Mayan Calendar
Cancun was a deserted island until the late 1960s, when government agencies apparently ran a computer simulation called "Bugsy" to pick the most perfect spot for a tourist paradise. Cancun emerged and the rest is history. (Yes, Cancun does seems to have shades of Vegas - a strip that is flashy and as touristy as it gets). The island is composed of lagoons, marshes, jungles and coral reefs along with some incredible historical tours.
We have trended these last few years to making quick decisions and easy vacation choices. Costco for hotel ($880 for the 7 nights) and expedia for plane tickets. Absolute no-brainer decision, hit Submit (that was early November) and next thing you know, we were scampering to get the year closed out and take the early morning flight to Cancun. We considered these all inclusive monster deals, but we had visions of putting on 20 lbs on our way back, and our food and drinks being simple as they are (vegetarian and teetotalers), we decided to not opt for the ALL INCLUSIVE deals, which seemingly are a big rage for Mexico’s tourists. Summer time, the all inclusive (hotel only) deals run for $200 (food, hotel + excursions) and Winter they can run $500+. Mind you, if you don’t go for the all inclusive package, be prepared to spend $200/day for food. If you go after a hurricane hits Cancun, the prices have usually plummeted to rock bottom
Our flight was uneventful with our “full-service airline”. Be prepared to be solicited for everything as you step outside after customs. Just like taking a cab from San Franciso into South Bay, the cab fares are steep from Cancun to the hotel zone $40 to $50, but check with your travel package / hotel – they may have a shuttle running from the airport.
We were at the Marriott Casa Magna.
The hotel is great; next door to the JW Marriott. You get to pick between the restaurants @ JW and Casa Magna, as they are conveniently connected. The location of these hotels is not perfect (the Carribean seas are a tad choppy, windy - and the beach has a receding line syndrome, and sand "cliffs" of about 3 to 5 feet are emerging on the coastline to preserve the beach area for siesta loving tourists). You are better off staying near one of the shopping malls like LA ISLA MALL (Sheraton Resorts is one of the choices) INCLUDE MAP.
But it is a safe tourist town and cabs/ buses work very well to get out. Buses are $8.50 Pesos a ride to anywhere in town and their frequency is quite good. Most tourists and locals just use the bus service to get around. The cab fares in and around Cancun hotel zone are very reasonable $7 to $12.
Restaurants – We loved a couple restaurants around Marriott Casa Magn, the Thai restaurant (inside Casa Magna) and SAVIOs. The GUSTINO’s Italian restaurant in J W Marriott is over-rated, we found the service lacking and portions very small – 30% of what is typical in the bay area.
SHOPPING: The malls (ISLA MALL, FORUM mall) have the junk that we tourists seek – but the flea markets are more fun. There is a flea market in downtown MERCADO 28, which has lots of eating choices too. If you enjoy the inevitable bargaining in the flea market you may love it. But the place to strike real bargains is at Chichen Itza.You can shop for Leather, silver, pottery, postcards, hair braids, frames, magnets, glassware, art work, handicrafts, etc. The prices in the mall are …well overpriced. Don't expect to find anything "out of the ordinary" or terribly unique though, all the marketplaces in Cancun sell all the same types of things. Chichen Itza though is particularly easy to strike some great bargains. More on that later.
Suzanne our travel agent in Cancun (0529981365060) got us some great deals for our excursion trip. Our trip to Chichen Itza was through “Cancun Sightseeing” $45/adult $23/kid. Knowing these prices, you can decide if you want to pre-purchase prior to your trip on the web. Here is another tour company http://www.grayline.com/Cancun/Chichen_Itza_Deluxe_Tour#Highlights
Chichen Itza, founded in the year 514 AD, was once the capital of the ancient Mayan civilization and was recently declared one of the “7 Modern Wonders of the World.” The ruins are steeped in a magical history of bloody rituals of human sacrifice, a warrior culture, astrological discovery, and elaborately constructed Maya-Toltec buildings. The ruins are a must see for any visit to Cancun. Here is what a typical tour will cover for you.
• The Majestic Observatory
• The Sacred Cenote - Where sacrifices once took place, and you can take a dip in the cool waters.
• The Ball Court - The largest and deadliest Ball Game in Mesoamerica. The arena is 168 meters in length and 70 meters in width with perfect acoustics.
• The Pyramid of Kukulcan - Where both theology and astronomy combine to produce a unique spectacle twice a year, the Spring Equinox and the Autumn Solstice. On these days, the shadows projected over the architectural elements of the building resemble a serpent descending into the ground. Located inside the pyramid, is the famous Chac Mool sculpture and the Jaguar Throne.
It is a long drive to get to Chichen Itza, and it is highly likely the bus tour will lead you into a tourist trap, prior to lunch. Check out the offerings, but you are better off purchasing once you arrive at Chichen Itza. In fact, I would highly recommend it as THE place for you to shop for your quaint Mexican artifacts. For example, we bought a few Obsidian stones at really good prices. The prices we were quoted in the tourist trap was in the $40 to $100. And we got the same stone for <100 pesos ($7.70). The tour guide at Chicen Itza (arranged by our tour company) was excellent and provided some great insights into the history.
The Sacred Cenote
The pyramid of Kukulcan
(see serpent at the bottom)
We got to Chichen Itza a bit late ~2:30pm and with the gates closing @ 5pm – barely gave us any time to explore the place though. If you are adventurous, consider renting a car for the day and driving up there….will definitely provide you more time to explore. But it is a long day (Leave the hotel @ 7pm and back to the hotel after 8pm).
So what is Obsidian is not a gemstone. It is formed during fast cooling of la va products after a volcanic eruption - that’s why they call it “volcanic glass”. According to ancient superstition, Obsidian brings to its wearer the energy of Earth, thus strengthening his spirit and healing his body. Ancient people called Obsidian "Satan's claws' fragments". A legend says the stone was named after a Roman warrior Obsidian who brought this stone from Ethiopia.. All Obsidians are talismans which offer strong shield against any negativity http://www.healing-crystals-for-you.com/obsidian-stone.html
The second trip to Tulum Coba was through TANSLOMEX http://www.translamex.com/– that included lunch. We got this for $50/adult $30/kid (under 12). The Tulum Coba combo is hard to find as it is not a preferred option for many. So this combo operates only on certain days.
Tulum, the great walled city, where you can be entranced by the cliff top view over the Caribbean and one of the area's most beautiful beaches. This history as you tour the ruins and learn about the advanced civilization of the Mayas is indeed fascinating.
Then it's off to Coba, much larger than Tulum, and less touristed. Here you can climb the great pyramid, one of the area's most exciting attractions. You can rent a rickshaw at Coba to be chauffeur driven around the site, or you can rent a bicycle if you'd like to give it a go on your own.
During the Coba tour, you will visit the original mayan stone stele, which is the origin about the prophecies and confusions about the 2012, the original stone stele enclosed and protected.This mayan stone stele, full with glyphs and historic writting of the mayas, is part of a serie of steles, correspondent to the Nohoch Mul group of stones, with the same name as the Coba Pyramid. This glyphs includes the real true about the 2012 prophecies, written during the Kalach Uinic. In the main stele, there is the December 21th 2012 prophecies, where the confusion and the theory begin. The theories that the tour guides have chosen to stick to is that – the Mayan Calendar was crafted only till December 21st 2012. Another theory is that the Mayas, great wise people of the millenary cultures, have left a message for us that this not the end of the times, but refer to the general human kind mind change that we will have in 2012.
Coba is less accessible than Chichen Itza, but because the visitors tend to be more considerate of the archeology, visitors are allowed more direct access to the ruins. At Coba you will be able to climb the great pyramid of Nohoch Mul, the highest Pyramid in the Yucatan peninnsula. You also have virtually unrestricted access to many other smaller but equally impressive ruins. Chichen Itza pyramid is out of bounds, but we were allowed to climb Nohoch Mul in Coba. 29 meters tall. Going up is easy – as long as you don’t look behind. But coming down, it is a lot easier if you pair up, and hold hands – with one leading and the other following behind. The person in the lead is constantly being pulled back by the person behind and the person lagging, stepping down has the support of the person in front. If you can muster up the courage, you definitely need to climb. At the top of Nohoch Mul you can view a panorama of dense jungle with other pyramids and buildings poking up through the lush green carpet in all directions. As you stand at the top of Nohoch Mul you will have a view similar to that offered to the Mayan Priests over 1500 years ago. Be aware the climb of Nohoch Mul is not a cake walk. There are 124 steps to get to the top. The pyramid rises at a significant angle, so if you have a weak heart or very young children with you the full climb is best avoided. A thick rope down the middle of the pyramid has been provided that can make the climb a little easier.
A large number of Stelae (stone slabs inscribed with Mayan hieroglyphics) have been found and by deciphering these stelae much of the information we now know about Coba has been discovered. Due to the importance of these stelae, many have been removed to Mexico City for analysis. However a small number have been left in place. They normally have been given a small thatched roof to protect them as best as is possible from further erosion. The ball courts are fascinating too. The tour guides look to explain it all.
The rest of the time in Cancun, we hung out by the Caribbean Sea's turquoise water and the hotel pool. Many short naps, and relaxing lunches and dinners. Cancun turned out to be OK - provided us a beach vacation along with an opportunity to soak in Mayan culture. Highly recommend it!
There are other attractions like Xela, Isla Mojares etc - but they didn't creep up into our list - but definitely excursion options that you may want to consider
FROM USA TODAY
Cancun was a deserted island until the late 1960s, when government agencies created a plan to make it a tourist destination, according to Cancun’s Official Travel Information website. The island, composed of lagoons, marshes, jungles and coral reefs, welcomes visitors who wish to enjoy its pristine beaches and wildlife. Cancun sightseeing tours provides vacationers with several touring options, whether they want to traverse through the jungle, get close to marine life or explore archeological ruins.
Chichen Itza Tour from Cancun
Named one of the “Seven Wonders of the World,” Chichen Itza features Maya-Toltec ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula. Tourists see structures once used for worship, human sacrifice, and mathematical and scientific discovery, such as the Pyramid of Kukulcan, the Ball Court and the Majestic Observatory. The Chichen Itza Tour by Gray Line Cancun includes round-trip transportation from Cancun hotels, entrance fee to Chichen Itza, bilingual-certified INAH guides, extra time to explore the ruins and use of Mayaland Hotel and Resort. It takes about 12 hours to complete this tour, including the hour and a half guided portion. Ticket prices vary for adults and children and depend on upgrades, such as horseback riding, added to ticket packages. Gray Line Cancun Robalo #30 SM 3 Cancun, Quintana Roo Mexico 77500 800-235-4079 graylinecancun.com
Xcaret Day Trip Tours
My Cancun Tours Xcaret Day Trip Tours provide a variety of activities for sightseers. Activities on the tour consist of visiting Mexican cemeteries and landmarks, exploring jungle trails, underwater adventures in a coral reef, visiting Mayan villages and swimming with dolphins. The prices of packages include admission to Xcaret Ecological Park, transportation to and from hotels, water activities, life jackets, Jaguar Island, the Bat Cave and a night show. Packages don’t offer meals, snacks and beverages. Xcaret provides rental lockers to store personal belongings. It also prohibits the use of suntan lotions or sun blocks that are not biodegradable; sightseers may bring their own biodegradable products or purchase them at the facility. Ticket prices vary, but children less than 40 inches tall enter for free. My Cancun Tours Boulevard Kukulkan, Km 3.5 Plaza Nautilus, Local 20 B, Hotel Zone Cancun, Quintana Roo Mexico 866-235-8889 mycancuntours.com
Paradise Sub See Explorer
Aquaworld Cancun Tours’ Paradise Sub See Explorer consists of exploring the Punta Nizuc coral reef from the inside of a yellow submarine. Visitors see the diverse marine life in the coral reef, possibly even a dolphin. Two-hour tour packages include bilingual tour guides, lunch at Aquaworld’s outdoor restaurant, bottled water and lockers. Combination packages consist of the submarine tour and unlimited snorkeling after the submarine ride. Tours begin at Aquaworld, where sightseers board a boat and take a 30-minute ride through the lagoon’s mangrove jungle to the coral reef. Upon arrival, tourists get on the Sub See Explorer and a bilingual tour guide points out marine life and underwater plant life. At the end of the tour, tourists return to the Aquaworld. Ticket prices vary for adults, children and groups and depend on whether sightseers combine packages or not. Aquaworld Coastal Avenue Km 3.5 Cozumel, Mexico 011-52-998-848-83-27 aquaworld.com.mx
Read more: http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/Mexico/Estado_de_Quintana_Roo/Cancun-959663/Shopping-Cancun-Markets-BR-1.html#ixzz1jJlZ3b1U
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