*** PHOTO Trip Journal aboard Carnival's CONQUEST (Sept. 2012, Caribbean) ***

[daliflor]

 

 

Puerta Maya’s expansive cruise center @ COZUMEL, Mexico features 15 stand-alone carts where local merchants market colorful handmade crafts, costume jewelry and souvenirs.

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

Puerta Maya’s expansive cruise center @ COZUMEL, Mexico houses over 50 different outlets offering apparel, fine jewelry, artwork and other merchandise

from recognizable retailers such as Milano Jewelers, Del Sol, Piranha Joe’s, Dufry, and Diamonds International.

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

The essential ingredients for a fun day in beautiful Cozumel, Mexico are duty-free shopping from over 30 different outlets,

tasting of savory local cuisine and the time to explore the magic and beauty of the ancient Mayan culture.

 

 

 

[jdeville71]

Keep the great pictures coming! I love them!

Thanks for taking the time to put this pictorial review together.

Edited November 19, 2012 by jdeville71

[aberthelot]

 

 

 

Off Carnival's cruise ship MAGIC & CONQUEST in Cozumel, Mexico (September 28, 2012)

 

 

 

 

 

I loved Cozumel!

The people there are super friendly!

[daliflor]

I loved Cozumel!

The people there are super friendly!

 

Indeed! I am yet to meet a Canadian who's not a wonderful person or a Mexican who's not pleasant or positive!

 

 

Great pics, thanks for sharing.:)

 

Glad you enjoy them!

 

 

 

Keep the great pictures coming! I love them!

 

Thanks for taking the time to put this pictorial review together.

 

Will do! Thanks for continuing to follow along!

 

The idea of the pictorial is to either revive some memories or help others see and understand better some places and cultures

or, if possible, to inspire some to experience those on their own one day!

[jdeville71]

I love this thread because we will be on the Conquest doing this same itenerary at the end of March. Looking at your beautiful pictures just gets me so excited and I can't wait for this cruise!

[oldmedic]

thanks for the review ...the guy in #6 bike/taxi is the one we ued on our recent cruise...

[trubadur]

thanks for the review ...

 

the guy in #6 bike/taxi is the one we ued on our recent cruise...

 

What a small world!

[daliflor]

 

 

Heading to the Puerta Maya Pier in Cozumel, Mexico on Friday morning (September 28, 2012)

 

 

A bit of break from our own day in Cozumel - sharing some of the nice pictures that one of our colleagues, Dave, took that Friday @ Xcaret.

 

Xcaret is majestic archaeological park located in Riviera Maya, Cancun in the Mexican Caribbean Sea shore.

 

Remember, those images are merely a GLIMPSE at what the magnificent park has to offer.

 

I personally visited few years ago from Cancun, arriving at the park early in the morning, exploring many areas

(i.e. wildlife, the orchids, the Equestrian show, the beach, the caves etc. ) and top it off with a spectacular night show (and dining by the stage).

 

A MAGICAL experience!

 

A must see when in Mexico for couple of days and bit of a stretch while cruising and staying in Cozumel for couple of hours.

 

 

Arriving Downtown via a short taxi ride to take the ferry over @ Cozumel, Mexico.

 

 

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

Xcaret is a majestic archaeological park located in Riviera Maya, Cancun in the Mexican Caribbean Sea shore.

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

Enjoy a unique experience @ Xcaret with various activities available on-site!

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

You can swim/ snorkel with the STINGRAYS not only in the Stingray City @ Grand Cayman but also @ Xcaret, Mexico!

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

Note that the park also offers a "Xcaret Snorkeling Tour" that takes you for a boat ride to the home of beautiful tropical fish

in "Barracuda Reef" (just minutes from the Xcaret ecological park).

 

Here, one can enjoy the best snorkeling in Cancun Mexico next to colorful parrot fish, surgeons, angelfish and many other marine creatures.

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

Transitioning from snorkeling & stingrays to another COOL area @ Xcaret, Mexico!

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

What do YOU think so far? Pretty interesting (and colorful) @ Xcaret, isn't it??!

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

Note that if you're renting a car for the day, parking at Xcaret is free for the visitors.

 

There are about 18 gift stores inside the Park!

 

 

An ATM and public phones are also available in the Main Plaza; dressing rooms and showers are located throughout the park.

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

Merely a quick peek @ Xcaret, Mexico (Friday, September 28th 2012)

 

 

Thanks a lot, Dave, for helping provide a GLIMPSE inside the magnificent experience that Xcaret can offer us, cruisers (or Mexico's 'land' visitors )!

 

 

I won't get into other interesting areas or activities @ Xcaret because we'll be soon moving along with our own experience at another park close to Cozumel.

 

Couple of final notes on Xcaret if you may consider as one of the MANY options that Mexico has to offer:

 

- Xcaret is a natural park that treasures the best of the traditions and culture of Mexico =

"a paradise that combines the natural beauty and cultural wealth of the country and the region."

 

- Located 45 minutes from Cancun, Mexico (Riviera Maya), in Xcaret you will find underground rivers, natural pools and

a myriad of attractions that will take you to live unforgettable experiences

(i.e. the first Butterfly Pavilion in Mexico, a Coral Reef Aquarium -one of the few places in the world where reef structures can be seen in their natural habitat;

a nursery for regional fauna that received recognition from Guinness World Records for having achieved

the highest number of macaws born in the same facility during a year).

 

- At Xcaret, one can also enjoy festivals and ceremonies that have been designated Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO

(i.e. the ceremony of the Papantla Flyers, the Day of the Dead Festival and the mariachi; as well as the delightful Mexican cuisine).

 

- By late afternoon, more than 300 actors are waiting to take you through a musical journey through the history of Mexico -

a festival of light and color with the most representative of Mexico and its traditions.

 

 

Enjoy the cultural heritage and love for the environment through the knowledge and coexistence @ Xcaret, Mexico!

 

 

[daliflor]

Back to the Pier @ Puerta Maya in Cozumel, Mexico!

 

 

It's late morning on Friday and this time around we decided to visit the famous CHANKANAAB National Park.

From the Pier @ Puerta Maya in Cozumel, it's a short ride to the park at a reasonable $10.00 USD per taxi, so off we went!

 

 

TIP: If you want to save bit of $, don't forget to bring along your $2.00 USD coupon

(one single coupon shall get you $2.00 USD for each adult person in your group, so NO need for multiple coupons!).

 

 

The park is open daily from 8AM until 4PM and the general admission fee (without the coupon) is $21.00 USD/pp.

 

 

The admission fee ($19.00 USD/ pp after the discount coupon) covers the uses of the beach area and all the facilities,

as well as the entrance to the Sea Lion show and a Dolphin tour (different than the $$$ swimming with the dolphins activity!),

plus the Manatee Exhibit.

 

 

 

[daliflor]

As someone already noted, the locals couldn't be more friendly and proved to be wonderful hosts too @ the CHANKANAAB National Park!

 

We looked primarily for relaxation and also an encounter with the Sea Lions, and we had a blast that day!

 

 

From the entrance, the area was so clean and serene!

 

 

Very Hot-hot-hot too in Mexico!!!

 

 

The word Chankanaab comes from the Mayan language; Chan (small) and Kanaab (sea or ocean) are making reference to

the natural lagoon formation located in the interior of the Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

Cozumel's Chankanaab Park is a beautiful beachfront national park with a rich diversity of activities.

 

 

 

In 1980, Chankanaab Park was decreed a National Park and an area for shelter, refuge and protection for

flora, fauna and marine life on the Western Coast of Cozumel Island.

 

 

 

Chankanaab provides us, visitors, with adventure, fun, tranquility and safety while at the same time balancing and focusing on environmental conservation.

 

[daliflor]

 

 

There are two (2) restaurants on location (Laguna & Bucaneros), a snack bar, gift shops, bathrooms with showers, lifeguard,

3 dive shops with equipment rental, lockers, hammocks area, children's playground and so many other beach activities!

 

 

 

The park offers special sand wheel chairs, bathrooms for the handicapped, showers, lockers, a volleyball beach court area,

as well as a hammock area for relaxation, and a children’s playground.

 

 

[daliflor]

 

After enjoying some time at the beach and by the swimming pool, it was time for the highlight of the day and

one of the dearest memories of this cruise in general - THE SEA LION SHOW !

 

 

In few minutes, we will meet the funny sea lions and their curious behaviors that for sure will make you smile!

 

 

It' may not be a massive, impressive production like the Xcaret evening show for example but

the informal and intimate atmosphere suited us very well that day!

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

VIDEO (The Sea Lion show @ Chankanaab - guests arrival and the general seating area):

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

VIDEO (The Sea Lion show @ Chankanaab - guests arrival and the general seating area):

 

 

The SEA LION SHOW @ Chankanaab Park on Friday (September 28, 2012)

 

 

Preparing the stage for the show opening and the introduction of the first star, DIEGO - the 2 years old Sea Lion!