We got to spend a wonderful 4.5 days with the Pages (minus Libby and Derek and their family who couldn't attend) at the Barcelo Maya Palace resort on the Riviera Maya (just south of Playa Del Carmen). It was a heat and humidity I've never experienced before (paper left out in the open in our hotel room became moist), but thanks to the great facilities and pools, we were able to have a great time.
Most of our time was spent at the pool. Even though the resort was right on the beach, everyone preferred the pool and the free drinks at the poolside bar. Kay and Aubrey did go snorkeling and Sadie and Claire went into the ocean for a very short stint, but Mindy and I never even touched the ocean water.
Since 37 of us were together, we did get family pictures
After a couple dinners at the buffet Claire and a couple of her cousins would hit the beach looking for seashells.
Claire, Lydia and Ava
While most of the time was spent with cousins, we did do a couple of Chase family only excursions.
The first was to swim with the dolphins
We also went on a Riviera Maya snorkel tour with Aventuras Maya to the amazing Yal Ku Lagoon in Akumal, an ocean inlet full of gorgeous tropical fish and vegetation. Next stop was an open cenote in the middle of the jungle where we did some zip lining and then finally we snorkeled in an underground cenote. These freshwater “swimming sinkholes” are carved into the limestone over millions of years creating stunning rock formations.
The Lagoon Photos
At the open Cenote
Inside the closed cenote (these photos look fake, but they are real)
We had one fancy dinner night our last evening there, and the food was so good we were mad we didn't do one every night. The buffet food was hit and miss.
Such beautiful and amazing girls
As I said at the beginning. We had a wonderful trip. And we didn't let the 92 degree 95% humidity days (with morning lows of 80 degrees) keep us from enjoying ourselves. Thanks to Barbara and Gregg for organizing.
