Free be

[imfunny]

We are going to be there for our first time. Is there a free beach or anything kind of budget friendly close to the pier?

[Purvis1231]

yes, there is a free beach.

Have fun!

[WisRiver]

If you take the free shuttle bus from where your ship docks, you will disembark about 3 blocks from the beach. You will see the beach on the right as you get close to shore (the pier is over 4 miles long and you must take the shuttle bus). While the beach is free, there is little shade. The beach side restaurants offer shade and bathrooms to their customers. If you walk east, away from the pier, the crowds will thin. Our personal favorite is Flamingos, about 4 blocks east of the pier. Good food, good drinks, reasonable prices, and clean bathrooms.

[MyronH]

Beach in Progreso is no where near as good as Cozumel beaches. You get what you pay for. In this case, if you want free, just dont expect much. Vendors everywhere, coming up to you every 15 minutes. "Cuban cigars!", etc... You will hear that a lot. We went to Los Henequenes for drinks and get into shade. The way they have it now, right when you get past the pier, you walk into a marketplace and have to walk past dozens of vendors, to get to the street area. Then make your way to that area of the beach.

 

The only good thing in Progreso that we've done, is get a massage. We went to this small indoor place called Mayan Spa. Very good massage and relatively clean. Been then on two cruises so far.

[maldenmusic]

We could not enjoy the beach at Progreso because the vendors would not leave us alone. So we gathered up our things and walked down the beach, away from the pier until we got out of vender territory. No amenities there but we had the place to ourselves.