Bill Holmes - Activities - Hiking and Biking - Central America - Costa Rica to Mexico - Cancun

Costa Rica

After two hours sleep, Patrick was kind enough to drive me to the airport at 4:00 AM to catch a 6:05 AM flight to Cancun via San Salvador with a plane change.


I arrived in Cancun around 10:30 AM.










My cell phone indicated messages, so after I finally found a bathroom, I listened to my messages, and did some texting with Cindy.

My customs form was incomplete, so I was sent to the end of the line to complete three lines.  By the time I made it to the luggage area, the TACA carousel was stopped, but my lonely bag remained for me.

I asked Traveler's Aide at the airport about the best combination of hotel and Chechen Itza tour.  They said to get a hotel in town for around $60/night, and that's where the cheaper Chechen Itza tours can be found.  I was advised I consult "Best Deals."  Then I heard there is a WorldMark in town resort.  After getting sent to three different places for Best Deals, I called WorldMark, who said there were no WorldMark in Cancun, and suggested Wyndam Resorts with a World Mark discount.  Wyndam Resorts transferred me to Wyndam Travel Rentals, which transferred me to Wyndam travel reservations, which recommended Ramada for $60/night with 52% recommending it and Xbalamque for $55/night with 52% saying they would not recommend it, but the last comment was last year, so I opted for Xbalamque.

Instead of paying $60-30 for a taxi, I got a van pool for $15. The Xbalamque is decorated in Mayan, spacious, well arranged, clean and the WiFi works well, but there no hand towels or wash rags. Xbalamque seems to be the place for Mexican tourists, because little English is spoken. The Ramada Inn may cater to more English-speaking people.

Pool


Northern view from roof video

Southern view from roof video

I finally had enough room to completely unpack everything.  After two weeks suffering with a track pad, I found my mouse transceiver.

The hotel recommended Lotus Entertainment Cancun's Patricia Mac Eachen, 9988 70-45-37, patricia@lotuscancn.com. She contracts with Mayan Gate for the Chechen Itza tour.  Her company has been in business in Cancun for 25 of Cancun's 30 years.  She agreed with the Traveler's Aid people, and explained that to maintain a presence at the expensive hotels is expensive, so tours booked at such hotels cost around $90, and may not include miscellaneous fees and taxes.  The downtown tour services that do not include the fees and taxes are likely the ones that charge $40 for a tour.  Mayan Gate includes all fees for $55:
1 hour tour of Chechen Itza
1 hour on your own
1 hour buffet lunch at a 4-star hotel + use of the hotel's public facilities (pool) and WiFi
1 hour in a cave of emerald water.
I must be in the lobby at 7:00 AM to catch one of the many vans that cumulate people at a big air conditioned bus for the tour tomorrow

While collecting passengers for the tour from various hotels, I saw a gas station full of limos


A local bus for the poorer folk


Chichen Itza tour