What to do in Cozumel?

[21stamps]

Travel party- myself and an adventurous 6 year old boy.

I am so torn over this!

I thought Tulum Ruins would be our choice and that's that.

Now I'm second guessing it, and have pretty much ruled it out- due to travel time involved.

Xel-Ha Eco park- same concerns.

I am not interested in a beach day and want my son to experience some kind of Mexican culture, or something different than what we can do here or in the Bahamas etc. But I'm having trouble finding anything.

I'm leaning Dolphinaris at this point, even though swimming with dolphins isn't at all something exclusive to Mexico.

Anyone have a better idea?

In Grand Cayman we will do Stingray City/ Starfish Beach/ Reef Snorkel
Falmouth- Dunn's River Falls and Bobsled Jamaica- I'm also not thrilled on travel time with this- but don't think we can pass it up.
Castaway Cay- (beach day) relax, swim, rent snorkel gear, and bikes.

 

[BrerNashville]

We did one of the Dune buggy trips -- your drive polaris ATVs about 45 minutes up the coast to a park, snorkel (not all that exciting), swim and eat at one of the other eco-parks. It was pretty cool and our whole family enjoyed it.

Isn't there salsa tasting/making excursion? We've considered that as an "authentic" Mexican exposure, but have not yet done it.

 

[BrerNashville]

Or, you could stay on the boat and enjoy fewer crowds around funnelvision.

 

[21stamps]

We did one of the Dune buggy trips -- your drive polaris ATVs about 45 minutes up the coast to a park, snorkel (not all that exciting), swim and eat at one of the other eco-parks. It was pretty cool and our whole family enjoyed it.

Isn't there salsa tasting/making excursion? We've considered that as an "authentic" Mexican exposure, but have not yet done it.

The dune buggy is minimum age 8 I think...something like that. It seems like so many are 8 year minimum and my son just turned 6.

As for staying on the boat--oh I hate to do that--BUT, also want a short enough excursion for us to be back early enough to try to catch an uncrowded aquaduck. This is kiddos first time out of the country (besides the Bahamas) and I think it will be a great experience...I also plan on him learning about each place we are going. It's a cruise , so yes I know that we won't experience too much local culture, but a little sample would be nice.lol

 

[wjs3]

The travel times to anything across the channel stink. We made the very big mistake of doing X Claret (like Xel Ha, but farther away) and had something like 1 hour at the park after travel time there and back. Terrible.

So I agree with you.

On the next trip we did the dune buggy/snorkel adventure. there were some ver y "light" Mayan sites, plus snorkeling and a beach, and you got to drive a dune buggy which was unusual. I wouldn't do it again, but we thought this was the best. The snorkeling was much like other places (though the swim out to the reef really kicked the butt of some people in our groups). Included a climb up a lighthouse too.

So...not sure I would "recommend" that but it's what we did with our kids when they were 8. Would definitely do before a dolphin encounter!

Oh and if the 6 year old is REALLY adventurous, book a private tour to the Blue Hole in Jamaica. Long travel time but well, well worth it.

 

[wjs3]

Crud. Sorry, just saw the 8 yo thing while I was posting. Sorry!

 

[BrerNashville]

I also plan on him learning

Well, be careful what he "learns" in Cozumel -- I'd stay out of the tourist shops. We made the mistake of going into one that sold knickknacks and later had to explain to my 10 year old what two people were [not] doing on a NSFW coffee mug!

 

[21stamps]

The travel times to anything across the channel stink. We made the very big mistake of doing X Claret (like Xel Ha, but farther away) and had something like 1 hour at the park after travel time there and back. Terrible.

So I agree with you.

On the next trip we did the dune buggy/snorkel adventure. there were some ver y "light" Mayan sites, plus snorkeling and a beach, and you got to drive a dune buggy which was unusual. I wouldn't do it again, but we thought this was the best. The snorkeling was much like other places (though the swim out to the reef really kicked the butt of some people in our groups). Included a climb up a lighthouse too.

So...not sure I would "recommend" that but it's what we did with our kids when they were 8. Would definitely do before a dolphin encounter!

Oh and if the 6 year old is REALLY adventurous, book a private tour to the Blue Hole in Jamaica. Long travel time but well, well worth it.

I'll have to look up more info about the lighthouse. He has a few books on all of the lighthouses on the east coast of the US..he (kind of surprisingly to me)became semi fascinated with them on a trip to Key West and loved climbing the stairs and looking out 'for pirate's' lol.

Ideally we would have 4-5 hours off the ship in Cozumel, I don't know how realistic this is.

Well, be careful what he "learns" in Cozumel -- I'd stay out of the tourist shops. We made the mistake of going into one that sold knickknacks and later had to explain to my 10 year old what two people were [not] doing on a NSFW coffee mug!

Lol. True. I've had the same issue in the Keys when walking by the window displays of the tourist 'tee shirt shops'...I try to distract him from looking.

 

[21stamps]

The travel times to anything across the channel stink. We made the very big mistake of doing X Claret (like Xel Ha, but farther away) and had something like 1 hour at the park after travel time there and back. Terrible.

So I agree with you.

On the next trip we did the dune buggy/snorkel adventure. there were some ver y "light" Mayan sites, plus snorkeling and a beach, and you got to drive a dune buggy which was unusual. I wouldn't do it again, but we thought this was the best. The snorkeling was much like other places (though the swim out to the reef really kicked the butt of some people in our groups). Included a climb up a lighthouse too.

So...not sure I would "recommend" that but it's what we did with our kids when they were 8. Would definitely do before a dolphin encounter!

Oh and if the 6 year old is REALLY adventurous, book a private tour to the Blue Hole in Jamaica. Long travel time but well, well worth it.

Ok I just found a Private Jeep Tour that does not have a minimum age 8 limit!!! It actually looks decent. Includes Punta Sur Park and the east side of Cozumel. The guide will drive- which I prefer.

Has anyone done this one? The company is called "Cozumel Cruise Excursions"

 

[wjs3]

The lighthouse is there

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attract...erain_Eco_Park-Cozumel_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

Don't know the company. Trip advisor is your friend, though!

 

[mrp4352]

We did the Twister to Passion Island in Cozumel a couple of weeks ago (I'm sorry, I don't know if there are any restrictions for age). It was fantastic! We rode the "crazy boat" out to the island, had the place to ourselves for about an hour (all 20 of us in the crazy boat). Even when the catamarans started arriving, it didn't feel crowded. Then, just as the drinking games (ex. everyone who limbos gets a shot) started out on the beach, it was time for us to go back to the ship. It's an all inclusive island, and the meal was good! I would highly recommend the excursion - for us, it ended at just the right time!

We also did the Bobsled and Dunn's river falls. The locations were fantastic (loved, loved, LOVED the bobsled and would have liked to have ridden it a couple more times), but I have to admit, our guide wasn't. We decided in the future, we'd price out getting a driver and doing them on our own.

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

I'm leaning Dolphinaris at this point, even though swimming with dolphins isn't at all something exclusive to Mexico.

I read a lot of review about dolphin encounters/swimming on websites for our upcoming cruise in about a month to the Western Caribbean. I have always wanted to do this, but when I heard how much the places charge for pictures (you can't take pictures at these places), it turned me away from ever wanting to do a dolphin excursion. The prices I saw for pictures were about the same price just to swim with the dolphins. Just warning you if you were wanting to get pictures.

 

[21stamps]

We did the Twister to Passion Island in Cozumel a couple of weeks ago (I'm sorry, I don't know if there are any restrictions for age). It was fantastic! We rode the "crazy boat" out to the island, had the place to ourselves for about an hour (all 20 of us in the crazy boat). Even when the catamarans started arriving, it didn't feel crowded. Then, just as the drinking games (ex. everyone who limbos gets a shot) started out on the beach, it was time for us to go back to the ship. It's an all inclusive island, and the meal was good! I would highly recommend the excursion - for us, it ended at just the right time!

We also did the Bobsled and Dunn's river falls. The locations were fantastic (loved, loved, LOVED the bobsled and would have liked to have ridden it a couple more times), but I have to admit, our guide wasn't. We decided in the future, we'd price out getting a driver and doing them on our own.

I wish!!!! 8 min. age limit.

I'm so glad that you enjoyed the bobsled! I am confident that my son is going to be thrilled about it!

I read a lot of review about dolphin encounters/swimming on websites for our upcoming cruise in about a month to the Western Caribbean. I have always wanted to do this, but when I heard how much the places charge for pictures (you can't take pictures at these places), it turned me away from ever wanting to do a dolphin excursion. The prices I saw for pictures were about the same price just to swim with the dolphins. Just warning you if you were wanting to get pictures.

I don't know if it's more than in the Bahamas, but they are always ridiculous for the photos. I would like to know the prices first for sure!

 

[EASchechter]

When are you going to Cozumel? My son is daffy about lighthouses, so we'll be doing the eco-park excursion when we go in 2017. (he'll be 11 when we sail).

 

[21stamps]

When are you going to Cozumel? My son is daffy about lighthouses, so we'll be doing the eco-park excursion when we go in 2017. (he'll be 11 when we sail).

We will be on the Fantasy 11/26-12/3 2016

I'm really leaning towards that Jeep tour that I found yesterday, the lighthouse is included in it.

 

[EASchechter]

Share the link? Please?

 

[21stamps]

Share the link? Please?

http://cozumelcruiseexcursions.net/cozumel-jeep-tour.html

It looks pretty cool! You can drive or have the guide drive the Jeep..and it's not a caravan tour! Plus the price is absolutely wonderful for all it includes!

 

[JimGA]

Enjoy the beautiful ship. Cozumel is a dump :/

 

[Keyser]

We did one of the dolphin encounters (at Chenakarab or something like that). The dolphin encounter was fun - my older daughter did the one where she got "pushed" and loved it - I think it was the highlight of her trip.

Actually, it was weird - Disney cancelled the excursion that my youngest daughter and I were supposed to do, due to high surf. But, they kept the one that my wife and older daughter were doing. So, my younger daughter and I got off the ship, and decided to take a taxi to the place where my wife and older daughter would do their excursion, so we could watch them. When we got there, we found the place was still offering the same dolphin encounter we had originally planned on (and, at a rate much cheaper than what Disney had been going to charge). So, we ended up signing up there, and getting the same excursion. My wife and daughter stayed around after their encounter and we all took a taxi back to the ship together. It was actually pretty nice, and there was more to do (a beach, and I think it was a sea lion show) besides just the dolphin encounter.

I do remember the pictures being quite expensive, and also thinking we had to get one anyway...

 

[AllieD10]

Is there anything to do in Cozumel with a 4 yr old? All the minimum ages seem to be 8 yrs. We'll be going in 2017.