Akumal and Puerto Aventuras…

I didn’t think I was going to do any side trips during my week on Isla, but after the third day, I said, “what the hell?”  When I went to Akumal last March, I posted on my Choosing Doorways blog that there wasn’t that much to do there, and received several comments in response saying that I didn’t check it out enough.  Okay, so I’m always willing to admit when I’m wrong, so I decided to go back again.  I also thought I’d check out Puerto Aventuras at the same time since I was in the area.  So I headed out on that day’s adventure…

Adios, Isla…but I will be back.  It’s a nice feeling to leave on the ferry knowing you’ll be back later that day.  (It’s a different thing when you’re leaving for good.)

I took some long-distance pictures of the Cancun coast on the ferry ride.  While I have absolutely no interest in visiting Cancun, I thought it was worth a few photos.

I thought this boat was interesting.  The angle is wrong in the photo so it’s hard to see, but there was a big cross on the front being held down by ropes.  I don’t know, but I think I may have some misgivings about getting on a small boat that has a big cross on the bow which kind of shouts, “I sure hope we make it to the other side.”  I’m not afraid of the water and am a good swimmer, but I’m just saying…

So here we are at Puerto Juarez where I catch a cab to the Cancun bus station for 50 pesos.

The bus stations are always a hoot in Mexico.  When your Spanish is less than perfect, you just kind of hope you end up where you want to be going.  So far, I haven’t had any problems.  I will again have to say that the bus system in Mexico is incredible… inexpensive, comfortable and easy to use once you get used to it.  I just need to learn more Spanish so that I can understand the movies they play on the little drop-down TVs.

In fact, this trip went really smoothly in that I just had less than 10 minute waits for my rides.  I took some pics of the Cancun scenery through the bus window…

So I get to Puerto Aventuras and get off the bus in what seems like just a small Mexican town in the middle of nowhere.  I start walking towards the town and realize I am NOT in a touristy area of Mexico.  I go into a little tienda and a girl points in the direction of where the “tourist” area of Puerto Aventuras is.  So I walk under the highway and see a big sign that says, “Puerto Aventuras” with a gate and a guard.  I ask the guard if I can walk in and he says, “si,” so on I go and eventually see this sign…

I walk a little further and get to this nice walkway…

And then look to the right and see this…

Oh, Lord…a golf course.  I have nothing against golf, but I don’t necessarily want to see it in Mexico.  So then I walk on and see all these manicured lawns with lush condos and lagoons…

Suddenly, I’m thinking I’ve been transported to a retirement village in Florida.  But I go on…I DO like the name of this boat…

Then I get to the main “village”…which is not really a village, it’s just an expensive touristy place where wealthy people go to spend a lot of money.

Lots of cute (expensive) shops and restaurants.  The main hotel is the Omni and this is what you see when you walk through the lobby…

And here’s the beach view…

Beautiful…but you pay for it.  As I was walking back through the lobby, I saw the price posted on the wall…3750 pesos per night.  Let me just get out my credit card. (NOT)

I walked around the area a little more and saw that they had a big dolphin area where guests could swim with them.

And be kissed by them…

At this point I didn’t have much interest in spending any more time here, so I decided to head down to Akumal.  I walked back to the main area near the highway and really didn’t feel like waiting for the next bus, so I asked a taxi driver how much to Akumal.  He said 140 pesos.  Not a problem…so off we go down the highway to Akumal at I’m guessing about 90 miles per hour.  After all, he needed to get back to his post for his next fare.  I’m a bit of a lead-foot myself, so I’m not one to question Mexican cab drivers who may seem to put your life in danger but ALWAYS get you where you need to be in a timely fashion.

So here we are in Akumal again.  I was told that if I walked further past the main area, I would run into a better area.

I did run into the police station…I’m thinking they don’t have a lot of crime in Akumal.

I walked past a bunch of nice homes…and then on towards a bunch of hotels.

I will have to admit the views are beautiful in Akumal…the bay is stunning.

But, I will say again, that there is just not that much to do there.  I know they’re big on snorkeling and diving, but I think they cater to a higher-end clientele and that just isn’t me.  Their prices are higher and I just don’t feel as comfortable there as I do at Isla Mujeres or Puerto Morelos.  I guess I’m just a simple girl.

On that note…I’m headed back to Isla…

I think I took the 8:30 p.m. ferry back to the island and geez was it COLD!!  I thought I’d sit down below because I figured it would be warmer, but they had the air conditioning on!!  I suffered on top, huddled up against the wind.  I was glad to get back home.  Till next time…