Cozumel

Our last port city was Cozumel. Today we split up - the guys were going power snorkeling and the girls were heading on a jungle exploration. We decided to pick our own excursions and then decide groups based on the choices.

The guys left the ship around 10:00 AM to head to their power snorkel excursion. They took a taxi further down the island to reach their excursion site. The girls would catch up with them at 3:00 PM to do some shopping in Cozumel.

The girls left the ship at 7:00 AM (much too early for a vacation). Our excursion took place on the mainland at Playa del Carmen. We took a ferry from Cozumel. It was a very fast ferry! When we got to the mainland, Eddie, our guide, took us by van to the Mayan Jungle site.

As part of the Mayan Jungle Explorer excursion, we biked, snorkeled, tubed, and zip-lined through the jungle. Our first activity was biking. We each got a mountain bike and headed on a 2 mile ride through Mayan farmland. We learned about their agriculture, how they farm and even saw a field they had recently prepared for planting corn.

After the bike, we prepared to zip-line. We got on all our gear - ropes, brakes, helmets, etc. We would complete three zip-line courses. The first course went over the water of a few centoes. Then we went on a second course that went through the trees of the jungle. The last course required us to climb a 60 foot tower and zip-line over the jungle. It was scary but really neat once you jumped.

After the zip-lines, we got to snorkel in the cenotes. Cenotes are caverns and caves of fresh water. They were formed when the glaciers retreated and air pockets of limestone broke or sunk forming these caverns. When the glaciers melted, fresh water filled these cenotes. Snorkeling in these centoes was amazing! It was crystal clear and the huge pieces of limestone under the water were amazing. The fish were very colorful as well.

This is where we snorkeled.

When we were all finished with our activities, we were able to eat a meal they prepared for us. The cooked quesadillas outside over an open flame and had a lot of fresh fruit. It was delicious and we were very hungry.

We eventually returned to the coast of Playa del Carmen and boarded the ferry to return to Cozumel. We met up with Josh, Alex, and Dean in Cozumel. They had a blast power snorkeling. They were out in the water for an hour and Josh took some great photos with his underwater camera.

Nice party hat!

Yes, we are enjoying dollar Coronas. Josh had to hold a bottle to show that anyone can buy beer in Mexico, including him. He would keep asking if Dean, Darla, or I needed a beer so he could go buy one for us.