Hop Aboard

Wednesday, April 02, 2014
Cozumel, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

When in Cabo San Lucas, go to The Office and then take the water taxi to Playa Amore.

When in Bora Bora, go shark feeding.

But, when you are in Cozumel, be sure—be certain—to go on the Cozumel Bar Hop. (www.cozumelbarhop.com)

In Cozumel, cruise ships dock on the west side of the island. That is where all the development is, where the shopping is, where the snorkeling and scuba diving is, where the hotels and resorts are. From the west side, when the weather is clear, you can see the Mexican mainland which is nine or so miles distant.

It is on the east side where the beauty is, where the fun is, where the unique part of this island is.

Know first that there is no electricity over there, no plumbing over there, there are no residences over there and, in fact, except for the guests at one twelve room hotel, there are no human beings allowed over there after dark. It is closed by the Mexican authorities at night reserved for turtles only.

But, during the daytime, one can find a half dozen bars along the coast, each with waves of varying ferocity (depending upon the weather) pounding on the beaches where they sit. Four of them don't even offer "frozen" drinks because they have no power to operate a blender. The other two have generators, wind turbines or other off-the-grid power sources.

You can hire a taxi to take you over there but, unless you hire the cab for the duration of your journey, you won’t be able to get back.

Or, you can take the 44 passenger Cozumel Bar Hop bus. For a $27 online deposit and a $30 balance collected upon departure, you join other like-minded individuals who seek to escape the ordinary and regress to a part of this island that is as it once was.

At each of the four bars on the “hop” you receive a complementary “shot” of whatever they think you will like. After that, you buy your beer or margarita or whatever. You buy your food. But, you cannot pay with a credit card because they don’t have the infrastructure there to complete those transactions. American dollars are welcome as are Mexican pesos.

Swimming is usually not possible because of waves and undertow.

Your hosts aboard the Bar Hop bus are congenial and offer supervision and commentary and assurance that no matter how high your blood alcohol level might rise, you will not be left behind. Also, of course, you don’t have to drive. It is, in a word, from my perspective at least, perfect.

Departing from the former Carlos and Charlies which is now a Senor Frog’s, you meet your hosts and your fellows at 9:15 local time. By 10:00 you are at Punta Morina. Next is Coconuts, followed by Playa Bonita and anchored by Liberdad enel Pariso. Each joint has it’s own personality and vibe. I have ordered food at the second and third stops but only consumed alcohol at the first and last.

Do this. You won’t regret it. I have gone with a large group from my cruise ship and, today, done it alone making friends as I boarded the bus.

Now a veteran, I am known as a Fo-Ho. That stands for “former hopper.” Hoppers receive a t-shirt as a parting gift and veteran—or former—hoppers receive a special t-shirt and a beer cozy. Everyone, first timers and veterans, receive a great day in Cozumel. You can snorkel anywhere but you can only bar-hop the undeveloped east side in Cozumel.

Photos & Videos

Legacy Video (flv)

Comments

gilmer
2014-04-03

Sounds like fun. We will be in Cozumel next week with our cruise... We've been here twice before...

gilmer
2014-04-03

Sounds like fun. We will be in Cozumel next week with our cruise... We've been here twice before...

gilmer
2014-04-03

Sounds like fun. We will be in Cozumel next week with our cruise... We've been here twice before...

gilmer
2014-04-03

Sounds like fun. We will be in Cozumel next week with our cruise... We've been here twice before...

gilmer
2014-04-03

Sounds like fun. We will be in Cozumel next week with our cruise... We've been here twice before...

gilmer
2014-04-03

Sounds like fun. We will be in Cozumel next week with our cruise... We've been here twice before...

2025-02-11

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