Three Lovely Islands

Recently, we left the Riviera Maya mainland looking for a bit of adventure. We took three ferry trips to three lovely islands. All were different, but similar in certain ways. Two of the trips were planned to coincide with family visits. One was totally spontaneous. All three left us determined to return.

Holbox

Isla Holbox lies seven miles off the northern tip of Quintana Roo in the Gulf of Mexico. Living midway between Tulum and Playa del Carmen we are spoiled by quick and easy driving up and down the Yucatan Peninsula. The closest ferry port to the island Holbox is a small town called Chiquila. The roads there are narrow, a bit bumpy and go directly through lots of small towns. It takes us about 3 hours to get there.

We park in a guarded lot, take the short ferry, then find a modest place to stay called “Hotel Mayab” near the dock in the noisiest part of the island. After a modest, satisfying dinner at “Hornita Argenta” we walk narrow sidewalks watching pickup basketball games until it’s time to turn in before 9.

Next day is spent wandering up and down the choppy Gulf Coast and ends watching a beautiful sunset on a wide sandy beach. We are barely troubled by the persistent aroma of ganja that greets us along the way. Though we are non-tokers ourselves, we don’t object to this kind of evening cocktail and the laid back attitude it invokes among dread-headed visitors from the US, East Europe and beyond.

Isla Mujeres

We make another quick trip a few weeks later to the “Island of Women.” Peg’s daughter Mercedes is here on a short visit from the States. We schedule only a day trip, but it’s filled with lots of color and tasty food.

We drive from Akumal to Cancun, which is little more than an hour by car, but is something we rarely do. Here we catch an Ultramar Ferry at Puerto Juarez which only takes about 30 minutes. We cruise up top on secured deck chairs where the open air is warm and breezy.

Peg and Merce’s short reunion takes place on a lovely beach following a quick tour of shops, food carts and a cemetery jam packed with impressive statuary and engraved monuments. We share huge servings of guacamole at a beach restaurant called “Hammocks.” Then, back on the ferry. We make it home to Akumal just after dark.

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Cozumel

Our third island hop is the charm.

It’s an easy ride on the Transcaribe ferry which we board at a dock called Calica near Punta Venado about 20 minutes from our home. The first guard who greets us and invites us to get into the boarding queue asks if we are on a Honeymoon. We are a bit taken aback but there must have been a twinkle in somebody’s eye.

We have decided to bring our little car Tomatico and it’s a good thing we arrive early because there’s a long line of vehicles, many commercial, with loads of building supplies and good things to eat. After all, Cozumel is mostly known for its hospitality and good times, not for agricultural output.

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The Island bustles with tourists near the ferry. We check into an Air BnB away from the “All Inclusivo” hubbub and are grateful that we have brought our own car. We check out many spots up and down the coast to scuba and snorkel in the future. The highlight of this visit is Chip’s quick visit with daughter Ivy at a quiet public spot called Paradise Beach.

Our AirBnB is off the well-worn tourist strip in a comfortable local neighborhood. Here we dine on Salvadoran fare and later gorge on cactus dishes at a restaurant called “Nopal.” But our favorite discovery is an open air “Michoacan” ice cream parlor. Here there is a dazzling selection of brilliant flavors never seen before served up by a beaming teenager determined to make us happy. It’s impossible to select only one kind. So we depart with enough “helado” for breakfast the next day.

It’s been a great lesson in the variety of experiences nearby if one resists the temptation to stay in a comfortable vacation rut. There’s no doubt that we will return soon to all three of these sandy, sunny beauty spots. And we are sure to keep our eyes peeled and ears open for new places to discover.

Ever hear of El Cuyo, anyone?