Quick review -- Sea of Cortez ports

[Nancyquilts]

Unless they've improved the sidewalks in the last few years, you really have to watch your step in places on the way to the Plaza.

[Jo-Bob]

CowPrincess...

I help to support an animal rescue group in Puerto Rico.

 

I am wondering if you had any success in helping that poor dog? Did the rescue workers you were going to call respond as though they were in a position to do anything? I realize you were on holiday. Some Caribbean rescue groups have detailed instructions on their websites about how to help an animal that you come across on your travels, should you be so inclined. Thanks.

[SwissMyst]

Unless they've improved the sidewalks in the last few years, you really have to watch your step in places on the way to the Plaza.

 

Yes, good reminder. This still is Mexico and there does not seem to be any uniform regulations when it comes to streets and sidewalks -- far more ad lib on each block or in front of each house. We don't want any more falls! Walking sticks need to become travel necessities any countries like this. Though this walk is level and relatively good so I don't want to discourage anyone fro self-visiting this part of Mazatlan. The route was clean and pleasant, but it was Mexico.

[CowPrincess]

CowPrincess...

I help to support an animal rescue group in Puerto Rico.

 

I am wondering if you had any success in helping that poor dog? Did the rescue workers you were going to call respond as though they were in a position to do anything? I realize you were on holiday. Some Caribbean rescue groups have detailed instructions on their websites about how to help an animal that you come across on your travels, should you be so inclined. Thanks.

 

I located a contact e-mail for the group,and have sent e-mail. Will enlist someone who does not use a Yahoo address to send another one, if I don't hear back within the next 24 hours. I actually considered leaving the ship, blowing off the rest of the cruise, and spending my vacation getting her to safety. My less-crazy side decided against that, knowing I'd end up in serious financial trouble, but I'm doing what I can now to try to get her safe.

 

Can you post a link to "how to help a street dog" info?

 

Northphoenixguy, bad news on the onion rings -- the only place we had them was at Victor's on Stone Island. I'm not kidding -- if we get another trip to Maz, we will be going to Victor's and ordering a full meal of onion rings.

[liketraveling]

I did Sea of Cortez a couple of years ago. Don't know if some of these excursions are still offered.

This is part of my review that I posted on the ports of what I did.

In Puerto Vallerto I booked a City tour which stated shopping. The Shopping was at an Opal Store.

 

 

Mazatalan. I did the Sierra Madre, Concordio, Coppola Tour – We went to a brick factory(bricks made the old fashion way), Furniture Factory (Beautiful Work) and two villages.

 

Tobolobombo – Did the Land of Zoro Native Culture. We passed through Los Mochis. We visited a village were they did a native dance and visited a home were they made tortillas from scratch. We also tasted them and I didn’t get sick. We than went to El Fuerente for Lunch after Luch saw a Folkloric Show and a visit by Zorro. We than walked around El Fuerente. I wish we would have had more time there.

 

Loreto – I went to the San Javier Mission. This was amazing. It was about 90 minutes over dirt road. People grow their own food their and there is one restaurant in the town.

One the way back we stopped at womans home who makes cactus candy and another Ranch where we saw the chickens, goats, the water well and they were preparing leather to make things. Now on the way back they had the road dug up and we had to wait 20 minutes for them to fill the road in. We were about 15 minutes late for the last tender but since it was a Ship Excursion they waited for us. Ship Security called my Dad looking for me. Another woman on the tour they called her husband and the other 8 were couples. The ten of us took the tender back with all the Security crew.

 

La Paz – Todas Santos This was a nices tour but I enjoyed the others on the trip better.

 

Cabo San Lucas - I did the Coastal Highlights Tour. Went to the City of San Jose, Cactus farm, and a glass blowing factory. The Coastal ride on the bus was beautiful.

It also got me out of town away from the T-Shirt Shops. I was in Cabo San Lucas

20 years ago and boy has Cabo Really Changed.

[highland cruiser]

Thank you for such a great review of your cruise. We do this same cruise in April on the Zaandam. We are really interested in the copper canyon tour. Did you hear anything about it? I a, having a hard time finding any reviews here on cc. Thanks again.

Mary

[Jo-Bob]

I located a contact e-mail for the group,and have sent e-mail. Will enlist someone who does not use a Yahoo address to send another one, if I don't hear back within the next 24 hours. I actually considered leaving the ship, blowing off the rest of the cruise, and spending my vacation getting her to safety. My less-crazy side decided against that, knowing I'd end up in serious financial trouble, but I'm doing what I can now to try to get her safe.

 

Can you post a link to "how to help a street dog" info?

 

 

It's so hard, frustrating and sad, isn't it? We could probably be sisters....it would have been very hard for me to be in your situation. Ridiculous as it may sound to many, street animals (and yes, I care about and support children as well:)) are probably the main reason I choose my travel destinations very, very carefully. A tiny island the size of Puerto Rico has approx. 200,000 stray animals. I would lose my mind, and probably my house, and my retirement savings.

 

 

http://handsforpaws.org/index.php/contact

 

http://www.islanddog.org/

 

Let me know if these work. You can google them too, and maybe get more current information, some of their sites aren't maintained regularly, but there are tons of links and the 'workers' are careful not to load the sites with dreadful photos. Thanks for taking the time to help:)

 

Sorry for the hijack.

[CowPrincess]

Jo-Bob, thanks for the info, and the PR info -- PR is on our next itinerary, and we will be rethinking that cruise. We may change.

[CowPrincess]

Re: maps of Top, Guaymas and Loreto.

 

I've got them scanned, but the size limit for pics here on CC is going to mean they will NOT be high-enough resolution to be useful. If you send me an e-mail nakitathedog@yahoo.ca, I'll collect your addresses for 2 days, then send them out as attachments in one mass mailing. Please include your CC screen name so I know for certain the people in this thread who have asked for maps get them :)

 

Or if someone has a suggestion for a free picture hosting site that doesn't limit the size, please post it here.

[CanuckCruizer]

CowPrincess - I have e-mailed you for the maps - thanks so much - it is MOST APPRECIATED!:D

 

Canuck

 

 

 

PS Does anyone know why my user name is highlighted in "red" and everyone else is in blue? Mine used to be blue and just recently has turned red. I am getting a complex - lol.:o

[RAYSAN11]

CowPrincess - I have e-mailed you for the maps - thanks so much - it is MOST APPRECIATED!:D

 

Canuck

 

 

 

PS Does anyone know why my user name is highlighted in "red" and everyone else is in blue? Mine used to be blue and just recently has turned red. I am getting a complex - lol.:o

 

If you have clicked on your name to look at your profile it will highlighted in red

[CanuckCruizer]

If you have clicked on your name to look at your profile it will highlighted in red

 

 

Thanks, Raysan - yes I was in my profile but couldn't figure out how to turn it back to blue - had to delete my temporary files to get it back to blue.

 

Canuck

[CowPrincess]

Okay, have e-mailed the maps to all who requested them. If you did not get yours, please check your "Spam" folder. If it isn't there, send me another e-mail. Thanks!

[SilvertoGold]

Okay, have e-mailed the maps to all who requested them. If you did not get yours, please check your "Spam" folder. If it isn't there, send me another e-mail. Thanks!

 

 

Thanks, CowPrincess, for the maps. Great!!

 

Now a question: In Guaymas exactly where does the ship dock? I think on the east side of the map to the right of the "E" on the compass?

 

Can you walk out of the port area onto Avd. Serdan? If not too hot, I think we would walk into town.

 

Have read that there is supposed to be a new $8.5 million Cruise Terminal. Is this right and, if so, what did you think of it? Much of interest there? Shops, internet?

 

Shuttle goes to the malceon -- near the main area where the Plaza de los 3 Presidentes and Palacio Municipal are?

 

Thanks heaps!

[CowPrincess]

No that isn't the cruise ship dock :( The dock is not shown, and is further to the right on both the Guaymas maps you got. On the Guaymas1 map, there is an arrow and "To Cruise terminal". If I'm remembering correctly and placing things correctly (from memory) I'm guessing that the dock is at least as far again as shown from the Malecon to the arrow. Am I making sense here?

 

The area around the dock (again, I'm working from memory, and may not be completely correct) is kinda worn-out looking. If you're into walking, why not take the shuttle TO Guaymas, and get a sense of how far it is and walk back to the ship? The shuttle ride is around 10 minutes, I think.

 

Yes the shuttle drops you at the malecon, at the east end, more or less. An easy walk to the Plaza of the 3 Presidents and the Fishermen's Monument -- you pass both of those while on the shuttle. (One way streets, I think).

 

As for our impression of the cruise ship terminal, it was fine. New. Clean. The "tourism village" is not great, but worth a quick stop. That's where we bought our Mexican wine. There was a food vendor set up when we were there, and the set-up looks like mostly-permanent, and they bring in tables/chairs, serving things when there is a ship in port. Some pharmacy items in one "shop". Some handicrafts in another shop. A wine and alcohol shop. Most places were selling only trinkets.

 

Ask away! Happy to help :)

[SilvertoGold]

No that isn't the cruise ship dock :( The dock is not shown, and is further to the right on both the Guaymas maps you got. On the Guaymas1 map, there is an arrow and "To Cruise terminal". If I'm remembering correctly and placing things correctly (from memory) I'm guessing that the dock is at least as far again as shown from the Malecon to the arrow. Am I making sense here?

 

The area around the dock (again, I'm working from memory, and may not be completely correct) is kinda worn-out looking. If you're into walking, why not take the shuttle TO Guaymas, and get a sense of how far it is and walk back to the ship? The shuttle ride is around 10 minutes, I think.

 

Yes the shuttle drops you at the malecon, at the east end, more or less. An easy walk to the Plaza of the 3 Presidents and the Fishermen's Monument -- you pass both of those while on the shuttle. (One way streets, I think).

 

As for our impression of the cruise ship terminal, it was fine. New. Clean. The "tourism village" is not great, but worth a quick stop. That's where we bought our Mexican wine. There was a food vendor set up when we were there, and the set-up looks like mostly-permanent, and they bring in tables/chairs, serving things when there is a ship in port. Some pharmacy items in one "shop". Some handicrafts in another shop. A wine and alcohol shop. Most places were selling only trinkets.

 

Ask away! Happy to help :)

 

Thank, excellent! I am working as fast I can with other questions!

One of which is: USD or Pesos, at the terminal or elsewhere in Guaymas?

Interested in the Mexican wine: about how much a bottle?

 

You are a veritable font of information!!

[CowPrincess]

Malecon vendors were USD. Our wine was $9 USD, and as far as I could tell, everything at the port/dock was USD. Didn't see anyone show any interest in our pesos there and the wine vendor insisted on USD, as did the Sea of Cortez Pearls seller. In the city market, pesos if asked for pesos -- we got USD quotes, then said "Pesos?" and it was always a 10:1 ratio. Tipped the shuttle driver in pesos.

[tyrannosaur]

Thanks for the great review and useful info.

In regard to Puerto Vallarta, was it easy to get to the bus stop from the pier? How much was the fare? Do we need exact change in pesos?

Also my understanding is that I would have to look for bus which says "Centro" in order to get to El Malecon, but I am not sure what to look for or where to catch the bus on the way back.

Thanks.

[SwissMyst]

Thanks for the great review and useful info.

In regard to Puerto Vallarta, was it easy to get to the bus stop from the pier? How much was the fare? Do we need exact change in pesos?

Also my understanding is that I would have to look for bus which says "Centro" in order to get to El Malecon, but I am not sure what to look for or where to catch the bus on the way back.

Thanks.

 

CowPrincess will have more current info but here is what we did each time we were in PV. We go to the cluster of shops near the ships and get some pesos and then leave the port gate to pick up the bus which is clearly labeled as you note. It was less than 50 cents US each I believe, but they will take dollars, but you will probably not get change if you don't want to change anything into pesos.

 

There is really only one main road along the water from downtown to the port and dozens of busses are constantly going by, from all sorts of different looking bus companies. It was not hard to find the ones going back along the road to the ship, and I believe many of them said "Walmart" or the name of the major shopping center directly across from where the ship docks.

 

So just line up at one of the bus stops that is labeled for this or where you see one of these labeled busses stop and when you get to the Walmart shopping area, get off and use the signaled crosswalk to get back to the port entrance and ship. The main downtown street splits into two one way streets so when it is time to get back to the ship you need to look one block higher than the oceanfront street where you came into town to get the right oneway street going the direction back to the ship.

 

This is a four lane busy highway in front of the dock area, so you want to get off the bus coming back to the ship try to get off close to a traffic signal cross-walk to make it safe and easy to get across the traffic. Or else, you might have to walk a bit to get to the lighted intersection. Pretty sure the bus drivers are very savvy about helping cruise passengers get back in one piece. For your best safety, do not try to cross the street back to the ship without waiting for a traffic signal.

 

It is very easy to do this on your own. The bus is usually crowded and pretty grubby, but a great way to get in and out of town. Then it is just a matter of where you want to walk around downtown: up in the hills for old cobble-stone street and stairway PV draped in bougainvilla with stunning ocean views, along the water walk way across the bridge to the other seaside walk across the river, the central island, shop, eat, people watch in the cool central island oasis where families gather, visit the central market near the central island, shop at Galeria Indigena on Av Juarez for better quality pottery and crafts, very nice port stop on your own. Enjoy.

[CowPrincess]

Puerto Vallarta

Had planned on taking a cab or bus to Boca de Tomatlan, but some people we had met onboard suggested that we go to Mismaloya instead, that the water and beach were better. So we got a taxi, went to Mismaloya after an interesting drive through PV, and enjoyed a non-touristy day again. Not many locals, either, as it was darn chilly by the water. Again.

 

Ate shrimp (no onion rings, darnit!). Walked to the giant iguana statue. Took pics. Few vendors, no pushiness at all. Walked back to the main road, grabbed a bus, 14 pesos for the 2 of us to get to El Centro. An American lady helped us with directions to the main street, and to the Cuale River walk. Did the river walk -- quite pleasant and it got us to the Malecon. Walked along the Malecon for a bit, found a bus stop (well, a bunch of people standing around, and busses were stopping for them ) and caught a bus that said "Walmart" along with a few other destinations.

 

The hair-raising part of the little journey was getting across the main street back to the ship

 

 

SwissMyst did a much better job answering your inquiry, Tyrannosaur, than I could :) We truly just stumbled around without a plan or map or any idea of where we were going/how to get there :) The bus was 7 pesos/person, we had 20 peso notes, and got peso coins back. I was not expecting any change at all and was happy to pay the full 20 peso note if necessary.

 

I'm going to re-state my previous statement, and SwissMyst's warning. If you get off the bus by Walmart, you need to walk to the traffic-light-controlled intersection. That street/freeway/raceway/whatever was the most frightening (okay, the ONLY frightening) part of our entire 10-day cruise, even when using the traffic signals. Even when the pedestrians had the right-of-way, distracted drivers were going through the crosswalk at full speed. HAIR-RAISING!!!!

[cruz chic]

That street/freeway/raceway/whatever was the most frightening (okay, the ONLY frightening) part of our entire 10-day cruise, even when using the traffic signals. Even when the pedestrians had the right-of-way, distracted drivers were going through the crosswalk at full speed. HAIR-RAISING!!!!

You got that right...it is CRAZY!

[CanuckCruizer]

CowPrincess - thanks VERY much for those wonderful maps!:) I have my DH studying them right now, planning for our trip.:D

 

Thanks again - much appreciated!!

 

Canuck

[CowPrincess]

You got that right...it is CRAZY!

 

I once got lost LATE at night on the waterfront in New Orleans :eek: -- dark, frightening, and people moving in the shadows -- the one place we'd been warned away from by everyone we encountered. That was a "walk in the park" compared to trying to get across that street in PV :D

[CanuckCruizer]

I once got lost LATE at night on the waterfront in New Orleans :eek: -- dark, frightening, and people moving in the shadows -- the one place we'd been warned away from by everyone we encountered. That was a "walk in the park" compared to trying to get across that street in PV :D

 

 

Hilarious!

 

We frequent PV on land and we go to a furniture store that is further south than WalMart (across from the Krystal) and trying to cross there is virtually IMPOSSIBLE - we have had police escorts on numerous occasions and that is THE only way to get across (even with a cop along with us - we have had a few close calls!:eek::eek:.

 

Canuck

[CowPrincess]

CowPrincess - thanks VERY much for those wonderful maps!:) I have my DH studying them right now, planning for our trip.:D

 

Thanks again - much appreciated!!

 

Canuck

 

You're very welcome! Too bad we are developing this great "reference" thread at the same time HAL appears to be dropping the Sea of Cortez itinerary :(