Help with excursions in Cozumel and Falmouth Jamacia???

[Kik35]

How much for the Nachi Cocom beach club? Is it through the cruise line?

 

We booked Nachi directly at their website for next month. It's was $55pp and they required a $22 deposit. Really looking forward to going!!:D

[LMaxwell]

In Jamaica we did the plantation estate tour with lunch. About 20 minute bus ride from the port. Great tour of the working plantation and old estate home along with a tasty lunch. Pretty reasonably priced, great views, very enjoyable.

[MIA2CHI]

I saw someone post earlier I am going to second the Culinary tour in Falmouth.

 

jamaicaculinarytours.com it is a great mix of history, local color, culture and food. Also I believe there should be an express trip to Dunns River Falls where you don't stop too much and just head straight to the falls. The drive time is much shorter on this tour. If you come prepared with water shoes the climb is very easy and there are always the stairs.

 

I think a lot of people sell Jamaica short, it is one of my favorite islands on both cruise and land vacations. It can be a little rough around the edges and you may have to try a little harder to find things to do versus stops in places like the Bahamas, but the people are the greatest and always willing to show you their favorite things about the country.

[mcca2]

One excursion we enjoyed last spring in Falmouth is an independent one. It is a walking food tour through Falmouth. We were escorted by a guide who introduced us to what the locals eat. We had samples at each stop. Information can be found at jamaicaculinarytours.com. We never felt unsafe and felt like we got a great overview of the area. We've also taken the trolley that is available at the port. Another way to get an overview of the city.

 

We always enjoy spending a beach day at the all inclusive beach club Nachi Cocom in Cozumel. If you do an online search, you can find the info for it. You will have to take a taxi to get there, but it is very easy.

 

In Cozumel we've also ridden Segways, gone to the Mayan ruins San Gervasio, taken a catamaran that included snorkeling and some beach time, and done the Salsa, Salsa, Margarita excursion. All of these have been ship sponsored excursions. The Salsa excursion was fun. It involves making six different types of salsa, and then have a salsa dance lesson. I don't think we'll win any contests for salsa dancing! You can also stay at a local hotel pool. Taking a taxi downtown is always easy and shopping total abounds!

 

Falmouth is a bit more time consuming to get to excursions, but Cozumel offers a variety of activities that are easy to find.

 

We also did the Culinary tour last month. It was excellent, and the guides very good. Took about two and a half hours. Felt very safe. The guides knew everyone, and we had an interesting half day.

[bre]

Hands down...While in Jamaica, you MUST visit Blue Hole. It's a tiny bit of paradise. about 30 mins past Dunns Falls. But so worth the drive. I have never seen anything like it. It is my kids ALL time favorite excursion. Something they will always remember. You should check it out. WE hired Real Tours Jamaica t to take us there and back. We also stopped for lunch and a little shopping. Totally do-able.

[Nemomof3]

Another vote for the Jamaica culinary tour. We also did that last month and really enjoyed it. I was surprised how much history we learned also. Great experience!

[CruzieSue]

COZUMEL - First trip we did a Jeep tour through the ship. Let's just say it would have fit nicely in a Fast and Furious movie. They drive very fast on very bumpy and sometimes narrow roads. The Jeeps were old and not in very good shape. The ocean scenery was very nice as we went flying by!!! :rolleyes: The snorkel stop was quick and hurried. The second stop was at some little beach side place with a "restaurant/bar" and a "gift shop" across the street from the beach. We couldn't get in the water as it was very rough that day. The people selling things were very pushy. We actually enjoyed the third stop at the tequila "museum" (as someone posted earlier). Mostly a speech about how tequila is made and the differences in tequilas, and then we were offered about 10 samples of different colored and flavored tequilas - maybe an ounce or two in paper mouthwash cups. Another stop was the Mayan monument that is in the middle of the roadway in town. Second trip we took a taxi to the downtown area and walked around on our own for awhile. We enjoyed that much better.

 

FALMOUTH - First trip we did the Chukka Beach break - it was okay, but not really impressed. Second trip we did the RIO BUENO RIVER TUBING excursion (available only through the ship) and LOVED IT !!!! The guides were really friendly and informative. About a 20 minute bus ride to get to the starting point. Lots of beautiful scenery and ocean views along the way. The "river" is shallow (2-3 feet) and mostly narrow but in a lush, green, almost jungle setting. Very relaxing with little spurts of quick water along the way to keep it interesting. At the end, you reach the ocean and spend some time at a very beautiful, wide open beach with lunch. Everyone in our group would go back and do it again !!! (3 adults and a teen boy).

[Hoopster95]

Cozumel we were thinking about renting a jeep but I am not sure if I want to rent through the cruise line due to high cost and reviews saying that you couldn't stop where you wanted to.

 

Hi CruisingGAL. I have done exactly this. There are a few rental agencies at the pier when you get off the ship. We rented an open air jeep for the day, was awesome! Got to stop anywhere and everywhere we wanted. They'll give you a map and the island is so very easy to get around. It was a great day with total freedom. You will be able to go to the beach, stop at the rocky shore to watch the waves crashing, head over to the San Gervasio ruins for a while, and even go shopping, all in one day without being herded into a tour bus and doing only one of these things.

 

Jamaica we either wanted some kind of good cultural tour that wasn't too pricey or duns river falls and a beach. I am a little worried about the falls though because I am not very athletic. (Small 100 person) and don't do a lot of strenuous activities and I am worried about the activity level. Is it very hard to climb? I also have asthma.

 

The falls is one of those must-do things for someone who's never been there. It is very easy to accomplish, not overly steep, and the tour guides go very slow. I have seen very non-athletic people go up without too much trouble. Definitely buy water shoes with grip soles on the bottom, these will save you bigtime! And absolutely bring a water proof camera as photos are awesome with the water crashing down on you when the tour makes photo stops :)

 

One of the funnest excursions I've done (twice) out of Falmouth is the Chukka Horseback riding & Dunn's River combo. You'll go bareback into the ocean with the horses, awesome experience for anyone not used to horses like me.

 

Have a great cruise! :D

[Sunny AZ Girl]

In Jamaica we did the plantation estate tour with lunch. About 20 minute bus ride from the port. Great tour of the working plantation and old estate home along with a tasty lunch. Pretty reasonably priced, great views, very enjoyable.

 

I have been going back and forth between booking this excursion and just staying in the port area and getting a massage on the ship. Thank you for your input.

 

In Cozumel we have booked with Nachi Cocum. I will write a review upon our return.

[George C]

We have done Dunns river falls about 10 times over the years, but I am now done fell on my last trip, lucky for me I was just black and blue for a few weeks. I also question going there from Falmouth since roads are not that good ( but have really improved over last few years) We always did it when docked at Ochos Rios