"Newby" wrote in message
news:H-WdnW1YpJ19-M_VnZ2dnUVZ_oLinZ2d@posted.widowmaker...
>A group of us plan to visit Cancun, from the USA. We intend to visit some
> of the Mayan ruins and other attractions. We would appreciate any
> information regarding food and drink (no alcohol) prices that we might
> encounter. Any information regarding areas to avoid would be appreciated.
> Any 'must see' areas would also be appreciated.
As far as pesos go, your best bet is to use your plastic to draw pesos
from ATM machines. This will give you your best exchange rate.
Cancun itself is the place I avoid in that region. It's safe enough,
but it's a plastic Disneyland version of Mexico full of tens of thousands of
tourists. I prefer to get out and see Mexico. You will get your best prices
and generally more authentic Mexican food in places that aren't heavily
impacted by tourists. Sometimes you don't have to go far to see this in
action. For example, in Playa del Carmen you can walk out of the tourist
district and find a number of nice restaurants frequented by the locals on
30 avenue in the vicintiy of the San Francisco supermarket.
Outside of the Mayan ruins one of the biggest must sees in the area is
the reefs. If you dive go out to Cozumel. If you don't dive--learn. The
reefs off of Cozumel are spectacular. If you can't dive go out to Cozumel
and see these guys: http://www.atlantisadventures.com/cozumel.cfm There are
a number of barges with windows that claim to be submarines. That's not what
you want. These guys are the real deal. For snorkelers there are a number of
places on the mainland that are better than Cozumel for seeing the
underwater life. Paamul, Xpuha, Akumal and Xelha are all good choices.
Snorkeling at night is fun because you're more likely to see octopi when
it's dark. For divers the cenotes, openings into the underground rivers in
the region, are another must see.
I would also suggest seeing a cenote. There's one at Chichin Itza.
There's a large, rather over-developed for my taste, but still interesting,
cenote in Valladolid. There of a lot of them in that region. I enjoy the
small traditional mercado in Valladolid. Some of the best buys in the region
can be found with the Mayan women selling their craft items on the town
square in Vallodolid. I also enjoy the museums, colonial town center and
large traditional mercado in Merida.
Another interesting site is the Balanchanche cave near Chichen Itza. It
was used for ceremonial purposes by Chichen's central Mexico rulers and the
ceremonial objects are still where they were found. There's no ventilation
and the air gets heavy toward the back of the cave. Unless they've changed
it since the last time I was there the tour of the cave is narrated by a
tape recording in several languages. It's an abysmal narration. Don't worry
about what language is playing at the time you arrive. There are some small
rough spots in the cave that would make it difficult or impossible for
people with limited mobility.
Unless you have a lot of time one of your biggest problems is going to
be selecting what you want to see from the many possibilities.
TB
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