On Oct. 21, Hurricane Wilma, a monster storm that straddled the line between Categories 4 and 5, moved into the Yucatan--and didn't move out for 36 hours.
Most of Riviera Maya , the 80-mile coastal tourist zone south of the city, escaped serious damage, in part because Cozumel, an island in the Caribbean 30 minutes by ferry opposite Playa del Carmen, acted as a natural buffer.
On a weeklong visit that ended Dec. 2, here's what we found:
Aside from a little beach erosion--and they're taking care of that as we speak--Playa del Carmen is fine. For the most part (the exception is Puerto Morelos, which got battered along its shoreline), Riviera Maya, from Playa del Carmen south to Tulum, is in good shape.
"There's a lot of bad information that's out there, and incomplete information," said Ray Snisky, president of FunJet Vacations and related companies that include ATA Vacations and United Vacations. "The Riviera Maya came through virtually unscathed. It's open, fully operational and looking spectacular."
"Wilma's the best thing that ever happened to Playa," said Daniel "Chi-Chi" Rodriguez, who touts timeshares in Playa del Carmen when he isn't selling real estate back home in Ottawa, Ill.
"Because people who were going to go to Cancun, they're booking them here--and once they see Playa, they may never go back to Cancun again."
…aside from a few shredded palapas, the place looks untouched. The hotels are working, the bars are merry, the shops are busy (even when the ships aren't in) and so are the restaurants in what is one of Mexico's premier restaurant towns.
"We had a lot of the leaves come down from the trees, things like that," said Gerardo Valades, president of the city's restaurant association. "In three or four days, everything was cleaned up."
Down the coast, in Puerto Adventuras and Akumal, there was some isolated damage, but recovery has been quick. Even in Tulum, where many lodgings are little more than thatched huts, the main damage was to the thatch.
The Tulum archeological site, which has endured hurricanes for centuries, endured this one as well.
"Our total offering is 25,170 rooms," said Martin Ruiz, director general of the Riviera Maya Hotel Association. "On Jan. 6, we will have 95 percent of the total working."
IF YOU GO - Consult the official Web sites for updates on hotel openings and general conditions. For Cancun, www.cancun.info; for Cozumel, www.islacozumel.com.mx; for Riviera Maya, www.rivieramaya.com.
Use whatever cross-references you like, including Web sites and travel agents.
Then… call the hotels directly, or insist your travel agent do it for you. Someone at the hotel will speak English. Ask about ongoing construction (if any), beach conditions (if it matters), available facilities that are essential to your vacation (spa, restaurants, pool, etc.) and infrastructure (elevators working?).
"The key," said FunJet Vacations president Ray Snisky, "is doing some research before you head down to that area." Then have a good time. |