TheWindyCity
25th May 2007, 08:08 AM
Azulik - Tulum Trip Report - Part 3
Friday, May 4th, was the day we set aside to visit Sian Kaan. Last year, the tour was offered through the hotel for $129 USD p/p. I booked the tour through CESiak directly for $68 USD p/p. We headed out early to Zamas for a beach side breakfast.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0911.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0913.jpg
I had ordered the poblano omelet and a side of bacon,
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0917.jpg
and Alice had the the chaya and eggs.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0918.jpg
I was looking forward to Zamas' coffee, which I had enjoyed last year immensely.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0916.jpg
This time, it was awful.....oh, the pain! God awful! I gave them the benefit of the doubt and ordered a second cup....just as bad. It tasted like a cheap instant! The service was just as bad as the coffee, which was totally different from the service we received last year. It looked more like an under staffed situation more than anything else. We told the waiter we were headed for a tour, so we requested the check after the food came. 40 minutes late we were still check-less. I had asked the waiter 3 times for "la cuenta" and he seemed to have too many tables to take care of. I think he finally sensed my urgency to catch our tour ride, and brought the tab.
We rushed back to Azulik for our pick up to Sian Kaan. The van arrived a little late, which worked out perfectly. Ben, our tour guide, was very friendly as well as very informative. On the road to Sian Kaan, we met some very nice people form all over the world who we picked up for the tour. I think the furthest was a couple from France. Once at Sian Kaan, you arrive at the main office, where you are given a half an hour to get yourself together with sunscreen and a bathroom break before you set out for the boat tour. The main office has a observation point on the third level, and allows you a panoramic view of Sian Kaan.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0923.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0924.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0926.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0925.jpg
The boat takes you out to the saltwater Laguna Muyil, then through a brackish water river full of mangroves
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0933.jpg
and giant termite nests,
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0935.jpg
and into the freshwater Laguna Chunyaxche. We observed unusual birds and foliage. On the return trip, we visited a small Mayan temple offered up to the alligator.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0959.jpg
We got to go inside of it, which was cool to walk around the chambers that were visited 1400 years ago by the original inhabitants.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0961.jpg
Ben explained that the doorways were small to force you to bow in reverence, not because Mayans were short in stature. Once inside, you say a prayer in one room, and go to the second room to leave an offering. Ben tried hard to get me to offer up my camera to the alligator god. Take my wife...please!
After the brief stop at the temple, we were given life jackets and shown how to position your body on top of them to float down the river, which we did for a half an hour... very peaceful, quiet, and relaxing. I hated having to leave my camera in the boat. We floated until we met our boats. After that, we had a snack of fruit, and watermelon water. Very refreshing! We continued on through the underlings of the Boca Paila Bridge, where you see the old wooden bridge still in place for fishing, and a new modern concrete bridge right along side of it for vehicle traffic.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0986.jpg
We boated into the Caribbean outlet,
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0984.jpg
then back thru Laguna Muyil, and we returned to the dock, a total of about 4 hours. Back at the main building, they had a nice luncheon of a Mexican style chicken, rice , beans, tortillas and a great Habanero salsa. They also served a cool cantaloupe water. We said our goodbyes to some who had driven in, and got back to the van for our return trip. We were back at the hotel by 4:00 PM.
We quickly grabbed our beach blanket and headed to Copal's beach for some late sun. Juan Carlos noticed us and brought us our bucket of six Montejos! Ahhhhh, la vida dulce! After a while, we decided to head back to the cabana for a siesta on the inside swinging bed, being lulled to sleep by the birds out back in the forest.
Not knowing the fate of the Mayan Grill yet, we decided to try again. Still closed. We headed over to La Vita e Bella.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP1003.jpg
We ordered our favorite drink, the Caipirinha. These have to be the second best in all of Tulum. The best will come later! They have the perfect ratio of Cachaca, limes, and sugar. For dinner, we ordered their Sopa de Azteca, which was absolutely excellent.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0996.jpg
Alice ordered the Crazy Fish, which was cooked to perfection and very flavorful.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0999.jpg
I had the Ensalada de Mariscos, which was all very fresh, and the marinade was delicious.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP1000.jpg
After dinner, we headed back to our cabana, and enjoyed a moonlit soak, watching the Caribbean. We spent the night outside on the deck bed,once again being lulled to sleep by the waves.....
Friday, May 4th, was the day we set aside to visit Sian Kaan. Last year, the tour was offered through the hotel for $129 USD p/p. I booked the tour through CESiak directly for $68 USD p/p. We headed out early to Zamas for a beach side breakfast.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0911.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0913.jpg
I had ordered the poblano omelet and a side of bacon,
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0917.jpg
and Alice had the the chaya and eggs.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0918.jpg
I was looking forward to Zamas' coffee, which I had enjoyed last year immensely.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0916.jpg
This time, it was awful.....oh, the pain! God awful! I gave them the benefit of the doubt and ordered a second cup....just as bad. It tasted like a cheap instant! The service was just as bad as the coffee, which was totally different from the service we received last year. It looked more like an under staffed situation more than anything else. We told the waiter we were headed for a tour, so we requested the check after the food came. 40 minutes late we were still check-less. I had asked the waiter 3 times for "la cuenta" and he seemed to have too many tables to take care of. I think he finally sensed my urgency to catch our tour ride, and brought the tab.
We rushed back to Azulik for our pick up to Sian Kaan. The van arrived a little late, which worked out perfectly. Ben, our tour guide, was very friendly as well as very informative. On the road to Sian Kaan, we met some very nice people form all over the world who we picked up for the tour. I think the furthest was a couple from France. Once at Sian Kaan, you arrive at the main office, where you are given a half an hour to get yourself together with sunscreen and a bathroom break before you set out for the boat tour. The main office has a observation point on the third level, and allows you a panoramic view of Sian Kaan.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0923.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0924.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0926.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0925.jpg
The boat takes you out to the saltwater Laguna Muyil, then through a brackish water river full of mangroves
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0933.jpg
and giant termite nests,
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0935.jpg
and into the freshwater Laguna Chunyaxche. We observed unusual birds and foliage. On the return trip, we visited a small Mayan temple offered up to the alligator.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0959.jpg
We got to go inside of it, which was cool to walk around the chambers that were visited 1400 years ago by the original inhabitants.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0961.jpg
Ben explained that the doorways were small to force you to bow in reverence, not because Mayans were short in stature. Once inside, you say a prayer in one room, and go to the second room to leave an offering. Ben tried hard to get me to offer up my camera to the alligator god. Take my wife...please!
After the brief stop at the temple, we were given life jackets and shown how to position your body on top of them to float down the river, which we did for a half an hour... very peaceful, quiet, and relaxing. I hated having to leave my camera in the boat. We floated until we met our boats. After that, we had a snack of fruit, and watermelon water. Very refreshing! We continued on through the underlings of the Boca Paila Bridge, where you see the old wooden bridge still in place for fishing, and a new modern concrete bridge right along side of it for vehicle traffic.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0986.jpg
We boated into the Caribbean outlet,
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0984.jpg
then back thru Laguna Muyil, and we returned to the dock, a total of about 4 hours. Back at the main building, they had a nice luncheon of a Mexican style chicken, rice , beans, tortillas and a great Habanero salsa. They also served a cool cantaloupe water. We said our goodbyes to some who had driven in, and got back to the van for our return trip. We were back at the hotel by 4:00 PM.
We quickly grabbed our beach blanket and headed to Copal's beach for some late sun. Juan Carlos noticed us and brought us our bucket of six Montejos! Ahhhhh, la vida dulce! After a while, we decided to head back to the cabana for a siesta on the inside swinging bed, being lulled to sleep by the birds out back in the forest.
Not knowing the fate of the Mayan Grill yet, we decided to try again. Still closed. We headed over to La Vita e Bella.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP1003.jpg
We ordered our favorite drink, the Caipirinha. These have to be the second best in all of Tulum. The best will come later! They have the perfect ratio of Cachaca, limes, and sugar. For dinner, we ordered their Sopa de Azteca, which was absolutely excellent.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0996.jpg
Alice ordered the Crazy Fish, which was cooked to perfection and very flavorful.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP0999.jpg
I had the Ensalada de Mariscos, which was all very fresh, and the marinade was delicious.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/IMGP1000.jpg
After dinner, we headed back to our cabana, and enjoyed a moonlit soak, watching the Caribbean. We spent the night outside on the deck bed,once again being lulled to sleep by the waves.....