OVERVIEW

Cancun, Mexico is a popular tourist destination located on the Yucatán Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo.  Located on the Caribbean Sea, the Cancun region is sometimes known as the Mexican Caribbean.  Cancun is best known for its beach and party scene.  There are a multitude of restaurants and hotels to fit all budgets and that have wheelchair access.   If you are looking for culture, Tulum and other historic Mayan sites are located just a few hours drive away.  Accessibility in Cancun is better than most of Mexico, but is still a challenging area for wheelchairs.

LANGUAGE

The official language of Mexico is Spanish, but given the high tourist concentration most people also speak English.

CURRENCY

The Mexican Peso is the preferred Currency but U.S. Dollars are often accepted.

QUICKLINKS

LOGISTICS: Air – Water – Ground
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels – Resorts
ENTERTAINMENT: Tours – Activities – Restaurants & Nightlife
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Hospitals – Medical Equipment
ABILITYTIPS: Precautions

CANCUN : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

Cancun International airport: The Cancun International Airport is relatively modern and accessible.  There are jet bridges to assist travelers.  The airport is primarily on one level with some areas requiring elevator access.  There are wheelchair accessible restrooms but no companion restrooms.  There is a large dining and shopping area. 

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GROUND TRANSPORTATION

Cancun Accessible: Cancun Accessible offers tours, transportation, equipment rental and other support for physically challenged travelers. 

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TAXI

There are no readily accessible taxis in Cancun for transportation.

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 SHUTTLE

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BUS

Unfortunately, the buses in Cancun are not wheelchair accessible.

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TRAIN (Light Rail)

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TRAIN (Heavy Rail)

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CANCUN: Accommodations

HOTELS

The Westin Resort and Spa: The hotel is located at the end of the Hotel Zone, the Westin is in a relatively quiet spot.  This is great for the traveler or family looking to escape some of the crowds.  The hotel has 4 accessible rooms with roll in showers.  The only challenge with the Westin is the ocean side beach access. There are some ramps from the hotel to the beach but they are not complete in all areas.  The pool area is fully accessible.  The lagoon side is more accessible with full wooden paths along the beach, there is one curb step but the beach does not require any ramps. 

There are several restaurants at the Westin.  Some are more accessible than others, but one can consistently eat near the pool, which is fully accessible. 

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CANCUN : Entertainment

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

Cancun Accessible: Cancun accessible offers wheelchair accessible sightseeing tours to popular cultural sites such as Tulum, Chichen Itza, and Playa Del Carmen to name a few.

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ACTIVITIES

Isla Mujeres: Isla Mujeres is a popular island destination just outside of Cancun.  It is known for its more laid back atmosphere, beaches, and the arts.  Over the years there has been a growing artist community there. 

In order to get to the island you have to take a ferry, which does pose challenges, but the staff at UltraMar is committed to its passengers, and if you call ahead they will make sure to have the proper staff and resources to get a wheelchair onboard. 

Once arriving in Isla Mujeres one will find lots of cute streets w/ shops and restaurants.  Some of these places have stairs at the entrance, but many are accessible. 

La Playa Norte: (the north beach) is the most accessible with access directly from the main road, but you will need to have additional mats to support wheelchair access. 

La Isla Shopping Mall:  If you need a break from the sun, La Isla is a beautiful outdoor mall complete with ramps and other accessible features, such as restrooms.  There are many dining options there and also a movie theatre playing mostly American flicks. 

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RESTAURANTS/NIGHTLIFE

Lorenzillos: Lorenzillos is located on the main strip. Lorenzillos is a mid/upper range seafood restaurant with full accessibility including a restroom on the main floor.  The restaurant is located right off the main street and has ramps to support access. 

JC Capitan: The restaurant is located near the Westin Spa and Resort (kilometer 19). JC Capitan is a mid range seafood restaurant with full accessibility and beautiful sunset views from the lagoon.  It has full ramps and is very accessible. The restroom is the only challenge; they do not have accessible restroom facilities.  

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Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL

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MEDICAL EQUIPMENT RENTALS

Cancun Accessible: Accessible Cancun offers equipment rentals and other support for physically challenged travelers. 

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CANCUN : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

The weather can be very hot – be sure to stay hydrated and out of the sun when appropriate. 

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OVERVIEW

Cozumel, an island located off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, is a fun destination frequented by cruise ships. Cozumel is a large, modern port, so a tender is usually not needed for access. Cozumel offers shopping, dining, scuba diving, and snorkeling.

LANGUAGE

The official language of Mexico is Spanish.

CURRENCY

The official currency of Mexico is the Peso.

QUICKLINKS

LOGISTICS: Air – Water – Ground
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels – Resorts
ENTERTAINMENT: Tours – Activities – Restaurants & Nightlife
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Hospitals – Medical Equipment
ABILITYTIPS: Precautions

COZUMEL : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

Cozumel International Airport does serve some of the major airlines. This airport does have wheelchair accessible restrooms, but does not have companion/family bathrooms.

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GROUND TRANSPORTATION

TAXI

Josue Trejo Parades, has a taxi van which can accommodate 4 people and 2 wheelchairs. The van is equipped with a lift for wheelchairs. Since there are no other wheelchair accessible taxis in Cozumel, he must be contacted well in advance for reservations. You can contact him at the following:

Josue Trejo Paredes
Cell: (987) 564 0137 – from U.S. +52
Email: taxi394@msn.com

“After checking AbilityTrip.com we contacted Josue Trejo Paredes at taxi394@msn.com. My wife is in an electric wheelchair. We arrived in Cozumel on Dec 12, 2011. He was there to pick us up. His van has a lift and was very clean and convenient. We let him suggest the itinerary, and visited the Mayan Ruins, (San Gervasio; Home of the temple of Ixchel) the whole southern coast, then Chankanaab, a beach side park that includes Dolphin discovery, a Sea lions show, manatees, swimming, diving, and exotic gardens that include many interesting archaeological prehispanic replicas, plants, and more. Our guide was very knowledgeable, and we also ate lunch there at a small outdoor eating area. There is also a restaurant on the beach. We had only allowed 2 hours for Chankanaab, but could have happily spent all day there, but for the cruise ship schedule. We strongly recommend Josue, and visits to both the Mayan ruins,(only partly accessible for the electric wheelchair} and Chankanaab. We thank AbilityTrip.com for providing contacts to Josue. He charges $180 for 4 to 5 hours, and required payment of half by paypal, which he made easy by sending us an invoice to pay, via paypal.” Dick, 12/27/11

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RENTAL VEHICLE (Accessible Van)

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CRUISE PORT

Cozumel has a dock capable of accommodating more than one cruise ship at a time. The city is situated directly adjacent to the port, and can be accessed easily without the need for ground transport or a tender.

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SHUTTLE

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BUS

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TRAIN (Light Rail)

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FERRY

There are currently two ferry companies that offer transport between the mainland and Cozumel.

“Both Ferris are wheelchair accessible and it does have a ramp to get on the boat so you should be good to go.” Elena, 1/26/09

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COZUMEL : Accommodations

HOTELS

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COZUMEL : Entertainment

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

ShoreTrips: ShoreTrips offers a wheelchair accessible Cozumel island tour. They have a van equipped with a wheelchair lift and can accommodate seven guests total.

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ACTIVITIES

Cozumel is home to many outdoor activities, including scuba diving and snorkeling. There are also quite a few wheelchair accessible activities on the island of Cozumel to do, however wheelchair transportation should be reserved in advance.

Chankanaab Park: Chankanaab Park is a national reserve that offers protection for many plants and marine life on Cozumel. For people with mobility challenges, the park has ramps, roads, wheelchair accessible bathrooms, and observation areas to view the marine life. Wheelchair beach chairs are also available for use if you would like to enjoy a day in the sand near the crystal clear ocean. In Fact, they have two special sand wheel chairs, and the park claims that there is no need to reserve in advance, just ask upon arrival. There is also no rental fee for the beach wheelchair, as it is included with your admission fee to the park.

The Chankannab Park website also provides information on a few other parks, the Faro Celarain Eco Park, the San Garvasio Mayan site, and the Island Museum. Please note that these two sites and the museum are not wheelchair accessible at the moment.

Shopping: Shopping in Cozumel can be a shoppers paradise. There are so many shops strewn throughout the city, everything from locally owned craft stores, to diamond jewelry stores, to perfume and clothing shops. Shopping can also be a nice way to cool off and escape the heat for a while as a few of the larger stores are air conditioned. Note that  some shops in Cozumel are unfortunately not wheelchair accessible.

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RESTAURANTS/NIGHTLIFE

There are a variety of restaurants and nightclubs in Cozumel. Many of the clubs are accessible, but you should check ahead if there is a particular establishment you would like to visit.

Carlos ‘N’ Charlies: Carlos ‘N’ Charlies is a fun place to enjoy a cold beverage and some good Ol’ Mexican food. The restaurant is clean and the atmosphere is festive and fun- the waiters enjoy playing tricks on its patrons. Don’t be surprised if you see customers dancing on their chairs – don’t forget your camera! To access the restaurant there is a wheelchair ramp located at the front entrance and there is plenty of seating inside to accommodate.

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COZUMEL : Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL

Medica San Miguel: Medica San Miguel is a private hospital located in Cozumel, and offers a variety of services for individuals in need of care. The website gives a list of services provided and the emergency number to call if in need of emergency services. The hospital also has a decompression Hyperbaric Chamber for divers

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MEDICAL EQUIPMENT RENTALS

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COZUMEL : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

Cozumel was extremely hot when we visited in the month of February. Make sure you pack plenty of bottled water and have a spray bottle and some sunscreen handy. In Mexico, only drink bottled water unless your resort has a water filtration system, as you could become very ill.

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OTHER USEFUL LINKS:

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OVERVIEW

Playa Del Carmen has been one of our favorite destinations to travel to so far. Everything from the flight into Cancun, to the wheelchair accessible transportation, site seeing, and resort accommodations went smoothly and as planned. It was one of the most relaxing, carefree journeys we have taken in a while.

LANGUAGE

The official language of Mexico is Spanish.

CURRENCY

The official currency of Mexico is the peso. We were able to use our U.S. dollars without a problem.

QUICKLINKS

LOGISTICS: Air – Water – Ground
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels – Resorts
ENTERTAINMENT: Tours – Activities – Restaurants & Nightlife
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Hospitals – Medical Equipment
ABILITYTIPS: Precautions

PLAYA DEL CARMEN : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

We flew into the Cancun International Airport which is a modern facility complete with a jetway. The airport support staff knew exactly how to handle my husband’s transfer out of the airplane seat into the aisle chair and how to deal with his electric power chair, which was delivered to us at the luggage carousel. The airport personnel were very helpful staying with my husband while I gathered our many pieces of luggage, and even walked us through customs.

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GROUND TRANSPORTATION

TAXI

We were not able to locate any information on wheelchair accessible taxis in the Cancun/Playa del Carmen area.

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SHUTTLE

Hospitality and Fun: Our shuttle service was waiting for us when we arrived at the Cancun International Airport. It was a full size van equipped with a long metal ramp. I was not able to sit up fully when inside the van – I had to recline my wheelchair so I could fit. Admittedly, it was not the most comfortable ride, but I was happy to have the service available to me. They drove us from the airport to our hotel in Playa Del Carmen and also back to the airport when our vacation was over, and were prompt and courteous. We recommend calling for more information.

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RENTAL CAR (Wheelchair Van)

Near our resort there was Avis rental car. They did not have wheelchair accessible vehicles, but if you’re able to transfer into a car and throw your chair in the back, it is very convenient. I typically travel in my electric wheelchair, but bring along my manual chair in other countries so that I have more flexibility for sightseeing.

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PLAYA DEL CARMEN : Accommodations

HOTELS

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LUXURY RESORTS

Playa del Carmen is home to many all-inclusive luxury resorts. We stayed at the Iberostar Tucan, which was relatively accessible. Our room was spacious and very accessible. I could maneuver around easily in my large electric chair. The room was located on the ground floor and had a patio sitting area which was also wheelchair accessible. Our shower was a roll in shower and was easy to get in and out of.

During our stay, we only ran into a few places within the resort we couldn’t access. Although a few paths had stairs and were not accessible, we were always able to find alternative routes to access nearby. Most of the paths around the resort are slightly bumpy, not bad though, due to the concrete stamping that has been applied to the surface of the walkways. The walkways are lined with lush tropical plants and at times you’ll see animals, like monkeys, peacocks, or large type of rat looking creatures scurry around.

This particular resort also has a small zoo on its grounds. The zoo is not fully accessible, there are a few stairs, but there are alternative routes to take to get around the stairs.

The pool area is great, there is plenty of shade trees and palapa umbrellas around to escape the Yucatan heat. It’s entertaining to sit by the pool because the hotel staff is always interacting with the guests, getting the guests involved with playing pool games or other activities. Unfortunately, there is not a beach entry into the pool, or a lift for the physically challenged, just stairs and a grab bar.

The beautiful, sandy beach is lined with chairs and umbrellas. There is a wooden platform that butts up right against the sand, which was the perfect place for me to lay out in the sun in my wheelchair, with my wife and friends. This area also had plenty of shade on one side just in case I got too hot in the sun, and it was also near the bar if I wanted to grab a drink or ice cream to cool down.

All the restaurants at this particular resort were wheelchair accessible, although inside the nightclub was not fully accessible. The entrance to the nightclub was accessible via ramp (probably not up to ADA standards) but I thought it was a bit steep.  Inside the club, the main floor is accessible where the bar and seating area is, but there were a few stairs going down to the dance floor.

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PLAYA DEL CARMEN : Entertainment

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

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ACTIVITIES

Archeological sites: There are many archeological sites around Playa del Carmen.

Shopping: Playa del Carmen offers a variety of shopping in its downtown area. We were able to walk downtown from our resort. There is an accessible path for wheelchairs and scooters.

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RESTAURANTS/NIGHTLIFE

There are many restaurants and nightclubs available in downtown Playa del Carmen, if you tire of the food and entertainment at your resort. We walked downtown and ate at a local restaurant that had installed a concrete ramp for access. This ramp was pretty steep, and covered in sand! Nevertheless, I was able to climb the ramp and access the restaurant. We also went to a nightclub that evening, and it was largely accessible. There was an upstairs portion, and another area with sand for a floor that I had to avoid.

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PLAYA DEL CARMEN : Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL

Here are a few medical service providers in Playa del Carmen. If you believe you will need to utilize any medical services on your visit, you should call ahead to verify they can accommodate you.

Hospiten
Address: C. Balamcanché Lote 1, MZA.30,Carr. Federal, Playacar Phase II
Telephone: 984-803-1002
Hours: Daily, 24 hours a day

PlayaMed
Address: Hwy 307 and Calle 28, on the west side of the highway
Telephone: 984-879-3114
Hours: Daily, 24 hours a day

Clinica Medica del Carmen
Address: 25th Ave. between Calle 2 and Juarez
Telephone: 984-873-0885
Hours: Daily, 24 hours a day

For diving related injuries:
Camara Hiperbarica (Hyperbaric Chamber)
Address: 10th Avenue and 28th Street
Telephone: 984-873-1365
Hours: Daily, 24 hours a day

Farmacia del Carmen
Address: Avenida Juárez between Avenidas 5 and 10
Telephone: 984-873-2330)
Hours: Daily, 24 hours a day

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MEDICAL EQUIPMENT RENTALS

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PLAYA DEL CARMEN : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

Playa Del Carmen was extremely hot when we visited in the month of February. Make sure you pack plenty of bottled water and have a spray bottle and some sunscreen handy.

In Mexico, only drink bottled water unless your resort has a water filtration system, as you could become very ill.

OVERVIEW

Tulum, a Mayan archaeological site located in the eastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, is an attractive destination if you are interested in archeology and the history of ancient peoples. Tulum is mostly accessible for the physically challenged traveler. There are areas which are steep and sandy, and areas with stairs.

The entrance to the park is a narrow winding staircase, but there is a stone ramp on the side. We found the ramp to be a bit steep, and also sandy, but with assistance, we were able to safely ascend and descend the ramp.

The grounds change elevation quite a bit, but it is possible to tour most of the site. Note that there are uneven surfaces, sand, stairs, and grass. Even though it is a bit daunting, it is worth seeing. I was able to ascend the stairs to the cliffs with the assistance of friends. Unfortunately, the beach, which is arguably the most beautiful part of the site, is not accessible as it has a large winding staircase going down a cliff for access.

LANGUAGE

The official language of Mexico is Spanish.

CURRENCY

The official currency of Mexico is the Mexican peso. On our visit, we were able to use US dollars without any problem (both cash and credit cards).

QUICKLINKS

LOGISTICS: Air – Water – Ground
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels – Resorts
ENTERTAINMENT: Tours – Activities – Restaurants & Nightlife
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Hospitals – Medical Equipment
ABILITYTIPS: Precautions

TULUM : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

The closest airport to Tulum is the Cancun International Airport. The Cancun International Airport is a modern facility complete with a jetway. The airport support staff knew exactly how to handle my husband’s transfer out of the airplane seat into the aisle chair and how to deal with his electric power chair, which was delivered to us at the luggage carousel. The airport personnel were very helpful staying with my husband while I gathered our many pieces of luggage, and even walked us through customs.

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GROUND TRANSPORTATION

Tulum is accessible by either tour bus or car. It is located outside the city of Tulum, a short drive south of Playa del Carmen.

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

Many tours visit Tulum from popular Yucatan resort towns, but we could not find a tour that was wheelchair accessible.

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RENTAL CAR (Wheelchair Van)

We used a standard rental car on our visit for our drive to Tulum, placing my manual wheelchair in the trunk of the car.

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TULUM : Accommodations

HOTELS/LUXURY RESORTS

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TULUM : Entertainment

WALKING TOURS

At Tulum, we did not elect to use a docent guided tour, but rather walked around the grounds on our own. We probably would have benefited from a guide, because there are a lot of different types of structures on the grounds, which probably served different purposes. There were placards that explained the significance of some of the structures.

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TULUM : Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL

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TULUM : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

The Yucatan can be very hot and air conditioned buildings are not available at Tulum. If you are sensitive to temperature, make sure you bring extra bottles of water and a spray bottle.