February 1-2, 2016 - Costa Rica to Mexico

4:30 am wake up call for us today since our shuttle from the airport to the airport was at 5:15 this morning. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Liberia which is the only hotel we could find that offered a free-shuttle service. All the other hotels were at least $30 or more, so we figured we pay the extra for the nicer hotel. It was actually was a bit of a waste. You would think for $170 you would get hot water in the shower, but it was lukewarm, at best! The bed was the LEAST comfortable of all we slept on and it was the noisest air conditioner! Okay, I think I am done complaining!

We arrived at the airport and got checked in and through security with almost 2 hours to spare before our flight. Then, the flight was delayed – only 15 minutes, so not bad. Easy flight and getting throught customs in Miami was easy, also. Lunch at the airport before our 2:30 flight to Cancun. We had Chinese food and LOVED Tobey’s fortune!We arrived Cancun about 5pm, took an hour to clear customs and headed outside to catch the Ado bus. Lucky for us, the bus was leaving in less than 30 minutes. It was $10 US per person from Cancun to Playa del Carmen where we bought a second ticket for $3.50 US to continue on to Tulum. Again, we only had to wait about 30 minutes before continuing the journey. We arrived in Tulum  shortly after 9pm and got a taxi to the apartment.

He wasn’t sure where Villa Clarita was located, but we knew and gave him directions. He told us it would be $100 pesos (about $5US). Because it was so much closer than he thought, when we got here, he only charged us $50 pesos ($2.50). How many taxi drivers would really charge LESS than they quoted you? Pretty nice. Chris (one of the owners) met us at the gate and got us settled in our apartment then we walked back to the main street to get some dinner.

Our first choice for dinner, Tacos al Pastor, was already closed, so we ate at another small restaurant we have enjoyed before.Two tostatas, one horache, and one horchata to drink and we were “home”!!! Cost was $71 pesos – just over $4US.

Today we slept in, then walked to have breakfast since we hadn’t been to the grocery store. The new restaurant we wanted to try was closed on Tuesdays – aaarrrggg!!! We continued to MotMot bakery and had some pastry and milk before going on to Chadraui for groceries. It is about 3km one way, so we didnt’ think we could get too many supplies on this trip.

map from apartment to grocery

Lucky for us, Barbara, our landlady, arrived there just as we did and she offered us a ride home! We were able to stock up on more stuff – yeah!

Back at the apartment, we hung out by the pool and visited with Joanna – a woman that rented here 2 years ago when we did. She arrived yesterday also.

I cooked dinner tonight and we are chilling with a movie. It is so easy being here in Tulum. We have no plans for tomorrow and will see what happens!