Xel-Ha

Our next stop is at Xel-Ha, a mostly all inclusive water park. Since we hadn’t actually got into the Caribbean water yet, except for the resort pool, it was a good choice. The water park was beautiful and the amenities were plenty to choose from. The only down side was we didn’t have sufficient time and I forgot my contact lens, so I wasn’t going to snorkel.

Since we only had like 3-4 hours total, including the eating & drinking part, plus having two kids and one elderly, and the park was rather large, we opted for a leisure flow down the river. The website description said “From the depths of underground caves, through the mangrove forest, cool freshwater flows into the Xel-Há inlet, where it mixes with the warmer seawater.” This activity, I thought should be quite nice and harmless enough.

Hubby and I went off on our own. There’s a bit of “assumption” on my part that my hubby would be an excellent personal life guard to his wife, who is pretty much non existent when it comes to her swimming skill. It was a good thing that the facility provided life jackets to all participants.

We started off with a 2-people inner tube floater (yes, we have a picture to show, once I scanned it). It didn’t quite work out; we were not floating down the river under the mangrove. I wonder if it was the weight differences, but we were in circles instead flowing downstream! So Tom got onto a single floater, and eventually helped me onto another single floater. By now, there was no one else around us.

Once this was done, we were making progress. But I didn’t get a good seating when I switched between the two floaters. So my dear hubby “instructed” me to shift myself more toward the front…in doing so….yes….the inner tube flipped and oops, there went JOANNA into the water. I don’t think my hubby realized what happened to me; he didn’t immediately jump off his inner tube to “rescue” me. I came up because of the life jacket I wore, not because of any amazing skill I possessed….He asked, “Are you ok? Can you get back on the tube?” HELLO…..NO……HELL NO…..

So I somewhat can swam, as long as I am in a life jacket, back to the closest pier. There is no where to even walk back at that point. I was stuck with getting back into the inner tube to again float downstream….so much for a safe activity.

We floated by the Chows. All four of them were in one of the double inner tube. And it seemed like Chris was doing most of the job, but both Makayla and Caden were having so much fun “helping” daddy to paddle with their feet. After I got to shore, Tom floated down in search of the Chows, to assist the loan useful paddler.

Later on I was just watching the kids playing in the kiddie fountain. I walked around taking some more pictures. In the mean time, mom found somewhere to station herself. It was good that she didn’t go into the water.

Here is a picture of Chris and Tom, attempting to snorkel. Not too sure of the result.

I love this picture of empty hammocks, waiting for someone to use them for an afternoon nap.

And who wouldn't enjoy these beautiful parrots.

This floating bridge was very close to the outlet where the fresh water joining the salt water. The wind was picking up, so was the wave, I didn't risk crossing over without my off-duty life guard.

This is the joining of the two water bodies.