Destination Review: Progreso, Mexico

Let's kick off the destination reviews with some info on Progreso, Mexico.

The first time we went to Progreso, it was on our first cruise and the only reason we went was because we were rerouted because of a hurricane. I'm not sure this little village knew what was hitting them, but all things considered we had a neat experience. When we got off the ship we walked a little ways into a small shopping area.

The pier at Progreso is 4 miles long. Which makes it the longest pier in the world. It's not walkable so after leaving the shopping area we caught a free shuttle bus to get to the mainland.

The shuttle dropped us off at a street market that had been set up for tourists. We walked around the little town, something we didn't think twice about doing. It was 11 years ago, but I don't remember feeling unsafe. We didn't encounter many people. I feel like most cruise passengers didn't want to go off on their own too much, and the locals were all quite busy preparing for the possibility of the hurricane reaching them. We didn't go too far away from the main area, maybe just a few blocks surrounding it. We had circled around back along the beach and strolled along there for a while. This is one of the really nice things about Progreso. The beach is free and within walking distance of the shuttle drop off area, only a couple blocks and easily accessible. Other than a little walking along, we didn't spend any time on the beach the first time we visited. Because of the hurricane, storms had stirred things up. The beach was covered in seaweed and looked more like a nice lake than the caribbean. After we walked around we made our way back to the market and took a tour bus deep into Progreso. The tour guide was great. He kept us laughing throughout the tour.

The next time we went was our second cruise. It was distinctly different from our first visit. There was a lot of growth and the port actually looked like it was meant to be a cruise stop. At the same time though, it still had the small fishing village feel. Scott and I had booked an excursion this time. Off the ship, we gathered with other passengers and the tour guide, and made our way to the bus that would take us to Dzibilchaltun (dzeeble-chal-toon). On the 30 minute ride our guide talked about the history of the ruins. Dzibilchaltun means "The place where there is writing on stones". We really enjoyed seeing the ruins. It's amazing, and hard to grasp, just how old these structures are. Among many others, we saw the Temple of the Seven Dolls (named for 7 figurines that were found inside), the king's chapel, and also his house.

The king's house sat next to a natural spring water sink hole, called a Cenote (say-NOH-tay), which we were able to swim in at our leisure. It was amazingly clear!

This link is the excursion we booked through Carnival.
We took the tour bus back to Progreso and decided to spend a little time at the beach. This time we experienced the teal waters we had hoped for. It was relaxing, except for the few times we were approached by locals trying to sell stuff. They are just trying to make a living so I can't blame them. A polite "No thank you" was all it took and they would move on.

Going to Progreso the third time was during our family cruise. Not only were our kids with us, but my parents had joined us also. The six of us spent some time at the open air craft market that is set up where the shuttle stop is located. I really enjoy it here. There is the typical souvenir type stuff you might expect, but there are also some really neat things that are not as common. The locals that are set up in the market are all so kind. After looking around the market for a little while we went back to where the shuttle dropped us off. This is also the stop for the double decker tour bus that I mentioned we rode on our first visit. For only $3 per person (could be more now, I'm not sure) we were able to catch a ride around town. It was a beautiful morning and we enjoyed the views from the top deck of the bus. My kids loved being up on top like that.

The tour bus dropped us back off where we began and from there we walked the block or two to the beach. I'm sure there are excursions that will take you to a more private beach, but this one suits us just fine for the hour or two we were planning on spending there. Along the beach there are tables with umbrellas. We picked one and within minutes James and Evie were playing in the soft, white, Mexican sand for the first time.

Along the beach, but across the street, there are a number of restaurants. If you sit at a table on the beach, the servers will come across the street to you. We ordered chips and a couple drinks. Our server was very accommodating. Unfortunately, I don't remember which restaurant he came from. The ocean water was a little chilly (it was March when we were there for this visit). The kids didn't seem to mind, but we only stayed a couple hours. We took the shuttle back down the long pier and before getting back on the ship for a late lunch we did some shopping at the little shops in the terminal area.

Progreso gets a bad wrap. I think it's just under appreciated. If you go into it expecting the picture perfect caribbean that you see on tv, you will be disappointed. However, if you know what to expect, it can be quite charming. I will say Progreso isn't for everyone, but as with everything in life, I believe it deserves a chance. Give it one visit and see what you think for yourself! :)