Desire Resort Forums

Wife and I are there for five days. Our 5th trip to Pearl, but have never done any excursions/tours/cruises etc off the property. Any recommendations for a few hours away from the property that y'all have enjoyed?

Input appreciated!

Charles and Kristen

Walking into town was fun and easy. We also had fun going snorkeling with Brenda from the Dive Shop. Didn't feel like we missed anything at the resort and had fun. We are considering one of rpthe day cruises this time. Just would like some fun couples to go with us.

These are some excursions that I would enjoy pre or post my Desire stay, but #3 and #4 are definitely doable in a few hours from Desire RM or Pearl:

1. Swimming with the whale sharks north of Cancun (May 15 to September 15).
2. Chichen Itza Mayan ruins (go early as it is an all day trip and usually very hot!!!).
3. Swimming in the cenotes. (There are some cenotes near Puerto Morelos that would be fun and only take a few hours away from the resort).
4. Jungle Spa would be something my wife would like (Strong Mayan Massage for reasonable prices and close to Puerto Morelos).
5. Xcaret is an Ecological Park, great to bring kids.
6. Cancun clubbing, especially Coco Bongos (also a location in Playa Del Carmen).
7. Isla Mujeres Day trip – (Cancuncare Steve does a fun boobs cruise that can get wild, we had a great time when we went).
8. Tulum Mayan ruins and beach is about 1.5 hours from Desire.

We almost never leave the Desire resorts during our stay with the exception of the following:

1. The activities desk can probably book a sailing/catamaran type outing with your fellow Desire guests.
2. We did the Claudia Erotic Massage class in Puerto Morelos. It was good, but once was enough.
3. We have visited the other Desire resort that we weren’t staying at to attend the foam party or to visit friends.

Lunch and an afternoon shopping on 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen. Change of pace and not too far away (in distance and time) from the resort. Split a van with 4 or 5 other couples.

This is our first trip coming up to Mexico in general and to Desire Pearl in particular. We want to visit Chichen Itza during our stay. Where is it better to book the trip from, DP website of on premises?
Has anyone been on this tour and knows what's the difference between 7 hrs and 11 hrs versions?

RusLon wrote:This is our first trip coming up to Mexico in general and to Desire Pearl in particular. We want to visit Chichen Itza during our stay. Where is it better to book the trip from, DP website of on premises?
Has anyone been on this tour and knows what's the difference between 7 hrs and 11 hrs versions?

Personally, IMHO, you are spending a large amount of money to stay at Pearl - the tour to Chichen Itza from Pearl is really an all day affair - if you want to do it they will pick you up around 7:30 am and drop you back at Pearl 12 hours later(even for the shortest Chichen Itza tour).

My suggestion would be on your next trip come down a day or two early, stay in a cheap place in the Cancun Hotels zone, then do the Chichen Itza tour before coming to Pearl.

Alternately you could visit the ruins at Tulum which is a short trip and be back at Pearl by early afternoon in time for Hot tub time

My last piece of advice is do not book any excursions in advance - you can if you wish book any of them once you are on site at Pearl - my guess is that once you are at Pearl the last thing you will think about is leaving Pearl to go on an off campus tour - lol !!

CokeMann wrote:

RusLon wrote:This is our first trip coming up to Mexico in general and to Desire Pearl in particular. We want to visit Chichen Itza during our stay. Where is it better to book the trip from, DP website of on premises?
Has anyone been on this tour and knows what's the difference between 7 hrs and 11 hrs versions?

Personally, IMHO, you are spending a large amount of money to stay at Pearl - the tour to Chichen Itza from Pearl is really an all day affair - if you want to do it they will pick you up around 7:30 am and drop you back at Pearl 12 hours later(even for the shortest Chichen Itza tour).

My suggestion would be on your next trip come down a day or two early, stay in a cheap place in the Cancun Hotels zone, then do the Chichen Itza tour before coming to Pearl.

Alternately you could visit the ruins at Tulum which is a short trip and be back at Pearl by early afternoon in time for Hot tub time

My last piece of advice is do not book any excursions in advance - you can if you wish book any of them once you are on site at Pearl - my guess is that once you are at Pearl the last thing you will think about is leaving Pearl to go on an off campus tour - lol !!

Thank you for the thorough advise. I'm sure we can find a time off (I can use it to "recharge batteries" ) to see Chichen Itza. I found this one https://www.amstardmc.com/desirepearl/c ... -line.html It looks like 7 hrs from circa * a.m. does not sounds that bad, who's been on that one?

Or this one Chichen Itza Classic Public

My wife and I highly recommend a day at Chichin Itza, and a day at he XPLOR park. Both are expensive and time consuming but very good trips.

CokeMann wrote:Or this one Chichen Itza Classic Public

Thank you!

shyextrovert wrote:My wife and I highly recommend a day at Chichin Itza, and a day at he XPLOR park. Both are expensive and time consuming but very good trips.

Thank you! Do they have tour agent selling those excursions at the lobby as most of the hotels? Or do I have to buy the separately beforehand?

We can 100% support Cokeman's recommendation. Our first trip my wife was hell bent on doing an excursion. I convinced her to wait until we got there and by doing that we might meet cool people to join us. From the moment we arrived at Pearl, the thought of leaving for a day never crossed her mind again. Too much fun to be had at the resort. We do go on the snorkeling trip from the Pearl dive shop once or twice a trip, though. It is a very low time commitment. Only about an hour and a half and the reef is amazing, We will be doing it again in November.

Mr du Nord

CokeMann wrote:

RusLon wrote:This is our first trip coming up to Mexico in general and to Desire Pearl in particular. We want to visit Chichen Itza during our stay. Where is it better to book the trip from, DP website of on premises?
Has anyone been on this tour and knows what's the difference between 7 hrs and 11 hrs versions?

Personally, IMHO, you are spending a large amount of money to stay at Pearl - the tour to Chichen Itza from Pearl is really an all day affair - if you want to do it they will pick you up around 7:30 am and drop you back at Pearl 12 hours later(even for the shortest Chichen Itza tour).

My suggestion would be on your next trip come down a day or two early, stay in a cheap place in the Cancun Hotels zone, then do the Chichen Itza tour before coming to Pearl.

Alternately you could visit the ruins at Tulum which is a short trip and be back at Pearl by early afternoon in time for Hot tub time

My last piece of advice is do not book any excursions in advance - you can if you wish book any of them once you are on site at Pearl - my guess is that once you are at Pearl the last thing you will think about is leaving Pearl to go on an off campus tour - lol !!

Cpl du Nord wrote:We can 100% support Cokeman's recommendation. Our first trip my wife was hell bent on doing an excursion. I convinced her to wait until we got there and by doing that we might meet cool people to join us. From the moment we arrived at Pearl, the thought of leaving for a day never crossed her mind again. Too much fun to be had at the resort. We do go on the snorkeling trip from the Pearl dive shop once or twice a trip, though. It is a very low time commitment. Only about an hour and a half and the reef is amazing, We will be doing it again in November.

Mr du Nord

Thank you, I also did not want to go on full day trip out of resort hence tried to get info about half day trips. No worries, I have already sorted private guide for an express tour so should be back by 4 p.m.

Thanks again for all advice.

Also, about snorkeling, do they provide gear?

RusLon wrote:Thank you, I also did not want to go on full day trip out of resort hence tried to get info about half day trips. No worries, I have already sorted private guide for an express tour so should be back by 4 p.m.

As long as you realize that Chichén Itzá is a 220 km drive from Pearl mainly on smaller roadways(approx 3 hrs each way without stops)

https://goo.gl/maps/QSd85uEFEnz

Also FYI - You can't climb the outside or go inside of the pyramid at Chichén Itzá. It's been closed to climbing since January 2006.

CokeMann wrote:

RusLon wrote:Thank you, I also did not want to go on full day trip out of resort hence tried to get info about half day trips. No worries, I have already sorted private guide for an express tour so should be back by 4 p.m.

As long as you realize that Chichén Itzá is a 220 km drive from Pearl mainly on smaller roadways(approx 3 hrs each way without stops)

https://goo.gl/maps/QSd85uEFEnz

Also FYI - You can't climb the outside or go inside of the pyramid at Chichén Itzá. It's been closed to climbing since January 2006.

Yes, I know... I don't mind long drive as will be drunk and asleep anyway )))