up the form.

Click here to sign up/check availability for one of the tours!

Your information will be stored in the database, availability will be confirmed, and we'll send you a payment link.

Pick ups
Our tours leave out of Playa del Carmen. If you're staying in a hotel in Playa or Playacar, we will pick you up at your hotel (or very close to it, in case your hotel is located so that we can't drive up to it). If you're in a resort between Playa and Tulum, we'll also pick you up. If you're in a resort north of Playa, we'll give you a meeting point in town. The pick-ups will be between 7.20 am and 8 am, but the exact time of your pick up will depend on where the participants of that day are staying and how to best navigate town. You will receive that information the week before the tour, at the latest.

Prices and Payments
Tulum and Cenotes: 87 usd per person, 65 usd for children 12 yrs or younger.
Coba with a Yucatecan Flavor: 80 usd per person, 57 usd for children 12 yrs or younger.

Click on the link above to sign up and once we have confirmed availability, we'll send you a payment link for the full amount. We'll get back to you within one day (or perhaps two, if it's the weekend). Your payment is 100% refundable if you cancel 36 hours or more in advance. If you cancel the day before the tour, 50% is refundable. There are no refunds if you cancel the day of the tour or if you have to leave the tour for any reason once it has started.

What's Included?
Basically everything: all entrances; expert guiding; snacks and lunch; water, soft drinks and juices; snorkel gear (when applicable); air-conditioned transportation with driver. Things to bring/wear: comfortable shoes/sandals, hat, sunglasses, swim wear, towel, camera, personal belongings and some cash in case you want to pick up some handicraft in one of the villages we pass on our way.

Private tours
If you have 8 people or more in your group I can schedule a tour any day it fits you and I can also costumize the day for your group. Ask for a quote.

James and Anna's Special Tours - Itineraries:

TULUM AND CENOTES
• We leave Playa del Carmen at around 7.30 am.
• On the way to Tulum, we get acquainted with each other and what we're about to see and experience during this active day.
• The ruins of Tulum have one of the most dramatic settings of all - perched on a cliff by the beautiful Caribbean Sea. Tulum flourished in late Postclassic time and the buildings date back to the 12th century. It was an important trading port and one of the few Mayan cities still inhabited when the Spaniards arrived. Our group will be joined by a local guide, specialized on Tulum.
• After the visit to the ruins we head inland a short distance to one of the area's most fascinating cenotes. This area is unique for its cenotes, which basically are waterfilled sinkholes doubling as entrances to cave systems. This particular cenote is highly decorated with stalactites and stalagmites, both above and beneath the surface. The water is cool and clear as air. Snorkeling in this natural wonder will give you an unforgettable memory that can only be experienced first hand.
• Next we will go to a nearby private beach for lunch. This particularly beautiful, and almost empty, stretch of beach is located near the entrance to the Sian Kaan biosphere. We will get lunch ready for you as you swim around in the turquoise water of the Caribbean. Drinks and tropical fruit is also on the menue as well as some chill-time.
• Satisfied with food and beach, we’ll head north towards Playa, and we will make one more cenote stop on the way home, this time at a very nice smaller cenote in lush jungle setting with a fun cliff to jump from – a perfect ending to a beautiful day. At this time in the afternoon chances are good to see some colorful tropical birds in the vegetation surrounding the cenote.
• We will be back in Playa del Carmen at around 5 pm.

COBA WITH A YUCATECAN FLAVOR
• We leave Playa del Carmen at around 7.30 am.
• On the way to Coba, we will give you a long-ish introduction of Mayan/Yucatecan history and culture.
• Coba dates back to Classic time (600 AD), which makes it one of the oldest ruins on the Yucatan peninsula. It was also an important trading post during centuries. A local guide with special knowledge of Coba and of the jungle around it will accompany us at the site. The pyramid of Coba is the tallest Mayan structure on the Yucatan peninsula and the view from its top is breathtaking. We'll take our time in Coba and spend a couple of hours there.
• Hungry after climbing the pyramid, we head to a typical family-run Yucatecan restaurant with a view of the lake (and its caymans) where we have tasty lunch with homemade tortillas.
• Our next stop is a pristine cenote/cave which only recently opened for visitors. Only a priviledged few have seen this spectacular natural wonder. We'll go for a swim in the refreshing water and have time to explore.
• On our way from Coba we'll pass a few small villages where we can stop and pick up some nice handicraft if there's an interest. We'll be back in Playa around 5 pm.

Tracielynn · 08-25-2004

Just booked the Tulum tour for Sept. 28th. Pictures and reviews looks like so much fun!! I'll have to fill in my soon-to-be husband, that we will not be lounging on the beach and sipping Margarittas everyday as he planned. (We've already booked the Fat Cat on the 27th. ) Who leads the tour, James or Anna or both? Do you have pick-ups at the Iberostar Tucan?? Can't wait to meet you guys. Any idea when we will receive confirmation? See you soon, Tracie & Darl

runslow · 08-31-2004

What are the policies if it rains before we depart or while we are on the tour? Are there available spots on the Wed 9/8 tour?

Thanks
Steve

**james** · 08-31-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by runslow

What are the policies if it rains before we depart or while we are on the tour? Are there available spots on the Wed 9/8 tour?

Thanks
Steve

We would cancel if there were big downpours that would ruin the day. Our standard local showers that pass through the region, come-and-go style, are to be expected.

We try to maintain a high level of satisfaction, so you should expect our decisions to reflect a positive outcome and customer satisfaction across the board. We are not, of course, responsable for acts of god or other uncontrollable, mystic forces.

**james** · 08-31-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tracielynn

Just booked the Tulum tour for Sept. 28th. Pictures and reviews looks like so much fun!! I'll have to fill in my soon-to-be husband, that we will not be lounging on the beach and sipping Margarittas everyday as he planned. (We've already booked the Fat Cat on the 27th. ) Who leads the tour, James or Anna or both? Do you have pick-ups at the Iberostar Tucan?? Can't wait to meet you guys. Any idea when we will receive confirmation? See you soon, Tracie & Darl

I normally lead the Tulum-Cenotes tour. We don't both go.

Since we are expecting a baby, I'll be letting our guide Sara take my place for the next few weeks. Sarah is a great guide and prettier than I am.

lessie · 09-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by james

Since we are expecting a baby, I'll be letting our guide Sarah take my place for the next few weeks. Sara is a great guide and prettier than I am.

That is understandable (and congratulations btw as I believe that time is fast approaching). I must admit, though, that with all the rave reviews you and Anna have received for your tours I am a little disappointed that neither of you will be there for mine next Tuesday

Kim_scorpio · 09-01-2004

I'm interested in finding out about the possibility of a private tour to Coba on Monday 11/1/2004. I'm on a cruise ship that lands in Cozumel at 7 am and leaves at midnight. I know we can take the ferry to Playa Del Carmen, but to be safe it I would say we would take the 8 am ferry. I want to see if I can get a group together to go on the tour, but until I can find out if it's a possibility and the price, I can't ask if anyone wants to go with me.

**james** · 09-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by lessie

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

Since we are expecting a baby, I'll be letting our guide Sarah take my place for the next few weeks. Sarah is a great guide and prettier than I am.

That is understandable (and congratulations btw as I believe that time is fast approaching). I must admit, though, that with all the rave reviews you and Anna have received for your tours I am a little disappointed that neither of you will be there for mine next Tuesday

I guess you haven't read any of the reviews of Sara as guide.

No reason to be dissappointed. We didn't get our reputation by shorting customers.

Dasha · 09-01-2004

Sara was our guide to Coba a few weeks ago. It was only her second time guiding by herself and she did an awesome job! She's really friendly and funny, the kind of gal I'd want to hang out with for coffee or drinks if we lived in the same city. I think it would be really difficult not to like Sara.

lessie · 09-02-2004

Thanks for the info Dasha...I wasn't too worried about having someone else fill in, but your vote of confidence is good to hear anyway! As James said, they have such a good reputation and wouldn't compromise one what they provide, and I believe him. I guess I am just sorry I won't be able to meet the people behind this great website since everyone has such nice things to say about them. Maybe next time!

Arcaneind · 09-06-2004

WANTED: PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR COBA ON SEPT 29th

At the moment there is not enough people signed up to justify a tour. C'mon, you really want to go! Learn some history; get out of the tourist area; visit a really old ruin; eat some homemade chow; visit a pristine cenote and stop a few outlying places for that once in a lifetime bargain....

P.S. - This post is purely for self-gain!

SpringLove71 · 09-09-2004

Hi...
Just had a question about tour prices. Do the prices on tours go up and down according to the season, like the prices on hotels? Just wondering because I was searching the board for prices on your tours and there were different prices at different seasons. I understand if they went up due to inflation, I mean, what doesn't? I'm making a list of different tours for us to decide to do and about how much they cost. Plenty of time to decide, thanks for the info.

clearbluesky · 09-10-2004

I agree Dasha! We took a tour to Tulum with Sara a couple of weeks ago and
she is the kind of person that you are comfortable with right away. The tour
was fantastic and we had a great day. I can't wait to come back to Playa
and take the Coba tour.

**james** · 09-10-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpringLove71

Do the prices on tours go up and down according to the season, like the prices on hotels? Just wondering because I was searching the board for prices on your tours and there were different prices at different seasons.

No, we've raised the prices a few bucks. We don't charge differently for high or low season.

SpringLove71 · 09-10-2004

Okay.....that's all I needed to know. Thanks James.....

08-18-2004	#1 (permalink)
Anna top babe admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: after 10 wonderful years in Playa, now back in Sweden Posts: 3,424	James and Anna's tours in September and October James and Anna's tours in September and October, 2004 Tours in September and October will be as follows: TUESDAYS - Tulum and Cenotes WEDNESDAYS - Coba with a Yucatecan Flavor THURSDAYS - Tulum and Cenotes Who are James and Anna? We are the people behind PlayaInfo. We have lived in Playa del Carmen for more than 6 years and we're quite knowledgeable when it comes to this area, Mayan history and culture, snorkeling, cenotes and whatever else will give our tours that extra edge. What kind of tours are these? More elaborate itineraries can be found below. Our tours are planned to give you a fun day of culture, history and natural wonders. And most importantly FUN! Look at us your friends who live here and will take you on a great day out! Our main job is to keep this website running, so we only have time to do a couple of tours each week. Our tours are exclusive, we only take small groups (maximum 12 people) and the tours fill up pretty fast. This means that if you are interested you should book as soon as possible. If you wait too long it's highly unlikely that there will be space left. Our tours are a whole different experience than the 'cattle' tours - it's more like if a friend showed you around. We make them special by taking you to some places where other tours don't go, and we add a lot of local knowledge and flavor to the day. Which tour should I choose? Our tours are designed to be quite different, so if you'd like to go on two (or all) of them, you will not have any repeats. The Tulum and Cenotes tour is the most diverse and it's a full day, with a Mayan ruin, cenotes, snorkeling and lunch at a paradise beach on the schedule - kind of a 'best of' tour for the Mayan Riviera. Tulum is a great ruin to visit, but on this tour it is not the main focus of the tour - just a part of it. This tour is perfect if you want a taste and an introduction of the wonders of the Mayan Riviera. The Coba with a Yucatecan Flavor tour is perfect if you're interested in learning a bit more about the Maya and visit an archaeological site that is much larger and older than Tulum. The visit to Coba is the main object to this tour, and we will spend almost 2 hours at the site. Here you'll also have the opportunity to climb the second tallest Mayan pyramid in the Mayan World (the tallest is in Tikal in Guatemala). The cave/cenote we visit in the afternoon is truly spectacular. You should choose this tour if you're extra interested in learning more about the Maya and if you want to visit a wild, largely un-excavated ruin in the middle of the jungle. How do I sign up? The only way to sign up is to use the form below. All these tours generate a lot of correspondance and it's very helpful to have it all in one place. Please don't send us a PM or a mail, use the form! Click on the link below to open up the form. Click here to sign up/check availability for one of the tours! Your information will be stored in the database, availability will be confirmed, and we'll send you a payment link. Pick ups Our tours leave out of Playa del Carmen. If you're staying in a hotel in Playa or Playacar, we will pick you up at your hotel (or very close to it, in case your hotel is located so that we can't drive up to it). If you're in a resort between Playa and Tulum, we'll also pick you up. If you're in a resort north of Playa, we'll give you a meeting point in town. The pick-ups will be between 7.20 am and 8 am, but the exact time of your pick up will depend on where the participants of that day are staying and how to best navigate town. You will receive that information the week before the tour, at the latest. Prices and Payments Tulum and Cenotes: 87 usd per person, 65 usd for children 12 yrs or younger. Coba with a Yucatecan Flavor: 80 usd per person, 57 usd for children 12 yrs or younger. Click on the link above to sign up and once we have confirmed availability, we'll send you a payment link for the full amount. We'll get back to you within one day (or perhaps two, if it's the weekend). Your payment is 100% refundable if you cancel 36 hours or more in advance. If you cancel the day before the tour, 50% is refundable. There are no refunds if you cancel the day of the tour or if you have to leave the tour for any reason once it has started. What's Included? Basically everything: all entrances; expert guiding; snacks and lunch; water, soft drinks and juices; snorkel gear (when applicable); air-conditioned transportation with driver. Things to bring/wear: comfortable shoes/sandals, hat, sunglasses, swim wear, towel, camera, personal belongings and some cash in case you want to pick up some handicraft in one of the villages we pass on our way. Private tours If you have 8 people or more in your group I can schedule a tour any day it fits you and I can also costumize the day for your group. Ask for a quote. *James and Anna's Special Tours - Itineraries:* TULUM AND CENOTES • We leave Playa del Carmen at around 7.30 am. • On the way to Tulum, we get acquainted with each other and what we're about to see and experience during this active day. • The ruins of Tulum have one of the most dramatic settings of all - perched on a cliff by the beautiful Caribbean Sea. Tulum flourished in late Postclassic time and the buildings date back to the 12th century. It was an important trading port and one of the few Mayan cities still inhabited when the Spaniards arrived. Our group will be joined by a local guide, specialized on Tulum. • After the visit to the ruins we head inland a short distance to one of the area's most fascinating cenotes. This area is unique for its cenotes, which basically are waterfilled sinkholes doubling as entrances to cave systems. This particular cenote is highly decorated with stalactites and stalagmites, both above and beneath the surface. The water is cool and clear as air. Snorkeling in this natural wonder will give you an unforgettable memory that can only be experienced first hand. • Next we will go to a nearby private beach for lunch. This particularly beautiful, and almost empty, stretch of beach is located near the entrance to the Sian Kaan biosphere. We will get lunch ready for you as you swim around in the turquoise water of the Caribbean. Drinks and tropical fruit is also on the menue as well as some chill-time. • Satisfied with food and beach, we’ll head north towards Playa, and we will make one more cenote stop on the way home, this time at a very nice smaller cenote in lush jungle setting with a fun cliff to jump from – a perfect ending to a beautiful day. At this time in the afternoon chances are good to see some colorful tropical birds in the vegetation surrounding the cenote. • We will be back in Playa del Carmen at around 5 pm. COBA WITH A YUCATECAN FLAVOR • We leave Playa del Carmen at around 7.30 am. • On the way to Coba, we will give you a long-ish introduction of Mayan/Yucatecan history and culture. • Coba dates back to Classic time (600 AD), which makes it one of the oldest ruins on the Yucatan peninsula. It was also an important trading post during centuries. A local guide with special knowledge of Coba and of the jungle around it will accompany us at the site. The pyramid of Coba is the tallest Mayan structure on the Yucatan peninsula and the view from its top is breathtaking. We'll take our time in Coba and spend a couple of hours there. • Hungry after climbing the pyramid, we head to a typical family-run Yucatecan restaurant with a view of the lake (and its caymans) where we have tasty lunch with homemade tortillas. • Our next stop is a pristine cenote/cave which only recently opened for visitors. Only a priviledged few have seen this spectacular natural wonder. We'll go for a swim in the refreshing water and have time to explore. • On our way from Coba we'll pass a few small villages where we can stop and pick up some nice handicraft if there's an interest. We'll be back in Playa around 5 pm. __________________ ------------------------------ Founder and owner of Playa.info

08-25-2004	#2 (permalink)
Tracielynn way into it Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southwestern Ontario Posts: 196	Just booked the Tulum tour for Sept. 28th. Pictures and reviews looks like so much fun!! I'll have to fill in my soon-to-be husband, that we will not be lounging on the beach and sipping Margarittas everyday as he planned. (We've already booked the Fat Cat on the 27th. ) Who leads the tour, James or Anna or both? Do you have pick-ups at the Iberostar Tucan?? Can't wait to meet you guys. Any idea when we will receive confirmation? See you soon, Tracie & Darl Last edited by Tracielynn; 08-30-2004 at 01:58 AM.. Reason: forgot a question

08-31-2004	#3 (permalink)
runslow lost on fifth Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 12	What are the policies if it rains before we depart or while we are on the tour? Are there available spots on the Wed 9/8 tour? Thanks Steve

09-01-2004	#7 (permalink)
Kim_scorpio sandflea Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1	I'm interested in finding out about the possibility of a private tour to Coba on Monday 11/1/2004. I'm on a cruise ship that lands in Cozumel at 7 am and leaves at midnight. I know we can take the ferry to Playa Del Carmen, but to be safe it I would say we would take the 8 am ferry. I want to see if I can get a group together to go on the tour, but until I can find out if it's a possibility and the price, I can't ask if anyone wants to go with me.

09-01-2004	#9 (permalink)
Dasha toe in water Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: The Frozen Wasteland aka MN Posts: 53	Sara was our guide to Coba a few weeks ago. It was only her second time guiding by herself and she did an awesome job! She's really friendly and funny, the kind of gal I'd want to hang out with for coffee or drinks if we lived in the same city. I think it would be really difficult not to like Sara.

09-02-2004	#10 (permalink)
lessie sandflea Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Mississauga, ON Posts: 9	Thanks for the info Dasha...I wasn't too worried about having someone else fill in, but your vote of confidence is good to hear anyway! As James said, they have such a good reputation and wouldn't compromise one what they provide, and I believe him. I guess I am just sorry I won't be able to meet the people behind this great website since everyone has such nice things to say about them. Maybe next time!

09-06-2004	#11 (permalink)
Arcaneind way into it Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Orangeville, Ontario Posts: 100	WANTED: PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR COBA ON SEPT 29th At the moment there is not enough people signed up to justify a tour. C'mon, you really want to go! Learn some history; get out of the tourist area; visit a really old ruin; eat some homemade chow; visit a pristine cenote and stop a few outlying places for that once in a lifetime bargain.... P.S. - This post is purely for self-gain!

09-09-2004	#12 (permalink)
SpringLove71 way into it Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 158	Hi... Just had a question about tour prices. Do the prices on tours go up and down according to the season, like the prices on hotels? Just wondering because I was searching the board for prices on your tours and there were different prices at different seasons. I understand if they went up due to inflation, I mean, what doesn't? I'm making a list of different tours for us to decide to do and about how much they cost. Plenty of time to decide, thanks for the info.

09-10-2004	#13 (permalink)
clearbluesky very sparkly Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 31	I agree Dasha! We took a tour to Tulum with Sara a couple of weeks ago and she is the kind of person that you are comfortable with right away. The tour was fantastic and we had a great day. I can't wait to come back to Playa and take the Coba tour.

09-10-2004	#15 (permalink)
SpringLove71 way into it Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 158	Okay.....that's all I needed to know. Thanks James.....

register to remove these adverts