Written by Rob Mukai on Nov. 26, 2015
Update: Sept 22, 2023 - New signs up.
UPDATE: July 15, 2019 - Put up new signs again. Replaced some posts etc. that were falling apart.
UPDATE: June 14, 2017 - Just put in new signs. And added a couple. One right at the...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 14, 2016
Our Visit
Located just outside of Tulum on the road to Coba, Gran Cenote has probably the nicest facilities of any of the cenotes we have been to. They have clean changing rooms, and lockers. The grass is manicured....
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 14, 2016
Our Visit
This cenote is very close to Tulum (walking distance from the San Francisco grocery store) on the road to Coba. Calavera means skull and it's obvious why. It has a large opening and two small openings....
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 14, 2016
Our Visit
This is on the road to Coba out of Tulum. We actually didn’t go into this one. Just checked it out and took some pictures, so I can’t tell you about the water temp. Though a good guess would be around 70...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 14, 2016
Our Visit
Located on the road to Coba out of Tulum. We actually didn’t go in to this one. It is a surface cenote that taxi driver’s used to use to wash their cars. When we arrived, the water was a murky green that...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 14, 2016
Our Visit
About mid-way between Akumal and Tulum on highway 307 on the west side of the road is a clump of cenotes centered on Dos Ojos (or two eyes). It is a bit confusing, since when you come off of the highway...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 14, 2016
Our Visit
Casa Cenote is a few minutes north of Tulum off of 307 on Tankah bay. It is a surface cenote and because it is on the east side it is very close to the ocean and the water definitely has some salt in it....
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 14, 2016
Our Visit
Jaguar is on the bumpy road to Dos Ojos. We didn’t actually go in but were able to take some pictures. It had a couple of platforms to jump in as well as a zip line. If I had to guess, it is about the same...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 14, 2016
Our Visit
We actually didn’t get to swim here because we couldn’t find anyone taking money. But we were able to take some pictures. It is a pretty large surface cenote with crystal clear water. Looks like it would...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 14, 2016
Our Visit
7 Bocas is on the Ruta de los cenotes. You pick it up heading west from Puerto Morelos. This one is a cavern cenote that goes up to 500 feet deep. Definitely try going close to mid-day as most of the bocas...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 14, 2016
Our Visit
Jardin del Eden is in a group of four cenotes just south of Puerto Aventuras across from the Barcelo Maya Hotel. It has a couple of smaller pools and one main pool. The main cenote has two areas to do some...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 14, 2016
Our Visit
Cenote Azul is right next door to Jardin del Eden on 307 near Puerto Aventuras. We actually didn’t go into the water there, although I am sure it is similar to Jardin del Eden. The reason was we couldn’t...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 16, 2016
Overview
After Chichen Itza, Tulum is probably the most visited ruin in the Yucatan. You will likely see 30-40 tour buses in the parking lot but it is a very large site and can handle the crowds. There is a large...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 16, 2016
Overview
Again not quite a day trip. This is a ruin that is just west of Tulum. So it is more of a stop on the way driving from Cancun, or on your way back. Coba has the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan. It is also...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 16, 2016
Overview
A bit of a misnomer as this is a ruin that is just south of Tulum. So it is more of a stop on the way driving from Cancun, or on your way back than a day trip. It is a smaller site. Compared to Tulum, or...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Sep. 18, 2016
So I am a bit of a foody, and one of the things I like is finding out of the way eateries that are punching way above their weight class. Sometimes it’s a pastry cart in Bangkok, or an Oden cart in Tokyo on a winter’s day that...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Sep. 18, 2016
When coming to Xcalak, sometimes flights force you to spend a night or two in Cancun. If you are like me and the thought of going to a Señor Frogs or Coco Bongo for dinner makes your skin crawl, I have a different type of...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Sep. 18, 2016
Cenotes are sink holes. The geology of the Yucatan is of a lot of limestone, with all flowing fresh water underground in systems of caves and underground rivers. The caves contain stalactites and stalagmites as water filters...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Dec. 30, 2016
If you are on a daytrip to Bacalar, or to the ruins at Dzibanche and you want to get some good food. Give Savora Bakhalal a try. It is an Italian...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Dec. 31, 2016
Right on the main square in Bacalar, there is a small gelato shop called Porque No (means Why Not?). And indeed why not get a hand made gelato or sorebeto made with fresh fruit, on a hot day in Bacalar. If you are in...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Nov. 03, 2017
Overview
A very cool private Mexican Folk Art Collection in the colonial city of Valladolid. There are over 3,000 pieces in an 18,000 sq. ft. private home. This huge private home took 10 years to renovate and is...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Dec. 22, 2017
Overview
I have been having a difficult time keeping in Roberita glasses. Over time, they get broken, and the only place I know of to get rather unremarkable margarita glasses is at a hotel supply store in Cancun....
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Written by Rob Mukai on Jul. 26, 2018
Review
This is a quick one, the restaurant overlooking the Cenote Zaci in the middle of Valladolid is a great place for lunch. They have a full Yucatecan menu with specialties like Queso Relleno and cochinita pibil....
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Written by Rob Mukai on Jul. 26, 2018
This place was recommended to me by a bellman at the 4 Points by Sheraton. And it is a great find. You won't find any gringos at this place. It is located just before the turnoff to the CUN airport on 307 on the southbound...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 05, 2018
Overview
If you are staying in Tulum on your way down to Xcalak, and you have a hankering for a good steak, give La Braceria a try.
Our Experience
So we went to La Braceria on the recommendation of one of...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 15, 2018
Ok, another post of a not quite restaurant. This is in the Market at Filipe Carillo Puerto. Driving down from Cancun, Filipe Carillo Puerto is the largest town you will run into south of Tulum. It is roughly half way...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 16, 2018
This is another attraction in Valladolid. Traveling around the American West, you get used to seeing "really old" stuff be from 1800's, and even on the east coast the 1700's. Valladolid is a very different experience. The...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 20, 2018
Overview
This restaurant is in the hotel in the main square in Valladolid, The hotel is a nice place to stay as well, but this is a review of the restaurant. You enter the restaurant from main square in Valladolid. It...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Aug. 30, 2018
Overview
Every year between May and September the whale sharks congregate near the north end of the Yucatan Penninsula. This also happens to be the time when snapper, grouper and other fish come here to do their...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Feb. 18, 2019
Although it is possible to get to Xcalak via bus, the preferred method to get to Acocote Eco Inn from the airport is renting a car and driving down. This has a number of advantages. You can get to our [restaurants in...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Apr. 01, 2019
This is a day-trip that you can make from the Inn. If you need a break from standing in the front of a boat, or to get out of the sun for a bit, this is a great way to spend a day. This is a full day excursion. A couple of...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Jun. 07, 2019
Overview
This is a good day trip if you are looking for something completely different. If you need a break from fishing or diving, a trip to Bacalar should definitely be on your radar. This can also be tacked on to...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Jul. 01, 2019
So this is another bit of a cheat. It really isn't for a day trip to Xcalak, but more if you have time on the drive down to Xcalak or on your way back to Cancun. But this was a great time riding a mountain bike in the...
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Written by Rob Mukai on Oct. 21, 2019
Overview
So this is kinda embarrassing but for all the times I have traveled to this part of the world and the nearly 5 years I have lived here, I had never been to the island of Cozumel. This is also not a day trip...
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