Altun Ha or Tulum

[das]

We are going on the Legend in May to Cozumel and Belize and want to visit the Ruins. Can't decide between Tulum from Cozumel or Altun Ha from Belize. Has anyone been to both for a comparison?

[Dwayne]

Hi das, and Welcome to Cruise-Chat!

I moved the topic here since it has more to do with excursions than the Legend. I sent a message to you regarding the move. I haven't been to either yet, but I'm sure many others have.

Welcome aboard,

Dwayne

[penny3333]

Hi das, welcome to Cruise-Chat. We've only visited Tulum, and they were fantastic. A beautiful setting and extensive ruins. I can tell you that the travel to Tulum takes up a good bit of time. You have to take a ferry across, which is about 45 minutes to an hour. Then a bus which is very hair raising. We did the half day Tulum and half day Xel-ha. The snorkeling in Xel-ha was absolutely amazing. I think the travel time to Altun Ha is less time consuming, but don't know how extensive the ruins are. Best wishes for a fantastic cruise and once again, welcome aboard!

[u2jt1]

Hi Das, I was about to post a ruin thread and seen yours so I will see what you get. I leave on the 21st on CCL Glory and my wife will only put up with 1 Ruin per cruise I too go to Cozumel, costa maya and Belize and wonder if only one, which? I was thinking Xunantunich in Belize, I am a huge History nut but thought she could atleast do the beach at Tulum while I looked around. Ive heard Tulum is a no touch place and in belize you can climb and touch. Hope you get lots of replys....

[penny3333]

When we went to Tulum, we climbed up many, many, many stairs to temples and such. They may have changed the rules, but my heavens the stairs were really narrow.

[spoheat]

It is no touch at Tulum. It is a gorgeous place. I warn people to do this excursion at a mainland port. You will spend about 50 minutes x 2 (round trip) on a ferry to the mainland. This has no stabilizers and even on a good day can be an adventure in motion sickness. Half the people on board are "below". People were throwing up right in their seats. They can also suspend service if the sea gets rough (RCCL will get you to the next port--which is usually your departure port and the cruise is over). On land it is another 45 or so minutes (x2-round trip), and a 20 minute walk from ferry to bus (again x2). You can see how much time you will have invested in transportation, and not a ton of time at the ruins. They are interesting, worth seeing. The only ruins on a coast (beautiful beach, which you need, it is hot there in all the masonry). We loved it, but would not do it again from Cozumel due to all the transportation and associated issues.

[cruzsnob]

I also have only been to Tulum, but echo the previous poster's comments. The ruins themselves were fabulous, but we felt we wasted most of the excursion on travel time, and didn't have any other time to see anything in Cozumel.

[HoosierCruiser]

I can speak about Mayan ruins in Belize. For a person more seriously interested in the Mayan sites, I recommend Xunantunich for a more in-depth experience. This tour does require 1.75-2 hours on a bus. You do get to see a great deal of Belize this way, but little time is left for any other activity. Altun Ha is usually paired with another activity on cruise ship itineraries, which allows a person (spouse) that is less interested in ruins to do an activity they find enjoyable. Some cruise lines pair Altun Ha with a river excursion where you may see much wildlife- my family has done this and really recommend it. Hope this helps!

[penny3333]

Hi HoosierCruiser, welcome to Cruise-Chat. Thank you so much for your post. We hope you will stay and answer more questions. We really value your input. Have you booked a cruise soon? Best wishes!