All sounds good were going for xmas.

Hi Bananatyke

I'd be grateful if you'd copy your review HERE when you have time.

Many thanks

Pippy

We are going for a week from 8th October - anyone else?

I'm thinking of pre-booking a dolphin encounter (my wife is nervous of deep sea swimming hence the swimming pool booking) - anyone recommend one of the dolphin discovery centres? - and hiring a jeep to go to Tulum and perhaps a cenote or two - again, any suggestions re which hire company to use?

Any further suggestions??

Cheers.

Hi there fabs35,
We did the Dolphin Discovery trip through Thomsons for £215 per couple. We initially thought about doing something at Xel-Ha but that was about $115 each AFTER you had paid to get $59 to get in and $80 in taxi fares to get there.
As such we decided the best option for us was the the Thomson one.

For the £215 we got transferred up to Cancun via bus
a 45 min boat ride from Cancun to Isla Mujeres (breakfast and drinks included) Isla Mujeres is a little island just north of Cancun
9am til 3pm in the Dolphin Discovery park where you can snorkel with bull sharks (a bit of a let down as it was behind a plastic screen), 10 min cycle ride to the turtle sanctuary ($2 donation required per person) and back and of course the Dophin encounter. This consisted of a play with the dolphins, a dance , and a kiss. Then you have the dorsal pull where you lay in the water with arms outstetched to catch a ride back to shore with 2 Dolphins. Then the brillant foot push where you go out into the water and lay face down again.....The 2 dolphins each push a foot and propel you back to the shore like superman as you rise out of the water. Amazing experience.

You then go watch the DVD of your 1/2 hr with the dolphins and are given a form should you wish to purchase the DVD for $50. Photo's are available for about $15 each but you can buy the DVD and 6 Photo's for $110 as a package

Whilst in the park all your food and drink is included and there is a pool to relax in.

The Dolphins are in the sea which is fenced off. It's not that deep but deep enough to give the dolphins a nice environment to live.

At 3pm the boat takes you to the town centre of Isla Mujeres for some souvenir shopping then at 4.30pm back to Cancun for the bus back to the hotel

All the time onboard the drinks are free and the staff are very good at looking after you and are very friendly

We were back in the hotel about 6.30pm with a free T-shirt.

I believe the price is cheaper if you don't pay by credit card as we did.

Any questions just yell.

regards
bananatyke

Hi Bananatyke

Thank you for your quick reply!

It sounds as though you had a wonderful day at the discovery centre!

Ideally I would have wanted to try the royal swim which includes the experiences you mention, however my wife would only be comfortable in chest high water. She is a good swimmer but has very little confidence and would could be more concerned about floating which would distract her from the dolphin experience. Consequently I am thinking of booking the encounter and then perhaps paying extra for me to swim with sharks/manatees?

As a side issue, can you recommend any other activities? I'm thinking of hiring a jeep (around US$60 for a day) of driving down to Tulum and to get to some cenotes.

Any/all tips would be recommended.

Thanks

Fabs.

You'll find a dolphin swim topic HERE, check that as you may find further suggestions.

Pippy

Hi Pippy, I've copied my Dolphin review to the proper forum.

Hi Fabs35,
The Tequila is about 1 hr south of Cancun so it's in a decent location for trips.
We did the speedboat jungle tour which once again included the 1 hr transfer up to Cancun. On this tour we got to drive a two seater mini speedboat in groups of 5 following the guide in his speedboat. He takes you through the mangroves and into the sea. Here you can either snorkel the reef (Life Jacket & equipment provided) or stay moored in your speedboat whilst the others spend an hour snorkelling. Then it's back to the marina .
The speedboat part was worth the money alone as you get to drive them for about 20 mins each way.

We also used one of the taxis parked outside the Tequila to travel down the 35 min ride to Xel-Ha one day. We set off early and got there 10 minutes after opening. Using the taxi instead of the Thomson trip saved us about $40 between the four of us and we got there a lot earlier than the organised bus tours. This meant we had the park practically to ourselves for the first hour or so.
Although it's not really worth the $59 each entrance fee it is an enjoyable day out. We were ready for home at 3 when most of the bus tour were still trying to fit the attractions in. The $59 included drinks and food as well as the locker and equpiment hire. No need to take a towel as that was provided as well. Although if your wife isn't a swimmer she may not enjoy any of the attractions. Xel-Ha has it's own web site.

We didn't visit Tulum or hire any vehicles so I can't help you there I'm afraid.

P.S
During the Royal Swim you always have a life jacket on and 70% of your time is stood in waist high water watching the others in your group (max eight people) have their dorsal pull and foot push. The kiss and dance take part whilst you are stood in the waist high water. Although I am a strong swimmer I don't think a weak swimmer would have any problems.

Thanks
Ian

Hi Ian

You are proving to be a brilliant source of info!

I have also been looking at the speedboat/mangrove tour and once again want to find out how comfortable it would be for someone not very confident in water.

I've been trying to decide whether to book this tour for some snorkelling or half a day in Xel-ha (combined with Tulum) - my wife loves seeing all the fish and feeding them but doesn't want to be in the deep blue sea!

Cheers

Fabs.

Hi again fabs35
Personally I wouldn't do the mangrove tour just for the snorkelling. It is only about 100 mtrs or so out to sea but you do swim quite far from the boats and it isn't simple to get back to them once you're half way round the bouy marked area. The fish were ok but nothing special.....we did see a barracuda though.
xel-ha is expensive for what you get but the fish are a lot closer to shore and more impressive. There are lots swimming close to the floating bridge which would provide some assurance to a weak swimmer despite being deep.
We thought half a day in Xel-Ha wouldn't be long enough but a full day is a bit too long. Hence the reason we made our own early way there by taxi.

Both days out have life vests available so you should feel safe.

Overall
The jungle speedboat tour is worth it just for the speedboat ride (in my opinion). the snorkeling was a bit hit and miss
Xel-Ha was a good day out where we enjoyed a quiet lazy river in the morning (got busier as the tour buses came in) and then snorkeled with the big fish in the afternoon.Shame it wasn't $20 per person cheaper.

regards
Ian
bananatyke

Thanks Ian

I think I've done enough research and now plan to take it as it comes and ENJOY!!

Cheers

Fabs.

hi again fabs35,
If you're stopping at the stopping at the RIU Tequila then you'll have no worries.

Have a good time........

P.S
the flight home was between 1.5 and 2 hrs shorter.....woo hoo

Just got back from this brilliant resort, the hotel is fantastic, well worth the long haul.

HI,
Glad you had a great time. We're off to the Tequila in 63 days. It came recommended to us by my sister and hubby who've stayed there before and are also coming with us and another couple.

Have you posted a review yet? I look forward to reading it.
Cheers

Would love to put a review of the tequila but the hotel is not listed and I dont know how to start a new review

hi Westmoormag! The Tequila is listed under Club hotel Riu Tequila.

Reviews HERE

Pippy

going to the riu tequila in playa car on 1st august.

anyone got any experience of this hotel to share?

Eifion.

you will not be dissapointed, we loved it, the hotel review is listed under club hotel riu tequila. Go into Playa Del Carmen for the odd night out, take a taxi and go down 5th avenue, loads of bars and restuarants, it will give you a break from the hotel!, we went down every other night, $5 in taxi. Also I would recommend the trip to Cancun with Thomsons, its $85 but they take you to the best show in Mexico called Coco Bongo`s, I will let you find out what happens there, its awesome. The trip also involves three other destinations and all your drink is included, look out for the gators in Pat o`Brians, its on the edge of a big lagoon!!!!

hi westmoormag,

thanks for that will put that to the other two couples joining us,

cant wait though.

Eifion.