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Hotel Zone, Riviera Maya, Cozumel Sights & Attractions

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rojahn
rojahn
First Reviewer
2 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
1
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4
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Hotel Zone, Riviera Maya, Cozumel

  • November 21, 2005
  • Rated 2 of 5 by rojahn from Centennial, Colorado
Hotel Zone, Riviera Maya, Cozumel

I was one of the first travel professionals from the United States to travel to Cancun and Cozumel after the hurricane. Since I had my own car, I was able to get to areas that other people were not allowed to go. The cab driver in Cozumel got me into areas  I could never have visited on my own. I can now advise my clients accurately and honestly about their travel plans rather than depend on some of the tourism bureaus, which would have you believe there was no damage at all.

When the plane was landing, I looked out the window and could only wonder the wrath of Hurricane Wilma, for what used to be lush and green was now barren. Almost every leaf on every tree, assuming the tree was still there, had blown away. The airport was in good condition but very empty and eerie. After I rented my car, I started to drive towards Playa del Carmen. It was strange to see large metal poles broken in half like twigs and what used to be billboards and road signs tangled like crumpled paper.

Fortunately, the Playa del Carmen area of the Riviera Maya south to Tulum fared much better than the Hotel Zone in Cancun and Cozumel. The day I drove up to Cancun was a surreal experience. The road between the airport and the island was empty. I only saw two other cars on that long stretch of road. The south part of the island was like a ghost town. As I drove north, I could tell the main shopping areas and restaurants must have been devastated, and that is where most of the construction was focused.

I knew getting past hotel security at any of the hotels that were closed was going to be difficult at best, so when I saw that the Royal Mayan was open, I made my way to the beach and was able to get some dramatic pictures of some of the damage. I could only walk so far, as parts of buildings were blown into the ocean blocking the beach.

A few days later, I ventured to Cozumel on the ferry. The only other people on the ferry were construction workers commuting back and forth to repair the damage. Once I arrived, I hired a cab driver to take me around. He was good at negotiating to get us past Policia roadblocks, and that is where I got my most dramatic pictures.

For those traveling to the Riviera Maya, the infrastructure and most of the resorts are open and in great shape. I think the infrastructure in Cancun and Cozumel will be restored and in good shape by the holidays, but in my opinion, it will take 4 to 6 months for some of the resorts to get back to normal.

From journal Denver Travel Professional Assesses Damage

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