In the last days of our Mexico trip, we want to relax at an all-inclusive hotel. After visiting Akumal, we want to snorkel with turtles again. Last night we received a cancellation from the hotel we chose in Tulum.
A friend of ours has recommended and booked us the hotel Catalonia Riviera Maya in Puerto Aventuras (she works for a large travel operator). The location of Puerto Aventuras is between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, which should at least mean a nice beach.
PS: Here you can find all the important travel tips for Mexico such as safety and transportation. The budget for a 3-week tour here: This is the cost for 3 weeks in Mexico.
Getting to Puerto Aventuras by Bus
We take the bus from Merida to Tulum. The taxi in Merida to the ADO bus terminal costs us 50 M$. The journey from Merida via Valladolid to Tulum takes about 4.5 hours and costs 240 M$. The road runs almost entirely through uninhabited wilderness and is the same one we took earlier from Tulum to Chichen Itza.
Upon arrival in Tulum, we take a taxi to our hotel, Catalonia Riviera Maya (Cost: 350 M$).
Accommodation in Puerto Aventuras: Catalonia Riviera Maya
Our first impression of the hotel is quite okay. We are informed that we can also use the restaurants of the neighboring hotel. Initially, we thought that the hotel in the next cove was meant, but no: the "neighboring hotel" is adjacent and used to be one. It's a clever trick to avoid advertising it as a "bunker" with many beds in the hotel description. It's actually sad but needs to be mentioned.
At the reception, there is a noticeable number of Russians. Our room is spacious, located on the ground floor of a side wing, and has a small terrace. We quickly slip into our swimsuits and inspect the beach. Here, I already experience my first disappointment: only drinking English, Russians, and Americans at one of the pools; the beach section is relatively narrow, and there are many seaweeds and rocks in the way when entering the water. Great. I really don't like that. Do you?
Anyone who has been to Tulum doesn't want to miss the stunning beach and its coziness. I realize once again that I am not a package all-inclusive vacationer, and I need to pull myself together to make the best of the situation. I'm not in the mood for drinking from plastic cups (the typical AI crowd naturally brings their own liter cups, how awful) or for the most primitive drinking games. The food is excellent, but far from "real" Mexican food. I can't understand how the many Mexican vacationers at the hotel find it great.
What is really wonderful: the creperie. We try it as an afternoon snack. In the evenings, we explore the various restaurants (there's everything from Italian, Spanish, steakhouse to Mexican). I also take advantage of the fitness offerings to do something for my fitness (it's been a while since climbing Mayan ruins, and I'm quickly getting rusty). Unfortunately, there isn't much more to report from here, except for my advice to myself: next time, perhaps a more comfortable place among backpackers. That sounds like more fun to me.
Of course, we also did a little trip to see the turtles in Akumal.
Is a stay in Puerto Aventuras worth it?
The hotel zone in Puerto Aventuras is a gated "town" by the sea. Besides large hotels, there are many private villas and vacation homes. One of the main attractions of Puerto Aventuras is the marina, where numerous larger yachts dock and where you can also find restaurants and cafes.
Also known is the dolphinarium, where you can swim with dolphins or manatees (sea cows). The manatees unfortunately hid during our snorkeling tour from Caye Caulker in Belize. Now we see two. We were there; you can enter the grounds for free. We preferred not to swim with the dolphins. I'll save that experience for the open sea.
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