After arriving to the Riviera Maya during the evening, we checked in at the Gran Bahia Principe's Royal Golden Akumal villa. We hit 2 buffets right after we had settled in, and finished our first evening with the Daily Performance at the resort.
Tip 1: Do Not let anyone carry your luggage after exiting the airport. If you do, you better have some large bills ready for them.
Tip 2: Do Not lose your immigration card you will need it to leave the country.
Waking up to the ocean front view was the highlight for us of every morning. After the welcome orientation we took a 25 mins ride on a $3US pp collectivo to RÍo Secreto, an amazing all nature reserve Cenoté. Our night ended with dinner a la cart at Restaurante Mediterraneo and a stroll around the resort.
Tip 1: Entrance fee is $59US pp. Booked through hotel is $89US pp plus pick up.
Tip 2: Bring a minimum of $60US for photos and souvenirs ( no cameras are allowed in )
7 mins and $2US pp on the collectivo took us to Xel–Ha, the world's largest natural aquarium. Snorkeling with hundreds of fish in the most spectacular inlet of the Mexican Caribbean. It's a huge park that will take you an entire day to go around, with food and drinks included there is nothing to worry about, except to have fun and relax. Our night was toped off with dinner a la cart at Restaurante Le Gourmet, it was the best a la cart we had! Highly recommended.
Tip 1: Xel–Ha hrs, M–Sun 9am–5:30pm.
Tip 2: Bring a pair of wet shoes. Lockers and Towels are free.
Tip 3: Bring a bottle of sunscreen to exchange with eco friendly sunscreen for free. ( You can get your sunscreen back before you exit in )
Tip 4: Packaged entrance tickets bought online for both Xel–Ha and XPLOR for $159US pp.
Adventure at XPLOR with 14 zip lines, with the highest zip–line hanging 147 feet above ground and 2.4 mile long airborne adventure. Plus 2 extra zips on a hammock with a refreshing water landing. 400 meter Stalactite River swim, 570 meter raft where we paddled with our own hands, and a 6.2 mile long adventure on an ATV through the jungle and caves. Healthy smoothies and snacks were our fuel through out the entire adventure. The automated camera sensor chip that are embed in each helmet captured our moments through out the park. We finished the day with dinner a la cart at Restaurante Portofino.
Tip 1: XPLOR hrs, M–Sat 9am–5pm.
Tip 2: Bring a pair of wet shoes.
Tip 3: Switch helmets, and take multiple shots for fun and save $.
Tip 4: Photos on USB drive are $49US for one helmet, $88US for family of two, with individual shots at $8US each.
Booked a 7:50am half–day Snorkeling trip through the hotel to Puerto Morelos, $76US + $3US port tax pp. This is the 2nd largest coral reef in the world. Although they don't promise you what you will see, you will for sure see some amazing things underwater. You will have some time to enjoy the beautiful white sand beach and local shops after snorkeling. After dark we took the $3US pp collectivo to the 5th Av At Playa del Carmen for some souvenirs shopping.
Tip 1: Bring lots of eco friendly sunscreen, even if it looks cloudy.
Tip 2: Alpaca is a combination of metals to imitate sterling silver.
Tip 3: The last collectivo to leave 5th Av is at 11:00pm.
Visited one of the 7 wonders of the world. We booked the $99US pp Chichen Itza tour through the hotel, which includes a visit to the streets of Valladolid and Mayan Cenotè before going to Chichen Itza. I still can't get over how precise the calculation was when they build it in order to do what it does. We ended our night with the 2nd best dinner a la cart at Restaurante Frutos Del Mar, and a special Mayan coffee fire show.
Tip 1: Wear comfortable shoes and bring hats, shades and sunscreen.
Tip 2: Bring around $150US if you want to get silver Mayan letter necklaces and souvenirs.
Tip 3: Bring lots of Pesos for cheap souvenirs at Chichen Itza.
Last tour of the week was again booked through the hotel for $119US pp. It was the Coba Mayan Encounter package. We mountain biked through the ancient city where we climbed the highest Maya temple. We zip–lined through the jungle, rappelled into a Cenotè, kayaked in the gentle river, and strolled through the jungle to swim in the mystical Cenotè. Every Friday is Mexican Fiesta night at Hacienda in the resort; our night ended with buffet at Tulum, and a trip to the Hacienda for last min souvenirs.
Tip 1: Bring a pair of wet shoes.
Tip 2: Mexican Fiesta at the Hacienda is not free.
Tip 3: Tulum has the best buffet and services.
Watched the Sun rise from our balcony, follow by breakfast buffet at Tulum. We finally had a chance to do one of the many activities that the hotel offers. We cruised around the resort with the bikes we rented, and went up to the observation tower over looking the ginormous property of Bahia Principe. It was an amazing trip! We loved it, and can't wait to go back again.
Tips 1: Leave your luggages outside your room and a bellboy will bring them to the lobby once you checked out.
Tips 2: Bring a pen so you can fill out the forms on the plan.