We bought a cell phone at Walmart last year when we were in Cancun for an extended period of time. I think we paid about $30 for the phone and got something like 60 free minutes to call the USA. It was a Movistar phone. Last time we were in Cancun we bought a new sim card and loaded minutes onto it and I think it was 120 minutes for about $12. I have since lost the phone and need to find a cell phone to make local calls in Cancun. I am going to Cancun with 3 - 18 year olds on their High School's Senior Project. They will be spending a week working at Rescate Malix, an animal shelter in Punta Sam. I would like for them to have a cell phone with them so they can keep in touch with me while they commuting to El Mecoloco Trailer Park - they will ride the bus there everyday. I just want to make sure they get there safely etc. I really don't want to rent a cell phone, yet want something economical. Any recommendations? Also, for those familiar with the buses. The girls will take the R1 to the end of the route at Puerto Juarez. My question is: what is the best way for them to get to El Mecoloco Trailer Park (where the shelter is). Should they take a cab, or are there collectivo type vans? I'm not sure exactly how to get them to the Rescate Malix by public transportation. Any suggestions by those who may have done it?
The shelter, if I am not mistaken, is around km 3. It is after the Gran Puerto and Puerto Juarez docks and closer to Punta Sam car ferry dock. The R-1s go to Punta Sam as well so they should be good to stay on the bus until they see it on right. It would be good if they could sit near the front of the bus and when it stops at Gran Puerto and take off again, just tell him where they want off and he will probably drop them at the front door. That's how people find Walmart. LOL. This should be sufficient as you will probably scout it out before they start their work. What a great thing to do for the animals. Good luck.
Thanks TJ. I was under the impression that the R1 service ended in Puerto Juarez...it's good to know they can be dropped off at the trailer park. Maybe getting there will be easier than we thought! We will be spending a lot of time searching. First we'll search for Rescate Malix, then Parque de las Palapas and then the Ballpark. Wish us luck! PS. I found your instructions of how to get to Parque de las Palapas on another post... I've been there before, but can never remember exactly how to get there. Now I have your instruction to refer to. Thanks!!!!
You are welcome, as always. I will try to confirm that the R-1 definitely goes all the way. Stay tuned.
Last summer I tried to take the R-1 to Puerto Juarez with my family. However, 2 different bus drivers told us it no longer goes there. (WTF??) You have to take a convi (white vans) from downtown out to Puerto Juarez/Punta Sam. To get back, the white convis pass by quite frequently to take you back to downtown Cancun. I can't remember if you can catch the convis on the Tulum, but they do pass on Lopez Portillo, where it intersects with Tulum (by the park near Plaza 2000) or where it intersects with Bonampak. Anyway, I'm sure TJ can confirm if this is still the case once he looks into it.
Buses, etc. Yeh, T.J. can perhaps come up with something exact, but I've found the most "reliable" way to get out to those points, if you want cheap, is to take a bus to the Crucero (which I think is the Tulum/Lopez Portillo intersection), then one of the minivans from there. They run frequently, are inexpensive, and not too uncomfortable (gets you acquainted with how many Mexicans get around!). Taxis are always an option. A taxi from the center of town to Gran Puerto/Puerto Juarez, is just 20 pesos, if you avoid catching one from a taxi stand (sitio). Same applies on the way back, if cheap is your aim, flag one on the street, rather than take one waiting at a stand. I've never taken a taxi all the way to Punta Sam, so don't know what a "normal" fare for that would be.
V makes a good point with the taxis. If you split a 20 to 40-peso fare between 3 girls, it would be cheaper or about the same to take a cab than to take 2 buses to Punta Sam. Lots faster, too. You would still probably need to take the white van back into town, though, since I'm not sure how many taxis drive by that area.
There is a certain R1 that goes to Puerto Jurez...the sign will be on the front window... which is very time consuming. I don't know why drivers are telling ppl that they no longer go there when that is how I go every single time. If not, then you get off and take a collectivo the rest of the way...which is time consuming and the price will add up. I agree a taxi divided by three will be the best bet.
As for cell phones, you could try getting Movistar phones for everyone. I think you can register up to 3 other Movistar numbers that you can call for free (up to 5 minutes at a time). You can get one at any Movistar kiosk at any mall in Cancun... they have cheap ones for 300 - 400 pesos. Tori: I really hope you're right about the R-1! I was kinda weirded out when they told me it didn't run there anymore. Hopefully it was all lies
In January I took an R1 to see where it went and it made a u turn at Terra Caribe hotel on Portillo Lopez and parked with about five other R1s, all waiting to go back towards the hotel zone. Before getting on I waited on an R1 that said PJ but after six or so passed I gave up on the PJ thing.
