We got up early to go to Xel-Ha, a “natural amusement park”. We rented a car to drive there and then to Tulum, the nearest Mayan ruins. We had to wait at both the car rental place and to actually get the car. We got a bright yellow car called a Nissan Platina. The road to Xel-Ha was a one lane highway where passing is an art form. All along the highway there were construction and pickup trucks with their hazards on driving halfway in the lane and halfway on the shoulder. You would have to pass these while other cars were coming by in the opposite direction. Needless to say, you need to stay on your toes to drive there.

Once inside Xel-Ha we waited 20 minutes to get our snorkel equipment. We put our stuff in a locker and bought biodegradable suntan lotion which was the only suntan lotion allowed in the park. We snorkeled in the big lagoon and saw some blue and yellow fish. This was the first time I had successfully snorkeled, and I wasn’t impressed at all. I did, however, see a really big fish that scared the shit out of me. Of course it seemed big at the time, but looking back it probably wasn’t.

We paid for the all-inclusive package which included food and the snorkel equipment. It was hot out, so we got some ice cream, but it tasted like cardboard. We stopped at the “Mayan Cave” to do some snorkeling. Inside the cave, the water was very cold and there were very little fish. It was basically just an opportunity for the photographers to take your picture and try to charge you $10 for it afterwards.

At the top of the river, we got a double tube so we could float down the river. We sent our stuff in another tube so we could get it at the end of the river. We floated in the river and passed mangroves. It was calm and relaxing, probably the best part of the park. We stopped at a rope bridge but I fell half way across it. It looks much easier on TV!

After we were done floating down the river, we had a crappy lunch and drove to Tulum. It was a long, hot walk from the parking area to the entrance of the ruins. Tulum is a series of impressive seaside cliff ruins with a beautiful view of bright blue waters. Some of the buildings/ruins were surprisingly intact.

It started raining on the way home and there was lots of traffic. We had a light dinner at the hotel restaurant and listened to a South American band.