Our Great Adventure: Tulum / Isla Cozumel Day 358 11/09/2015

We'd been in Tulum for 2 full days and not yet visited the Mayan ruins here so thought we'd go before we got the bus/ferry to Isla Cozumel. We had an early breakfast and packed most of our things before walking down to the main street to get a taxi to the site. The ruins are located over a rugged coastline looking out over a small strip of beach and the blue/green ocean. Compared to other sites we've visited the structures our deemed to be inferior, but what they lack is definitely made up for by the magnificent setting. From the entrance we walked around the perimeter wall, 3m thick and measuring 720m, surrounding the 3 edges of the site with the 4th being guarded by the sea. You access the site at Casa del Cenote, one of only 3 access points, 4 including the beach. From here you get a good view of the site, set on sloping ground which leads up to the most impressive building, El Castillo. The Templo del Dios del Viento is to the north side and built so that the sun shines directly through it's arches at the equinox. From behind El Castillo steps lead down to the beach. After enjoying the ocean breeze we walked around the centre of the site to Templo de las Pinturas where you can still make out some of the original carvings on the outer walls. Despite still being early the heat and humidity were relentless and we decided to head back to the b&b. We got a taxi at the south entrance where we'd cycled to a few days before. It was more expensive to go back to town from here but neither of us had the energy to walk to the other entrance. Back in town we stopped at a juice bar before returning to Casa Sophia to finish packing and check out. We walked the short distance to the bus station and got the local bus to Playa del Carmen. Luckily the bus terminal was only a block away from the ferry port where we bought return tickets to Isla Cozumel and soon afterwards boarded the ferry. The island is a very popular cruise ship destination and has also become a world famous diving spot, the reason why we were heading there. We booked to stay 1 night at Hotel Vista del Mar, close to the port in San Miguel. Our room wasn't ready when we arrived so we left our bags and walked along the front to find somewhere for lunch. This part of the island feels very different to Isla Mujeres, much more commercialised no doubt attempting to met the needs of the tourists from the cruise ships which anchor nearby. After lunch at a nearby cafe we headed back and checked out where we could by snorkelling equipment from so we can snorkel off the beach at Playa Marama where we are staying for our last 4 nights. We treated ourselves to ice creams and sat in the main plaza to eat them. The heat really doesn't help and it wasn't long before Diane was covered in melting ice cream and then managed to drop the whole cone due to rather slippery hands. We headed back to the hotel to take refuge in our air conditioned room. In the evening we headed out and ate at Kinta, just off the main drag. We sat in the courtyard and both had very tasty meals.