From: chris@ccscae.Columbia.NCR.COM (Chris A. Harrison)
Subject: Re: QUESTIONS REGARDING COZUMEL
Organization: NCR Corp, E&M-Columbia, Columbia, SC
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 92 18:56:41 GMT

>>Howdy folks.  Some friends and I were "trying"(key word) put a trip to 
>>Cozumel together but are overwhelmed. 
>
>For food: (stay away from anything on the main street)
>  El Ricon Maya (most excellent)
>  Ernesto's (the other fajita place) is great too
>
I agree - both are excellent places to eat.  There's another place
about a block from the church (downtown) called Gavilanos (or something
like that).  Make friends with Enrique and he'll keep the tequila coming.

>
>Rent a jeep (never a motorbike!) and go to the other side of the island.
>The best beaches are over there; only one restaurant however: the Naked 
>Turtle.
>
Also, down at the southern end of the island is a place called the
Paradise Cafe.  I don't think they're open for dinner, but lunch there
is very good.  The atmosphere is quite a bit different from what you'd
find anywhere in town (Bob Marley music, etc..).  We rented motorbikes
and had no problem at all.  Shop around before you rent one.  We were
able to get bikes that looked almost new for $18/day including insurance
(watch them on this one - some don't come with insurance).  The motorbikes
add a new dimension to the island :)  :).  Imagine running flat out on
a Honda scooter (with no speedometer).  Lots of fun.

As far as diving - we went with a couple of different places.  Both
charged about $50 for a two-tank dive.  Deduct $15 if you have your
own equipment.  Prices are lower if you sign up for two or more days
of diving.  Lunch on the boat was also part of the package.  Both of
the shops we went with let the divers pick the dive sites.  My personal
favorite was the Santa Rosa Wall.  Wow.  Also enjoyed the Yocab Reef -
saw a wide variety of life there. Underwater cameras are available for 
rent ($30/day including a 36 exposure roll of film).  Again shop around.  

As for the basics, we got a package deal through Club America Vacations.
Got round-trip airfare (from Atlanta) and seven nights at the Plaza 
Las Glorias hotel for $600/person.  The hotel is fairly nice - a 
Mexican 5-star hotel that would probably rate 3 or 4 stars in the US.  
I'm sure there are less expensive hotels that would have met our needs 
quite nicely, but what the heck.

Regarding the Mayan ruins - there are some SMALL ruins on the island
itself.  If you go there expecting Tulum, you'll be disappointed.  Getting
there by motorbike or jeep is easy.  They charge $1 per person to go
up the access road, another $6/person to get in to the ruins, and $12
if you want a tourguide (there are no signs once you go through the
gate).  Complementary mosquito repellent is included in the cost of
the tour.

Just about every place on the island will take US dollars or Pesos (they
like those American greenbacks).  Cab fares are regulated, so you won't
get ripped off there. 

Sorry I don't have any phone numbers for you right now - I'll look through
my collection of receipts and see what I can come up with.  Hope you
have a good time in Cozumel.

cah

BTW - Cozumel is known as the Fertility Island - don't drink the water. :) :)

(insert standard disclaimers here)
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