Cozumel Ruins Chocolate and Beach Break excursion (CZ80)

[oam]

Would like to hear from people who have tried this excursion. I am especially interested in the time spent at different stops. The beach stop at the end seems kind of short at 90 minutes.
We will be on the 12/23 Merrytime cruise and are trying to decide on what to do in Cozumel. Thanks advance for your opinions.

 

[yowcruiser]

We did that exact same excursion last December and it was quite underwhelming. Now, let me say that weather somewhat played a role here (very windy). The visit of the ruins was OK, but in terms of sights or great picture opportunities, it did fall way short of what is depicted on the Disney site. The bus tour from the ruins to the chocolate factory is nice and along the coast for the most part - but no real stops. The chocolate factory was busy and the tour was really rushed, did not get to spend much time there - not that one would anyway... Now, the beach... well the beach itself was closed during our visit due to strong northerly winds (rare in Cozumel, but it does happen). The place features pools and a mini water park which could still be used. This is the spot where you can also enjoy a quick drink or snack. Given that the actual beach was closed, 90 minutes was more than enough...

 

[DCLPrincess]

We did this and I enjoyed it. I didn't want to spend the whole day at the beach. I liked seeing different things. We actually made a big circle around the island so I felt like got to see cozumel. The ruins are not big but they are old which is impressive. The chocolate factory was a short trip but fun. The beach was nice. The water was great and they had a pool.

 

[Sytrace]

Would like to hear from people who have tried this excursion. I am especially interested in the time spent at different stops. The beach stop at the end seems kind of short at 90 minutes.
We will be on the 12/23 Merrytime cruise and are trying to decide on what to do in Cozumel. Thanks advance for your opinions.

We did the tour the first time with no chocolate and liked it much better as we had more time at the beach.
The chocolate tour is just okay and I would have not scheduled it if they had just the ruins and beach available.

 

[ColoradoCruiser87]

Commas people. I'm pretty sure Cozumel did not ruin chocolate.

 

[Sytrace]

Commas people. I'm pretty sure Cozumel did not ruin chocolate.

It actually did not taste that great so maybe Cozumel DID ruin the chocolate. lol

 

[bumbershoot]

Commas people. I'm pretty sure Cozumel did not ruin chocolate.

I read it the same way lol. Terrible name for an excursion!

 

[Dug720]

Commas people. I'm pretty sure Cozumel did not ruin chocolate.

OR the beach break!!

 

[natebenma]

Last October, I did the Mexican Halloween and Beach Adventure (CZ91)- See how Cozumel celebrates one of the most important holidays in Mexican culture- then chill at a beach club. learn about Dia de los Meurtos and visit a Mayan hut to see the symbol of the celebration, el Altar. Paint the famous La Calavera Catrina skull mask to take home as a souvenir (a little magnet). Then spend approximately 2 hours at Playa Mia Grand Beach and Water Park

$59 Adult, $49 ages 3-9

I don't know if this is offered at all times of the year, or just during the Halloween season.

This was not my first choice excursion- my snorkeling trip that morning was cancelled due to weather, so I booked a last minute excursion that would get me to the beach.

Here are a few pictures of La Playa Mia Beach and Water Park

It is hard for me to judge whether 90 minutes would be enough time at the beach for your group. It was plenty for me, but I was there by myself, didn't have any little kids who would have enjoyed the water park and the weather was not ideal. I did go down a couple of slides and climbed one of the structures, but didn't spend a lot of time using the inflatables.
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[All about me]

Quick highjack, sorry! Have been searching for firsthand info on this for two months!

Last October, I did the Mexican Halloween and Beach Adventure (CZ91)- See how Cozumel celebrates one of the most important holidays in Mexican culture- then chill at a beach club. learn about Dia de los Meurtos and visit a Mayan hut to see the symbol of the celebration, el Altar. Paint the famous La Calavera Catrina skull mask to take home as a souvenir (a little magnet). Then spend approximately 2 hours at Playa Mia Grand Beach and Water Park.

Did you like it? Do you recommend it? A couple of us are trying to get a review of it. I have it booked for myself and my two granddaughters, ages 8 and 9, on our upcoming Halloween on the High Seas cruise. Do you think it would be enjoyable for them or should I switch to a straight beach excursion?

Thank you for any thoughts in advance.

 

[natebenma]

Quick highjack, sorry! Have been searching for firsthand info on this for two months!


Did you like it? Do you recommend it? A couple of us are trying to get a review of it. I have it booked for myself and my two granddaughters, ages 8 and 9, on our upcoming Halloween on the High Seas cruise. Do you think it would be enjoyable for them or should I switch to a straight beach excursion?

Thank you for any thoughts in advance.

I'll try to work on a more complete review with pictures in another thread in the next couple of days and I'll tag you.

I think the kids in the tour that were about that age range enjoyed it. Parts of the chocolate tour were very interactive- There was a presentation about the history of chocolate along with a quick visit to look at museum exhibits. Then we went into a work room where there was a competition to assemble a Day of the Dead altar to honor ancestors, coloring a small magnet skull with markers and sampling some traditional Mexican food and chocolate in a few different forms. Then beach/pool time.

It was fine for me, it accomplished my goal of getting off the boat and getting to the beach, along with a little culture, a little education and chocolate! It was a good excursion to have on a day when the weather was awful.

 

[All about me]

I'll try to work on a more complete review with pictures in another thread in the next couple of days and I'll tag you.

How do the tags work?

Editted to add: Never mind, found it! Thank you!

 

[PrincessesRUs]

We just did the Ruins, Chocolate and beach break version of this excursion as part of the Thanksgiving Merrytime Cruise. Thumbs DOWN.
The ruins were miserably thick with mosquitoes - and 90% of us missed the “may want insect repellent” comment in the description of the excursion. The guides had one can they were trying to split with about 25 people. You’d need a can for about 4-5 people that how thick they were. The “park” where the ruins are also wants to charge extra for using anything larger than a pocket camera or phone. This wasn’t disclosed until we were on the bus. I don’t think it was much but it lead to the feeling of being nickeled and dimed at every turn.
The Chocolate portion was very short but just long enough for them to remind us to tip them no less than 7 times. It was interesting though.
Playa Mia was one of my kids fave spots. We’d skip the rest and just go there in the future.