'Tulum' and 'Playa del Carmen' (Carmen Beach) top the list of favorite destinations on the "Tren Maya" (Mayan train) route, however, these places hide something that could stop the project in its tracks, join us in this episode to discover what to do at the Tulum and Playa del Carmen stations. Most of the travelers who visit Tulum, visit it by going first to the entrance and then to the exit because they want to visit the archeological zone and its wonderful beaches, generally, these travelers are accommodated either in Cancun or Playa del Carmen, and the Mayan train would make this journey much easier, and it would give the travelers more time to visit everything else Tulum has to offer. That's why in this video we are going to discover what to do beyond the famous ruins of Tulum, and later we are going to review the Mayan train section from Tulum to Playa del Carmen. Tulum is a city that is expanding fast because it is located in one of the most interesting zones on the entire train route. Here is, at least, three archeological zones to visit, more than six cenotes to explore, and several lagoons and coves to cool off in. Moreover, the Mayan train route allows that in Tulum the road forks into the state of Yucatan, which makes this tourist site a privileged spot. The first things to visit in Tulum are its charming beaches within the "Parque Nacional" (National Park), there is a parking service here, clubs, hotels, and restaurants, but, most importantly, the sea has an astonishing and mesmerizing blue color that has put Tulum among the top 5 beaches in the world. The white sand, its green areas, and the relaxed vibe of the beach are other features that make Tulum special, the sea is more enjoyable because the city is not on the beach. Tulum's main symbol is its archeological zone, topped with a Mayan temple that served as a lighthouse for the boats that came to this beach, which can now be accessed only by visiting this archaeological zone, which is one of the most popular in Mexico. Definitely, a trip to Cancun would be incomplete if this destination is not visited, however, the sea and the beach don't always look this wonderful. These are remains of sargassum, a seaweed that has begun to arrive in large quantities on the coast of Quintana Roo, and that has added a new tone to the color palette of the beaches. What we are seeing now is just the scar that was made by its massive arrival in 2018 that severely damaged the reef ecosystem, delivering a heavy blow to the tourism industry, which was not prepared to receive the amount that was coming in. In order to recover and preserve the beaches, every day there are workers collecting the sargassum that comes ashore, but there are weeks in which the amount is too large that it is not easy to deal with. The sargassum is like a monster which is slowly taking over the beach, and if we don't pay enough attention, it could destroy the Mexican Caribbean as it is. We can't let our guard down because the sargassum continues multiplying itself and advancing, it's becoming more and more aggressive, and the tourist paradise we have in Mexico is at risk. Many people argue that if we don't fix this problem, it would be senseless to build the Mayan train, as the main international attractions would be destroyed. That's why we must keep our eyes open and defend the coast from this strange enemy. Fortunately, Tulum is not only a beach. This huge lagoon, known as "Kaam Lumm", is another attraction to visit in this area. The color of the water is fascinating, and it's a very popular place among the visitors looking for alternatives to the beaches when these have sargassum. In this lagoon, we can see different kinds of birds, as it is surrounded by a lush virgin forest which protects them, if you visit them, please respect them and don't scare them away, this is their home and you are the guest. In the water, you will find some peculiar fish, so it is important that you take into account when visiting this wonder that you should not use sunscreen or makeup so as not to contaminate the fresh water that flows from the cenote to the center of the lagoon and is kept clean by the surrounding mangrove. It is necessary that we all take care that these rules are fulfilled so that we can enjoy for many years this gift from nature. Near "Kaam Lumm" it's found the archeological remains of Muyil, which are excellent to complement your trip, we have already visited them, so on this occasion we are going to explore another place the Mayan train will pass and that's next to Tulum. The new route of the train connects Valladolid and Tulum, passing trough Coba, an archeological zone which popularity is growing among the travelers that visit Mexico for the first time, so, we have decided to explore it to find out why it is so popular. Here in Coba, it's very common to rent a tricycle so someone else can take you to the ruins, or you can rent a bike too, so you can get there sooner. We don't know if it's really necessary to do that, at the moment it's not raining, nor is it getting that hot because it's cloudy today. Well, we are going to use the old and reliable way: we will just walk. Poor us! Haha. We were talking to some foreign tourist, and the told us that they like to come to this archeological zone because unlike Tulum and Chichen Itza, here they can have the chance to climb to one of the pyramids. We've already climbed too many pyramids, but, well, here we go. With a height of 42 meters and very steep stairs, the main structure of Coba, known as Nohoch Mul, is the main attraction of this zone. The reward of climbing to the top is being able to observe the jungle spreading out in all directions, having that sense of peace that only nature can give. On the top, there is a temple, but it's closed to the public, you can only appreciate the outside. If you think that climb it is hard, going down is even harder! For most of them, this is the first time they climb into a Mayan structure, so they get dizzy and prefer to go down in a curious manner, it is also common to see how some tourists who have just come down have their legs shaking. As we are a little tired we think it's better to rent a tricycle, so we can leave faster. If you want to do the same, just coming back on the tricycle costs $75 Pesos, but if you want to take it from the entrance and go back on it, too, it will cost $125 Pesos. Besides the pyramid, there are other areas to explore, Coba has a small ball game field which it's well conserved, the objective of the game was to pass the ball through some stone rings that were on either side, using only the hips or the forearms. The site also exhibits several stelae, of which the most famous is number one, as it was found there the supposed date of 2012 interpreted by many as the end of the world. However, for the Mayan culture time is an endless cycle that is interwoven like life, that's why we take the chance on our way back to Tulum to visit the nearby communities where dream catchers are made. Even though they are not original crafts from here, dream catchers have been evolving in this region for years, as the material in which these ornaments are made abounds in the jungle. If you are looking for something very special, here they can make you a dream catcher as you wish, and with the measures you need, the creativity of these artisans has no boundaries, and you can buy one at $150 Pesos. The plan to modify the train's original route and have it pass through Coba is to benefit these communities that depend on tourism. Moreover, with this new route we could save 55 kilometers of track which will reduce the environmental impact by a percentage that will undoubtedly benefit the jungle, as in this part of the stretch Mother Nature has already recovered much of the land through which the route would pass. Although the project promises great development for the region, there is no doubt that its success will depend on the conservation of nature, and unfortunately the arrival of sargassum has the potential to make the train just an illusion, because if it's not fixed, tourists that nowadays dream of seeing the beautiful beaches of the Riviera will no longer have the desire to visit the place. On this occasion, we spent the night in a beachfront boutique hotel which we loved due to the view that our room had. This hotel has all the services, even an air conditioning, something not that common within the 'Parque Nacional', because here the electricity depends on its generators and solar panels. Furthermore, it's located on a cliff, very similar to the one in the ruins of Tulum, the hotel is called "Tropicalito" and we will put the link on our blog in case you want to stay here, too. Today advancing along the "Tramo del Caribe" (the Caribbean stretch) to Playa del Carmen, it currently takes approximately 55 minutes from Tulum on the highway, however, the Mayan train could link both destinations in just 15 minutes, that would make easier the transportation of both tourists and locals, as many people make this journey daily to get to their works. The project would provide the most affordable fee for inhabitants, so the train could serve as public transportation in the zone. Playa del Carmen is a city whose atmosphere spreads enthusiasm and joy, there is something mystical in this beach that summons us to visit it and to return again and again to enjoy this destination. There is always something new to see here, something else to know. It's for many travelers the favorite place to visit, and all that energy and fame come from its wonderful sea, for a reason, it's one of the most visited beaches of the country, with white sand and a great familiar atmosphere. We rent a room with all the services for just $450 Pesos so if you want to visit Playa del Carmen it's not as expensive as some agencies advertise, and the privilege of enjoying this place is within reach for anybody who in fact dreams of visiting this beachfront cosmopolitan city. Around Playa del Carmen there are also many things to do, there are the most important parks of "Grupo Xcaret" (Xcaret Group), there are many cenotes to visit, too, there is "el Circo del Sol" (Cirque du Soleil), and it is the perfect spot to cross to Cozumel. But just as in Tulum, there is a season of the year when the sargassum attacks this beach. We captured these images in May, when this year's mass arrival was just beginning, despite of using heavy machinery to remove it from the beach, the sargassum comes in ridiculous quantities, and there is no human power that can control it to date. The most complex problem to solve is the handling of hundreds of tons that arrive daily on the beaches; the sargassum in decomposition is a health hazard since the sulfuric acid it generates is harmful, and if we don't fix it, it could poison the water in the cenotes and the lagoons, as well as spoil what's left of the Mayan jungle. This situation could chase away the investment required to build the Mayan train if the tourist image of Quintana Roo continues to be damaged, and this plague affects the most important destinations of the route, Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum are among the most affected destinations. Paradoxically, the Mayan train could be a part of the solution, because with freight wagons it could transport thousands of tons of sargassum collected from the tip of the Peninsula to territories more suitable for its industrialization, and where it could even be treated and used as a feed supplement for livestock. So, while some trains transport travelers at full speed, other rides could take the sargassum away, to where it won't do so much damage, allowing us to keep enjoying the wonderful beaches offered by the Mexican Caribbean, which we can't turn our backs on, because it's a spectacular destination we must preserve at all costs. For the moment, if you want to know the best of Playa del Carmen, we recommend planning your trip from November to March, when there are fewer probabilities to find sargassum. Around this time, the joy comes back and the beaches look terrific. Also, the temperature there is much more pleasant than in the hottest months. If you are already burning up in Playa del Carmen, you just have to approach to the entrance of these craft shops, here, they have a really powerful air conditioning, ah! here you refresh yourselves... After settling down in our hotel, we decided to look for a beach a little further away, to relax and treat ourselves for a while, so we drove South to visit the famous beach "Xpu-ha", we have detailed information on how to get there by car and by public transportation on our blog, check the links in the description below, so you will know how you could get there. Another alternative beach with fewer people and more free of sargassum is Xpu Ha beach, it has three access and the one we chose costs $80 Pesos per person, we will show you how beautiful it is. Xpu Ha is a semi-virgin place that is now becoming popular among the visitors of the 'Riviera Maya' that look for lesser-known alternative sites. The sea looks amazing here, there is a place for snorkeling, you can rent kayaks and go paddle boarding, also, it has a large virgin coast which you can explore, when you visit it, you can't help but fall in love. This is a beach in which people care about collecting the sargassum as soon as it arrives, so, we really recommend it, and in case you want to know what other beaches are free of seaweed, visiting the website of the "Observatorio Ciudadano del Sargazo" (Sargassum Citizen Observatory), there we monitor more than 70 beaches along the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula for you to know where to swim without worrying about anything. Viajefest isn't afraid of cold water! We spent a nice evening in this place, there's no doubt that the Mexican Caribbean has everything you need to spend an amazing holiday, Viajefest recommends it! We just found out that the entrance fee of the other two access (we have entered in the one that costs $80 Pesos), but we were told there's an entrance beyond that costs $50, and there's another one even further away that only costs $30. We did the research, we came to the good one, so well, that's why we ended up paying this much. For these two nights touring Tulum and Playa del Carmen we spent between the two $4,820 Pesos, including lodging, food, and activities, we also drove a total of 453 kilometers on 38 liters of gasoline, making a total of $5,566 Pesos, check out the details of the prices and more information on our blog. Playa del Carmen is a city that doesn't sleep, all day long you'll find people on 5th Avenue, even in the morning because something you can't miss when you're here is the chance to witness a sunrise by the port. These are the moments we enjoy most on our travels because there is something magical in the light of the dawn that makes of dream of new horizons. Join us in the next episode in which we will discover what to do in "Isla de Cozumel" (Cozumel Island), please subscribe to our channel and turn on the notifications so you don't miss it out. Give thumbs up, subscribe, and you know see you down the road! Thanks for subscribing to our channel!
