Rio Secreto – The Secret River
Beautiful Rio Secreto - the Secret River
Usually on our trips to our beloved Mexico we are busy either rushing from resort to resort doing site inspections or we’re busy spending the day on a beach bed having fruity drinks delivered regularly.
On a recent trip, however, we had the opportunity to choose between several excursions to enjoy. I chose to go to Riu Secreto.
From the Rio Secreto website: “Río Secreto could very well be one of the great wonders of the world. Come and experience this stunning underground river with thousands of dramatic stalactites and stalagmites. It’s like stepping back in time to witness something mysterious and truly spectacular.”
Our Group of Explorers
To get started, we were outfitted with wetsuits and helmets with lights on the front. Swim shoes completed the ensemble. An interesting look.
Beautiful.
The water is rather cool, which is why they put you in a wetsuit. It’s very nice as long as you’re in the wetsuit. It’s very refreshing.
I almost hate even putting these pictures up. For one thing, a wetsuit isn’t the most flattering thing a person can wear..it isn’t very kind on the eyes. 
For another thing, there is no way these pictures will do justice to the beauty of this place. When you are going through it, and especially when you go down through the hole in the ground into this amazing underground world you just can’t help but gasp “WOW”.
Refreshing
There was just one area where we were neck deep in the water. I actually could have stayed in this area longer..it felt great.
Lights Out!
Toward the end of our adventure, they completely turned off all of the lights. It is unbelievable how completely dark it is.
I think if you’re in Cancun or the Riviera Maya you certainly need to check this out. I think it would be especially good for rainy days (because you’re underground) or during the really really hot days because you’re out of the sun and it is so refreshing.
Travel Smart – Penny Wise and Pound Foolish
In this first installment in this “Travel Smart” series, Cathi talks about considering ALL of the factors to make sure you get the best possible deal on your vacation.
Supercallifragilisticexpialidocious!
Time Square, Headed to the Tkts Booth
My father-in-law is undergoing treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. In an attempt at breaking the monotony of being away from home for two months, my family is taking turns visiting. My in-laws have rented a two bedroom apartment near 53rd and Lexington in midtown Manhattan. Large by New York standards, and worth roughly twice the value of my 4 bedroom home in Texas, it was still somewhat closer quarters than any of us are used to. I’m amazed at the relative price of real estate.
My son and I had reviewed some possibilities of what he might like to do while in New York and we decided on four “must-do’s”
1) Statue of Liberty
When we first talked about going to New York, Trey said that he wanted to go into the crown at the Statue of Liberty. I didn’t even know that was a possibility. I looked into it and learned that going into the crown requires a special ticket that must, in the most popular times of the year, be reserved up to three months in advance. Fortunately I kept continually checking and there was a snowstorm predicted during our planned time so people canceled and we were able to get a time slot to go up into the crown. I highly recommend trying to get crown tickets if you want to really experience Lady Liberty.
YAY for Advance Booking!
Trey in the crown of the Statue of Liberty
The view of the scroll from the top.
2) Ellis Island Immigration Museum.
This was a real surprise hit. Trey had studied all about immigration in school this year and I was surprised at the level of enthusiasm he displayed when I mentioned coming here. It’s part of the same ferry ticket for the Statue of Liberty. We also reserved the audio tours in both places. At Ellis Island they had a separate audio tour for kids and adults. I listened to the kids one along with Trey so that I would hear what he was hearing. He really got a lot out of it and considered it his second favorite thing in New York next to…
3) Sony Technology Wonder Lab . When Trey goes to heaven, this is what it will look like. We got to play with technology including Playstation games that hadn’t even been released yet, robotic surgery (on artificial patients of course ) and video editing. We also got to put together a news broadcast and other things that I can’t think of how to describe.
4) New York City Police Museum. According to the information we had, the police museum was supposed to be open on Monday. This would be incorrect information.
Closed on Sunday. 
We fly home tomorrow and have had a super time!
Cathi and Philip at El Dorado Royale
Wonderful friends toasting a wonderful trip
Philip and Cathi were honored to be a part of the Gold and Above 500 Club Trip November 7-11 at El Dorado Casitas Royale. Attending the trip were 28 of the highest producing travel agencies in the country.
One focus on this trip was the experiences available in the Riviera Maya and Cancun. In the past we have so focused on the resort experience and knowing the resorts that we have passed right on by the amazing off resort experiences that are available in the destination.
Cathi enjoyed a day at Selvatica where she zip-lined through the jungle, then boarded a jeep and went to a cenote in the jungle and swam in the cold water. They even have a cenote where you can take a Segway to the cenote to swim.
Our group ready to take off underground to explore caves
After the cenote, the group was transported to Rio Secreto where we put on wetsuits and explored underground caves. Simply amazing. There were lights on the helmets, but when the lights were turned off it was the darkest dark you can imagine.
Cathi Inside the Underground Caves
At the same time, Philip went to Xcaret to swim with the dolphins. He reports that the dolphins were “cute”. In groups of 5 or 6 they went onto the submerged platform and first they brought them out one by one and had the dolphin interact. The dolphins allowed them to pet them, then they danced, then they jumped over their heads. The grand finale was a foot push where the dolphins took each participant and pushed their feet until the swimmer was sailing above the water.
One night we all ate at John Grey’s Place in Playa del Carmen. We had a tasting menu with so many courses I lost count. No one could tell how much wine they’d consumed because you never got to the end of a glass. It was just filled up over and over again.
The El Dorado Royale was fabulous, as always. We were in a casita. We used our jacuzzi all but one day and Philip slept out on the bed on the balcony so he could hear the ocean.
Philip and I each got a “four hands massage”. There are not words to describe the wonderfulness. No.Words.
That pretty much sums up the trip. Wonderfulness!
