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Punta Allen - 6/5/2012 9:04:32 PM
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DEMPY
Posts: 601
Joined: 9/23/2007
From: Ohio
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Thinking about driving down to PuntaAllen in August. Does anybody know what the road is usually like then? I've read it can get pretty nasty different times of the year. Any info on what to expect? I've read there's not a lot but it's a gorgeous drive. I was also wondering how much of the drive, if any, you can actually see the ocean. Restaurants, bars, any accomidations? Thanks
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RE: Punta Allen - 6/5/2012 10:02:04 PM
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Steve O
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From: Chicago
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Don't worry about the road. Most of the time it is in the same bad shape it always is in. The only difference is if it rains the pot holes fill with water. I really think it would be hard to get stuck in one as it's mostly compressed gravel and not mud. The depest one is probably only a foot deep. The only thing that really changes is the driving time. The more pot holes the longer it takes. Plan on anywhere from 1 1/2 hours to 4 hours. Any vehicle will make it. Have your wife or girlfriend wear a sports bra and be carefull with the beers. You don't want to shake either up to much.
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RE: Punta Allen - 6/5/2012 10:10:11 PM
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kandt
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Punta Allen is well worth the drive on that hard road. :) It is quite bumpy, but quite fun to drive in a rented Jeep.
We did a tour from iTours and was worth every penny. It was an amazing day.
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RE: Punta Allen - 6/6/2012 7:55:42 AM
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DEMPY
Posts: 601
Joined: 9/23/2007
From: Ohio
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OK Steve your freakin me out here. Do I look like a man in my picture. My husband doesn't wear dresses. I AM THE WIFE!!!! But no biggie and the bra advice is good if you have anything up there. I wear a regular one and double up with a sports bra when I ride my horses.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Steve O
Don't worry about the road. Most of the time it is in the same bad shape it always is in. The only difference is if it rains the pot holes fill with water. I really think it would be hard to get stuck in one as it's mostly compressed gravel and not mud. The depest one is probably only a foot deep. The only thing that really changes is the driving time. The more pot holes the longer it takes. Plan on anywhere from 1 1/2 hours to 4 hours. Any vehicle will make it. Have your wife or girlfriend wear a sports bra and be carefull with the beers. You don't want to shake either up to much.
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RE: Punta Allen - 6/6/2012 8:11:47 AM
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DEMPY
Posts: 601
Joined: 9/23/2007
From: Ohio
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Was thinking about the Jeep thing just for the fun of it. I rented a car from Easyway, didn't even see Jeeps on their site. Wouldn't want to pay Jeep prices for our entire vacation anyway, just for PA trip. Was thinking about just taking off and hopefully finding a place to spend one night. What stops did you make during the day?
quote:
ORIGINAL: kandt
Punta Allen is well worth the drive on that hard road. :) It is quite bumpy, but quite fun to drive in a rented Jeep.
We did a tour from iTours and was worth every penny. It was an amazing day.
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RE: Punta Allen - 6/6/2012 12:46:32 PM
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kandt
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Hi - There's not much between Tulum and Punta Allen. There's a small fishing village (can't remember the name). We stopped at a bridge. :)
Definintely look into the jeep tour with iTour. I think he combined us with another group going. (not sure how many different outfits there really are that do the tours) There were three of us and had our own Jeep. It was SO MUCH FUN and so worth it. You were able to drive in a Jeep and not worry about your rental car getting dinged up or a flat tire. The Jeeps DEFINITELY got muddy. We stopped in Punta Allen (VERY SMALL), had some nachos, then walked over to the harbour to get on a boat. We were some of the first boats out there and the guides found the dolphins, turtles, rays, starfish, snorkeling at the reef, tour through the mangroves, swimming at a great little beach, and then back to Punta Allen for lunch. SOOO worth it! You'd be missing out if you didn't do all of those things. The dolphins were spectacular. I'm looking at a canvas on my wall of our toes in the water in Punta Allen. :) It's a happy place.
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RE: Punta Allen - 6/6/2012 1:05:41 PM
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gerber
Posts: 815
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From: Alberta
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quote:
ORIGINAL: kandt
Hi - There's not much between Tulum and Punta Allen. There's a small fishing village (can't remember the name). We stopped at a bridge. :)
Definintely look into the jeep tour with iTour. I think he combined us with another group going. (not sure how many different outfits there really are that do the tours) There were three of us and had our own Jeep. It was SO MUCH FUN and so worth it. You were able to drive in a Jeep and not worry about your rental car getting dinged up or a flat tire. The Jeeps DEFINITELY got muddy. We stopped in Punta Allen (VERY SMALL), had some nachos, then walked over to the harbour to get on a boat. We were some of the first boats out there and the guides found the dolphins, turtles, rays, starfish, snorkeling at the reef, tour through the mangroves, swimming at a great little beach, and then back to Punta Allen for lunch. SOOO worth it! You'd be missing out if you didn't do all of those things. The dolphins were spectacular. I'm looking at a canvas on my wall of our toes in the water in Punta Allen. :) It's a happy place.
Oh, wow, that sounds amazing! For your group of 3, were you driving or riding in the Jeep? And do you remember how much it was per person?
Thanks!
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RE: Punta Allen - 6/6/2012 1:10:36 PM
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minnjim
Posts: 7621
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Xamach Dos is the only place I can think of to stop for drinks.
Just bring your own cooler full of stuff.
Take your time and when you see a secret looking little path towards the ocean, pull over and explore. There are some really gorgeous spots (with a lot of trash washed up on them) that are worth spending some time at.
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RE: Punta Allen - 6/6/2012 1:45:12 PM
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Dollar
Posts: 176
Joined: 1/6/2005
From: Great Falls, Virginia
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Been to Akumal a dozen times - never made the trip to Punta Allen because
I'd heard about the road. So.....you go to Tulum - hang a left then bear right
and then keep on truckin' ? 1 1/2 to 4 hours is a pretty wide range - Could you
narrow it down a bit more ? Is there a place to stay once you are there ?
We always rent a jeep [it is expensive....like 85 bucks/day] so we would just
take that........Thanks in advance for the info.
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RE: Punta Allen - 6/6/2012 5:56:37 PM
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Steve O
Posts: 705
Joined: 8/10/2004
From: Chicago
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Dempy...I am sorry about the gender mistake. I never even looked at the avatar.
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RE: Punta Allen - 6/6/2012 10:56:17 PM
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DEMPY
Posts: 601
Joined: 9/23/2007
From: Ohio
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No biggie Steve. I don't usually look at avatars unless there's an animal on it! Nobody said how much of the drive you can actually see the ocean. Come on, somebody give it up!!quote:
ORIGINAL: Steve O
Dempy...I am sorry about the gender mistake. I never even looked at the avatar.
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RE: Punta Allen - 6/7/2012 10:49:33 AM
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tmbutler
Posts: 2054
Joined: 11/16/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: DEMPY
No biggie Steve. I don't usually look at avatars unless there's an animal on it! Nobody said how much of the drive you can actually see the ocean. Come on, somebody give it up!!
There are not really too many areas where you can see the carribean from the road. Most are before the Boca Paila bridge. If you're not in a hurry to get to Punta Allen, do like SW2003 - pull over and stop where you can see the carribean. If you've never stopped at the Kon Waye observation tower, it's fun to see how narrow the peninsula really is, and view both the carribean and the Campeche estuary.
Stop at Zamach Dos for beers, lunch, and a visit. On one occasion, we had the pleasure to meet Steve O, David, and Gordon.
The last time I was down that road with Doug, we were in Tulum by 8:00 AM and got to Michael's at Casa de Ascension in Punta Allen about 1/2 hour before dark.
When I've gone down that road with Marguarite, it's usually straight thru. On occasion we did a short stop at the observation tower.
BUT, Steve O is right on. 1 1/2 - 4+ hours depending on the road and if the potholes are filled with water. If there's a lot of water on the road, it's best to go really slow so the water doesn't make it up into the engine. I've had wet distributors, and had to wait til it drys out to start the car. You gotta have patience so you don't trash the battery charge. I've seen some pot holes filled over my knee caps, and then it's not so fun.
Dislocated my thumb wading the potholes and slipping on my butt, trying to figure out where to drive. If the road is dry - well then it's cake.
TMB
< Message edited by tmbutler -- 6/7/2012 10:55:10 AM >
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RE: Punta Allen - 6/8/2012 11:06:08 AM
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kandt
Posts: 71
Joined: 7/26/2010
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Gerber -
there were three of us in our party and we got one jeep that we drove. Other people with two in their party got teamed with another two people and they could take turns driving. I don't remember the cost... it was not cheap, but it was SO WORTH every penny. and it was FUN driving a jeep on that road. It wouldn't have been as fun in a rental car, but Jeep? NO PROBLEMO!
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RE: Punta Allen - 6/12/2012 9:50:21 AM
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sherrys07
Posts: 3884
Joined: 7/15/2005
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Even dry, I wouldn't call that road "cake". Unless they have just graded, it is full of giant holes.
_____________________________
Sherry
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