San Francisco market in Tulum

[ildipoo]

29 days to go! Trying to travel light and would like to know if the market has a drug store section. Do they carry inspect repellant and stuff like calamine lotion or something similar. We usually bring a lot of stuff we don't always end up using. Hoping we could just pick it up down there if we need it. I don't feel organized and we are moving just before we leave so I'm mostly concentrating on packing for the move!


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[chamba]

great question.
I think there is insect repellant, but I can not be trusted on that. I do know that you can get MayaTan organic insect repellant, that is what I use. That and I try to eat a lot of garlic. I also use the Raid coils at night, just light it and it works generally well
I do not know about Calamine lotion, but there is cortizone.
What are you trying to catch?

[ildipoo]

Thanks! Great idea to bring the coils if I can find them this time of year. What do you mean catch? lol sorry not sure what you meant. :wave:


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[pepper]

Of course there's repellant - it's called Autan in a yellow and red can.

[minniemex]

Thanks! Great idea to bring the coils if I can find them this time of year. What do you mean catch? lol sorry not sure what you meant. :wave:

They have the coils down there, you don't have to bring them.

I also pick up the Autan ~ much better than anything you can bring.

[beatfarmer]

Speaking of pharmacies----are some of what we might need a prescription to get in the states cheaper, and "prescription free" south of the border?

[minniemex]

The only thing I can think of off hand is cortizone cream. They have a stronger version than what we can buy over the counter here in the states.

Oh..... and I guess some of the male enhancement drugs, ie, Viagra, are available without a prescription.

[Margoinmexico]

:wave:Yes, you can pick up what you need here, no need to bring it and it is good for the economy to do so....Also, if you are going to be in the cenotes, it is important to get something that isn't to terrible for the environment as well, so MayaTan is a good idea. Same with your sunscreen....

In terms of the pharmacy having things over the counter, yes that is true, but with an explaination. You can get most antibiotics and such over the counter without a prescription at any pharmacy, but for the Viagra, muscle relaxers, pain meds and psychotropics, only certain pharmacies have that kind of license. In Tulum I think the only one is Pharmacia Similares, but maybe San Francisco too.....there is several in Playa del Carmen as well.

[Grasshopper]

Yes you can find most every thing you need in Tulum either at the San Francisco or the pharmacia in town. Have used them both for lots of "forgotten items" Just dont go looking for charcoal at the San Francisco...nada they didnt have it! But you can get towels, soap, shampoo, conditioner, bandaids, coolers, food, beer, stuff from their deli, etc. Dont forget to tip the bagger's they are from the school and bag just for tips if I remember correctly. Oh and sometime there is someone in the parking lot washing windows and putting cardboard on your windows to keep the sun out...they are working for extra cash too.... just be prepared!

[chamba]

Of course there's repellant - it's called Autan in a yellow and red can.
I haven't used Autan in yeeeears. thanks for the reminder.
So Autan and Cortizone cream and the Raidolito coils should take care of you.

I just mentioned "what are you trying to catch" because calamine is for when you got something itchy... I just have never used it in Tulum before. Not to say that I shouldn't. Does calamine or cortizone cream work on Chechen rash?

[ildipoo]

OK excellent! Hubby always uses calamine when he has an itchy mosquito bite. He says its the only thing that works for him.

Hey where's my ticker!

[PhyllisB]

You can get calamine there too. We got some - looks just like the Caladryl bottle here at home, except everything is in spanish. Don't remember if we got it at the pharmacia on the main drag or at the San Fran. Both place we've had trouble communicating (we have terrible spanish) but they typically have a display case where you can just point, or after a little pantomime you can figure it out together.

[beachreader]

I've found that knowing the actual drug name rather than the brand name helps a lot, like metranidazole rather than Flagyl. There are quite a few farmacias in town these days; I never noticed until I actually needed one that there are three or four and a new one coming.

[pepper]

Does calamine or cortizone cream work on Chechen rash?

I don't think anything works for this. My youngest son had it once and nothing I put on it helped.

But...we didn't try the antidote tree; next time it happens, I'm going to find someone (shamam?) who will know exactly what to do. My son had blisters on his arm. When we took a tour of Punta Laguna (a couple of years after the incident), I had the guide show my exactly which tree to look for and took pics of them.

Here's some info if anyone wants to read more:
http://cancuntravel.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/the-mayan-legend-of-the-chechen-and-chaca-tree/

[Margoinmexico]

I've found that knowing the actual drug name rather than the brand name helps a lot, like metranidazole rather than Flagyl. There are quite a few farmacias in town these days; I never noticed until I actually needed one that there are three or four and a new one coming.

:wave:I would suggest if you are looking for a specific drug, to do some research on line before you come, look up the brand name, the drug name and find the spanish name...some of the names are similar, but not always. And then write these names down to present to the pharmacy rather than try to pronounce them....they are hard enough to pronounce in English sometimes!

Being a Registered Nurse, I have a nursing handbook here with me in English, I would love to have something that says the names of the drugs in Spanish. Some of the drugstores have a book, but not all of them, and the staff working the front are not quite trained in the same way that they are in the pharmacies in the states|! :p

[pepper]

:wave:I would suggest if you are looking for a specific drug, to do some research on line before you come, look up the brand name, the drug name and find the spanish name...some of the names are similar, but not always. And then write these names down to present to the pharmacy rather than try to pronounce them....they are hard enough to pronounce in English sometimes!

Being a Registered Nurse, I have a nursing handbook here with me in English, I would love to have something that says the names of the drugs in Spanish. Some of the drugstores have a book, but not all of them, and the staff working the front are not quite trained in the same way that they are in the pharmacies in the states|! :p

This is a very good point.
My DH needed a med after having an allergic reaction to a bite. But after it didn't work, we investigated it more to realize it's a med he already takes for hives. So he had to go back to the Dr. and get a shot of some sort. My DH speaks fluent Spanish too...and he was confused by the drug names although the same med.

[chamba]

I don't think anything works for this. My youngest son had it once and nothing I put on it helped.

But...we didn't try the antidote tree; next time it happens, I'm going to find someone (shamam?) who will know exactly what to do. My son had blisters on his arm. When we took a tour of Punta Laguna (a couple of years after the incident), I had the guide show my exactly which tree to look for and took pics of them.

Here's some info if anyone wants to read more:
http://cancuntravel.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/the-mayan-legend-of-the-chechen-and-chaca-tree/

the antidote tree is Chakaj. in florida they call it Gumbo Limbo. it is also known as the turpentine tree. red flaky bark. it really only works within the first 10 hours of getting chechen. Chechen comes in typical dark, and also the elusive white version, all of which cause a hurtin rash for two weeks. at least it is dry and does not spread, but it is annoying, and if scratched will surely scar. I also found that in extreme cases a bath of bleach water will help, and stay out of the sun. I live in the jungle and have gotten it 200+ times. this info is pretty complete, but I would love to hear what others say.

[HhowieE]

Chamba, taken as a tea, paste applied direct or both? I have heard both, your opinion, please.

[chamba]

Chamba, taken as a tea, paste applied direct or both? I have heard both, your opinion, please.
Tea would be a new one to me, but I will try.
I mash the leaves and get the juice on the affected area. I had it so bad once that I even took the flaky bark and mixed it with the mashed leaves just for good measure. once I found out they called it the turpentine tree, that it makes turpentine, then it began to make sense why it it a cure.
I am so sensitive to/understanding of Chechen that when it is humid or raining and I am walking the jungle close to a tree I can feel a tingling itch on the sensitive skin of my neck and next to my eyes telling me to move on.
once it is a rash, there is nothing better than dry, and shade.
of the 2000 times that I should have gotten it, I only really had a rash 200 times. I think my ratio is good. the first time I came down here I was told a horror story about how this tree will kill you etc..... I learned to speak Mayan when I was trying to figure out the real deal. I even put it on a few times to see what the big deal was all about. needless to say, I know Chechen very well.
The worst I ever got it was when I cut down a Sac (white) Chechen without knowing it was Chechen, and I had it real bad on most of my upper body including the face. thats where I learned the bleach water trick and I stayed inside for the week. When that ordeal was over I whittled a belt buckle out of the beautiful hardwood.
for a one or two time tourist, this is quite a scary experience. but the reality is that you can be around it a lot and nothing will happen. I just tell people to keep their own balance in the jungle instead of grabbing trees that could be sweating the resin of Chechen.

[Steve O]

From my understanding, the Che Chen tree produces a sap that you don't want to come into contact with. They are very common around the Tulum area. My friend has many growing on her property. What is good, is wherever you find a Che Chen tree, the cure is growing near by. I believe the name of the tree is the Chacha. Also known as the tourist tree because the bark turns red and peels. The bark can be directly applied on the affected area but is better if boiled in water and the solution applied. I have never had a problem but from many conversations with people living in the area, boil the bark. The Che Chen tree is also a very prized hardwood once it has dried out.

Grasshopper...I have purchased carbon from the San Francisco in Tulum. If you can't find it, there are many people that make it themselves and sell it.

[Steve O]

I just did a search on the tree and found this. I give credit to who ever wrote it.


The Chechen Tree and the Chaca Tree are often found growing near each other and are most commonly found in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. The Chechen tree is poisonous and the Chaca tree has a nectar to neutralise the poison if you happen to have touched the Chechen tree. There is a famous Mayan legend that explains the appearance of these trees and why they are found together.



The Mayan legend tells of two great warrior princes who were brothers of enormous strength and skill but of completely different nature. The younger brother, named Kinich, was kind and merciful and loved by all, while the elder brother, named Tizic, was sullen, and drew strength from the hate and anger nursed in his heart. As legend has it, they both tragically fell in love with the beautiful Nicte-Ha. The brothers declared a battle to the death to see who she would choose.



The battle was longer and more hideous than the world had ever seen. The Earth was torn and the Heavens went into hiding. Eventually both brothers died in each other’s arms. In the afterlife, they begged the gods for forgiveness, and a chance to return to the world of the living and see their beloved Nicte-Ha once more.



The gods granted their wish and Tizic was reborn as the Chechen tree, which seeps black poison from its branches and burns anyone who touches it, and Kinich was reborn as the Chacah tree, whose soothing nectar neutralises Chechen’s venom. They solemnly watch over Nicte-Ha, who having died of grief, was mercifully restored to life as a beautiful white flower.

[minniemex]

Another great story, not yours, but very much worth sharing with us. Thanks SteveO!:wave:

[chamba]

the tourist tree!!! I forgot that one.. it is red and peeling like the tourists. Jajajaja. that is phunny!

[lazydog]

Just back and someone lent us that Mayatan bug spray.....great stuff and would have loved to have found it. It smelt soooo good.

But after having a few medical/technical issues this trip I think that it's always better to just bring a little down of something if you think you will need . Searching around while you are trying enjoy your holiday is a drag. Out of the three bug sprays we brought down the "Off Skintastic" seemed to do the best job and is easily bought at home. That's what I would do anyways.:)