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| Carnival Cruise Line m/v Holiday Mobile - At Sea - Cozumel - Calica - At Sea - Mobile November 2008 Dan & Christina Schiro and Jeff & Kat Schiro |
2nd Port of Call: Calica, Mexico. Calica is not a town, but a small industrial port and rock quarry where Carnival Cruise Lines built a dock. It's south of
Playa del Carman/Cancun. From the port, you have to take a taxi or tour bus to excursions and attractions. I had done a little bit of research before and
the "cenotes" looked particularly interesting. Carnival offered an excursion, but again we thought our best bet to do exactly what we wanted to do was
hire a taxi. It was a bit different as here you paid a set price to an attendant, given a receipt, which you then gave to the taxi driver. We had a bit of a
communications problem at first with the taxi driver. I told them we wanted to go to the "C-notes". He looked at me then a taxi driver and then back to me.
Then he asked "c-NOTE-tayz"? Yes, that was it! "Which one?" He asked. I didn't know there was more than one! The taxi driver ran to his car and
brought back a brochure from Hidden Worlds Cenotes Park. A quick look at the brochure and we said "ok", then off we went. The taxi cab ride was fairly
uneventful. Our driver was not much of a talker, and we only had a little bit of traffic.
First of all, it's probably helpful to tell you what Cenotes are if you don't know: Cenotes are a vast network of system of underground caverns, lakes, and
waterways discovered just in the 1980's. The area of the centoes lies within special Mayan land reserves.
We arrived at Hidden Worlds early so we had to wait about 1/2 hour. We chose the basic two cenotes package (they also offered SkyCyles, Zip-Lines,
and Jungle Tours). We brought our own snorkels and masks but got fitted for wet suits The four of us were put together with another couple about our
age. After a 1/2 hr ride in a Jungle Buggy - basically an open-air stripped down shortbus. A very bumpy ride! We were dropped off in the middle of the
jungle it seemed with a fire going to keep the bugs away. We were led by a guide to a small hole in the ground with a ladder straight down into this
cavern, except it was fillled with crystal clear (and cold) water ranging from 3 feet to 150 feet. To see inside the centotes, there was an extensive lighting
system. It helped make the adventure less scary in places where you would be snorking in a shallow are then drop off into a dark canyon. At first it barely
covered our feet, but then you lowered yourself into a deeper area. I t was exactly like a cave with "rooms" and "hallways" with stalagtites as well as tree
roots coming from the "ceiling". But this cave system only as stalagmites. Visit the Hidden Worlds websites for more pics (we didn't get any good ones
with our cheap underwater camera...) www.hiddenworlds.com
We later found out that the first cenotes was our "warm-up". After we got done exploring the first, we climbed out, got on the Jungle Buggy, drove for
about 15 minutes and got dropped off. This time we had a guide. We were advised that we were to stay in a line, staying very close to each other in
order to not get lost. The "hallways" were very narrow and sometime your could barely get through and under/over the stalagtites/stalagmites.
On the Jungle Buggy back to the office, the other couple told us about the little resort town called Akumal they were staying at. They said the area had
several nice beaches, restaurants, and small stores. We asked our taxi driver if we could make a small detour. He agreed. When we arrived, we were
quite hungry. We ate a small outdoor restaurant. It had very good food. Afterward we wanted to go to the adjacent beach, but our driver said there was a
better one just down the road inside this resort area. It was called Yalku Lagoon. We drove along the beach through very nice beach homes (see map to
the right). There was small entrance fee. We found out that the cenotes system ended here. It took us a while of snorkeling in this large lagoon to find all
the beautiful sea life, but we were finally rewarded with large schools of big blue fish, as well as large rock formations.
Playa del Carman/Cancun. From the port, you have to take a taxi or tour bus to excursions and attractions. I had done a little bit of research before and
the "cenotes" looked particularly interesting. Carnival offered an excursion, but again we thought our best bet to do exactly what we wanted to do was
hire a taxi. It was a bit different as here you paid a set price to an attendant, given a receipt, which you then gave to the taxi driver. We had a bit of a
communications problem at first with the taxi driver. I told them we wanted to go to the "C-notes". He looked at me then a taxi driver and then back to me.
Then he asked "c-NOTE-tayz"? Yes, that was it! "Which one?" He asked. I didn't know there was more than one! The taxi driver ran to his car and
brought back a brochure from Hidden Worlds Cenotes Park. A quick look at the brochure and we said "ok", then off we went. The taxi cab ride was fairly
uneventful. Our driver was not much of a talker, and we only had a little bit of traffic.
First of all, it's probably helpful to tell you what Cenotes are if you don't know: Cenotes are a vast network of system of underground caverns, lakes, and
waterways discovered just in the 1980's. The area of the centoes lies within special Mayan land reserves.
We arrived at Hidden Worlds early so we had to wait about 1/2 hour. We chose the basic two cenotes package (they also offered SkyCyles, Zip-Lines,
and Jungle Tours). We brought our own snorkels and masks but got fitted for wet suits The four of us were put together with another couple about our
age. After a 1/2 hr ride in a Jungle Buggy - basically an open-air stripped down shortbus. A very bumpy ride! We were dropped off in the middle of the
jungle it seemed with a fire going to keep the bugs away. We were led by a guide to a small hole in the ground with a ladder straight down into this
cavern, except it was fillled with crystal clear (and cold) water ranging from 3 feet to 150 feet. To see inside the centotes, there was an extensive lighting
system. It helped make the adventure less scary in places where you would be snorking in a shallow are then drop off into a dark canyon. At first it barely
covered our feet, but then you lowered yourself into a deeper area. I t was exactly like a cave with "rooms" and "hallways" with stalagtites as well as tree
roots coming from the "ceiling". But this cave system only as stalagmites. Visit the Hidden Worlds websites for more pics (we didn't get any good ones
with our cheap underwater camera...) www.hiddenworlds.com
We later found out that the first cenotes was our "warm-up". After we got done exploring the first, we climbed out, got on the Jungle Buggy, drove for
about 15 minutes and got dropped off. This time we had a guide. We were advised that we were to stay in a line, staying very close to each other in
order to not get lost. The "hallways" were very narrow and sometime your could barely get through and under/over the stalagtites/stalagmites.
On the Jungle Buggy back to the office, the other couple told us about the little resort town called Akumal they were staying at. They said the area had
several nice beaches, restaurants, and small stores. We asked our taxi driver if we could make a small detour. He agreed. When we arrived, we were
quite hungry. We ate a small outdoor restaurant. It had very good food. Afterward we wanted to go to the adjacent beach, but our driver said there was a
better one just down the road inside this resort area. It was called Yalku Lagoon. We drove along the beach through very nice beach homes (see map to
the right). There was small entrance fee. We found out that the cenotes system ended here. It took us a while of snorkeling in this large lagoon to find all
the beautiful sea life, but we were finally rewarded with large schools of big blue fish, as well as large rock formations.
To the Left: Cenotes
To the right: A view of Yalku
Lagoon as we took some stair
down to get into the water.
To the right: A view of Yalku
Lagoon as we took some stair
down to get into the water.
1st Port of Call: Cozumel. On our last cruise, we had good luck renting a
taxi, rather than going on a cruise excursion. With a taxi, we could go
where we wanted, when we wanted, and stay as long as we wanted. No
long lines, no hoards of people with you.
We we got of the boat into the main tourist section of Cozumel, we had
absolutely no idea of where we wanted to go or do. Jeff and Kat wanted
to do some shopping first, so Dan and I wandered around for a while.
When Jeff and Kat we were ready, we headed over to the long line of
taxi driver. Before we got there, a guy came up to us with a map of the
island and attractions and how he could hook us up with a taxi driver.
We said we would think about it first. We conferred off to the side and
decided to go for it. We looked at the map again and were told that we
could go on a 2 hour tour of the island and stop at several of the
beaches. On the map was some ruins in the middle of the map. Could
we go there? Sure, but is would be an extra hour and of course extra
money. But it turned out to be only $25 per person for the taxi. Our first
stop was the San Gervasio Ruins. When we arrived, we were basically
the first tourists to arrive, which was very nice because we had the
whole place to ourselves. As we were heading out, we saw the huge
group of guided tours being led around. We found out from the signs
throughout the ruins that Mayans populated Cozumel Island from 300 A.
D. to 1500 A.D. Smaller archeological sites reminiscent of Mayan
culture are scattered throughout the Island. The most significant site is
San Gervasio. It is believed that San Gervasio served as a sacred city.
Legend has it that this was once a sanctuary where women journeyed
to worship Ixchel, the goddess of love and fertility. Ceremonial temples
were built in her honor and as a sign of her gratitude; Ixchel presented
her devotee followers with her favorite bird. This is why the Mayans
named the Island Cuzamil-Pectin, which means Land of the Swallows.
San Gervasio is Cozumel Island’s largest archaeological site - 10 acres
taxi, rather than going on a cruise excursion. With a taxi, we could go
where we wanted, when we wanted, and stay as long as we wanted. No
long lines, no hoards of people with you.
We we got of the boat into the main tourist section of Cozumel, we had
absolutely no idea of where we wanted to go or do. Jeff and Kat wanted
to do some shopping first, so Dan and I wandered around for a while.
When Jeff and Kat we were ready, we headed over to the long line of
taxi driver. Before we got there, a guy came up to us with a map of the
island and attractions and how he could hook us up with a taxi driver.
We said we would think about it first. We conferred off to the side and
decided to go for it. We looked at the map again and were told that we
could go on a 2 hour tour of the island and stop at several of the
beaches. On the map was some ruins in the middle of the map. Could
we go there? Sure, but is would be an extra hour and of course extra
money. But it turned out to be only $25 per person for the taxi. Our first
stop was the San Gervasio Ruins. When we arrived, we were basically
the first tourists to arrive, which was very nice because we had the
whole place to ourselves. As we were heading out, we saw the huge
group of guided tours being led around. We found out from the signs
throughout the ruins that Mayans populated Cozumel Island from 300 A.
D. to 1500 A.D. Smaller archeological sites reminiscent of Mayan
culture are scattered throughout the Island. The most significant site is
San Gervasio. It is believed that San Gervasio served as a sacred city.
Legend has it that this was once a sanctuary where women journeyed
to worship Ixchel, the goddess of love and fertility. Ceremonial temples
were built in her honor and as a sign of her gratitude; Ixchel presented
her devotee followers with her favorite bird. This is why the Mayans
named the Island Cuzamil-Pectin, which means Land of the Swallows.
San Gervasio is Cozumel Island’s largest archaeological site - 10 acres
m/v Holiday docked in Cozumel. Christina posing in the Senior Frogs car
(we didn't actually go in Senor Frogs this trip). It was very windy, cool, and
sprinkled for a couple of hours.
(we didn't actually go in Senor Frogs this trip). It was very windy, cool, and
sprinkled for a couple of hours.
San Gervasion Ruins, Cozumel
Our next stop was Playa Chen Rio. It had a small restaurant there and
a couple of beach-side store. Because of the weather when we
arrived, we didn't bring our swimsuits or snorkel gear.
a couple of beach-side store. Because of the weather when we
arrived, we didn't bring our swimsuits or snorkel gear.
Playa Chen Rio, like the other beaches on the eastern side of Cozumel were
sandy, but mostly lined with huge rock formation. And if you look into the
distance of the two photos above, there are bluffs, relatively high up from sea
level. Something I wasn't expecting to see.
sandy, but mostly lined with huge rock formation. And if you look into the
distance of the two photos above, there are bluffs, relatively high up from sea
level. Something I wasn't expecting to see.
Next up was Playa Mirador. At this beach there were several beach-side stores. The rock formation were even more
dramatic, including three "bridges". The climb on to the rock formation was actually quite perilous as the rock were
pocketed where if you weren't careful, you could fall into are at the very least, twist an ankle. I was brave enough to
climb to the top of one to pose.
dramatic, including three "bridges". The climb on to the rock formation was actually quite perilous as the rock were
pocketed where if you weren't careful, you could fall into are at the very least, twist an ankle. I was brave enough to
climb to the top of one to pose.
The third beach that we stopped at was Playa Paradise. While the previous two
beaches were smaller with only a few tourists, Playa Paradise was bustling with life.
Bars, restaurants, beach chairs, and jet ski rentals. We sat down in beach chairs and
ordered a couple of drinks before getting in the taxi to head toward the boat. (We didn't
take any pictures.) We were starving by this time and we told our driver we wanted to
eat somewhere "authentic". He dropped us off at a restaurant a few blocks away from
port. The menu was completely in spanish and pesos. It took us a while to decipher the
menu using only our remembrance of high-school spanish and knowledge of the
restaurant exchange rate (which is different that the shopping on-the-street exhange
rate). But we a good meal and good beer before walking to the ship.
beaches were smaller with only a few tourists, Playa Paradise was bustling with life.
Bars, restaurants, beach chairs, and jet ski rentals. We sat down in beach chairs and
ordered a couple of drinks before getting in the taxi to head toward the boat. (We didn't
take any pictures.) We were starving by this time and we told our driver we wanted to
eat somewhere "authentic". He dropped us off at a restaurant a few blocks away from
port. The menu was completely in spanish and pesos. It took us a while to decipher the
menu using only our remembrance of high-school spanish and knowledge of the
restaurant exchange rate (which is different that the shopping on-the-street exhange
rate). But we a good meal and good beer before walking to the ship.