After arriving late in Playa del Carmen on the 6th and then seeing the crowds of people congregating on the beach early on the 7th, we opted to forego any exploring around Playa and get an early start on the 45 minute drive to Tulum where we hoped we could enjoy some swimming and sunning with fewer crowds.
We had been warned by several people prior to our trip to be careful driving in Mexico. Maybe these people meant in and around the larger resort areas, maybe they meant at night. As far as things went for us, Highway 307 was great....in far better shape than our own Interstate 80 in the Sierras.
With Dave at the wheel we were in Tulum in very little time and headed out to our home for the night, Retiro Maya
http://www.retiromaya.com/. Like most of the other places of lodging along the coast in Tulum, Retiro Maya is made up of thatched-roof cabanas and the hot phrase to describe them is "Eco-Chic." This basically means mosquito nets over the beds, rain water acting as the main source for showers, toilets, and washing, generators to keep the lights on in the evenings, and water heated by the sun. Our cabanas were charming and cozy and the one Brian and I had boasted an amazing view from our patio as well as a partially outdoor bathroom! Check out the little "yard" fencing in the area near the shower!
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Our own little yard with open-air shower.
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The cabana with patio.
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A net to keep the mosquitos out.
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But with the sacrifice of hot water at our fingertips came breathtaking views, white sand, turquoise water, and pure enjoyment.
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Retiro Maya as seen from the beach.
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Paradise....
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Brian's vacation face.
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The view from our patio.
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It took us no time at all to change into our bathing suits and enter the salty blue water. How refreshing to be in the surge of the waves with all of our worries forgotten. More beach-combing, sunning, and walking along the water's edge soon led us to the agreement that after getting cleaned up a margarita was needed.
In addition to the cabanas the Retiro Maya also had a beautiful open-air bar and restaurant with a very charming staff , especially Jessica, the Italian-born hostess/waitress/barmaid.
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Jessica - Retiro Maya's most charming girl.
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After our time on the beach and getting cleaned up we sat down at a table with an incredible view of the sea and waited for our mango margaritas. The laid back attitude of the area helped us relax even more. Once our margaritas were delivered to the table I knew that I was in a very good place!
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Mango Margaritas!
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We all willingly took a sip....Janet was a little surprised by the strength of the tequila!
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After refreshing ourselves with the margaritas we decided to wander down the road and see what dining choices we had for dinner. We ended up at another open-air resaurant where we enjoyed beautiful and delicious food.
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Almondine grouper
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Tuna steaks
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Steak and Seafood Brochette
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With full bellies we all headed back to our cabanas to get a good night's rest before venturing out for another busy day....visiting the Mayan ruins in Tulum and then heading south into Belize. The sound of the waves, wind, and little critters in the night all added to the experience. Speaking of critters....Janet and Sarah discovered a huge scorpion in their shower which Roger quickly relocated outside using his ever-trusty Leatherman multi-tool to grab the intruder.
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