Monday, our last full day in our Tulum hotel, we headed out to lunch, but the restaurant we wanted to try was not were Google maps said it should be, so we went to a very local taco “restaurant”, the chef Simon was very happy we were there and introduced himself, showed us all the taco options and the meat on the grill. We ordered chicken tacos, they were good. Simon then brought us a shot of local booze, not sure exactly what it was, it was a bit rough!
We filled the car with fuel for the drive back to Cancun tomorrow, at the fuel station the attendants cleaned all the windows, they were getting very dusty. They also wanted to check the oil and water, Rog had to kindly decline – ‘it’s a hire car!’
We had dinner at the hotel sitting by the pool.
Tuesday, we check out of the hotel, and drove the hire car back to Cancun airport. We returned the car which confused the hell out of the car hire staff because it was not the car on their paper work!
At the car hire depot, a couple had returned to try and hire a GPS system, which they couldn’t do, so Rog helped them out and told them how to download “offline” google maps to use.
We then got a transfer back to the airport to catch a bus to Playa del Carmen. It was obviously a quiet day for the taxi firms as they offered US$60 to Playa del Carmen which is at least an hour!
However we stuck with the plan and got the bus for 250 pesos each (£11). We arrived too early to check in at the hotel where we were to join our Central American Tour, however we did drop our bags off, and went for a walk into Playa del Carmen. It’s very touristy with souvenir shops and bars everywhere!
We met our fellow travellers at 6pm then all went out for dinner with our guide.
Wednesday, was a ‘free’ day on the tour, so we got up early for a walk around Playa, very different at 8am most of the shops, restaurants and bars were not open. We did do some shopping at the local Walmart, replacing sun cream, bug spray etc.
We walked to the local ruins, they were not very impressive, and were just in the middle of a housing estate. Previous visitors to the sites had built cairns of stones all over the ruins, we did wonder what the Mayans would have made of this !! As we were walking away from the site, through the estate, our eyes were drawn to a group of trees with loads of different birds, about 6 different species, some of which we recognised, others which were new to us, lovely to see.
In the evening we headed to a local eatery famous for Cochinita Pilbil, a local slow roast pork dish served in tacos, yummy with a beer and margarita next door afterwards to wash it down.
On returning to the hotel we were greeted by a raccoon on the stairs!?
Thursday, we headed south to Chetumal, near the Belize border. On route we stopped at Bacalar for lunch and a boat trip on the lagoon. A very shallow lagoon, we swam/stood in the lagoon. There were also stromatolites, our second stromatolites in 3 months, these stromatolites were more impressive than the Australian ones.
In Chetumal, went out for dinner at a local restaurant, our last Mexican dinner, struggled slightly to understand the menu, but managed eventually to communicate with the waiter, and the food was good.
Friday, we met up with another Intrepid group to cross the border together, so a short bus transfer in Chetumal, with time to fill in the paperwork, then another bus to the border.
A quick Mexican security check;
Everyone off the bus to go through Mexico exit, a passport stamp and pay the US$45 exit tax;
Back on the bus and drive across no man’s land to the Belize entry;
Everyone off the bus, with all the luggage this time, and queue up to enter Belize;
Another passport stamp;
Back on the bus, and into Belize.
It all takes time to get a bus load of us through, but thankfully apart from us the border was quiet.
Another 3 hours on the bus to Belize city. We missed our intended ferry to Caye Caulker, so we had time for lunch before the next one! We found a local Chinese/ local restaurant who were mostly serving take food. However we were asked if we wanted to eat in, which meant moving the plastic screen and table blocking the doorway and entering into a darkened room with a couple of tables, a couple of our tour group were already there too! The chicken chow mein was good, it was recommended by a local as we queued outside!
A one hour water taxi ride took us to Caye Caulker, a small island an hour from Belize city, white sands palm trees, no cars a beautiful place.
Saturday, we had a day trip snorkelling on the ‘Miss Moneypenny’ catamaran, 3 snorkelling stops on the reef, some amazing marine life, fish rays, sharks and coral.
Lunch and a few cocktails! A great day!
Sunday, another free day with no organised plans. We were awake early so went for a walk before the heat for the day, walked most of the island. Breakfast was a local delicacy, a fry jack, fried bread stuffed with your choice of filling, we had bacon egg and cheese. We had been warned of the size and decided to share!
Spent the afternoon at ‘Sip & Dip’ a bar on the quay with tables in the water! A nice way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon!
Had dinner at the Happy Lobster, but no lobster, it’s out of season.
Travurple 