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Stone island questions


Edeno

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Well after reading many posts, I think we will do SI on our own, but I have some questions I couldn't find answers to:

 

1-Are there lockers or any safe place to store valuables while we are in the water? I don't feel comfortable leaving my ID/Sail n' Sign card/money on shore unattended.

 

2-How is the swimming on SI? I read some alarming things about the Las Caletas beach in PV that had "water mosquitoes" that constantly bite you. Do we have to worry about jelly fish or any other unwelcome creatures? (I will be bringing water shoes)

 

3-About all the walking - DH has 2 bad discs in lower back and can't stand or walk for very long...is there any transportation from the water taxi dock? We will probably want to go to Victor's or Letty's.

 

4-How about at the pier...when we leave the ship and get off the tram thing, is there any transportation we can grab to take us to the water taxis? I think even a 3 block walk might leave him in too much pain to enjoy the day!

 

5-okay last one-when we want to leave SI, will there be water taxis waiting to take you back or do we need to have the restraunt call one for us?

 

Thank you so much for reading and any responses! I love these boards!

 

Edeno in Sacramento

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I don't know about the lockers..... there may be a place to stash your stuff if you plant yourself at one of the restaurants for the day. I was actually wondering the same thing. I did the horseback riding with Randi a couple years ago, and ate at Victors, but didn't venture down the beach. We're heading back there is a couple of weeks, but just to go over on our own. I have a waterproof fanny pack that I wear when playing in the water and everything stays dry. Don't remember exactly where I got it, but I did a search for water-proof fanny packs and that's how I found it. A store like REI might carry them as well.

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water taxi's are pongas, they run back and forth continually, seems putting your ships card, a credit card, cash, passport, and insurance card in 2 baggies (or waterproof case), and swimming with them would be best, below pics are descriptive

 

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2-How is the swimming on SI? I read some alarming things about the Las Caletas beach in PV that had "water mosquitoes" that constantly bite you. Do we have to worry about jelly fish or any other unwelcome creatures? (I will be bringing water shoes)

 

Water is generally not clear should be nice and warm the end of Sept.

 

3-About all the walking - DH has 2 bad discs in lower back and can't stand or walk for very long...is there any transportation from the water taxi dock? We will probably want to go to Victor's or Letty's.

 

Only thing I have ever seen is the tractor that takes the people who are on the Stone Island Excursion. IMO this will be the hardest part of the walk. It is also apt to be quite warm out.

 

4-How about at the pier...when we leave the ship and get off the tram thing, is there any transportation we can grab to take us to the water taxis? I think even a 3 block walk might leave him in too much pain to enjoy the day!

 

This one you could get a cab but like I said above if you are worried about this one the beach part is going to be real hard.

 

5-okay last one-when we want to leave SI, will there be water taxis waiting to take you back or do we need to have the restraunt call one for us?

 

Just go the dock where you got off they can see you across the water and will send one over.

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much for reading and any responses! I love these boards!

 

Edeno in Sacramento

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If your DH has trouble walking why don't you write to Randi and ask for the "transportation only" part of the tour. We did this twice when riding would not work for me. She will get you from the ship to the water taxi and then to Victors. She watches your stuff if you want to swim. I think she charges $14 or $15 for this - worth it in my opinion.

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If your DH has trouble walking why don't you write to Randi and ask for the "transportation only" part of the tour. We did this twice when riding would not work for me. She will get you from the ship to the water taxi and then to Victors. She watches your stuff if you want to swim. I think she charges $14 or $15 for this - worth it in my opinion.

 

 

Very true....and if you go this route I would go the entire way...get the full excursions...that is what we did the first time...cost like $29 included harbor tour/cruise, tractor to the diner on stone island, all drinks, food and 2 activities. Place was the cleanest of any that we have gone back to since....

 

Tayo and Kristy

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Thanks for the great suggestions, I never would have thought of a water-proof fanny pack...that is a great idea...I ordered 2 of them yesterday!

 

waASPcruiser: who did you go thru to book this? I originally wanted to do this but I have read some bad reviews about bookings thru King David or Johann & Sandra saying there were delays of 45-90 min., because the tour operators kept trying to get more disembarking people to join the tour and made the pre-booked people wait and wait before the tour left the dock.

 

Thanks again for the valuable info!!!

 

Edeno in Sacramento

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Thanks for the great suggestions, I never would have thought of a water-proof fanny pack...that is a great idea...I ordered 2 of them yesterday!

 

waASPcruiser: who did you go thru to book this? I originally wanted to do this but I have read some bad reviews about bookings thru King David or Johann & Sandra saying there were delays of 45-90 min., because the tour operators kept trying to get more disembarking people to join the tour and made the pre-booked people wait and wait before the tour left the dock.

 

Thanks again for the valuable info!!!

 

Edeno in Sacramento

 

 

We went thru Johann and Sandra at this link and didn't have any waiting issues but that was a couple of years ago...

 

http://www.mazatlantours.org/stone-island-tour.htm

 

and we had also seen this one but we now just go on our own...

 

http://mazatlan.com.mx/stoneisladtour/homepage.htm

 

Hope that helps.

 

Tayo and Kristy

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We went thru Johann and Sandra at this link and didn't have any waiting issues but that was a couple of years ago...

 

http://www.mazatlantours.org/stone-island-tour.htm

 

and we had also seen this one but we now just go on our own...

 

http://mazatlan.com.mx/stoneisladtour/homepage.htm

 

Hope that helps.

 

Tayo and Kristy

 

When you go on your own, do you have a favorite restaurant or area you hang out in?

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any place for a nice beach massage?

 

 

Maybe if you asked one of the beach vendors real nice :D The only place talked about in Mazatlan for massages that I have seen is Aroma Spa in the old town section. Never been as we have always kept this as a backup in case it is raining and we want to skip Stone Island. We usually get a massage in PV.

 

Here are a couple of links to Aroma.

 

http://tiny.cc/YDpIu

 

http://tiny.cc/ntZuv

 

Hope that helps.

 

Tayo and Kristy

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We used King David Tours to Stone Island in April. We had to wait about 15 minutes for the other people who had booked the tour to show up.

I thought it was very well run and Hugo the tour guide was fabulous.

You can do Stone island on your own, but I have mobility problemsa and can not walk very far so I wanted a tour. The beach was great, hardly anyone there. The waves were very strong, so no one was swimming.

 

Catherine

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I have read water taxis are $1.50-$3pp round trip....The reason I will book a tour over doing it on our own is because I want the 1 hour boat tour that takes you to several sites prior to going to Stone Island and my husband has mobility issues that make it hard for him to walk the fair distance it is to and from the water taxi. Also the tours are fairly cheap and include quite a few things (lunch, open bar, activities on beach). However, after doing this tour, (the next time we go back) we probably will choose to do it on our own. Happy vacationing!

 

Edeno in Sacramento

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This is from an email I have from Randi. She stops at Victor's for lunch -

Lunch is extra and the most expensive is the shrimp. I think it is $12usd each and includes rice, vegies, onion rings, french fries and a piece of fruit.

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We are going to be in Mazatlan in Oct., and want to go to Stone Island on our own. I have seen pictures of people drinking beverages with ice in them. I was wondering if anyone's gotten sick from the food or ice from one of the restaurants. I am a bit leary since they have no running water or electricity, or so I hear.

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We are going to be in Mazatlan in Oct., and want to go to Stone Island on our own. I have seen pictures of people drinking beverages with ice in them. I was wondering if anyone's gotten sick from the food or ice from one of the restaurants. I am a bit leary since they have no running water or electricity, or so I hear.

 

 

If doing it on your own...not sure you will even have the option of anything but beer. That being said I wouldn't have a drink with ice, in Cabo yes, Mazatlan, no. As for running water and electricity both are present....I have always showered off the salt water before heading back to the ship. =]

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  • 1 year later...

(from my 4-2010 NCL Star review)

Mazatlan. We did a self tour to Stone Island. Great sand, surf, and food. Went to Lefy's and our waiter Felix (a U.S. citizen) made sure we never ran out of Pacifico, chips and shrimp ceviche. Total cost from the ship, 40 pesos water taxi, food, drink 400 pesos & tip 100 pesos, ride back to Star 60 pesos, total $48 for two. This is a very easy self tour. Check it out on the CC Mexican Riviera board. You can rent ATV, Horses from Randi, surf and boogie boards and there are about five restaurants with shade and lounge chairs. Water was warm and clean, surf was fun, beach was spotless. Vendors were a pain, but that's to be expected in Mexico. (13.2 pasos = $1 9-4-2010)

 

We are going back to Mazatlan in November and will spend the day on SI again.

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We are going to be in Mazatlan in Oct., and want to go to Stone Island on our own. I have seen pictures of people drinking beverages with ice in them. I was wondering if anyone's gotten sick from the food or ice from one of the restaurants. I am a bit leary since they have no running water or electricity, or so I hear.

 

 

They use good ice in their drinks. They also have running water in their clean bathrooms, but you can't drink that. If you do Randis Happy Horses tour, you can go over for transportation only and don't have to ride the horses. She'll pick you up at the terminal and take you to the Island and Victors restaurant where you can sit and gaze aimlessly at the water or jump in. They also have electricity...how do you think they can keep their Pacifico beer so very, very cold. :D Icy cold!!!!!

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