While the new Quintana Roo liquor laws were supposed to go into effect February 10, 2019 (limiting the hours during which liquor can be sold/served), it has not been until July 2, 2019 that tourists have experienced the actualities of liquor restrictions at Cancun and Riviera Maya resorts.
If you will be taking an ADO bus anywhere in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, make sure to bring your ID. Due to the flow of migrants from central American countries throughout Mexico, identification is now required prior to boarding. If you don’t have an ID, you will not be allowed to take this type of transportation throughout the area.
FYI: This attraction is ONLY FOR GUESTS of the Barcelo Maya Grand Resort.
Xplor or Xplor Fuego? Too bad this is not the most difficult question to be answered in life. If you are going to the Riviera Maya and thinking of visiting the parks, it will be a question you will have to contemplate at some point.
I love drone videos of resorts since it gives me an overall view of the surrounding area as well as the resort’s general layout. Here’s a good video of Akumal Bay with its system of buoys to delineate where one can snorkel–my last visit to Akumal Bay in 2015 was before the “madness” started about beach access/snorkeling restrictions implemented by the Mexican government. While the new rules help keep the turtles less stressed, it can be confusing for snorkelers.
What is sargassum?
Although my first response to this question is “irritating and a potential vacation disaster for beach lovers”, here’s a scientific explanation to the phenomena we all hate to see when we visit Cancun/Riviera Maya. Hope this helps answer questions about where it comes from.
FYI: Since I made this post, I’ve done more checking into the resort’s renovations and have found out it is a total gut job. Yes, everything is going. I’ve watched videos of the pools being decimated, another floor is being added to some guest room buildings, and seen computer generated pics of the lobby area which keeps none of the elegant charm that I loved about this resort. If you want more moment-by-moment info on this renovation, the best place to get it is on Facebook–ask to join the Riu Palace Riviera Maya page.
Jungala Luxury Waterpark
I found a FB (Facebook) page which gives satellite information on the sargassum situation in Cancun/Riviera Maya. Given the satellite pics, there is a huge amount of brown algae headed into the Riviera Maya area in the next few days. If you want to keep track of this type of information, you will need access to Facebook. In the FB search box/bar, type in Red de Monitoreo del Sargazo Cancún. Hope this helps for those of you wanting into about the algae situation prior to your vacation.
Here’s a new map of the Barceló Maya Grand Resort with the addition of the new adults-only section (Barceló Maya Riviera) which is scheduled to open Dec. 2019. 850 rooms, four pools, five restaurants, five bars, a new convention center, plus access to the rest of the entire resort. I’m going late Feb. 2020 and staying in a swim-up suite–can’t wait to see it and the rest of this great resort. I have my favorite hangouts which I discovered on my trip here July 2018, and looking forward to adding more favorites to my list!