Azulik and Tulum Trip Report

[Anthony]

I just finished my trip report of Azulik and the Tulum area:

http://www.mountain-software.com/mexico2006.htm

If you have any questions or comments, I'd be happy to respond.

Take care,

Anthony

[dcap]

Great report and trip Photo's. Sounds like you two had a wonderful time. Wont be long you will planning another trip. The place is very addicting.

[Gale in KY]

Great report Anthony..and what an enjoyable video you put together! I am sorry your trip got off to such a rocky start, but once everything settled down, it seems you fell under the spell of Tulum as all of us have.

Driving in Mexico is always an adventure, but even more so now that there is so much construction going on along 307. Even after driving there for a few years, I was shocked with those big drops in the road between Akumal and Playa..wow, I was not prepared for those at all. Sounds like you got the hang of it though.

I have figured out the secret to being left alone by the time share sharks that swim in the airport..lol..it's to dress like you are less than wealthy. The last couple of trips, I wore clothes that spelled "poor"...and they didn't even look my way. I also learned to use the facilities on the plane prior to landing, so that I could avoid the hostesses in the rest rooms at the airport..this also gives you a good opportunity to change into cooler clothing before the warm humid air of Mexico hits you in the face when you leave the plane!

Now that you know your way around, and the ropes of all that is Mexico..I can promise you that future visits will be wonderful and so very enjoyable, the only downside is that you have to come home!

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[Anthony]

Dcap,

> Great report and trip Photo's.

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

> Sounds like you two had a wonderful time.

Yep, but it was all over too quickly. I wish I had planned a longer trip, but there were so many "firsts" for us, I was reluctant to obligate ourselves too long. Our first trip outside the US, our first trip to a place with different language and money, our first time to leave our daughter at home alone, etc.

Gale,

> what an enjoyable video you put together!

Thanks. Unfortunately, I didn't get any footage other than around Azulik and the Tulum ruins, but it still gives us a nice reminder of our visit.

> Driving in Mexico is always an adventure

Another thing I kept getting caught in were those divided highway sections through a couple of the towns along the way. I'm guessing the left side was for "through" traffic, and the right side was for "local" traffic. Somehow we always seemed to end up in the congested local side. :)

We also had the bad timing of driving through at quitting time. So there were cars and people everywhere. We couldn't believe how many people were running across the highway in the dark. It seemed very dangerous for them...

> dress like you are less than wealthy.

No problem there... We ARE less than wealthy... :)

We only had one suitcase each, and were dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.

I guess I just look like a typical white American tourist. :)

Anthony

[AdGuy]

I have figured out the secret to being left alone by the time share sharks that swim in the airport..lol..it's to dress like you are less than wealthy. The last couple of trips, I wore clothes that spelled "poor"...and they didn't even look my way.


That's the difference between Gale and the rest of us...she has to try to dress poor! It just comes naturally to me!!! :D :D :D

[Gale in KY]

No, No, No...can't wear Nikes, name brand jeans or logo shirts..that's a dead giveway..when I went last, I wore pajama pants and a plain white tee shirt..oh yea, a pair of generic keds..well, they looked like Keds..haha. Had a plain ole sweatshirt to complete the ensemble..you would have thought I was coming from the homeless shelter..LOL!

[firecop680]

Outstanding trip report!!! We are going in March to Azulik.. I am so excited. Is the little supermarket a long walk from the azulik? Will need to get some cervezas.:D Thanks for the info..

[Anthony]

Firecop,

> Outstanding trip report!

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

> Is the little supermarket a long walk from the azulik?

The San Francisco market is on the NW corner of the intersection of 307 and the road that runs to the beach hotel zone. It's the first (maybe only?) traffic light you come to when you come into Tulum. There is a blue sign out at the road, but for some reason, we almost missed it.

As for walking, I'd say it's about 2 miles from Azulik. I saw people making the walk, but I'm too out of shape to hike that kind of distance. :) We just picked things up along the way as we were heading back from the day's outings. There are dozens of taxi's running around the area if you don't have a rental car.

The San Francisco is not a big market, but they sell just about everything, including bakery goods, produce, meats, wines, beers, and liquors, as well as odd things like TV's, toasters, and stereo equipment. Oddly enough, I don't recall ever seeing a candy bar at San Francisco or any other market for that matter?

The San Francisco is in a tiny little strip mall, which also includes a bank with an ATM machine (we withdrew $1000 pesos there), and the El Point internet/phone center (we typically spent about $2 to email home each night). I don't know that it's the cheapest market to shop at, but it was conveniently located.

I saw a small quick mart on the other side of the Coba road, as well as a very small market just up the road from Azulik (across the street from Zahra restaurant). We didn't stop at any of these, so I don't know what they carry or what kind of prices they had.

Enjoy your trip...

Anthony

[Gale in KY]

There is also a Stop and Go on the opposite side of Coba Rd from San F. Grocery..the prices there are not too bad on cervesa and heilo!

[AdGuy]

Anthony,

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Your report was well written and very articulate...your photos we're amazing (loved that sunrise shot). I'm glad you and your wife pushed the bounderies and explored outside of the states. The first time in a foreign land can be challenging but you weathered the experience well. Thanks again for sharing!

[Anthony]

Gale,

> There is also a Stop and Go on the opposite side of
> Coba Rd from San F. Grocery.

That's the one I was thinking of... Thanks for the clarification.

Lee,

> Your report was well written and very articulate.

Thanks. I have a tendency to write a book when a sentence or two will do. Believe it or not, that report is my "condensed" version. :)

> your photos we're amazing

Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures of our visit to Hidden Worlds. We took a disposable underwater camera but none of the pictures turned out. I guess I shouldn't have expected much from an $8 camera, underwater, in a dark cave. But it sure would have been nice to have those pictures to remember.

I didn't take our digital camera or camcorder to Xel-Ha either for fear of them getting damaged. We had a couple of waterproof fanny packs to carry them in, but mine sprung a leak the day we went to Hidden Worlds. Thankfully I had the contents double-bagged inside, and had chosen to leave the camera behind.

Because of our flakey snorkel gear, we never saw any fish anyway, so I didn't feel like we had missed any of those pictures.

> I'm glad you and your wife pushed the bounderies
> and explored outside of the states.

It was definitely a learning experience. We've been to Canada before, but that's just a 4 hour drive from here, so somehow that doesn't count. :)

That first day in Mexico we're like "WHAT were we thinking coming here...". I thought I had made the worst mistake of my life. But on the second day I realized it was just a new and stressful experience, and nothing bad had really happened. Just our fears and emotions getting the best of us.

> you weathered the experience well.

It went well enough that I'm already looking for new vacation destinations... :)

Anthony

[AdGuy]

It went well enough that I'm already looking for new vacation destinations... :) Anthony

I'll probably get thrown off the board for saying this but Costa Rica is a great spot. You can be at the base of an active volcano one day, an incredible beach the next, a coffee plantation the third day, and in a cloud forest the fourth. Of course, Florida is great too...gotta keep the tourists coming down here so I won't have to pay state income tax!! :p

[Anthony]

Lee,

> Costa Rica is a great spot.

It is definitely on my wish list, but after our uncomfortably long traveling day's going to Tulum, I'm kind of researching places we can get to with a single non-stop flight. I would like a little less stress on the next trip, to get up at a reasonable hour (2:30am is NOT reasonable. :) ) and get there in the afternoon before it gets dark.

From PDX that basically limits us to the states, Los Cabos or Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, or maybe Hawaii again. We probably won't be going anywhere for a while, so it gives me plenty of time to do my research.

We prefer to be away from it all, and have no interest in the "party night life". So, I need to see if I can find any cute little private and secluded 1 or 2 bedroom cabanas in the areas above. I've found a couple of "maybe's", but nothing that really jumps out as perfect yet...

Planning is part of the fun though... :)

Anthony

[dcap]

I am also intested in Costa Rica and Belize let me know what you find out.

[AdGuy]

I am also intested in Costa Rica and Belize let me know what you find out.

dcap,

I've been to 'em both...and loved them. PM me and I can provide additional details.

[minniemex]

Great report Anthony - I guess I better get busy & write mine - Glad you were finally able to regroup & enjoy your time away!!