Comments on: Doin’ Time at the Ruins of Tulum http://www.travelswithtwo.com/2010/03/04/playa-del-carmen-tulum-cruise-ship-excursions-tours/ The travel blog for couples - Written by Melanie Waldman Mon, 21 May 2012 19:15:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tulum from Cozumel: Six Reasons to Take an Eight Hour Tour | The Suitcase Scholar http://www.travelswithtwo.com/2010/03/04/playa-del-carmen-tulum-cruise-ship-excursions-tours/#comment-176638 Tulum from Cozumel: Six Reasons to Take an Eight Hour Tour | The Suitcase Scholar Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:12:19 +0000 http://www.travelswithtwo.com/?p=7831#comment-176638 [...] visiting Tulum as a cruise ship excursion.  I’d read many bad reviews and blog posts about it—like this one.  But I’ve always wanted to go there, and I didn’t see myself visiting Mexico on my own any [...] [...] visiting Tulum as a cruise ship excursion.  I’d read many bad reviews and blog posts about it—like this one.  But I’ve always wanted to go there, and I didn’t see myself visiting Mexico on my own any [...]

]]> By: Kathy http://www.travelswithtwo.com/2010/03/04/playa-del-carmen-tulum-cruise-ship-excursions-tours/#comment-36783 Kathy Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:46:07 +0000 http://www.travelswithtwo.com/?p=7831#comment-36783 We did that tour a few days ago. My experience was slightly different. We arrived at 1pm on Carnival. There was another ship docked but people were getting back onto the ship. We walked into the plaza where Cruise people directed people to their tours. The ferry ride although it was a bit choppy...was nice and had cushioned seats. Like the ones you would find on an airplane & two restrooms. The captain did suggest to us to use the facility before leaving, since there would be no facilities in Playa del Carmen. Our tour guide Carlos was quite entertaining and seemed very knowledgable. He had been guide for 20 years. We to stopped at the "rest stop" and bought trinkets. I having the worlds smallest bladder took very chance to use the facilities....never know when the next one will be! Upon arrival at Tulum, Carlos gave us instructions on how to handle the vendors..who swarmed us with t'shirts and etc...suggested where to eat and made a stop to allow some to change into bathing suits. I used that time to of course...pee! Carlos on the ride to Tulum said he would give us a 45 mintue tour before letting us go on our own. I think he used every minute of his time. It rained for most of our tour which was ok...it was better than the scorching heat that had started our day. The beach was beautiful even with the rain. My son swam in the blue ocean. For us the whole tour was not crowded...we only had 2 tour buses at the site that day. Our tour bus offered water, chips and/or peanuts...I came prepared with an apple & orange from the ship. For us we enjoyed the tour...only down side was we wished we had more time there. We did that tour a few days ago. My experience was slightly different. We arrived at 1pm on Carnival. There was another ship docked but people were getting back onto the ship. We walked into the plaza where Cruise people directed people to their tours. The ferry ride although it was a bit choppy…was nice and had cushioned seats. Like the ones you would find on an airplane & two restrooms. The captain did suggest to us to use the facility before leaving, since there would be no facilities in Playa del Carmen. Our tour guide Carlos was quite entertaining and seemed very knowledgable. He had been guide for 20 years. We to stopped at the “rest stop” and bought trinkets. I having the worlds smallest bladder took very chance to use the facilities….never know when the next one will be! Upon arrival at Tulum, Carlos gave us instructions on how to handle the vendors..who swarmed us with t’shirts and etc…suggested where to eat and made a stop to allow some to change into bathing suits. I used that time to of course…pee! Carlos on the ride to Tulum said he would give us a 45 mintue tour before letting us go on our own. I think he used every minute of his time. It rained for most of our tour which was ok…it was better than the scorching heat that had started our day. The beach was beautiful even with the rain. My son swam in the blue ocean. For us the whole tour was not crowded…we only had 2 tour buses at the site that day. Our tour bus offered water, chips and/or peanuts…I came prepared with an apple & orange from the ship. For us we enjoyed the tour…only down side was we wished we had more time there.

]]> By: Lisa at The World is Calling http://www.travelswithtwo.com/2010/03/04/playa-del-carmen-tulum-cruise-ship-excursions-tours/#comment-4719 Lisa at The World is Calling Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:41:49 +0000 http://www.travelswithtwo.com/?p=7831#comment-4719 Thanks for the insight--you know--for those of us who still want to give it a whirl on site. ;-) Thanks for the insight–you know–for those of us who still want to give it a whirl on site. ;-)

]]> By: Melanie@TravelsWithTwo http://www.travelswithtwo.com/2010/03/04/playa-del-carmen-tulum-cruise-ship-excursions-tours/#comment-4714 Melanie@TravelsWithTwo Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:16:32 +0000 http://www.travelswithtwo.com/?p=7831#comment-4714 Lisa, my documentary idea aside...I think you're on the right track. It's certainly how I would have done Tulum, if only I could have been near the ruins early in the morning. (By the time our group arrived, it was about 10:30.) In winter, the ruins open at 7am, in summer at 8am; all year round, tour groups start arriving at 9:30am. Licensed Mexican Tourism guides hang out by the entrance, and I'd bank on about $30 US for a 45-minute tour for up to 4 people. Lisa, my documentary idea aside…I think you’re on the right track. It’s certainly how I would have done Tulum, if only I could have been near the ruins early in the morning. (By the time our group arrived, it was about 10:30.)

In winter, the ruins open at 7am, in summer at 8am; all year round, tour groups start arriving at 9:30am. Licensed Mexican Tourism guides hang out by the entrance, and I’d bank on about $30 US for a 45-minute tour for up to 4 people.

]]> By: Lisa at The World is Calling http://www.travelswithtwo.com/2010/03/04/playa-del-carmen-tulum-cruise-ship-excursions-tours/#comment-4710 Lisa at The World is Calling Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:47:43 +0000 http://www.travelswithtwo.com/?p=7831#comment-4710 Ouch! I was really looking forward to seeing Tuluum over Spring break with the kids. What if we went as soon as it opened and hopefully missed the cruise ship hordes?? And hired a guide? Ouch! I was really looking forward to seeing Tuluum over Spring break with the kids. What if we went as soon as it opened and hopefully missed the cruise ship hordes?? And hired a guide?

]]>