Watering Hole – Maldo Travels https://www.maldotravels.com Travel - Learn - Share Fri, 29 Apr 2022 13:28:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://www.maldotravels.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Favicon-Black.png Watering Hole – Maldo Travels https://www.maldotravels.com 32 32 San Pedro de Atacama – Laguna Cejar https://www.maldotravels.com/south-america/san-pedro-de-atacama-laguna-cejar/ https://www.maldotravels.com/south-america/san-pedro-de-atacama-laguna-cejar/#respond Fri, 28 Sep 2018 22:04:32 +0000 http://54.211.235.180/?p=4994

We booked this afternoon tour for 12,000 CLP1 which included transportation, guide, and an evening snack. The meet-up point was at the tour agency’s office at 4.30 PM. It’s then a quick 30-minute drive to Laguna Cejar. At the entrance, you pay the 15,000 CLP for access to the lake. We follow the guide to the lake’s viewpoint and he gives some information on how its high salt levels allow you to float almost flat. He also says that the lake is protected now so access is prohibited to it. However, we can bathe in the adjacent Laguna Piedra which has the same effect. The entrance fee for this lake is 1000 CLP per person. There are changing rooms and shower facilities there. You have to take a shower before entering the lake especially if you’ve put on repellent or sun lotion since these are harmful to the lake. We’re given about 45 minutes to bathe in the lake and get changed before continuing on the tour.

We continue another 20 minutes to Laguna Tebinquiche. On the way to the lake, we pass ‘Ojos del Salar‘ (Eyes of the Salt Flat). These are two watering holes and the guide says that you can jump into one of them. I took the plunge and the water was really cold. Next, we continue to the lake to catch the sunset. The guide gives some info on the lake and then says we can walk throughout the trail to take some pictures. When we get back, the guide has laid out some snacks and drinks on a foldaway table. He then hands out some cups and pours us some wine to drink whilst watching the sunset. It was a great way to end the tour before heading back to San Pedro de Atacama.

]]> https://www.maldotravels.com/south-america/san-pedro-de-atacama-laguna-cejar/feed/ 0 Tulum – Scenic Beaches and Cenotes https://www.maldotravels.com/central-america/tulum-scenic-beaches-and-cenotes/ https://www.maldotravels.com/central-america/tulum-scenic-beaches-and-cenotes/#respond Thu, 10 May 2018 20:30:03 +0000 http://54.88.98.144/?p=1998

A 1-hour bus journey from Playa del Carmen takes you to the tranquil city of Tulum. Although the city is fairly small, all its tourist sites are well spread out and definitely not walking distances between each other. There is public transport available consists of combis/colectivos2. Another option is a car rental which would be of maximum convenience and comfort. Alternatively, there are bike rentals which at 100 MXN3 for a day turns out pretty cheap. The main beach at Playa Paraiso is a 15-20 minute bike ride from the downtown area depending on where you stay. Once at the beach, the views are cinematic with several beach chair rentals and bars/restaurants serving food and ice cold drinks.

Mayan Seaport Ruins

Tulum’s Mayan ruins are a 5-minute bike ride from the beach. There is ample parking space and you can lock up the bikes on the trees. Entrance costs 70 MXN without a guide and does not include the optional train ride to the ruins’ entrance which is a 15-minute walk away. These ancient Mayan ruins are one of the best conserved in the country and it also offers a stunning beach. The complex is quite small and can be completed in about 2 hours but there are several practically intact structures and walls. The Mayan city of Tulum is believed to have been used as a fortress and a port to trade with its neighboring civilizations. It is also rich in wildlife and you will be able to see iguanas up close and personal. The ruins are a very popular destination so plan to get there early to avoid the crowds especially at the beach. The weather is also very hot so take plenty of water and sunblock.

Gran Cenote

Cenote options are abundant in Tulum but one of the best has to be Gran Cenote and is located at just a 15-minute bike ride from downtown on Av. Coba. Entrance is 180 MXN for the ample site which offers great shower and changing room facilities. There are also several hammocks and seating areas to lounge around to relax or do some reading. They also rent out lockers (30 MXN) and snorkel gear (80 MXN) to take a dip in the cenote, however, both of these are optional. The water temperature is refreshing to cool off from the heat in Tulum. Once in the water, you can see fishes swimming around and if you look carefully, you may spot a turtle.

Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido

These two cenotes are adjacent to each other and are a 15-minute bike ride from downtown on Chetumal Street. The combined entrance for both cenotes has to be purchased at the entrance for Cenote Cristal and costs 120 MXN. There are no showers or changing rooms at either of the cenotes but there are a couple of benches and tables. Cenote Cristal has a platform where you can jump from into the water which is great fun. The only downside to this cenote is that there are a lot of mosquitos so make sure to take repellent with you. Cenote Escondido, in my opinion, was the better of the two. There are fewer mosquitos here and its shape is long but narrow like a swimming pool which makes for a great swim.

]]> https://www.maldotravels.com/central-america/tulum-scenic-beaches-and-cenotes/feed/ 0