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View Full Version : Leaving on 11/11: Plan My Trip!



Zapatista
7th November 2009, 08:41 AM
The last six weeks have been crazy for me. For most of that time, I've been working 12 or 16 hours a day, sometimes more. Last week, I pulled two consecutive all-nighters to finish a project on deadline--I worked about 50 hours straight with only a couple of hour-long breaks in between. I can't remember what it feels like to close my eyes for more than a second without being pulled into a deep, instantaneous slumber. The Zapatistette has also been registering long hours at her job.

Needless to say, we are looking forward to our stay at Casa Amor del Sol (http://www.casaamordelsol.com) in Tankah 11/11-11/18. The place looks great and the Trip Advisor reviews are uniformly fantastic.

Given our busy recent work schedules, though, we haven't been able to plan our trip as extensively as we would like. As regular readers of this forum and past visitors to the Tulum area, we have a good idea of board favorites in many areas, but we'd still like some suggestions in the areas of food, drinks and general merriment.

Below you'll find our planned activities for the week. If you have personal favorites that you'd like to add--particularly those that aren't frequently mentioned here--we'd love to hear about them. Thanks!

Activities

We chose to stay at Casa Amor del Sol in part because it's located just a few minutes away from Casa Cenote/Cenote Manatee, one of our favorite snorkeling spots. We plan on spending quite a bit of time there and also want to check out the following:

1)Coba and surrounding cenotes: As soon as I found this video, I made it my personal mission to find Tamcah Ha Cenote: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoid=55010589 (http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=55010589). I will not be denied. We may check out Punta Laguna Monkey Reserve, too, and will definitely be on the lookout for roadside taco stands as documented by Shebug here: http://tulum.info/showthread.php?t=4313.

2)Dos Ojos : I loved this cenote when I visited in 2007. Since the Zapatistette has grown incredibly jealous of my experience there--she opted to nap on a hammock at Tita Tulum while I snorkeled through the cave system's pristine water and labyrinthine rock formations--we'll be headed back on this trip.

3)Snorkeling in Akumal/Half Moon Bay: Gotta see the turtles!

4)Punta Allen or Laguna Bacalar: While Laguna Bacalar and Cenote Azul look like they are a fabulous place to visit, I think they are a bit too far away for a day trip. So we'll probably opt for a snorkeling tour in Sian Ka'an to see what Margo has described as "Discovery Channel"-quality reef systems.

Question: Are there any off-the-beaten-path but interesting things to do that we've missed, particularly with regards to cenotes? I know there are some great cenotes in the Valladolid area, but we went there last time and don't plan a return trip on this vacation.

Food

A full "gourmet" breakfast is served daily at Casa Amor del Sol. Here are the other places we plan to hit:

1)El Tabano
2)Cetli
3)El Oasis
4)Bronco Pollo (at least twice--love that place)
5)Tacoqueto (Windy City's pictures left me drooling)
6)HC Monterrey
7)Some of the cheaper "locals" places at the south end of the pueblo. I had some great pastor tacos the last time for almost nothing.
8)The tamale stand Mindy has mentioned in her posts.

Question: Any interesting "street food" places we might want to check out? We prefer eating in the pueblo to the beach. Love the street scenes at night.

Cocktails

We will be headed to La Zebra and possibly Mezzanine for some happy hour drinking, but aren't sure about the places in town that have great margaritas, mojitos or sangria. Recommendations?

Thanks for any help you can provide! Hopefully Ida will have cleared out by the time we arrive.

tbpeaceful
7th November 2009, 10:36 AM
Sound like you already have a great start and I can only add "have a grande' time" and safe travels. :wave:

Happy days - T.

Bouldergal
7th November 2009, 11:37 AM
Don't miss the Tacos al Pastor in the red cinderblock place next to the Weary Traveler. Awesome and dirt cheap.

Libelula
7th November 2009, 03:29 PM
BG~ I wondered if that was a good place! Thanks for letting us know. I walk by it all the time.

Margoinmexico
9th November 2009, 06:02 PM
:wave:Letīs see, are you busy at 3pm on Thursday??:star:

lostgirlfound
14th November 2009, 06:22 PM
We just got back from Tulum yesterday and our one fav. that is not Mexican food was Le Bistro. Amazing savory crepes, sandwiches and quiche. They send out an outrageously good sesame, peanut, chili dip with homemade bread. The owner was so friendly and there chocolate volcano dessert was scrumptious. Another must for popsicles and great fruit smoothies from the nicest lady in Tulum was at Flor de Michoacan. Miss it already. Also went to the Punta Laguna monkey reserve and it was so fun. The kids loved tramping through the bush and the howler monkeys sighting were astounding. Our guide was so informative about plants and trees as well. It was well worth it.

minniemex
14th November 2009, 06:50 PM
Also went to the Punta Laguna monkey reserve and it was so fun. The kids loved tramping through the bush and the howler monkeys sighting were astounding. Our guide was so informative about plants and trees as well. It was well worth it.

That is a great tour isn't it?? I loved seeing all the orchids, unfortunately, no flowers. And the thistle ~ ouch!! Awaiting your trip report and pictures!!:D:wave::D