Xel Ha (Xel Ha Mexico)

Member Name: traceyk100

Product:	Xel Ha Mexico
Date:	03/09/08 (207 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great for under water activites

Disadvantages: one day is not long enough

Xel Ha

About Xel Ha

Xel ha pronounced (shell-haw) is the natural beauty of Mexico, it's a natural aquarium. This is the place to visit if you like snorkelling or diving. There are also parrots being raised here to help stop extinction. You can also swim with the dolphins which is a once in a lifetime experience.

What we did

I will start by telling you what we did first and give my opinion because I didn't get to see it all but I can tell you what there is to do.

Our tour cost around $105 each which is around £55our money roughly depending on the rate. It is quite expensive but it is all inclusive. You can whatever you want from the five restaurants and ice cream shop, you can drink what you want you want alcoholic or non alcoholic from the bars and restaurants. You also get the use of clean towels, lockers and snorkelling equipment for free so it works out worthwhile.

Our bus left around 7.30am outside of the hotel beside us so it was handy enough to find and our rep in our hotel was very helpful l. We gave our names and the rep handling the tour told us what number of bus to get when we had to change buses. So we set off in a well air conditioned bus and I worried because I was quite confused because our rep never told us we had to change buses but there was no need because when we got to our meeting point which was an hour down the road it was simple there was staff everywhere helping you find your next bus. When everyone was on our bus we headed to Xel Ha which took another hour and a bit to get there. On our journey the tour guide on our bus explained what you could do at Xel Ha which was very useful. When we got there had to stay on the bus until our rep got our wristbands and then he guided us through part of the park and gave us information on where to collect things from like the towels, snorkelling equipment, lockers and where to book the activities. After he told us the information which took around 10 minutes we were then allowed to go round by ourselves and meet him back at the bus at 5pm.

We then headed off to book our swim with the dolphins which was one of the activities we choose to do but there are more you can choose from. This costs extra it was around $100 or £50 each to swim with the dolphins. Our swim wasn't until 12 and we had time to spare so we went for something to eat. We choose the first place we could find because it was near lunch time there was a buffet it had everything from burgers, chips, eggs, rice, fruit, and different Mexican foods like fajitas and it even had its own place where you can get your own fizzy drinks and beer. The food was a bit greasy but I ate it because I was hungry. By the time we had finished it was time for our dolphin swim so I headed back to where we booked it we were brought into a room and watched a video explaining a bit about the dolphins and the health and safety for example you are allowed to pet their skin but you are not allowed to touch their blow holes or grab their fins because they think you are being aggressive. The video lasts around 15 minutes and then we had to sign a form to say that you had seen the video. We got lifejackets and split into group of 7 and 8 and the instructor took us down to the dolphin pool. There was three staff one was the trainer he was very funny and made you feel really relaxed, there was a camera man who made a brilliant job of the video and a photographer who also made a really good job of the photos. We got into the water and I was feeling a bit scared because I didn't realise how big the dolphins actually were around two and a half meters long. The trainer told us to do various activities and this made the dolphins do different tricks they are so intelligent and big show offs my favourite trick was when the instructor asked the group to sing and one person came forward and the dolphin got up to hold your hand and started dancing it was so cute. After the half hour was up the trainer brought us back to the photo room where we could watch the video and look at the photos. We bought two photos and a DVD which cost us £50 which I thought was a rip off but I bought it anyway because it was a once in a lifetime.

We then decided that we wanted to go on the bikes so we went and followed the signs to where the bike trail was it was quite easy found but the bike trail was quite short and there wasn't much to see I found it a bit of waste of time as is so much to see in Xel Ha. After the bike ride we went snorkelling we had to queue up to get the equipment and sign it out and give $20 deposit which you get back when you leave it back. You can also get life jackets which are sitting on hooks beside the lagoon and they were always easy enough to find as there was plenty around. I have been snorkelling a few times and this time was one of the better times because there was plenty of fish I don't know their names but there was pretty blue and yellow fish and nice pure white fish although I did find the water quite cloudy. If you go to a coral reef in the sea which did in Mexico you will find the water much clearer and more variety.

After we snorkelled we went to dry of and left back our equipment. It was near the end of the day and we were getting tired of walking around in the sun so we went to get a bit to eat in one of the restaurants we just got a burger and chips which again was greasy but eatable. We then went for a beer and relaxed in the hammocks which was class and really relaxing and comfortable. We then made our way back to the bus for our journey back to Cancun and this time it was direct thankfully and when I was leaving I wished that I had more time to see the rest of Xel Ha.

Other activities you can do at Xel Ha

Sea Trek- this is when you wear a mask like a scuba diving helmet and you walk under water in a line and see all the beautiful fish. I choose not to do this activity because it looked to be claustrophobic.

Snuba- this is when you are half snorkelling half diving you have an oxygen tank that allows you to breathe comfortably and it floats above the water so you don't have to carry it on your back. I choose not to do this because I was going snorkelling but it looked interesting.

Aqua adventures- this is when a guide takes you to the best sites in the cove you get the use of wet suits and I wished I had more time to do this because I probably would have seen more type s of fish.

Overall

I would highly recommend visiting Xel Ha if you are in Mexico its one of the most beautiful places I have visited I really enjoyed my day and only wished that I had more time to go back and finish the rest of it but unfortunately I didn't.

Summary: great day out