Hi guys a newbie here and preparing for a visit on the 7th -21st may no doubt by browsing I will find most of the details im looking for. but as this is my first visit from the land of rabbie burns feel free to add any essential info I may miss on here. looking forward to a visit to the isla mujeres and hopefully the soggy peso if we can find it the wife wants to swim with dolphins on the island so a quick question will I be allowed to shoot some pics of my own camera. I am a camera holic and love taking pics so please tell me this will be paradise for me on the isla mujeres and cancun. here is a few i took recently on gran canaria below. hope you do not mind the pics it would be great to add some from mexico in may. thanks haggis & neeps
pics....ohhhh! Haggis and Neeps! Nice pics! You will get great sunrise and sunsets on Isla....just depends on what side of the island you are on, and for Cancun...also, if you are looking east, over the sea, or to the east in the hotel zone...the lagoon.....When in Cancun, get into the downtown area...to the Palapas Park......area....especially early evening, lots of families and kids out.... 4 more sleeps for us! :typing:
Very nice photos! As regards the camera question, out and about on Isla you wont have any problems. During the dolphin swims though they probably wont allow you to take close up pics, because they have their own photographers that sell you photos they take
thanks guys, as long as I can get some shots of the mrs with the dolphins I can arrange then in my laptop blow them up etc im not looking to be within feet of them but as long as I am allowed to take them. another question is will I be able to get some pics of the turtles just noticed there is a turtle farm on the isla. great site you have here steve and loads of info. cheers mate. :flagscottland: forgot to add as a first time visitor any info on what to get pics of and anything interesting would be great assitance to me on my walks and I'll take a note of anything you add in the cancun area or on the isla mujeres thanks in afdvance
Isla is a great place for photos, Punta Sur (south point) has some stunning views of cliffs, crashing surf, iguanas, the Caribbean Sea. If you climb the tower there you can get some great shots. The "shell house" on the east side of the island is a popular subject and the whole east stretch is great. Playa Norte (north beach) is good for people watching, beach and palm tree shots. In town you'll find vendors with handicrafts, all with colorful displays. The local cemetery is quite beautiful, might sound like a strange thing to photograph but the graves are all above-ground crypts in a variety of colours, often with offerings on them. Yes, you'll be able to get pics at the turtle farm. In the hotel zone of Cancun, I find fewer things of interest to photograph, but perhaps it's just too long living here and I can't see them anymore. The ruins at El Rey are not significant historically, but the grounds are lovely with crumbling rocks and thousands of iguanas. The Riviera Maya is chock full of photo ops, cenotes, jungle, isolated beaches. You might check out the Crococun Zoo or Xcaret for a multitude of options for wildlife and nature. Happy snapping!
The turtle "farm" is about a 15 minute stop on your golfcart tour, and take your camera! Are you doing the "Golden Tour" with the Dolphin Discovery on Isla? Does it include the boat ride to isla, on their boat, then time on their spot on the island? We did that day trip, and frankly, it's not worth the $$....if you have your heart set on a dolphin swim, ok, but the rest of the day is not worth it, IMHO........Taking the Miramar ferry over, renting a golf cart.....doing your own touring, will result in a more comfortable day...Dolphin discovery has you on their timetable.....we would have spent more time on the island doing it our way, and on our next 2 trips.....we did, and enjoyed it more, and spent less!
Hi thanks for some really good positive replies cancun canuke (seems like your name detects a canadian background to you) not sure about the cemetry although I know what you mean by your description its the locals that may take offence at crypts etc being snapped but I def will give it a visit if I find it on my walks. as for isla mujeres our plan is rodman 4085 to take a ferry across and hire a golf cart independantly visit the dolphins first to see if my wife can be allowed to swim with them at some stage of the day she just wants something like the 3/4 hour deal I seen somewhere on here slowly travel round the island at our leisure taking in cancun canukes advice. visit the soggy peso for a bit of lunch a few hours on the beaches snap the turtles etc etc. cancun may be taken for granted now I guess by you guys thats stayed there for years but there are hundreds of hotels the beaches shops and bars etc that I may snap for future reference that may help future first time visitors to the area who like us may like to see the area in general I always say that a photo says more than words on describing things and the camera never lies.
Canuck, You missed giving them 2 more suggestions. La Casa de Mandaca and bring insect repellant for the mosquitos. xoxo
Hacienda Mundaca is an old pirate house that was built on Isla Mujeres. Here's a little cut and paste history from isla-mujeres.net "Hacienda Mundaca originally covered almost forty percent of the island. Built by Fermin Mundaca after he "retired" from pirating and slave trading around 1858, the hacienda was surrounded by magnificent gardens including the solar clock garden called "The Rose of the Winds". Mundaca dedicated his hacienda to a local beauty, 37 years younger then himself, known as "La Triguena" (the brunette). The arches above the gates were known as "The Entrance of the Triguena" and "The Pass of the Triguena". His dedication was in vain, she married a man closer to her own age and as legend tells it, Fermin Mundaca slowly went insane and died, alone in Merida. His empty tomb still awaits him in the Isla Mujeres cemetery. Carved by his own hands are the skull and cross bones, in memory of his pirating days and the words meant for his love, "As you are, I was. As I am, you will be". Today, the Hacienda's remaining structures, gardens and pathways are being restored and recently a small zoo has been added. You will see monkeys, various birds, crocodiles, pythons and even a Jaguar. The entrance fee is $10 pesos and well worth a visit. The best time to go to Mundaca is in the morning before it gets too hot. Remember to wear bug repellent for the mosquitoes! "
