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by Mari Pintkowski
Some people think the sun shines all the time over the turquoise Caribbean and the beautiful Mayan jungle that encompass the Riviera Maya. Truth be told, six months of the year, June until the end of November, is technically the rainy season. Photo 1
Growing up in Florida with similar tropical weather patterns, we looked forward to the afternoon rain to cool things off. When the showers started, we simply retreated indoors or to a screened-in porch with a good book or our coloring book and crayons and waited until the drizzle stopped.
 But, you say you paid a lot of money to come to the Riviera Maya for a tropical vacation, and you aren't happy with cloudy skies. As a Bed and Breakfast owner in a small Mayan village 20 km from Tulum off the Coba Road (La Selva Mariposa), I thought it would be fun and helpful to our guests and others visiting the area to make a list of some of the things you can do to occupy your time on the cloudy/rainy days that present themselves during la temporada de lluvia (the rainy season).
 * Get a massage or other spa treatment
* Attend a yoga class at one of the classic spots along Tulum Beach like: Maya Tulum
* Go shelling and bird watching at Punta Soliman
* Explore the jungle and watch for birds and monkeys in the wild at Punta Laguna where the tall trees provide a natural umbrella above you. If you are a little unsteady, use a stick or cane to give you support as you maneuver the uneven path through the jungle.
* Cloudy days are actually perfect during the warmer months to visit the nearby ruins of Coba, Ek Balam, Chichen Itza, Muyil and Tulum
* Go to Valladolid and take in the 10 a.m. tour at Casa de los Venados that houses a spectacular collection of more than 3,000 pieces of Mexican Folk and Contemporary art, not to mention the beautiful, renovated Mexican home the collection is displayed in.
* Take the walking tour in Valladolid from the zocalo (main park) to the public market and back to the central square by way of the fascinating San Bernardino Convent. Don’t forget your umbrella.
* Visit Aktun Chen Ecopark on Highway 307 near Chemuyil, or the cenotes at Dos Ojos, as a good part of the experience takes place in the underground caves.
* Visit Rio Secreto on Highway 307 near Playa del Carmen for an adventurous tour of the underground river and caverns.
* Visit one of the three underground cenotes at Coba for less than $5 each.
* Head south on #307 to the ruins of Muyil and stop on the way back between rain showers at one of the inexpensive, natural open cenotes like Cristal or Escondido,
* Shop at the many artisan palapas along the Coba Road to pick up unique, handmade gifts at the best prices in the Riviera Maya. (See my past article in Sac-Be, "Treasure Hunting Along the Coba Road.")
* Explore the many stores in Tulum or on 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen.
* Catch up on your e-mail while sipping a coffee or a cold fresh licuado at Flor de Michoacan or other coffee shop in Tulum.
* Enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the many restaurants in Tulum.
* Play a hand of cards or a game of Monopoly under a whirling fan with a bowl of lime-flavored peanuts and a cold cerveza.
* Sink into a hammock with a good book and listen to the quiet of the chippi chippi rain.
Mari and her husband, Lou, own and operate the #1 B&B in Tulum, www.laselvamariposa.com, located off the Coba Road. To read more of Mari's stories about the area go to the archives at Sac-Be, or order one of her books available on www.amazon.com.
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