Progesso is a DUMP!!!!!

[ShannonP]

terry&mike....thanks so much for the background info on Progreso. I wish we had more time do some serious exploring there. I'm looking forward to our brief visit.

[hdawson]

terry&mike. Excellent discription. Hoping it remains AS IS.

[terry&mike]

I did want to address a couple of other things, that I forgot to mention.

As to prostitutes, neither my husband nor I, nor any of our visiting friends or family, have ever been propositioned. The only "working girls" we have seen in the area were late at night, on the main road (Avenue Itzaes - same street where the interesting zoo is, by the way), out in the commercial area on the way to the Merida airport, about 40 miles from Progreso.

I do know of the lady in Progreso who's 2 daughters help her sell jewelry and other trinkets. All I can say is that they never appear to be in need of food or clothing, and they are with their mother. Not ideal, but it helps to find the positive in the situation. I know most folks would not chose this for their children, and possibly this lady would not either if there were options, but Mexico has no "safety net" - if you're poor, you're poor, if you're starving, you're starving, if you're homeless... you get the picture.

Did you know there is an ice skating rink in the large Liverpool Mall, just north of Merida on the road between Progreso and Merida? And also a movie theater with lounge chairs serving cocktails and food? Just an aside.

I'll actually be using the Carnival Fantasy July 11 sailing and it's stop in Progreso to go check on some projects at my beach house in Chelem. Since it leaves from New Orleans, and I live in Baton Rouge, it's an economical and simple way to check out the house, and get some relaxing time in also!

Edited June 8, 2009 by terry&mike

[Peachie1]

Having been to Progreso many times on cruise ships, I will tell you that it is one of our favorite places. It's a beach spot with great food delivered to you on the beach, the friendliest people and not a dump. I resent the fact that because there is no 'Diamonds International' that people don't want to go there. It is what Cozumel was many years ago. I don't want it to happen in Progreso, as this is the real deal. Lay on the beach, get a massage, have an icy cold beverage and enjoy yourself. Talk to the locals, they try very hard to please you. Admire what they sell, and buy if you want to. You are not forced to buy anything, just smile and say 'no thank you' just as you would anywhere else.

I get so tired of people saying that Progreso has nothing to offer. They have opened up an 'exclusive beach break' and you will not get the feel of the real Progreso.

I would skip Jamaica and Grand Cayman in a New York minute. I do not want to skip Progreso...

 

Just my opinion of course.

 

Peaches

[alildabldo]

Hdawson, you bore me. Send this back to the top for more people to read the truth. Progresso is a dump and the more people who say so, regardless of these "cruise pros", will share the experience and good people will spend their money somewhere else...hopefully in a location where your "rich, arrogant" money will be appreciated. Dawson always wants to get the last word in, so.....Progresso is a pig.

[Rowan555]

Hdawson, you bore me. Send this back to the top for more people to read the truth. Progresso is a dump and the more people who say so, regardless of these "cruise pros", will share the experience and good people will spend their money somewhere else...hopefully in a location where your "rich, arrogant" money will be appreciated. Dawson always wants to get the last word in, so.....Progresso is a pig.

 

Wow - 12 posts and every single one is about how you hate Progreso. Seriously? You have nothing else whatsoever to say on all of Cruise Critic except that Progreso stinks?

 

I like Progreso just fine, and it's a great port stop for an inexpensive, relaxing beach day. I regret that we're only doing a 4 day in September and we'll miss Progreso - in fact, I'd rather skip Cozumel and go to Progreso instead!

[clackey]

Hdawson, you bore me. Send this back to the top for more people to read the truth. Progresso is a dump and the more people who say so, regardless of these "cruise pros", will share the experience and good people will spend their money somewhere else...hopefully in a location where your "rich, arrogant" money will be appreciated. Dawson always wants to get the last word in, so.....Progresso is a pig.

Al,

 

You have made 13 post in 4 years and everyone of them has been negative. If that is not the definition of trolling I don't know what is.

[kingfish78734]

Hdawson, you bore me. Send this back to the top for more people to read the truth. Progresso is a dump and the more people who say so, regardless of these "cruise pros", will share the experience and good people will spend their money somewhere else...hopefully in a location where your "rich, arrogant" money will be appreciated. Dawson always wants to get the last word in, so.....Progresso is a pig.

 

Speaking of boredom....

[hdawson]

Kingfish. At my age, I have very tough skin.

 

For ALI: I've only tried to provide information about Progreso, Merida and the state of Yucatan based on my impressions and experience. Two port calls and three 2 wk land vacations. Those experiences are not only in Progreso, but lots of time in Merida and visits to small rural towns such as Ticul, Santa Elaina and the beautiful and large city of Campeche. Also the ruins at Uxmal twice and Chichen Itza. BTW. What ruins tour ripped you off? How much of an effort did you make to experience or enjoy your stop at Progreso? Why do you think your experience was so contrary to most other posters here? Are your opinions superior to the rest of us?

 

Rowan. I think Ali's screen name is a new name for the poster named "Agrip" who started this thread long ago.

Edited June 11, 2009 by hdawson

[kingfish78734]

Excellent post hdawson. I have pretty tough skin as well. Kick me and that may be okay, but let me see you kick an innocent and you're in trouble. And then there comes along someone who refers to Progreso as a pig ---when they don't even know the proper spelling!!! I've always been curious as to why there are so many more horses a$$e$ in the world than there are horses.

Edited June 12, 2009 by kingfish78734

[conwakr]

We loved Progresso also...reminded us, too, of Cozumel in the 70s. Looking forward to a return trip.

[mrsbean1990]

I'm looking forward to visiting this "dump." :D

[pe4all]

Me too! Just want/need a relaxing beach day...

[Traveler353]

Progreso is my favorite stop. It is like Coz used to be 30 years ago.

[Seafor2]

My family (11 of us) visited Progreso last December. We shopped the market and then took a tour of the ruins... Dz..... and the downtown area. Our tour guide was EXCELLENT! You could tell he was very, very proud of his myan heritage. He made sure we knew he was "MYAN!" (sorry if I spell that incorrectly, brain isn't working well this am). From our understanding Myans are very hard workers. They may not have much but they work for what they have.

 

Our six year old LOVED the tour, she LOVED the market and the experience of Merida, as did we. In fact, we're (my husband and I) are sailing again this Sept and our ports of call again are Merida and Cozumel.

 

This will be our second time to Merida and third time to Cozumel. We would rather stay two days in Merida and skip Cozumel. We enjoy the "lack of commericialism" of Merida. HINT: If you want souveniors, they are much cheaper in Merida than Cozumel.

 

This year... I may have to find the beach while we are in port. To each their own but our group really did enjoy Merida. I've learned through the years that everyone has their own opinions and that's just it, it's opinions. Go with an open mind and make a decision to have a good time and enjoy the surroundings. Then thank God you have the blessing of being able to enjoy a cruise and see different areas of the world. We Americans sometimes don't realize how rich we are until we've seen a 3rd world country.

[TNT123]

Well, we just finished a Carnival cruise with a stop in Progresso. Our group of six chose the Dzibilchaltun tour and beach break. After getting off the ship, we boarded a very comfortable bus that drove us to the ruins. Our guides were wonderful and very interesting to listen to on our ride. I was disappointed to see all of the roadside garbage that exists. I understand the poverty level, but would hope that anyone associated with tourism would make it a priority to make an effort to clean up the debris to make it more inviting to bring tourist dollars into their area.

 

We enjoyed Dzibilchaltun and its rich history. Again, our guide was very informative and showed us around, but then left us about an hour to explore on our own. The facilities there were very nice and clean and the people were friendly. Of course, the merchants tried to get you to buy lots of things, but they weren't overly pushy.

 

We then drove through Progresso to a designated area for a beach break.

This shore excursion did provide for a nice place for us to change and enjoy the beach. However, on the way back to the ship, we wound through the streets of the City, and I was again disappointed to see the amount of trash and debris scattered about. Some places looked decent and kept up, but others had mounds of garbage, rocks, brush, etc. piled up in their front yards. Although the area is very poor, you would think there is some way they could clean up what they do have. I have to say, after going through areas that obviously lacked sanitation, it makes it difficult for a tourist to want to go and shop, visit, or eat anywhere in the area.

 

I tried to keep an open mind going into Progresso, and overall enjoyed the shore excursion that we chose; however, if given a choice in the future, I doubt I would return.

[terry&mike]

TNT123 - I understand your comments about the trash in the area, as I have a house nearby, and on each visit I designate a trash clean up day to pick up around my house, my beach, and nearby. Each time I come, it's back to the same. Frustrating.

It may help for you to know two things about the area. The first is that throwing trash on the ground, rather in bins, is commonplace in this culture, they are raised doing it, and don't see that it is wrong and that there is a better way. Sometimes locals are astonished when they see me picking up garbage from the beach. Culturally, there is a different mindset about garbage, and so they don't know that gringos would be offended by seeing it. The second thing to be aware of is that there is no formal trash service out at the beach towns, no truck to come around on Tuesday and Friday and pick up your garbage, etc. Your garbage must be sorted and bagged and either taken to the dump, or you must flag down one of the old guys in beat up pick up trucks that ride around yelling "basura, basura" (trash) out their window. Both the dump and the guy trying to make a living charge 5 pesos (about .45 cents) per bag for accepting trash - this is an awful lot of money for someone who's average income is $12 per day - if they are able to find a job.

Not giving excuses, just understanding. I have a hard time with it too.

[TNT123]

Terry and Mike - Thank you for some insight as to why there is such a garbage/litter problem in the area. Our only other experience was in Cozumel, and while the area was also poor in some parts of San Miguel, the area seemed to be cleaner. Perhaps this was because Cozumel has become more of a tourist destination than what Progreso is at this time.

 

Our culture and my community makes such an effort to keep areas clean (adopt-a-highways, neighborhood clean-up days, etc.) that I guess I just take our way of life forgranted at times. It was very humbling, and everyone in our group agreed that it made us appreciate our modest, middle-class lifestyles so much more.

[Pacridge]

After living here for the last two years I can tell you Progreso isn't for everyone. Cozumel this place isn't. As for the trash, yes it's an issue. I think they're starting to take it more serious. I live west of the pier, can see it from my windows and back deck. Their suppose to be building a new malecon down this way and in the past few months people have been cleaning the beach more regularly.

 

I'll second the rec. of uxmal for ruins. and trips out and around the area. look into the cenotes at Cuzama (sp?) Izmal or into Merdia. It truly is a jewel of a city.

 

As for the hookers, yes there are hookers here. When I first got here I was approached a few times but after a month or so that stopped. My friend who owns a hotel says the police are keeping the ladies from working the malecon and they pretty much have to work out of one or two bars. I really doubt you're going to find them unless that's what you're looking for. If not I can't imagine them bothering you esp. if you're with your spouse. Behavior like this doesn't fit Mayan culture at all.

[clackey]

TNT123 - I understand your comments about the trash in the area, as I have a house nearby, and on each visit I designate a trash clean up day to pick up around my house, my beach, and nearby. Each time I come, it's back to the same.

Not giving excuses, just understanding. I have a hard time with it too.

It is no different here in the states. For a country of patriots we sure are a bunch of slobs.

[Pacridge]

TNT123 - I understand your comments about the trash in the area, as I have a house nearby, and on each visit I designate a trash clean up day to pick up around my house, my beach, and nearby. Each time I come, it's back to the same. Frustrating.

It may help for you to know two things about the area. The first is that throwing trash on the ground, rather in bins, is commonplace in this culture, they are raised doing it, and don't see that it is wrong and that there is a better way. Sometimes locals are astonished when they see me picking up garbage from the beach. Culturally, there is a different mindset about garbage, and so they don't know that gringos would be offended by seeing it. The second thing to be aware of is that there is no formal trash service out at the beach towns, no truck to come around on Tuesday and Friday and pick up your garbage, etc. Your garbage must be sorted and bagged and either taken to the dump, or you must flag down one of the old guys in beat up pick up trucks that ride around yelling "basura, basura" (trash) out their window. Both the dump and the guy trying to make a living charge 5 pesos (about .45 cents) per bag for accepting trash - this is an awful lot of money for someone who's average income is $12 per day - if they are able to find a job.

Not giving excuses, just understanding. I have a hard time with it too.

 

Everything you're saying is spot on.

 

They've started charging more by the weight of the bag in the last month or so. Those old guys in the basura trucks are weighed at the scales by "Bodega" now as they leave Progreso and head to the dump. Lately I've been charged an ave. of 10 pesos for a large bag.

 

The last couple of weeks the marines have been collecting trash along the inland waterway and beaches. They did this last year too, I got all excited and thought things were going to improve. No it's just something they do for the Mexican vacations of July and August. Think they do it during Sem. Santa (Easter) too.

[conchead]

It is no different here in the states. For a country of patriots we sure are a bunch of slobs.

I agree!

Well, in 81 Days? (I think) we will be in this "poor dirty dump"...

and I am So Ready! WE loved this place, me, my wife and my 16yo son

were there in March '09. It was our first family cruise we didn't really know what to do, by the time we decided on an excursion, they were all sold out, so we decided to just make the best of it. We thought the whole beach area was the Corona Beach Break thing, so we left all the swimming stuff on the ship..little did we know how wrong we were.(We didn't find out until we were on the wway back to the ship) Anyway,we got dropped off the bus from the ship and went through the little market area, then got adventurous and went walking through the town, not the main malecon area, but going into town away from the beach. We stopped in several local stores, even an appliance store and a grocery store.

(CLackey..The grocery was Nothing like Harps.)

We did the conversion and you could get Good prices on appliances. We never once felt like it was the least bit unsafe. The people were nice and friendly. I don't think they knew a word of English, and I know so little spanish...but it was fine.

I like the fact that this town is authentic, not a tourist trap with all the glitz and sparkle and neon. I did not want to see the dream of some multi millionaire developer wanting to cash in on the tourist. I wanted to see Mexico, and I feel like I did.:)

[WilliamLawson]

"Behavior like this doesn't fit Mayan culture at all"

 

What a hilariously condescending comment. You think there were no prostitutes among the Mayans?

 

This comment is a runner up to the "the children are so beautiful" observations so often heard here.

[TNBear]

FWIW, my wife and I were in Progreso on 10/26/09 and had a great time. We arrived early and had a leisurely breakfast of machaca and eggs at Le St. Bonnet, along with a couple of very good Bloody Marys to wash them down. We then strolled up the beach and found some cool shells as well as a small sponge and a piece of coral. Having built up a bit of a thirst we went to Flamingo's and had a couple of cervezas and some wonderful guacamole, salsas and chips.

 

We then walked back down the Malecon stopping at a few shops and talking with the folks. We ended up at Buddy's and had an absolutely wonderful afternoon on their piece of the beach. Buddy seems a very nice guy, although wound a bit tight as are most businessmen at this time. I think he's from up east somewhere and has not lost his "yankee attitude" completely.

 

At no time were we approached by hookers, or even saw anyone who looked like one, unlike in Mobile where I saw several obvious "ladys of the evening" just getting to our hotel. We also found the people of Progreso to be much less insistant than on Cozumel. The salespeople in San Miguel are terrible, I'm glad we found a taxi driver to take us around the island. The Carribbean side is so nice and quiet, very pretty as well.

[Peachie1]

Packing to get ready to jump on the Ecstasy on Mon. On Weds. I will be having 'Rita's and Nacho's on the beach in Progreso and then a massage.

Remember folks, if you just say, 'no thank you', the vendors will move on.

Take a walk around town, you may be surprised at what you see and the people you meet. It's a friendly town and not at all like the 'Jewels of the Caribbean' where you see lots and lots of shops and nothing to really 'see'.

We were once diverted to Vera Cruz and spent the day there. Another of those little places that is unlike Coz and the others. We don't speak Spanish, they don't speak much English and we still enjoyed ourselves.

It's what you make it I guess and maybe my expectations are different from some others, but by the same token, this is their country, not mine and who am I to insist that they live by my standards? We have NEVER had a bad cruise and Progreso is becoming one of our favorite stops. It's refreshing to not see a "Diamonds International" on each corner. No, I don't have anything against DI, it's just that I would rather see the street vendors in Progreso selling food than another trendy shop.

I will be thinking of ya'll next week, while I'm wading in the water....

 

Peach