Progresso-Carnival "Mayan Ruins with beach break combo" - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

hitsmanj · 10-30-2007, 03:32 PM

Just the facts: (links to pictures below)
Bring towels, dry clothes, bathing suits, good walking shoes for ruins, sandals for beach, these can be left on bus where driver and guides stay and are reasonably secure.
Debarked, short walk down pier, through tourist shopping funnel to guys with various tour signs, got in line. Area is completely secure and controlled, numerous small shops and a bar. Got on clean, well appointed bus for ~35 minute ride to ruins. Guide gave good, easily understood history of area and ruins we were to visit, very detailed and entertaining. Last 8-10 minutes of ride was non-offensive low pressure sale of a personalized Mayan-writing "date book" ($35).
Dzibilchaltun
Parked in lot for short walk to site entrance where we received our tickets and were able to buy license to video tape at site ($5 US, still cameras free). Water/sodas/snacks available at site for reasonable charge, as well as restrooms. Small shops also. Museum was closed for state holiday, a disappointment as this was one of the things that attracted me to this trip, it is supposed to be one of the better Mayan artifact repositories. Short walk to ruins through Mangrove jungle on gravel path. Much walking and light-to-moderate climbing involved. Many web-sites on ruins (Yucatan Today - Mayan Ruin of Dzibilchaltun, Yucatan, Mexico) Research well as tour is pretty much self-service
They are small, especially if you have been to any of the major sites, but interesting still. Be sure to check out the rattlesnake head on the north-west corner of the Temple of the Seven Dolls, this was pointed out to us by a nice guard posted at the site, we would have missed it otherwise. Back on bus for much quicker ride to "resort" (no sales pitch). People received their personalized books at this time, which had been completed while we toured site, seemed like a decent/different souvenir.
Love Beach "Resort"
I put resort in quotations as this is basically a large house with two small swimming pools on the beach with a Palapa bar. The beach will be a disappointment to anyone who has been to Cozumel or any of the blue water ports, even the Emerald Coast of Florida. The beach is coarse and the water is grey and murky, not clear enough for snorkeling. The pools are small, but clean. The drinks are free, which was a big hit with some of the tourists, but nobody got out of hand. Don't bother asking for a particular brand, beer is provided from 1 liter bottles poured into a plastic cup, request for a Corona got my wife a lime tossed into the cup! There is also food available, about $7 US for an entree, fairly standard Mexican fare, but decent. Massages are also available on the beach for $1/minute, as well as handmade hammocks etc. but no pressure sales are made. There is a good view of the pier from the beach. Kids enjoyed swimming in the pools, but the hour or so we spent there was plenty. Back on bus and to the pier with just enough time to spread come cash around the various small shops stocked with the usual tourist trinkets.
Summary
We enjoyed the ruins. It was our first visit to this area, and we enjoy walking, hiking, and climbing, so the added attraction of the ruins was a bonus. The beach break was a bust with the kids, probably good if you like hanging around the pool in the sun with free alcohol, but not for the active/adventurous. I would recommend taking the ruins trip with perhaps a side trip to Merida.
photos: http://www.cruiselinefans.com/galler...ry.php/cat/716

hanna · 10-30-2007, 05:18 PM

Thanks for the report. We almost did the ruins when we were there, but opted for the Merida tour (on our own).