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Posted
21 hours ago, El Tri said:

going for 4 days in late june and staying in the southern most point of the island (never stayed down there before)

couple of questions: 

recommendations of restaurants near there (also can be near north beach)

how much would a taxi be to take me to north beach?

Panadería Emanuel is down there and is a good stop to load up on cheap pan for the stay.

Posted
On 6/6/2025 at 11:29 AM, El Tri said:

going for 4 days in late june and staying in the southern most point of the island (never stayed down there before)

couple of questions: 

recommendations of restaurants near there (also can be near north beach)

how much would a taxi be to take me to north beach?

north to south should be around $10

restaurants - south Bastos, middle Rosa Sirena, barrio El Varadero, north Mahache or Javi's the day they have the show (Thursday?), North Garden/Grill Garden

happy hour - rooftop of Hotel Secreto, trust me here bro be there an hour before sunset 

beach club - Palapa Leidy (ask for Kenji, tell him his best friend from Austin sent you) massages there too

the Joint is overpriced meh now, go to Borracho Burro

Posted
19 hours ago, 4th and 5 said:

happy hour - rooftop of Hotel Secreto, trust me here bro be there an hour before sunset 

Hotel Secreto has a rooftop bar now?  My, how things have changed.  We always stayed there and loved the hotel and staff.  Sadly, the staff we knew and loved were victims of COVID.  Not the sickness, but the loess of business during that time.

Posted

Another excellent trip and the locals were back to being as friendly as they were a decade or so ago. We really had excellent service at all three of Mahache (first time for us here), North Garden, and Abuelos. Also had fun searching through Super Aki, Oxxo, and convenience stores looking for some Churrumais that the wife was craving. We ended up finding it at one of the small tiendas in an alleyway where we bought them out.    

Abuelos was especially over the top great with the whole family, dog (x2), and cat greeting us. 

Posted
18 hours ago, SimonBolivar said:

Another excellent trip and the locals were back to being as friendly as they were a decade or so ago. We really had excellent service at all three of Mahache (first time for us here), North Garden, and Abuelos. Also had fun searching through Super Aki, Oxxo, and convenience stores looking for some Churrumais that the wife was craving. We ended up finding it at one of the small tiendas in an alleyway where we bought them out.    

Abuelos was especially over the top great with the whole family, dog (x2), and cat greeting us. 

churrumais is my jam. i grew up eating them as a kid in mexico. 10 days and i'll be in isla - can't wait!

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Posted (edited)
17 hours ago, BurntOrange&White said:

There is an all inclusive in the isle now right? What’s the name of it?

I know that you can get it at Mia Reef and Privilege Aluxes. I think there are more places on the island that offer it, but I don't think there's anywhere large enough (restaurant variety) to make it really worth it unless you can drink well drinks like a fish. The food in restaurants on Isla are good and cheap enough (by American standards) to make it hard to make AI worth it to me.

 

Hell at Aluxes last week we got the rooftop suite w/private pool on the non-inclusive plan and that came with the standard four types of liquor you'd normally see at AI places and a bottle or Rose. The mini-bar with waters, sodas, and beers was not included (lol).
20250609_155931.thumb.jpg.ec59e919eab6482ee792c8f1865fa877.jpg

 

Edited by SimonBolivar
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Posted
1 hour ago, El Tri said:

churrumais is my jam. i grew up eating them as a kid in mexico. 10 days and i'll be in isla - can't wait!

Wife grew up splitting time between US & Zacatecas and she's obsessed with them. 

Posted (edited)
1 minute ago, SimonBolivar said:

Wife grew up splitting time between US & Zacatecas and she's obsessed with them. 

has she tried the takis stix? hard to find, but they're a good copy of churrumais.

 

you should be able to find churrumais at a michoacana if you have one near you

Edited by El Tri
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Posted
Just now, El Tri said:

has she tried the takis stix? hard to find, but they're a good copy of churrumais.

 

you should be able to find churrumais at a michoacana if you have one near you

I'll have to get her some to see if she likes them.

 

I just stopped by a Helados La Azteca near my job and grabbed a couple bags of Churrumais yesterday that came out to $7.50. We paid $35 pesos for two of them on Isla.

Posted
1 minute ago, SimonBolivar said:

I'll have to get her some to see if she likes them.

 

I just stopped by a Helados La Azteca near my job and grabbed a couple bags of Churrumais yesterday that came out to $7.50. We paid $35 pesos for two of them on Isla.

yeah just make sure they're the Stix and not the regular takis

Posted
3 hours ago, SimonBolivar said:

I know that you can get it at Mia Reef and Privilege Aluxes. I think there are more places on the island that offer it, but I don't think there's anywhere large enough (restaurant variety) to make it really worth it unless you can drink well drinks like a fish. The food in restaurants on Isla are good and cheap enough (by American standards) to make it hard to make AI worth it to me.

 

Hell at Aluxes last week we got the rooftop suite w/private pool on the non-inclusive plan and that came with the standard four types of liquor you'd normally see at AI places and a bottle or Rose. The mini-bar with waters, sodas, and beers was not included (lol).
20250609_155931.thumb.jpg.ec59e919eab6482ee792c8f1865fa877.jpg

 

Having stayed at Privilege Aluxes last June (same type room as Simon Bolivar), it you drink like a fish on property, all-inclusive may be worth it (we DID do AI). But the food is much better and varied off-property.  Just my three cents.  It's a great property, and that room was totally badass.  Would stay there again.

Posted

I need to nail down transfers and car rental for late July for 4 of us. Any experience with Cancun Valet? That's who wood's guy sent me to. Is there a preferred safe rental car company? Will need to get from the airport to the island, then a few days later off the island and to the rental car, and then of course rental car back to airport. 

Posted
12 minutes ago, Baboontyme said:

I need to nail down transfers and car rental for late July for 4 of us. Any experience with Cancun Valet? That's who wood's guy sent me to. Is there a preferred safe rental car company? Will need to get from the airport to the island, then a few days later off the island and to the rental car, and then of course rental car back to airport. 

going in 10 days. booked transfers through https://carmtransfers.com/isla-mujeres-transfers/ and car rental through https://americacarrental.com.mx/en/cars/cancun-airport

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Posted
16 minutes ago, Baboontyme said:

I need to nail down transfers and car rental for late July for 4 of us. Any experience with Cancun Valet? That's who wood's guy sent me to. Is there a preferred safe rental car company? Will need to get from the airport to the island, then a few days later off the island and to the rental car, and then of course rental car back to airport. 

CARM and USATransfers are both 100% solid. I'm sure Wood's guy is excellent since he/she/it goes all the time, iirc. Don't get a taxi at the airport to the ferry or the ferry to the rental car place. I'd take CARM/USATransfers to the ferry from the airport then use Uber for the other two trips if you don't want to pay the higher price for the convenience of CARM/USATransfers. You can't legally get an Uber from the airport but can take one to the airport.

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Posted
23 hours ago, SimonBolivar said:

Another excellent trip and the locals were back to being as friendly as they were a decade or so ago. We really had excellent service at all three of Mahache (first time for us here), North Garden, and Abuelos. Also had fun searching through Super Aki, Oxxo, and convenience stores looking for some Churrumais that the wife was craving. We ended up finding it at one of the small tiendas in an alleyway where we bought them out.    

Abuelos was especially over the top great with the whole family, dog (x2), and cat greeting us. 

I forgot about Abuelos, that's a good spot too

Posted

Ok making progress on the transfer and car rental front.

Carm is setting me up with airport to ferry (plus bottle water for the family and a dos x for me), ferry tickets, pick up from ferry and transport to American car rental at the airport. There is a shuttle from the car rental to take us back to the airport. 

I booked the car online, I booked the full size with a manual. To my surprise they didn't take a credit card for the reservation. If I pay in advance through the site, am I going to get beaten up with the exchange rate? 

Speaking of, I recall reading in this thread about not using your cc to pay for stuff on the island. I hate carrying cash. That really my only option? Also not thrilled with the idea of having to stop at a grocery store or bank to pull out a bunch of cash once we land. I don't mind a lazy tax of a few bucks if I can exchange at a bank before I leave, but a couple hundred bucks lazy tax is a bridge too far. What is my best bet? 

Posted
Ok making progress on the transfer and car rental front.
Carm is setting me up with airport to ferry (plus bottle water for the family and a dos x for me), ferry tickets, pick up from ferry and transport to American car rental at the airport. There is a shuttle from the car rental to take us back to the airport. 
I booked the car online, I booked the full size with a manual. To my surprise they didn't take a credit card for the reservation. If I pay in advance through the site, am I going to get beaten up with the exchange rate? 
Speaking of, I recall reading in this thread about not using your cc to pay for stuff on the island. I hate carrying cash. That really my only option? Also not thrilled with the idea of having to stop at a grocery store or bank to pull out a bunch of cash once we land. I don't mind a lazy tax of a few bucks if I can exchange at a bank before I leave, but a couple hundred bucks lazy tax is a bridge too far. What is my best bet? 

Wtf are you me in an alternate world? This is the same exact thing we are doing, down to the manual van rental, water for kids and the XX
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Posted
20 hours ago, Baboontyme said:

Ok making progress on the transfer and car rental front.

Carm is setting me up with airport to ferry (plus bottle water for the family and a dos x for me), ferry tickets, pick up from ferry and transport to American car rental at the airport. There is a shuttle from the car rental to take us back to the airport. 

I booked the car online, I booked the full size with a manual. To my surprise they didn't take a credit card for the reservation. If I pay in advance through the site, am I going to get beaten up with the exchange rate? 

Speaking of, I recall reading in this thread about not using your cc to pay for stuff on the island. I hate carrying cash. That really my only option? Also not thrilled with the idea of having to stop at a grocery store or bank to pull out a bunch of cash once we land. I don't mind a lazy tax of a few bucks if I can exchange at a bank before I leave, but a couple hundred bucks lazy tax is a bridge too far. What is my best bet? 

If this is your first time at CUN then be sure and talk to nobody when you leave the terminal. Straight ahead until you're outside and the CARM guy will be there with your name on the board. 

The scammers inside will say "they're trying to help you find your driver", but most of the time they aren't.

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Posted
On 6/20/2025 at 11:11 AM, SimonBolivar said:

If this is your first time at CUN then be sure and talk to nobody when you leave the terminal. Straight ahead until you're outside and the CARM guy will be there with your name on the board. 

The scammers inside will say "they're trying to help you find your driver", but most of the time they aren't.

Yeah the transfer companies were quite clear on that. 😂 It's plastered all over their websites and called out again in bold on the confirmation they sent me.. 

Posted
On 6/19/2025 at 1:49 PM, Baboontyme said:

Ok making progress on the transfer and car rental front.

Carm is setting me up with airport to ferry (plus bottle water for the family and a dos x for me), ferry tickets, pick up from ferry and transport to American car rental at the airport. There is a shuttle from the car rental to take us back to the airport. 

I booked the car online, I booked the full size with a manual. To my surprise they didn't take a credit card for the reservation. If I pay in advance through the site, am I going to get beaten up with the exchange rate? 

Speaking of, I recall reading in this thread about not using your cc to pay for stuff on the island. I hate carrying cash. That really my only option? Also not thrilled with the idea of having to stop at a grocery store or bank to pull out a bunch of cash once we land. I don't mind a lazy tax of a few bucks if I can exchange at a bank before I leave, but a couple hundred bucks lazy tax is a bridge too far. What is my best bet? 

There is a money exchange directly across the street from the ferry,  it’s in a little booth outside a store, it has a good exchange rate

On 6/21/2025 at 6:26 PM, Baboontyme said:

Yeah the transfer companies were quite clear on that. 😂 It's plastered all over their websites and called out again in bold on the confirmation they sent me.. 

just go all the way outside and look for the pillar with a C on it. They’re usually right there.

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Posted
On 6/17/2025 at 9:53 AM, SimonBolivar said:

I know that you can get it at Mia Reef and Privilege Aluxes. I think there are more places on the island that offer it, but I don't think there's anywhere large enough (restaurant variety) to make it really worth it unless you can drink well drinks like a fish. The food in restaurants on Isla are good and cheap enough (by American standards) to make it hard to make AI worth it to me.

 

Hell at Aluxes last week we got the rooftop suite w/private pool on the non-inclusive plan and that came with the standard four types of liquor you'd normally see at AI places and a bottle or Rose. The mini-bar with waters, sodas, and beers was not included (lol).
20250609_155931.thumb.jpg.ec59e919eab6482ee792c8f1865fa877.jpg

 

Roof top with the pool is our go to each time.  and very lol that the mini bar is not included but you can drain the bottles for no charge.

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Posted (edited)
3 hours ago, 4th and 5 said:

There is a money exchange directly across the street from the ferry,  it’s in a little booth outside a store, it has a good exchange rate

just go all the way outside and look for the pillar with a C on it. They’re usually right there.

Atm card or do I have to bring paper weight?

Edited by Baboontyme
Posted

I'm a couple weeks out. The sargassum situation is looking better. Cannot wait. I am city wise and keep my head on a swivel. But I have never been to Mexico and I'm not used to carrying cash with me at all, let alone at a pool/beach/cenote pool or whatever. What's my best bet here? I don't even own a wallet. One of those travel friendly RFID blocking wallets and never let it leave my body when I'm out of the hotel room? Leave it at the pool under your t shirt and flip flops and never let it leave your sight? I am assuming I need to have cash with me at all times down there, correct? Getting a drink at the pool, tipping, etc.

Posted

there was some sargassum towards the mia reef hotel, but if you go down PN it was crystal clear...

 

PDC on the other hand was a cesspool. Puerto Morelos was really clean

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Posted
18 hours ago, Baboontyme said:

I'm a couple weeks out. The sargassum situation is looking better. Cannot wait. I am city wise and keep my head on a swivel. But I have never been to Mexico and I'm not used to carrying cash with me at all, let alone at a pool/beach/cenote pool or whatever. What's my best bet here? I don't even own a wallet. One of those travel friendly RFID blocking wallets and never let it leave my body when I'm out of the hotel room? Leave it at the pool under your t shirt and flip flops and never let it leave your sight? I am assuming I need to have cash with me at all times down there, correct? Getting a drink at the pool, tipping, etc.

I carry a Ridge wallet when I travel.

Last I was there most places took credit cards but someone who's been more recently can probably chime in.  Enjoy!  It's one of my favorite islands.

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Posted (edited)
On 7/10/2025 at 7:24 PM, Baboontyme said:

I'm a couple weeks out. The sargassum situation is looking better. Cannot wait. I am city wise and keep my head on a swivel. But I have never been to Mexico and I'm not used to carrying cash with me at all, let alone at a pool/beach/cenote pool or whatever. What's my best bet here? I don't even own a wallet. One of those travel friendly RFID blocking wallets and never let it leave my body when I'm out of the hotel room? Leave it at the pool under your t shirt and flip flops and never let it leave your sight? I am assuming I need to have cash with me at all times down there, correct? Getting a drink at the pool, tipping, etc.

We got back yesterday and thankfully moved from PDC to Isla in advance. The former beaches continue to be a mess. There is nothing that is "looking better" with sargassum in IM. It was beautiful and continues to be on pretty much all sides of the island with very scattered seaweed, at worst. You'll be fine. When we got way out in the water to swim with the whale sharks we saw big brown blobs heading toward Cancun / PDC. But that was it - their problem,

- Most everyone (san very tiny places) takes credit cards and for those that "don't" just ask them, as they likely will. They want your business. Preference is to avoid CC fees but at the end of the day they'll take customers. 

- Don't worry about carrying around some MXN cash in your pocket, stowing it in your towel, or whatever. The biggest lawbreakers in Isla are the locals on scooters who occasionally ignore Stop signs. No one is going to steal anything from you unless you openly ask for it. I trust Mexicans infinitely more than people here - they're hard working, happy and trustworthy. 

- To exchange USD for MXN, we've always used the little bank right after you get off the ferry in Isla, to the right. Exchange rates vary around the island but nothing material. 

 - Go swim with the whale sharks - pretty incredible. They're up to the size of a school bus, 20 - 40 tons and a mouth as wide as your 9-year old is tall. Majestic, mammoth, filter feeders who couldn't care less about you as they glide around while you get up close. Get a private boat vs. the cattle call tours.  It's an extra $250 or so for your (small, up to 4) group,  a captain and a dive lead. Well worth the spend when you get out to the sharks and there's 20 other loaded boats to deal with. We did ours with Carey Dive and it was great. That first go into the water when you're almost face to face with the biggest fish in the world and one of the largest animals on the planet is a bit daunting but very cool. Have always wanted to do this and it was a one-of-a-kind experience.

- Past experience and we continue to get our golf carts at Ciro's. Buried downtown in a tiny shop but the cheapest and pretty easy to deal with. Their carts are also the fastest.  Can be good, or bad, depending upon how you handle the onslaught of speed bumps.  Taxis are plentiful and probably cheaper if you do the math for being out and about but the carts are great for instant availability, exploring when / where you want, etc. 

- Good rec above on the (somewhat) new Secreto roof top. Meh food but the beer was fine which is hard to mess up.  End game is the sunset view which you can't beat.

- There's plenty of good food on the island but Yayo continues to be one of our favorites. Hole in the wall with mostly locals and a staff that speaks very little English, the best of signs. Food starts with a tray of 6 different salsas and chips and the food goes well from there. Breakfast or lunch. Your bill comes and you think it should be twice as much as what you're seeing. It's really good.

- Beach club... Tuturreque by Playa Arena. Right in the middle of the north beach. They ask for 500MXN spend / person for a chair, umbrella and food. Most others are asking for a food spend and another for a chair / umbrella / bed.  Not this place. They'll situate you in a nice spot with good service and the kicker is that they (in both our trips there) charged us just for our food and drink total, which was less than the minimum spend they were initially asking. Pleasant surprise(s), just add'l reason to tip the good servers even more.  Not sure if this is across the board but we saw this same spend deal on two visits. 

- Capilla de Guadalupe...whether you're Catholic or not it's a beautiful site....tiny church with an altar that almost sits on top of the Caribbean. The cathedrals in Europe have their own, justifiable places as landmarks in the world. But you could get married pretty much anywhere and it would be hard to top this place.  (Mango Cafe right across the street has a rooftop and really cheap beer /  decent food.)

- Panteon - Take your cart along the east side of the island to see nice, secluded beaches (stray dogs will share umbrellas with you) and you'll run into this cemetery...very, very  colorful, interesting displays of tombs.

 - Chadraui (Isla HEB) - go early or late if possible, otherwise it's a mess with really long lines. We've never explored the other stores but perhaps we should at some point. 

- Punta Sur never disappoints. Just so well kept and maintained and views that you'll see nowhere else. The easternmost point of Mexico. Just when you think you've seen all shades of blue the Caribbean can offer you see another while walking around it and dodging the iguanas.  The water never gets old - just simply gazing at it is an experience of its own.  if you're up for it (literally 6AM) go sit in the benches there and watch the sun rise  Well worth it. 

- If you stay to the right along the coastline upon leaving Punta Sur, about a mile up on the right is a gravel road, take a right on it and get off the beaten path in you cart for awhile to explore the homes that sit on the water. Nice little 15-minute side trip that not many undertake.

- And to tuck in your back pocket...Dr. Loren Robertos is great if you ever need him and it does happen....will come to your hotel room, prescribe medicine, etc. Speaks solid English. +52-999-263-4161. $100USD for a house call. He was in our room within 30 minutes of calling, on Sunday.  Hard to beat. 

 

 

Enjoy.

Edited by Wally Pryor
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Posted
On 7/10/2025 at 7:24 PM, Baboontyme said:

I'm a couple weeks out. The sargassum situation is looking better. Cannot wait. I am city wise and keep my head on a swivel. But I have never been to Mexico and I'm not used to carrying cash with me at all, let alone at a pool/beach/cenote pool or whatever. What's my best bet here? I don't even own a wallet. One of those travel friendly RFID blocking wallets and never let it leave my body when I'm out of the hotel room? Leave it at the pool under your t shirt and flip flops and never let it leave your sight? I am assuming I need to have cash with me at all times down there, correct? Getting a drink at the pool, tipping, etc.

We exchange here and take pesos down, as the rates are better.  Each day we take some with us and leave the rest in the hotel safe.  Can always go back and grab some more.  Haven't had an issue in years down there.  Including letting it sit on the beach chair and not worrying about it.  We feel safer there than walking down Congress Avenue on a sunny afternoon.

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