Cancun Day 2 2 Trip to Play Del Carma ToDoTC.com To Do in the Twin Cities Trips

Cancun Day 2 Trip to Play Del Carma

Date: Feb 22, 2026

Day Two Desire

It got sunrise about 7 AM then we went to breakfast. Desire is an all exclusive so keep your wallet in your pocket, even for drinks so it is nice. There were several options. We went to the buffet. Food down here is good but not great. But that is coming from a couple that go to 50 restaurants a year, the absolute best in the twin cities. It’s all edible, but not OMG food here.

The breakfast buffet was nice. There were probably 50 items including omelets. You could have Hot French toast, hot scrabbled eggs (white & yellow) and oatmeal. Everything else is cold: deserts & pastries, all the fruit at a normal breakfast plus a few we do not have. It was a good breakfast with coffee and juice.

By the time we got done with breakfast people were awake. As we walked back we saw a group at the bar. We had to say Hi. The bar had a six foot area for breakfast food. I said how come you are all here at the bar. I looked up and at the same time I saw our team, the whole bar said USA vs. Canada Olympic Hockey. My apology living in MN I should have known better.

So on with the day. We are going to the lobby to see if it if is safe to go to Playa Del Carma a local market we have been to before.

Pool Time

So about 10:30 AM we went to the pool. Desire was built in two sections. Our room is in the older section and about equal distance from the Old Pool and New pool. The pools are open at 9AM. We could see the old pool from our breakfast table. And the pools are immaculate and crystal clear.

So we went down to the pool. One thing about Desire you need to know. It’s a perfect Caste organization. As first timers we have yellow wrist bands to get us in our rooms, no cards or keys we each have a yellow, pool acceptable wrist band. If you are a returning guest you get an Orange wrist band. IF how ever you Bought into Desires Time Share program, which we will learn about tomorrow you get a BLACK wristband and become a PREFFERED guest.

Well down at the pool there was a big sign Bandanas and chairs can ONLY be reserved by the PREFFERED customers. We could have an hour-long discussion on this but wont. We don’t join this type of club.

So we wanted towels and a place to put them and our stuff. But we had to wait for the pool attendant to service the PREFERRED customers. Whatever! After a few minute wait we were pool side with a few chairs we absconded with.
The pool is warm. Of Course that is the meeting place at Desire. People spend HOURS there. It was nice.

We enjoy watching the dynamics of people. There are two types of people here. Midwesterners like ourselves that wants a towel and a chair and we take the rest of things ourselves. The other half I think of as Long Island type. Who play on their phones as the local pool guy stuffs their towel in a specially selected lounger for them. With a special towel wetted so they can sit pool side without scraping their pristine legs. But they are PREFFERED MEMBERS and they TIP well service, is expected. It can be hilarious.

We had a nice fifteen-minute morning pool time and were ready to bring on the day. On the way back from the Pool the hockey bar erupted and YES we will take home the Gold from those cannuck hoosers.

So the plan for the day was Playa Del Carma a local former fishing village now market town. We were there twice before, last time twenty years ago. Last time we took a Jet boat to Cozumel since Playa is the closest point on the mainland to Cozumel. Bet things have changed. As they have.

Lobby

We went to the lobby. We asked how far Playa Del Karma was from the hotel. Playa Del Carma is the closest market-shopping place to go. We have been there before. It’s actually fairly busy place. It’s where you get on the jet boats to go to Cozumel.

We asked in the lobby about getting a cab to Playa. A cab ride from the hotel to Playa Del Carma from the hotel is $50 and the ride from Playa Back to hotel is $75. So much for synchronicity! But it’s a place to go and do for the day.

We needed to find a drug store. We needed Tylenol for the week of walking. Got a ton at home, but we are not at home are we. Something, that will make our next list.

Then we needed Hydrochoric Peroxide. A Navy dentist turned me on to a daily gargle a few years ago and he said a daily gargle totally eliminates colds, flu’s and other aliments. And he is totally right. It also eliminates trips to the dentist to me as it kills teeth infections. Wish I would-have learned it years ago. The problem with Peroxide is though it’s a buck a bottle in the states TSA wont allow you to bring it, so we buy it after arrival. We found out on the TSA website we could have packed a bottle of Hydrochoric Peroxide in clear three ounce travel bottles.

Also NOT on my packing list was Sun Glasses I THOUGHT about adding it to my list three times last week but I forgot. Thus I will need to but a pair of over priced sun glasses at Playa. A $70 mistake.

E needs to replace her beach shoes that don’t seem to want to dry out after being on the beach.

So we went to the Desire lobby since we did not feel like walking the hour to Playa. And found out Playa was actual 60 clicks away. Did they move it or we just dumb American tourist? It is what it is. We needed a cab.

We have found over the years if you need something like a cab you ask your quality hotel staff. One of the reasons you go to a quality resort like Desire. The staff was nice about calling a reliable cab for us. Not wanting to drain our cash, we wanted a cab that would take a credit card, NOT a given in Mexico.

We waited fifteen minutes in a nice lobby for our cab. Of course no one told us where to sit, inside? Out front by the cabs? So we did our usual, we waited fifteen minutes then asked again. We were told: “Sure your cab is ready!”

We proceeded to the front door and met our cab driver. Jose greeted us and verified we were going to Playa and the credit card thing. He took us to his Chariot and on we were to Playa. His cab a Toyota was nice, clean, air conditioned, tunes working it was good. And Desire is about five miles from the main road, it’s not like we could have gone out and flagged down a cab.

The main road now was a divided highway with a lot of new business as tourist dollars help Mexico grow up.
The former road to Playa and Tulum and to South American was one and a half lanes with ship docking ropes across the road as Mexican speed bumps. The Busses, the largest vehicles then on the lane and a half, turned on their flashers so their mirrors would not hit each other as they cross paths. The divided highway now is better.

So an forty five minutes after we left Desire and passed a hundred half built businesses, including dog wash services, we were at Playa. Glad to see we are helping to bring up the local society. Our Hotels charges us $4 a day national tax, it should be $20 a day if it would help this beautiful country.

I driver dropped us off on the market street. No street signs, it was across the street from Senor Frog, we didn’t Need No Stink’n road signs just ask people where Senor Frogs is. Did I mentioned there was ANOTHER Senor Frogs a block away? So much for best-laid plans.

We were told at the hotel it would cost $50 to Playa and $75 to get back. Put it on the card why drain our cash. The driver then changed our plans. He said “Should I wait for you?” We said no you can get another fare. He said he would wait two or three hours no charge. $100 round trip, he could park a half block away at a public lot. Works for us! Sometimes in Mexico you need to go with the flow.

So though we dressed for walking and shopping we were obviously not Mayan and we brought money to shop. Within a minute after we were there the locals saw our wrist-bands to open our room from Desire and they were yellow so were new bees and a young man approached us saying my friend remember me from Desire. OK we’ll go with your story. “You must come right over here to my nice shop.” He showed me a few doors down to his private hole in the wall.

E and I entered his shop and he said do you have children or grandkids? I have something right here for you. And out came two nice shirts with Jaguars on for the grandkids. E’s eyes lit up and out came our dollars. He was good. But its’ why were there, the price was acceptable so we were fine. Check off a list item for the grandkids. We thanked the shop and moved back to market-street.

We were looking for a pharmacy, called an Apothecary in Europe, called a Pharmacia here. We found one at the end of the block and one every block. So we got the Hydrochoric Peroxide called Aqua Oxidena in Mexico since we could not bring through TSA. Make sure you buy and gargle with Agua Oxidena not Alcohol they also sell in similar bottles. It cost $3 for eight ounces we bought two. We also bought Tylenol and a bottle Evian water for about $20. Or 360 peso with 18:1 exchange rates.

At this point we were on a trek for Flip flops E found at a store. A set for the beach that would not stay wet and hold sand. E found a block away. Then the last treasure we needed was a set of clippie sun glasses since I forgot three times on Friday to put my $500 prescription sun glasses on my bring list. Well thirty minutes and $70 later the search was ended when I found a set that would fit over my glasses.

So we started our was back to the taxi after ninety minutes of touring the market. And this time there was no beggars or little kids with their hands open.

We made it back to our meeting point and had a coke and nachos before our hour drive back. It cost us $20 to be refreshed which was fine until the waitress explained to us that the bill did NOT include a TIP. Ok have a $5. That was the only harassment of type we had at the market.

We then walked the back to our driver and started on our uneventful way back to Desire. When we got back our credit card charge went OK. Earlier in the day our Wells Fargo card was refused and Wells Fargo sent us a checking text. After responding to the text the card has worked since. We just don’t like the scene when our credit card is refused. We once told Well when we were going on vacation and they knew. Its must be better for them this way. Anyway the taxi charge was approved but his printer failed. We finally got a preprinted paper receipt from the driver. We keep receipts to check our Wells account every few days.

So we got back with no issues and our needs list filled. It was 4 PM so we decided to go to the pool. Desire manages their guests like herding cats. From 9AM until 4:30 PM the pools are open. At 4:00 their 50’ wide hot tub opens. They then phase the music and bartenders from the Pool to the Hot tub are on second floor which over looks the pool and Gulf. It’s a great view.

So since it was 4PM we decided to go to the pool for a drink. Remember all-inclusive no wallet required. When we were half done with our Margaritas we saw heads peaking out of the second floor hot tub. So About 4:30 we walked up stairs and joined the two other couples in the hot tub. We introduced and met each other. That is one thing about Desire and similar resorts since it was an all inclusive couples resort: No kids, no families people are nice easy going and talk to each other. We have no desire to return to a normal resort with kids.

The hot tub being opened and warmer than the pool the crowd soon walked the 100 yards between the too. Soon the 100+ crowd that was in the pool were all in the hot tub and we looked out at the rolling waves and the three couples remained in the pool area with no music or bartender, which were now with us at the hot tub. About 5:30 we left the host tub and got ready to eat at Sahlo one of the last two restaurants we had not tried.

So we put on dry clothes and walked down to Sahlo restaurant. The Desire data sheet said we needed reservations for Sahlo. But being the talker I told E lets ask just after its opening. The Maitradee said yes you can eat here IF I put on long pants. OK and ten minutes later we were being seated.

I wrote yesterday that food here was good but not OMG. That is because we had not eaten at Sahlo. Sahlo is a classic restaurant with Jazz music being played dark atmosphere it is a well design restaurant. We look at the menu and ordered: Calamari, great, Lobster Bisque another winner and a salad which was good.

Then came the wine guy. Because that is what he was. We go out to eat and go to wine tasting every Friday. We simply wanted two interesting glasses of red wine. Everything on the menu was $80 a bottle. E & I always order and share different wine by the glass. The Wine GUY tried to convince us to but a bottle but E finally said do you have nothing by the glass? Our wine guy said well we have two HOUSE reds. He went and got them. He held a Merlot and a Cab and they were NOT Cupcake brand so we said sure.

For our entrée I had a strip steak and E had six shrimp, a lot. And both entrée’s were equal in taste with any good restaurant we have in Mpls. We followed the entrée’s with Apple Strudel and Crème Brule both were very good. So much for OK restaurants Sahlo was great.

We went back to the room to rest before the Disco opened at 10PM turns out the disco can wait one more night.

Chumly buying a Vesba in Italy, only thing on TV