One of the couples had bought "eco-friendly" biodegradable sunscreen a couple of days prior at the strip mall down the road in Playacar it clearly states "biodegradable" on the bottle , plus Xel-Ha had a large photo of which brands were permissable. I noticed the main "ingredient" was titanium oxide, which I'd never heard of before.
I noticed there were four different shacks for snorkel gear -- we went to 1 indeed, I think this was the only one open this early. One of our tiny tickets was exchanged here for this snorkeling gear. By the end of the day, there was enough wiggle room below my big toe to rub a painful blister. Next stop, locker rental clearly marked right next to the snorkel shack. Another ticket exchanged for a large beach towel, and lock.
We were given a key on an elastic band to place around the neck for the locks. The lockers were plain wooden cubicles, and each couple got one locker theoretically I guess each person could get their own.
Clean but not fancy by any means. We then walked over to a large area of "deck chairs" overlooking the main lagoon, and plopped all our stuff down here. We hoped everyone else was on the honor system too, because this is the only place to keep non-valuables towels, cheapo cameras, etc.
Since it was only a. They took another tiny ticket here even though it is all-inclusive, you need this ticket for your first meal of the day. Very nice buffet, with eggs, chilaquiles, great fresh fruit, granola, bacon, etc.
Then, off to the lagoon for snorkeling! I've never snorkeled before, so it took a bit of work to get coordinated. Many, if not most, people were wearing the blue life jackets provided, but I decided not to wear one. While the lagoon is not incredibly deep, there are really no areas where one can stand up, head out of water. Initially I didn't see any fish, and was thinking, "what the hell?
Then the whole water came alive with large colorful fish! Cobalt blues, irridescent yellows and greens --all the colors of the rainbow here, but just out of reach. There are lots of crevices to explore around the lagoon, and "islands" that turn into underwater canyons. The closer you got to the "floating bridge," at the mouth of the lagoon, the more plentiful the fish become.
This is because there is free fish food here, which people throw into the water. Trust me, it becomes a real feeding frenzy when some wise ass throws food around your face, and all the fish go into a fury.
Be careful for another reason here: the mild undertow from the sea can pull you toward and even under the bridge. While we didn't pay extra, this is also the area for "Snuba", the sea walks on the bottom of the lagoon, i. Same with the dolphin swim A short word about water "clarity. I'm not talking about bathwater versus mudflats here, but there was a slight difference.
The solution was to go to your own area of the large lagoon, where things cleared up. The suncreen did come off in the water, because I could see it physically coming off my skin, when I was still. While we did the "lazy river" ride, I didn't enjoy it. You had to hike over to the "train" i. Disneylike parking lot tram , wait for a ride up to the starting point, and then line up for plastic inner tubes.
All in plus degree heat with plus humidity. And, the "river", really an inlet of the lagoon, meanders along at a mind-numbingly slow pace. You end up paddling yourself to go anyplace, and the only "scenery" is the not-at-all scenic half-submerged mangrove trees. And you can just feel yourself baking in the hot sun, sitting trapped in an inner tube Mercifully, to cool down afterwards, there are several sit-down, or fast food-type places scattered around the main lagoon.
Also a "bridge bar" on the way to the floating bridge. To be honest, I don't know if I'd do this place without the all-inclusive package. It's just too convenient to show your armband number, and pick up a beer, cocktail or plate of food. Be aware that each person must show their armband when scoring any food or drink, as they enter this number into the cash register I noticed it always flashes "paid".
There were loads of people here by lunchtime, but I never felt the lines detracted from my stay. They moved pretty quickly for food and drink both. There are loads of souvenir shops, and places to buy underwater cameras, swim suits, etc. Park employees cast members? There was even a security presence with their short shorts and rolled-up t-shirt sleeves, lol, no doubt prowling for illegal sunscreen.
I keep referencing Disney here, and to be honest, while not as sterile and controlled as the Disney environment, it is a safe place, where anything you need is but a short stroll away. That's not meant to detract from this place at all. The day ended all too quickly really! That "white paste in a tube" i. Except where I forgot to put it We met our driver Carlos, and made our way back to the Quetzal after returning our swim accoutrements.
I nursed my blistered toe, as we all recounted the giant fish we had seen that day. So go already Helpful Share. CoralReef wrote a review Jun Washington contributions helpful votes. Fantastic snorkeling! We had originally scheduled this trip for Tuesday, but my husband was not feeling well that day. I was impressed that he bothered to do this. The air-conditioned bus picked us up at in the Maya lobby and drove us about an hour south. We did not stop at any other resorts. On the way, the tour guide oriented us to Xel-Ha and gave instructions on when to meet the bus.
Some people on the bus were leaving Xel-Ha after about 5 hours to continue on to Tulum for a couple of hours. After their tour, the bus picked up those who remained at Xel-Ha all day. On arrival at Xel-Ha, the guide made sure we got our all-inclusive wristbands, and led us on a brief tour. There were a lot of mechanics to take care of before we started having fun.
First you give a deposit a piece of ID, room key, etc. After stashing our extra stuff in the locker, we checked our sunscreen at an information desk. You are only allowed to use biodegradable sunscreen at Xel-Ha in order not to harm the fish. I recommend just buying and taking your own biodegradable sunscreen, because the free packet was very small and they would only give one.
After that, we went to a snorkel hut, left another deposit, and got vests and fins we had our own masks and snorkels. It would be nice if all these mechanics could be handled at one stop. Then it was on to the giant lagoon for snorkeling, the main attraction at Xel-Ha. The snorkeling at Xel-Ha was the best snorkel experience I've ever had, and I have snorkeled all around the Caribbean.
We saw a stingray larger than any at Stingray City in Grand Cayman. There was a four-foot long grouper, and huge, brightly colored parrot fish, angelfish, and too many others to count. We saw the most fish under the floating bridge where the sea enters the lagoon.
There are stations there and elsewhere with free fish food, but we brought bananas, and the fish loved them. The cenotes, caves and lakes that feed the sea, are mixed with fresh spring waters that reflect the blue colors of the sky, turning Xel-Ha into the world's most beautiful and largest natural aquarium, where you can dive and snorkel among hundreds of tropical fish and more than 90 marine species that inhabit the creek, swim along the river and marvel yourself at the fantastic vegetation that you will find from the beginning until you reach the inlet.
One of the activities you can do at Xel-Ha is Swimming with Dolphins. You can interact with the dolphins including being foot-pushed, and have them do tricks in front of and over you. The dolphin swim takes place in the lagoon. The other major thing to see and do here is the lagoon itself. Xel-Ha is one of the best locations in Cancun for snorkeling.
There is also cliff diving, a rope swing, and a great beach to relax on. Unlimited snorkeling in the inlet with the use of snorkeling gear and a free snorkel. River floating on inner tubes. Continental breakfast from a. Snacks and lunch buffets from a. Domestic open bar and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages. World of Adventure: zip-lines, five-meter-high jumps and different rope games. Hikes through jungle paths. Cenotes and coves. The Meliponary and Nursery. Special activities for kids at the Children's Playground.
Rest areas with lounge chairs and hammocks. Life jackets, inner tubes and bicycles. Restrooms, changing rooms, showers, lockers and a towel. Free parking. Remember to bring the printed proof of purchase. Wear a swimsuit, water shoes, and comfortable clothing.
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