Tulum ruin tours

[maldenmusic]

I know this should go on the Calica/PDC board but I haven't gotten any responses to it. Can anyone recommend a tour from Calica/PDC to Tulum other than through Carnival? Just wanting to check all my options. We'll be in port for 10 hours this time and though it might be fun to try and see the ruins.

[firefly333]

I checked and googled galore and if you have a group, you could get a better price, but I was solo. I could not find a better deal.

 

We had a real Mayan guide and they gave us wet towels and a bottle of water and nuts and chips afterwards not mentioned. It was still too hot!!! .. at least too hot unless you get into the ocean.

 

People say rent a car, but Im not willing to take the risk. Tulum is only 36 miles from Calica.

[maldenmusic]

I checked and googled galore and if you have a group, you could get a better price, but I was solo. I could not find a better deal.

 

We had a real Mayan guide and they gave us wet towels and a bottle of water and nuts and chips afterwards not mentioned. It was still too hot!!! .. at least too hot unless you get into the ocean.

 

People say rent a car, but Im not willing to take the risk. Tulum is only 36 miles from Calica.

That's what I thought because I've been checking prices everywhere. Do you remember if the tour started fairly soon after the ship docked?

[firefly333]

Chichen Itza started at 7:30 am .. which wasnt much past the time we got ship clearance. Tulum started at 8:30 am, so you had an extra hour to go to the MDR and get breakfast.

 

You also stop at a place on the way to Tulum for a potty break (and of course to get you to buy souveneirs.). Nice place.

 

the banos .. (bathrooms) at tulum were hot and you had to put the waste paper in a trash can. I put up some of my pictures I took. I was there a week and a half ago.

 

I spent $15 extra on a margarita that was the best in the heat, it was nectar, and chips and 3 dips and a bowl of guacamole at one of the restaurants.

 

 

[firefly333]

Our tour guide and one whole group had umbrellas. There is NO SHADE. It was 95 the day I was there, unusually hot they said.

 

[MiamiSpartan]

have done the tour twice....hot both times....bring water...and sunscreen...

[JPH814]

I am usually a fan of getting tours directly, not through Carnival. But I must admit that the one we had through carnival was really very very good.

[firefly333]

I dont think I would do this tour again in May myself. Maybe Im too old, but the heat sure got to me. I would wait and do it in the winter.

 

There is another tour with animal preserves EX something that I would do instead. Sorry, but I wouldnt say I loved it. Not anyone's fault, but too hot.

[maldenmusic]

Thanks for the input. After hearing everyone's opinion about the heat I think my daughter and I will just opt for PDC shopping and beach and leave Tulum to another cruise in the very early spring of next year.

[STARFISH*4]

wow very crowded we were there in December and not so crowded and it was unseasonably cool...got to 70 in the sun...BEAUTIFUL day for this tour....we went from Cozumel with the rough ferry ride but even that was WORTH seeing this PLACE it was AMAZING...i am so GLAD we went when we did!!

[toothfary7]

We just returned from spending a week in Playa. Used a company called Edventures.....can not say enough good things about them. They offer several different options with their tour. Seeing the Cenotes is a MUST!! We only spent a short time at Tulum. Check them out on tripadvisor dot com. Saw on another post that they do pick up at ship ports. Have fun:D

[glorialagos]

Ditto on Edventures. I looked at those pictures on this post and could not believe how many people were there. When we visited Tulum, we were the only ones there. I would avoid the ship tour and go with Edventures.

 

Yes, they pick you up at the port and drop you off and will take you anywhere you want in between. We were very happy with our tour. But I think the key is - start early with Tulum before the heat and crowds and then you could move on to zip lining or snorkeling after it gets hot.

[sdschwrt]

I am interested in visiting Tulum with my wife in a wheelchair. Are the walkways concrete or hard packed dirt that the chair can be pushed across? If you do not go down to the beach, are there ant other places where one would have to negotiate steps that are too narrow to lift the chair onto one at a time. Have travelled to Mexico and Playa many times in summer and can manage heat as we routinely walk as far as 4-5 miles from our hotel to Playa and back.

[bamaparrotheads]

I am interested in visiting Tulum with my wife in a wheelchair. Are the walkways concrete or hard packed dirt that the chair can be pushed across? If you do not go down to the beach, are there ant other places where one would have to negotiate steps that are too narrow to lift the chair onto one at a time. Have travelled to Mexico and Playa many times in summer and can manage heat as we routinely walk as far as 4-5 miles from our hotel to Playa and back.

We were there in 2009 but to the best of my memory, it was a lot of gravel. It was a very long walk from where the coach dropped us to the entrance to the ruins, 3/4 of a mile if I remember correctly. The long, hot walk through the jungle was the worst part to me. Also, I don't think that there is wheelchair access to the beach.

Someone who's been there more recently may shed more light.

[lovevacadays]

I am interested in visiting Tulum with my wife in a wheelchair. Are the walkways concrete or hard packed dirt that the chair can be pushed across? If you do not go down to the beach, are there ant other places where one would have to negotiate steps that are too narrow to lift the chair onto one at a time. Have travelled to Mexico and Playa many times in summer and can manage heat as we routinely walk as far as 4-5 miles from our hotel to Playa and back.

 

In the actual area of Tulum there isn't concrete walkways at all. Actually,not even concrete going from where the bus will drop you off to the actual ruin site.. It is dirt roads. I guess you could push a wheelchair on the dirt roads but it could be challenging as they aren't that even. I really don't remember there being any steps in the main part of the ruin area. Just if you were going down to the beach. My main concern would be he uneven terrain.

[1 HappyCruiser]

Did they charge for a bringing a regular digital camera since it also shoots video?

[maldenmusic]

Did they charge for a bringing a regular digital camera since it also shoots video?

IDK about Tulum but I've taken my digital camera with me to other Mayan ruins in the area and it was no problem. No one even checked to see what kind it was.

[blue_water]

try these sites (add the rest of the url's)

 

cancun-discounts

cruiseweb

caribbeanshoretours

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Great place to go...

[BRIFRO]

The Mayan guide named ANGEL is the best. He works for sun & fun tours and escorts these cruise ship tours. We had him as our guide thru Carnival on March 12, 2012. He is a wealth of knowledge and has the tour information down to the minute. He is the son of the first Tulum Guide and soeaks 5 languages. I teach high school and was very impressed with his lecture, information, pictures & historical background. The suggestion is to locate him & be part of his group. The food @ Tulum from Mr. Frostie, fish taco & margarita were fabulous. Always best regards, BRIFRO

I know this should go on the Calica/PDC board but I haven't gotten any responses to it. Can anyone recommend a tour from Calica/PDC to Tulum other than through Carnival? Just wanting to check all my options. We'll be in port for 10 hours this time and though it might be fun to try and see the ruins.