Mexico - Cozumel and Tulum

After Costa Rica, the next stop on the cruise was Cozumel in Mexico. This is an island off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, in the Caribbean Sea. 

I had hoped to go to the famous Mayan archaeological ruins of Chichen Itza, but the tour was cancelled. Instead I booked on one to Tulum, which was a bit of a disappointment. Tulum is on the east coast of the Yucatan, southwest of Cozumel. 

We arrived at Cozumel around 5.30 am. There was a full moon -

We were taken to San Miguel jetty to get the ferry to Playa del Carmen, but one boat had broken down so we had to wait. It was light by the time we left. A heron -

At Playa del Carmen we walked through the tourist area to get to the coach to take us the 60 km to Tulum. On the way I saw signs to several cenotes but couldn't actually see any of the pools.

We arrived at Tulum and it was a bit of a shock. Tulum is the site of a pre-Columbian Mayan walled city which served as a major port for Coba, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. But to get to the ancient part, we had to walk through the shops and stalls, then go into one for tequila tasting. Finally left there and walked to the park gate and had bags searched as plastic bottles and other plastic items are not allowed in. Then took a 24 seater buggy to the gate to the archaeological site. 

The entrance was very unimpressive, just a short narrow entrance, then a walk through a wooded area.

Finally came to the main site. I wasn’t expecting much and it wasn’t much. It dates to the 13-15th centuries. It is just a city, with no pyramids, so was a poor substitute for Chichén Itzá, especially as I wanted to see a pyramid. 

The guide hurried us past a few buildings then we stood on a grassy area and the other guide took over and talked and talked and talked. It was really hot and sunny and the talk was very uninteresting, so in the end I got fed up and went off on my own.

I went straight to the house of the cenote, but that was disappointing as there was no water in the small cave below the house. 

Walked along mostly on the cliff path, the breeze was lovely but I got fed up with all the people taking selfies. The ruins were nothing much at all, the best thing was the lizards sunbathing on the tops of the buildings. The views from the 12 m high cliffs were nice.

When I had had enough of the ruins and crowds, I got the buggy back and went to Starbucks for a coffee and wifi. Coffee was dearer than beer in Costa Rica beer. 

Back at Playa Carmen -

We took the ferry back to Cozumel 

As we sailed out we saw 4 large cruise ships at the main cruise terminal north of the city -

There was a nice sunset and later that night, an eclipse of the moon -

Port Limon, Costa Rica

After visiting Cartagena in Colombia, our next stop was Port Limon in Costa Rica, where we had an overnight stay. I have been to Costa Rica once before, when I did the Tortuguero Canal trip. So this time I stayed and had a look around town, as I missed it last time. 

The colourful jetty leading to the terminal, with a group to welcome us -

We arrived on a Sunday and town was incredibly quiet. In fact it was dead. In front to the jetty is the Vargas Park, which is home to a few sloths. They were sleeping very high up in the trees and locals were charging tourists money to point out the sloths. The trees were nice but the sloths were almost impossible to see.

The deserted town -

A few hopeful stallholders -

The Sacred Heart Cathedral however was busy -

I wandered back to the ship for lunch, seeing this on the way -

By the afternoon the area around the waterfront had livened up. Families and youth were out, enjoying their Sunday. I wandered round to the next little bay which wasn't very exciting, so went back to people watch and have a beer -

The next day I explored more of the town. Another ship was in and the shops were all open, so the place had a very different atmosphere. 

I saw this old dilapidated building and my map showed it as a train station. So I walked around and saw that it housed old rolling stock.

I decided to follow the railway tracks to Limon train station. First Baptist church, 1888 -

St Mark's Church -

At the old Limon station there is nothing there except an old platform and a new McDonalds! And a lot of pigeons.

I wandered back, looking in some shops -

Back at the jetty, a kiskadee and iguanas -

After lunch I went out for a final wander and a beer -

grackles -

As I walked back to the ship there were some dolphins playing in the bay. Unfortunately the light was fading and the dolphins were quite far -