Xcaret Park or Jeep Ride for family with two girls, 6 and 9?

[MrsPete]

Several questions about excursions:

Does anyone have comments on Xcaret? I saw their website (http://www.xcaretcancun.com/index.html), and it looks wonderful! Disney's shore excursion is $99/adult and includes transportation, lunch and admission. That probably isn't too bad considering that park admission is $45/adult.

Specific questions:
How long is the trip from the ship to Xcaret? We've already ruled out Tulum because of the travel time involved.
What's the mode of transportation?
Disney's shore excursions say that you have only 3 hours in the park -- that doesn't look like enough time. Comments?
Is it feasible /advisable to do this trip on your own?

The jeep tour also looks great to us! Disney's jeep tour, however, requires that all participants be 10 years old. You guessed it -- we'll have a 9.5 year old along. I found a private company (http://www.travelnotes.cc/cozumel/tours/jeep.html) on the internet that looks good, and they're not too fussy about ages. Would the trip be too rough or difficult for her? Again, any comments are welcomed.

Specific questions:
Has anyone used this private company that I referenced above?
Is it feasible /advisable to do this trip on your own?

Anyone want to go out on a limb and suggest which might be better for a family of two adults and two girls (ages 9 and 11)? Anyone want to suggest something altogther different?

Thanks!

 

[minniemouse1]

We spent a whole day at Xcaret when we went to Cancun a few years ago. We stayed at an all inclusive resort called Moon Palace which was absolutely beautiful.
I would suggest from going to Xcaret that I would pass and go sometime when you are visiting Cancun so you have the whole day and also maybe when your girls are a little older. There is alot of snorkeling to do. Its is a beautiful park and well worth the money. I think with the 3 hour time limitation that you will not feel you could fully enjoy the experience. The travel time I think will also be long because Xcaret is in Cancun so you will have to be transported from Cozumel to Cancun then to Xcaret.
Sorry I have no info about the Jeep tours but can tell you not to do the glass bottom boat tour on Cozumel. Definately not worth the money.

 

[TootyJane]

Originally posted by MrsPete
Several questions about excursions:
....

The jeep tour also looks great to us! Disney's jeep tour, however, requires that all participants be 10 years old. You guessed it -- we'll have a 9.5 year old along. I found a private company (http://www.travelnotes.cc/cozumel/tours/jeep.html) on the internet that looks good, and they're not too fussy about ages. Would the trip be too rough or difficult for her? Again, any comments are welcomed.

Specific questions:
Has anyone used this private company that I referenced above?
Is it feasible /advisable to do this trip on your own?

Anyone want to go out on a limb and suggest which might be better for a family of two adults and two girls (ages 9 and 11)? Anyone want to suggest something altogther different?

Thanks!

Well, I can't comment on Xcaret but we did the Jungle Jeep Tour last summer. If you go back to the link you posted and click on reviews I posted one after our trip. Our boys were 15, 12 and 8. It was very personalized. Just the two jeeps (both stick shift). Our guide, Susan, drove one and my brother drove to and my dh drove back. Ride was definitely very rough but so much fun. The kids said it was better than Indiana Jones!! We had a delicious lunch on the beach -- and we were the only ones on the beach. We could have stayed there all day! Susan was very knowledgeable about Mayan culture and Cozumel itself. This was probably the best excursion we have ever done. HTH

 

[MrsPete]

Based upon these two responses, it looks like the Jeep Tour is the hands-down winner (though I still want to visit Xcarat sometime). Thanks! Any other opinions would be appreciated!

 

[PatriciaH]

DH and I have been to Xcaret 3 times and it is a beautiful park. Each time we were staying in either Cancun or Playa del Carmen though so we had the whole day there. The last time we visited was October 2003 and there is SO much to do there now 3 hours is just not enough. There is also an amazing night show that starts at 8pm so cruise ship people miss it. I would probably save it for a visit to the Mayan Riviera in the future (well worth it!) We are tempted to do Xcaret on our RCCL cruise the week of the 8th but I would hate to only spend 3 hours there

 

[jlawall]

On the jeep tour, can you swim at the beach after lunch?