Congrats to WES CANTRELL for making it on the Hand of Fame this week. Love your messages man! Send me a DM on Instagram (@kickthegrind) and we'll organize our call. If you want a spot on my skin, and to hop on video chat, end a comment on any of my videos with EXPERIENCES OVER POSSESSIONS. Hope you all love this video. It's a beautiful place that I think we were the first to explore.
We stayed here in September 2001 right after it opened. There were only a handful of guests when I was there since they had just opened. Before it was a hotel, it was a day-trip nature park. We had stayed at Beach Palace and Moon Palace in Cancun in previous years, and this one of their included excursions. The next year, they started building the resort, and we couldn't wait to stay there! There were 144 rooms, 2 each in the palapa huts, one tree level, one ground level. Both rooms had beautiful verandahs and huge jacuzzi tubs in the room. The room clusters were divvied up in different areas of the vast property. Some were on the estuary (rocky coral natural pool)--those were the pricey rooms since you could see the ocean. Some others were in the mangrove, which I don't think would be very nice with the smell and no shade. Most were strewn in "villages" in the jungles. The resort was incredibly beautiful, but a bit ahead of its time. They were trying to embrace eco-tourism, and many people just couldn't handle it. The only a/c in the place was the rooms and one restaurant. Everything else was open air under gorgeous palapas. Naturally it was a bit hot at times, but that didn't bother me. I seem to remember there were two pools. One was geared for families, and one for adults. The pools were pretty and nice, but the monstrosoties you see in bigger resorts. They had morning water aerobics in adult pool, and they played really good music--not club music and not too loud. The gym was open air, and no one ever used it, so the guy working there, was always coaxing people in for a free personal training session. There was no spa. You went to Moon Palace to get spa treatments. The food here was absolutely awful. The outdoor grill steak restaurant was never open. We wound up going to Moon Palace for dinner often. It was fun because you'd just hop on the hotel shuttle. There was an outdoor theater. Since the place was so new, they didn't have shows--it was more like the small animation staff putting on skits that were kind of silly. That's okay--we weren't there for entertainment. The lobby bar was also open air and was beautifully decorated! I met a lovely couple from Mexico City there one evening, and it turned out they were part owners/investors, and they were there to check out their investment. They were very interested in hearing our opinions of the place. They wound up taking a liking to us, and invited us out on their boat one day. The boat turned out to be a yacht, and the chef on board cooked us freshly caught fish. We kept in touch for a few years after that. Great memory. There was another cenote in the jungle with more brackish water. I don't think anyone swam in it, but I did see the manatees! The resort also operated a sort of animal refuge/rehab. I seem to remember injured monkeys and coatamundis in the animal hospital. They'd go to the outdoor enclosed rehab center before they were re-released. They had a cayman hatchery and were also studying sea turtles and trying to save their habitat. They were incubating sea turtle eggs in the lab. One evening, we were invited to the beach to release the newly hatched turtles! The attacks on the WTC happened during our stay, and we got "stranded" here for an additional week. They didn't charge us, and they let us make phone calls back home for free (pre cell phone), and they called the airlines daily and would let us know what was going on. Incredible service and wonderful people working here! The beach was absolutely gorgeous. Whitest sand, secluded, palm trees swaying, hammocks. The shoreline seemed endless, and I loved taking long walks. There was a local hangout/sandbar not too far, and we had some "cheladas" there one day. I spoke enough Spanish to have conversations, and I remember at one point we were all writing poems on our bar tabs and sharing them. I am so sad to see the place in ruins. In addition to hurricanes, there was a property dispute between the hotel and the Mexican government. They were not supposed to build in the mangroves and on the centote but they did it anyway. I think you are correct--there would be a spirit of sadness here. First nature was destroyed to build the place (even though it was beautiful, I think the mangroves and the centoes and jungles suffered greatly--and I contributed to that, I know), but then nature destroyed the place, and now it filthy and dangerous. They didn't even clean up the place. I wonder what it will look like in another hundred years. Maybe some day, hundreds of years from now, someone will stumble on it, and it will be like another "Chichen Itza." I know, not likely since we have youtube and instagram, but it's fun to think about. Thank you for posting and letting us know what ever happened to that little place in Mexico called Xpu-Ha, which was ahead of its time, and in an area that was scarcely developed at the time. I know that's all changed, and I don't think I could go back to the area without crying. I visited it 2001, and it closed just four years later. I remember reading lots of reviews online and people either loved it or hated it, and even in the early days of internet, they would fight about it. Damn I would I could go back, even in a dream. The world completely changed during our visit.
I stayed at this resort a few times growing up. The Cenote is absolutely wonderful, and you can really feel the temperature change where the small amount of sea water was coming in at the bottom. They actually used to have two manatee's living in the cenote, although I doubt they made it after so long... The stairs were on the outside, but only the upper levels had balconies. There was many restaurants and pools, the best being the italian that was poolside. There should have been a large amphitheater on one of the ends of the resort. I'd be interested in what it looked like now. The appeal of the resort was how large it was (It looks like you only saw a small part of it), and the wildlife sanctuary that was also located there. They had a small cayman birthing center, and I remember being able to go in and do little tasks to help take care of them. They had this also with small monkeys (massive enclosure near the front desk), Flamingos, and many reptiles. It did have the feeling of thriving life, and although it's not a resort anymore, it seems to still be bursting at the seams with that life. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
Mike Corey ~~ beautiful, just spectacular. I got goosebumps when Mariannela was talking about how she felt life was so abundant at the resort in the jungle. Then nothing but silence. But I saw nature retaking its land back and new life that only you and Mariannela witnessed by being there. Most have been a beautiful resort. Thanks for the talk March 1st . And as always, #ExperiencesOverPossessions #KicktheGrind.
My husband and I stayed at that resort a few years before the hurricane. We have gone back to XpuHa beach, staying at Catalonia Royal Tulum. We have walked up to the restaurant many times, but there is a guard preventing the public from going in any further. We would love to be able to wander around like you did. It was a beautiful place, full of life and beauty. I remember swimming in the lagoon, and in our first few minutes after arriving, watched a manattee swim by those mossy steps. You truly had an extraordinary experience.
My ex wife & I stayed at the Xpu Ha in 2002. Little did we know that it would be in ruins just a few years later. 😢 I looked up the Catalonia after I saw that you mentioned it. It looks beautiful. I wonder is there are any other resorts in Mexico that have similar “huts” like the Xpu Ha did?
I’m so glad that you posted this! My ex-wife & I stayed here at the Xpu-Ha in 2002 & it was definitely one of my most favorite vacations that I have ever been on. This place was just STUNNING when it was in operation. It’s such a SHAME that they didn’t rebuild. How I would absolutely love to take my wife here so she too could experience this place with me. The lagoon there was the first place that I ever snorkeled. We kayaked in the cenote while trying to locate manatees. We ate in that restaurant that had the glass wall. We were in one of the beautiful second floor villas & yes, the only access to the second floor was by stairs on the outside. The villas were just absolutely amazing before the hurricane. The second floor did in fact have its own balcony with a lounge bed & it’s own hammock out there. I’m so glad that I got to experience Xpu Ha before the hurricane sadly took it out. I most definitely enjoyed your video. It really brought back awesome memories. ☺️👍🏻
Wow - that brings back memories. My wife and I were married there the year that the hurricane hit - only 3 months earlier! We went back for our 10th anniversary, and tried to find a way in. Had to get an escort, as there were people living in a portion of the resort, and they would not allow us to get near it. But we did get to see the cenote, the cove, and spend a bit of time reminiscing. We were married in the pagoda that you showed - I feel like the great energy from years of beautiful memories being made there by so many people preserved it better than everywhere else! It is sad that the entire resort was never re-opened, but in a way it is also nice to see nature taking it back too. Be well, and thanks for the vid!
such a shame its never been cleaned up!! a beautiful coastline and the lagoon looked fantastic , and to have it to yourselves even better. Great blog as always!!!
My understanding was that after it got hit by the hurricane, when they went to rebuild, the deeds were contested and basically it got stuck in court. Land deeds are supposedly terrible in Mexico, can have people came after claiming it's their land decades later.
No wonder they built such a huuuuge resort, the place is incredible! The lagoon and the Cenote are just MAGNIFICIENT! I'm really happy you ended up there instead of your first plan, because it's just so beautiful ! And the peace brought by the catastrophy gives it another layer of fantastic... Thank you so much for the discovery!
I think we still might go back and film the other resorts. The guard said there were even nicer resorts along the coast than that one.... I can't even believe that.
Just came across this video, as my husband and I were talking about how it would be fun to go back to Xpu-Ha, since we honeymooned there in Dec. 2004. I never knew it had been destroyed by Wilma. It was beautiful-lush and vibrant! Hopefully one day they will rebuild something there. Thanks for sharing.
It's my wedding anniversary next month and my wife and I were searching for Xpu-Ha Palace and stumbled across your video. I had no idea the place had been destroyed. Quite a fascinating watch to see how different the place is, since we were married there in 2004. We literally stood in every location you were in the film and stayed in one of the beach side huts. Very fond memories of the place.
@@fearlessandfar Well, since I posted my comment I've found a box of DV tapes which I'd forgotten about. Three of them are labelled Mexico 2004. We spent two weeks there. The first week was at Xpu-Ha and the second week was on tour around several historical sights. I'm in the process of transferring them to my computer to see what I shot!
@@SaschaFox Yes of course! No problem. I've captured the tapes and deinterlaced the clips. Standard Def DV footage isn't all that big by today's standard, so I could wetransfer the files over to you. Only a Gig and a half I think.
You never fail to impress, man! Great presentation, creative videography, and awesome destinations. Without a doubt the most underrated adventure travel channel on TH-cam. I got one of the worst sunburns of my life when May and I went camping near here about seven years ago. I had no idea this was so close by at the time. Keep up the great work! Experiences over Possessions! -Jim
Amazing compliment Jim. Thanks a million man. This place is tucked away off to the side, but you can see the gazebo from the beach. Experiences over Possessions!
The water was so clear and I was surprise to not have seen fish! Very sad that the resort has not been rebuilt since it is a beautiful place. Seeing abandon places can leave one feeling sad and you can almost feel the time that pasted with people that were enjoying themselves. Kind of like what I call time ghosts, not dead folks but folks time impressions left. Enjoyed the video and always your filming is spot on.
There was a few little ones, but not much. The water in the cenote was brackish (Half salty, Half Fresh) because it connected to the ocean under the ground. There's not a lot of fish in Mexico that like that. Thank you!
So many childhood memories for me and my family at Xpu Ha Palace. Still visit the other Palace properties often, but that was where it all started for me. Been going to Mexico for 23 years of my 26 year life.
Wild, I stayed here in 2004, I had no idea it got hit by a hurricane, and was never repaired, and left abandoned. Cool memory, of my one and only time to Mexico, I remember it well.
Again just another amazing video. I can't believe the world has so many amazing places!! Thank you for sharing your experiences, can't wait for the next one
Wow! I was there years ago and it was the most memorable vacation I ever had. The fact that is was planned around the jungle (sidewalks around the trees etc}, the rooms were spaced out in little villages, and the animals were so cared for. Swimming in the lagoon and ceynote and long walks on the beach. I sure wish that it was still available. I would be back there in a heart beat.Memories galore.
I have lived in the Cancun area since 1993, worked for Seafari Divers, we had a dive operation on Playa Xpuha, before the hotels moved in & closed public access. That fresh water lagoon was our favorite place, in fact it was where I took my now wife on our first road trip. You have brought back some great memories, it just sucks the the Palace Hotel chain closed the cenote to local people & ruined the area.
This is probably one of my most favourite videos you have done, there is a sweet spot in my heart for cenote’s. I have personally visited two different locations and have a long long list of more to visit. Truly amazing. Experience over possessions❤️
Mike Corey - that will be awesome to see, I have been in one in both Cuba and Dominican Republic and they were the most amazing things I have seen. The energy are the cenote’s was very interesting.
Thanks for posting this! I actually stayed there 15yrs ago. It was an amazing place to stay in it's day. I hate to see it in this state, such a waste of a beautiful location.
Wow what beautiful waters. I’ve been to Cancun and thought it was beautiful and when I heard it got hit by the hurricane and there was so much damage it was heartening to know such a beautiful area was most likely gone. Thanks for sharing this neat video and to let us know what it looks like now. Sad.
Like 20 years ago... (for real) Actually the year I went it was the first year it as open to public. They recommend it so much, I think went there instead of Xcaret or Xel Ha...
What an amazing and beautiful place!! So sad what happened to all the people that lost their lives, maybe one day that beautiful place will flourish once again. Thank you for taking us along this great journey!! #EXPERINCES OVER POSSESSIONS 👍👍
I'm surprised a place that special can last 12 years without being rebuilt, or bought by another company. It's a special place that was a bit hard to get into!
I was there at that same abandoned resort. It was pretty trippy and so cool to see. We paddle-boarded there in the Cenote of the resort with wild manatees. And I swam/snorkled the Pet Cemetery Cenotes which isn't that far from there. It was so beautiful, even though I lost the diamond stud from my nose lol. Parts of that Cenote are 350ft deep. I could see the divers below us. On the way down to the cenotes there's a restaurant/bar on the right. The sign just says "Bar" but it's the only place around and they have fab food! Safe travels!
Thank you so much for this video. My first big trip to any Mexican beach was in 2003 and it was here. I've been to some very fine resorts...Hawaii twice, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and several other resorts in Mexico and NONE of them compare to the magic that Xpu-Ha Palace had. The lagoon used to have incredible fish everywhere. I could have lived in that lagoon. 😆 I think the hurricanes wiped out all the coral. The cenote often had a lone barracuda hanging out in it at night. The upstairs huts had grass roofs. They were very spacious and comfortable. It was such a special place. So sad it was destroyed.
I stayed there back when it was open in early 2000s my friends got married there. It was a paradise loved that place. I always wanted to go back but never made it.
How sad to see all that beautiful architecture in piles of rumble and never rebuild. The cenotes are always beautiful no matter where, but the quietness would have made your swim surreal. Loved your video! Kudos for this video and so makes me want to get back to life of travel. Stay safe everyone. ✨
I was at Barcelo Maya Palace in 2022 the property they built next door. My first time to Mexico. I took pictures of this abandoned resort from the lobby balcony at Maya across. I have some pretty good shots of it.
I’m going to Riviera Maya in October and despite being a few years late to this video I hope that this is still something that I am able to see when I go. It is unbelievably beautiful.
The power of nature truly is breathtaking...so eerie to see what became of what must have been a beautiful resort before Wilma roared through the area in 2005. The lagoon and cenote are both stunning. Pretty cool that you spotted an iguana there - they were everywhere when I visited Mexico back in '99. Couldn't walk for more than two minutes without coming across one. I hope you enjoy the rest of your calls with Hand of Fame honorees, my man! And congrats Wes!!
So great to chat last week man!! Even the cenote felt abandoned with all the algae growing inside it. There's more like it along the coast. Can't wait to go back!
Our conversation was easily one of the most fascinating I've had in a very long time! And I hope you get to go back soon! I'd love to see more of the cenote.
We stayed there about 20 years ago. One of the coloest resorts I've ever been to. The lagoon and cenote were wonderful for kayaking and snorkeling. The huts/rooms were awesome - yes the stairs were wood and on the outside. There were at least 4 restaurants and the resort was so large you took bikes or golf cart trains to get around. Hopefully it gets rebuilt at some point.
Great video again Mike!, south of Xpu Ha and Tulum there is this Biosphere Reserve called Siaan Kaan. Awesome place. Some of the best beaches, lagoon, mayan ruins and even a colorful little town called Punta Allen. I think you can also camp in those beaches. You can ask the guards at the entrance pf the reserve. Saludos!
I've been wanting to go forever, but haven't made it happen yet. I think the drone videos would in incredible. I didn't know about camping on the beach, so thank you for that!!
wow!!!!!! Acabo de dar con este video y me he quedado impactada. En mi luna de miel (hace 20 años) nos alojamos en un hotel de esa cadena y pasamos un día haciendo snorkel y visitando las instalaciones. No podía imaginar como estaba, lo recuerdo con tanta vida, y al verlo así da tristeza, miedo....escalofríos!!!
didn't know about your channel until i saw your colab with Dan from The new travel. let me tell you just got a new subscriber. I just want to say thank you for sharing and appreciating these beutiful sites from my country, it really means a lot to me. Let the world know what Mexico is all about 👏
I stayed here once with my family around 2005. It was amazing. I read there have been property disputes which have prevented a rebuild. Really too bad.
I started following you about a week ago mike and you have the best content out on youtube besides exploring with Josh both of you guys are my top 2 youtubers thus far keep up the great work man. Hope to meet you one day im from san diego California and thanks for visiting my hometown guanajuato city of mummies
Cant wait to see what you guys have in store for all us fans. Keep up the great work and like always safe travels brother and i will be following every video you put out really love your content and ill be hitting your merch store this week coming up. The Amazon video with your buddy caspar is lit really love it and it was funny when his face got really swollen lol stay safe and be safe out there. You deserve more subscribers with the content you put out. All the negative comments and likes should boost you and not bring you down. Stay up brother looking to keep talking to you in future videos. I'll follow you on Instagram hope you follow back brother.
Dude. His face made me laugh soooooo hard. Mine swelled, but he looked like he was made of CLAY. Hahaha. Huge love for this comment man. Made me smile!
I love these videos, I lived my life the same way, always choosing the path less travelled and seeking new experiences and adventure, to gain understanding of others. Unfortunately I put my body through so much stress and injury that now in my 50s I am sick and I have to give it up
Wow, that is creepy and beautiful at the same time. I stayed there for a week back in 2003. It was a very nice resort. Is it sad to see what it has become. I loved laying in the hammock on the balcony looking at the ocean. I kayaked in the freshwater cenote and it was so peaceful. Great video!
The resort is still in operation, but they only use a small part of the property now. It’s called Belair Collection Xpu Ha. It used to be a zoo with all kinds of exotic animals. The lagoon is also still in use by the resort for guests to snorkel and kayak. If you sneak in from the ocean front you’re actually trespassing. We ran into some security guards today as we tried to explore outside the main resort grounds and they made sure we went back to where we were supposed to be. The beautiful, white sand beach next to the resort is not ‘made available’ to guests anymore, but it can still be accessed if you’re ok with some extra walking and exploring. The beach on the other side of the resort is also private property.
Mike Corey....Sorry Mike, I didn’t mean to rain on the parade. We’ve been staying at the resort for the last week and they need all the paying guests they can get☺️The staff are fantastic and our room is awesome, but it’s obvious that it’s not as grand a place as it was in the past. Still worth a stay if you’re ok with something a little more rustic. We’re in one of the two story paylapas from the video and they do indeed have a massive jetted tub in each room! The storm is only part of the reason why some of the resort is abandoned now. There were issues between owners of the properties and Mexican laws changed regarding keeping animals in zoos. We’ve discovered on our days outside the resort that many Mexicans don’t even realize that the resort is still open.
J Grace thanks, ididnt k ow resort is still open.we staying at Catalonia resort that's close to it, we were trying to walk in and see cenote as we thought the hotel is abandoned but security met us and make sure we left. We don't speak Spanish so I didn't understand anything they were saying. Is there early way to still see the cenote somehow? Any help is appreciated . Thank you
Nature is so incredible. Spanning from pure beauty to absolute devastation, and then rejuvenation. There is definitely a majesty and energy that only few will truly experience. Thank you again for sharing another delight. Have you thought about checking out Devil’s Island? Experiences over possessions
Devils Island is located off the coast of French Guiyana in Sth America. Here's a short description. Devil's Island - the infamous "green hell" of legend - was a place no Frenchman would go unless sent by a judge. For here, and in prisons on the mainland, 60,000 prisoners endured a living death dubbed the "Dry Guillotine". Now, 50 years after the last shackled convict returned to France, Devil's Island has become a macabre tourist attraction. Boats make regular trips and helicopters fly over the crumbling cell blocks, where vines and creepers seek to purge the island of its hideous past. But this is just a facade. When the tourists have gone after the guide, and you stand on the wooden jetty that once echoed to the shuffle of shackled feet, it's not difficult to imagine the men in shapeless uniforms who died here. Their ghosts are everywhere in the crumbling ruins. I think it would be right up your alley 😊👍 Experiences over Possessions!
I suck at mats to! That place is so breathtaking. There's something almost magical seeing nature reclaim its territory after a tragedy. Thanks for sharing another experience. #ExperiencesOverPossessions
Stunning place 🤩 I’m heading to cancun for my honeymoon in a few days…. Need to try and find this place. It would be so peaceful away from the hustle and bustle
Been there today. Absolutely amazing place. To the point when local guy with machete came to inform me that it is a private property. We managed to estabilish a deal of paying him 200 pesos for few pictures and quick drone flight. Place is now quite different. Much worse state of the buildings, can't really go inside as dzungle covered all the paths and there are trees inside the buildings. Cenote is still accessible, but for the fee and apparently you can meet manta rays in the seawater lagoon. Anyway, nice to see how it changed in just 5 years. Nature is pretty fast here.
@@mystero233 Brilliant. Thank you for responding. We tried to enter on the back wall to the left of the AO a few times recently and we're met w/security. I was thinking we could just walk around. Thank you!! :)It's so cool. I'm determined to check the place out sometime.
I'm surprised they didn't rebuild. Such a beautiful location. I was in Cancun when Wilma was heading for it. I rented a car and ran away to Belize lol. Funny thing, when I drove back into Mexico, no one stopped me at the border and I just kept driving until I got back to Cancun!
That's awesome I love how nature just takes over and reclaims what's naturaly hers, the lagoon and cenote shots are beautiful!! Experiences Over possessions! #Kickthegrind
I had a rest in the restored part of the hotel in February March 2018. I also walked around the ruined part of the hotel. It was interesting. There we met a guard who asked us to leave.
We honeymooned here in 2007, shortly before it closed. It was designed like an ecological sanctuary, with an enormous aviary. It was beautiful, even then after much of it was closed due to storm damage. Very eerie seeing it like this now, but happy the earth is taking back the land.
***WARNNG*** This place is no longer abandoned. I was staying in the resort next door this week and we happen to stumble on this walking the shore line and started walking around, but some dogs started barking at us, then some guys came and told us to get out (not in English) so we left. Then we researched what this was and came across your video. That's the point we learned about the cenote and we (me and one other) made it our goal to go swim in it. So, we went the next day and quietly walked the shoreline and made it to some long old docs to the clear ocean cenote. However, we heard some crazy bird call coming from the trees, and by buddy said "I don't think that's a bird". Anyway we jumped in and it was AWESOME... for about 10 seconds. That's when we heard a huge splash in the water and looked up and a guy was throwing large rocks at us, screaming, and he had a machete banging it on the rocks, screaming for us to get out and leave (we don't speak Spanish, but you knew what he was saying). We quickly did what he said and he followed us the whole way along the shoreline, hitting his machete on the rocks and yelling. There were more guys joining him before we got to the edge of the resort. Crazy! The next day we took a boat trip and told our captain about it, and he was shocked we went in there and said that those were cartel. The day after that, we went back and peeked around the corner and there were two guys just sitting there in a make shift hut. I think the bird call we heard was an alarm. There is defiantly something going on in there that they don't want people to see. BE WARNED if you are thinking of going to check it out! If you go alone, you may never come out.
I actually visited this property in 2002. It was part of the Palace Resort and I stayed at the one the Hard Rock owns now. Those room were 2 floors and had stairs on the outside but each one had a huge porch with a bed swing and hammocks. I still have those pictures. There were animals and birds all over as it was considered an eco-friendly property. The lobby/check in was it's own hut, same with the restaurants and there was an area that manatees would hang out in. We stayed the whole afternoon just enjoying the property.
One thing we didn't show in the video was we went twice. The second time was for drone shots, and we saw the guards bring all their wives and kids to swim in the cenote. It's a private pool for them!
Gorgeous place! I wish more places had water like that and I loved the dinosaur bit. Wasn't an iguana? Great buildings, sunset and video! #ExperiencesOverPossessions #KickTheGrind
Mike Corey - haven't seen an iguana that big in a very long time. Nice catch! And I love Mariannela's passion when she talked about the beach. The funny faces was a nice touch as well 🙂
MIKE YOU ROCK!!! Thank you so much that means a lot I feel honored bro!!! You ALWAYS have amazing content and breathtaking video! As long as there is a Kick the Grind with Mike Corey I will be watching!!! Man I will be going there hopefully end of the year I'll have to check this stuff out most deff!! So sad all the devastation mother nature can bring. I will have to get my Instagram back up and we can link up can't wait to chat bro I'm so stoked!!! IM ON THE HAND OF FAME!!!!!!!!! and wait for it ..................EXPERIENCES OVER POSSESSIONS!!!!!!!!
I stayed at this hotel for many times when i was a kid, I had no idea it was abandoned, so sad :( i had really good times there. Hurricane Wilma was awful, many hotels all over quintana roo got destroyed, I’ve lived in cancun my hole life and see this pictures are just heartbreaking
My wife and I stayed here before the hurricane ripped through..... It was one of the nicest resorts we stayed at..... This brought find memories back but tinged with sadness that it is gone forever..... We would surely have returned it not for the hurricane.
I love to do the things & to go to the places that ur going. But I cannot do that & go there. That's why I'm following ur travel adventure. I guess u r in Pakistan by now after the Fighter boys adventure in the Philippines. I'll wait for ur nxt videos. GodBless Mike -from Singapore
Actually, something that isn't in the video is we went there twice. The second time was to do the drone shots, and the guards had their families in there so they could swim. The benefit of being a guard 😂
We stayed here when I was about 14 years old. Watching this video is creepy. I still remember exactly what everything looked like in pristine condition.
Congrats to WES CANTRELL for making it on the Hand of Fame this week. Love your messages man! Send me a DM on Instagram (@kickthegrind) and we'll organize our call. If you want a spot on my skin, and to hop on video chat, end a comment on any of my videos with EXPERIENCES OVER POSSESSIONS. Hope you all love this video. It's a beautiful place that I think we were the first to explore.
P.S. remember I get to write a really mean message to you if there aren't three videos a week. LOL good luck with your move.
Hahaha yes exactly! Tomorrow I'll be filming all day!
Mike Corey i followed you on Instagram, keep up the great work bro. Stay safe and safe travels.
Dang i don't have Instagram! Maybe its time for me to get with the times😂awesome stuff Brother Mike
We were there a week before Hurricane Wilma destroyed the resort. We have pictures if anyone is interested to see how beautiful it was.
Xpu-Ha was my favorite vacation we have ever been on. Amazing resort. Wish we could go back someday. Lots of memories made that week
We stayed here in September 2001 right after it opened. There were only a handful of guests when I was there since they had just opened. Before it was a hotel, it was a day-trip nature park. We had stayed at Beach Palace and Moon Palace in Cancun in previous years, and this one of their included excursions. The next year, they started building the resort, and we couldn't wait to stay there! There were 144 rooms, 2 each in the palapa huts, one tree level, one ground level. Both rooms had beautiful verandahs and huge jacuzzi tubs in the room. The room clusters were divvied up in different areas of the vast property. Some were on the estuary (rocky coral natural pool)--those were the pricey rooms since you could see the ocean. Some others were in the mangrove, which I don't think would be very nice with the smell and no shade. Most were strewn in "villages" in the jungles. The resort was incredibly beautiful, but a bit ahead of its time. They were trying to embrace eco-tourism, and many people just couldn't handle it. The only a/c in the place was the rooms and one restaurant. Everything else was open air under gorgeous palapas. Naturally it was a bit hot at times, but that didn't bother me. I seem to remember there were two pools. One was geared for families, and one for adults. The pools were pretty and nice, but the monstrosoties you see in bigger resorts. They had morning water aerobics in adult pool, and they played really good music--not club music and not too loud. The gym was open air, and no one ever used it, so the guy working there, was always coaxing people in for a free personal training session. There was no spa. You went to Moon Palace to get spa treatments. The food here was absolutely awful. The outdoor grill steak restaurant was never open. We wound up going to Moon Palace for dinner often. It was fun because you'd just hop on the hotel shuttle. There was an outdoor theater. Since the place was so new, they didn't have shows--it was more like the small animation staff putting on skits that were kind of silly. That's okay--we weren't there for entertainment. The lobby bar was also open air and was beautifully decorated! I met a lovely couple from Mexico City there one evening, and it turned out they were part owners/investors, and they were there to check out their investment. They were very interested in hearing our opinions of the place. They wound up taking a liking to us, and invited us out on their boat one day. The boat turned out to be a yacht, and the chef on board cooked us freshly caught fish. We kept in touch for a few years after that. Great memory. There was another cenote in the jungle with more brackish water. I don't think anyone swam in it, but I did see the manatees! The resort also operated a sort of animal refuge/rehab. I seem to remember injured monkeys and coatamundis in the animal hospital. They'd go to the outdoor enclosed rehab center before they were re-released. They had a cayman hatchery and were also studying sea turtles and trying to save their habitat. They were incubating sea turtle eggs in the lab. One evening, we were invited to the beach to release the newly hatched turtles! The attacks on the WTC happened during our stay, and we got "stranded" here for an additional week. They didn't charge us, and they let us make phone calls back home for free (pre cell phone), and they called the airlines daily and would let us know what was going on. Incredible service and wonderful people working here! The beach was absolutely gorgeous. Whitest sand, secluded, palm trees swaying, hammocks. The shoreline seemed endless, and I loved taking long walks. There was a local hangout/sandbar not too far, and we had some "cheladas" there one day. I spoke enough Spanish to have conversations, and I remember at one point we were all writing poems on our bar tabs and sharing them. I am so sad to see the place in ruins. In addition to hurricanes, there was a property dispute between the hotel and the Mexican government. They were not supposed to build in the mangroves and on the centote but they did it anyway. I think you are correct--there would be a spirit of sadness here. First nature was destroyed to build the place (even though it was beautiful, I think the mangroves and the centoes and jungles suffered greatly--and I contributed to that, I know), but then nature destroyed the place, and now it filthy and dangerous. They didn't even clean up the place. I wonder what it will look like in another hundred years. Maybe some day, hundreds of years from now, someone will stumble on it, and it will be like another "Chichen Itza." I know, not likely since we have youtube and instagram, but it's fun to think about. Thank you for posting and letting us know what ever happened to that little place in Mexico called Xpu-Ha, which was ahead of its time, and in an area that was scarcely developed at the time. I know that's all changed, and I don't think I could go back to the area without crying. I visited it 2001, and it closed just four years later. I remember reading lots of reviews online and people either loved it or hated it, and even in the early days of internet, they would fight about it. Damn I would I could go back, even in a dream. The world completely changed during our visit.
I stayed at this resort a few times growing up. The Cenote is absolutely wonderful, and you can really feel the temperature change where the small amount of sea water was coming in at the bottom. They actually used to have two manatee's living in the cenote, although I doubt they made it after so long... The stairs were on the outside, but only the upper levels had balconies. There was many restaurants and pools, the best being the italian that was poolside. There should have been a large amphitheater on one of the ends of the resort. I'd be interested in what it looked like now. The appeal of the resort was how large it was (It looks like you only saw a small part of it), and the wildlife sanctuary that was also located there. They had a small cayman birthing center, and I remember being able to go in and do little tasks to help take care of them. They had this also with small monkeys (massive enclosure near the front desk), Flamingos, and many reptiles. It did have the feeling of thriving life, and although it's not a resort anymore, it seems to still be bursting at the seams with that life. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
Amazing comment Elle. So good to hear from someone who saw it in its prime. No manatees there now though, but I imagine that was incredible!
Do you have any photos of the resort when it was in operation?
Mike Corey, you’re my favorite traveler. Got a style unlike anyone else
🙌I give you the biggest high five of your life for this comment
Mike Corey ~~ beautiful, just spectacular. I got goosebumps when Mariannela was talking about how she felt life was so abundant at the resort in the jungle. Then nothing but silence. But I saw nature retaking its land back and new life that only you and Mariannela witnessed by being there. Most have been a beautiful resort. Thanks for the talk March 1st . And as always, #ExperiencesOverPossessions #KicktheGrind.
It was a fun call Mike! She did a great job encapsulating the feeling of the place. It was beautiful, but it was dark.
My husband and I stayed at that resort a few years before the hurricane. We have gone back to XpuHa beach, staying at Catalonia Royal Tulum. We have walked up to the restaurant many times, but there is a guard preventing the public from going in any further. We would love to be able to wander around like you did. It was a beautiful place, full of life and beauty. I remember swimming in the lagoon, and in our first few minutes after arriving, watched a manattee swim by those mossy steps. You truly had an extraordinary experience.
My ex wife & I stayed at the Xpu Ha in 2002. Little did we know that it would be in ruins just a few years later. 😢
I looked up the Catalonia after I saw that you mentioned it. It looks beautiful. I wonder is there are any other resorts in Mexico that have similar “huts” like the Xpu Ha did?
I’m so glad that you posted this! My ex-wife & I stayed here at the Xpu-Ha in 2002 & it was definitely one of my most favorite vacations that I have ever been on. This place was just STUNNING when it was in operation. It’s such a SHAME that they didn’t rebuild. How I would absolutely love to take my wife here so she too could experience this place with me. The lagoon there was the first place that I ever snorkeled. We kayaked in the cenote while trying to locate manatees. We ate in that restaurant that had the glass wall.
We were in one of the beautiful second floor villas & yes, the only access to the second floor was by stairs on the outside. The villas were just absolutely amazing before the hurricane. The second floor did in fact have its own balcony with a lounge bed & it’s own hammock out there. I’m so glad that I got to experience Xpu Ha before the hurricane sadly took it out. I most definitely enjoyed your video. It really brought back awesome memories. ☺️👍🏻
I dont know why you haven’t blowned up your videos are authentic, original and really show the deep roots of mexico and its culture!!
Wow - that brings back memories. My wife and I were married there the year that the hurricane hit - only 3 months earlier! We went back for our 10th anniversary, and tried to find a way in. Had to get an escort, as there were people living in a portion of the resort, and they would not allow us to get near it. But we did get to see the cenote, the cove, and spend a bit of time reminiscing. We were married in the pagoda that you showed - I feel like the great energy from years of beautiful memories being made there by so many people preserved it better than everywhere else!
It is sad that the entire resort was never re-opened, but in a way it is also nice to see nature taking it back too. Be well, and thanks for the vid!
such a shame its never been cleaned up!! a beautiful coastline and the lagoon looked fantastic , and to have it to yourselves even better. Great blog as always!!!
I know right? It's been so long, and no ones touched it. It makes me wonder why? I'm sure a plot like that on this coast is worth a lot of money.
I know right? It's been so long, and no ones touched it. It makes me wonder why? I'm sure a plot like that on this coast is worth a lot of money.
My understanding was that after it got hit by the hurricane, when they went to rebuild, the deeds were contested and basically it got stuck in court. Land deeds are supposedly terrible in Mexico, can have people came after claiming it's their land decades later.
No wonder they built such a huuuuge resort, the place is incredible! The lagoon and the Cenote are just MAGNIFICIENT! I'm really happy you ended up there instead of your first plan, because it's just so beautiful ! And the peace brought by the catastrophy gives it another layer of fantastic... Thank you so much for the discovery!
I think we still might go back and film the other resorts. The guard said there were even nicer resorts along the coast than that one.... I can't even believe that.
Mike Corey i won't believe it either, until you show us! 😍
Just came across this video, as my husband and I were talking about how it would be fun to go back to Xpu-Ha, since we honeymooned there in Dec. 2004. I never knew it had been destroyed by Wilma. It was beautiful-lush and vibrant! Hopefully one day they will rebuild something there. Thanks for sharing.
It's my wedding anniversary next month and my wife and I were searching for Xpu-Ha Palace and stumbled across your video. I had no idea the place had been destroyed. Quite a fascinating watch to see how different the place is, since we were married there in 2004. We literally stood in every location you were in the film and stayed in one of the beach side huts. Very fond memories of the place.
That’s wild. I wish I would have been able to see it when it was whole. It looked beautiful!
@@fearlessandfar Well, since I posted my comment I've found a box of DV tapes which I'd forgotten about. Three of them are labelled Mexico 2004. We spent two weeks there. The first week was at Xpu-Ha and the second week was on tour around several historical sights. I'm in the process of transferring them to my computer to see what I shot!
@@SaschaFox Yes of course! No problem. I've captured the tapes and deinterlaced the clips. Standard Def DV footage isn't all that big by today's standard, so I could wetransfer the files over to you. Only a Gig and a half I think.
You never fail to impress, man! Great presentation, creative videography, and awesome destinations. Without a doubt the most underrated adventure travel channel on TH-cam. I got one of the worst sunburns of my life when May and I went camping near here about seven years ago. I had no idea this was so close by at the time. Keep up the great work! Experiences over Possessions! -Jim
Amazing compliment Jim. Thanks a million man. This place is tucked away off to the side, but you can see the gazebo from the beach. Experiences over Possessions!
Yes to the breakdance break in the middle! Love the underwater filming!! Experiences over possesions everyday!!
Hahaha I thought I would spontaneously throw that in! #Experiencesoverpossessions
The water was so clear and I was surprise to not have seen fish! Very sad that the resort has not been rebuilt since it is a beautiful place. Seeing abandon places can leave one feeling sad and you can almost feel the time that pasted with people that were enjoying themselves. Kind of like what I call time ghosts, not dead folks but folks time impressions left. Enjoyed the video and always your filming is spot on.
There was a few little ones, but not much. The water in the cenote was brackish (Half salty, Half Fresh) because it connected to the ocean under the ground. There's not a lot of fish in Mexico that like that. Thank you!
I watch every video you post! Always great content, well documented info. Thanks for showing another side of my beautiful Mexico 🇲🇽.
My goal is to show the world that Mexico is the most amazing country on this planet ❤
You’re doing great! Keep on going 💪🏻
GRACIAS !!!!
So many childhood memories for me and my family at Xpu Ha Palace. Still visit the other Palace properties often, but that was where it all started for me. Been going to Mexico for 23 years of my 26 year life.
I was actually there when it was in operation and it was amazing place in the middle of the jungle!
Really? Good memories of the place??
We went on honeymoon there in 04. Incredible hotel
Wild, I stayed here in 2004, I had no idea it got hit by a hurricane, and was never repaired, and left abandoned. Cool memory, of my one and only time to Mexico, I remember it well.
Again just another amazing video. I can't believe the world has so many amazing places!! Thank you for sharing your experiences, can't wait for the next one
That's why I love Mexico. The epic places never end. Some fun stuff coming up!
Wow! I was there years ago and it was the most memorable vacation I ever had. The fact that is was planned around the jungle (sidewalks around the trees etc}, the rooms were spaced out in little villages, and the animals were so cared for. Swimming in the lagoon and ceynote and long walks on the beach. I sure wish that it was still available. I would be back there in a heart beat.Memories galore.
I have lived in the Cancun area since 1993, worked for Seafari Divers, we had a dive operation on Playa Xpuha, before the hotels moved in & closed public access. That fresh water lagoon was our favorite place, in fact it was where I took my now wife on our first road trip. You have brought back some great memories, it just sucks the the Palace Hotel chain closed the cenote to local people & ruined the area.
This is probably one of my most favourite videos you have done, there is a sweet spot in my heart for cenote’s. I have personally visited two different locations and have a long long list of more to visit. Truly amazing.
Experience over possessions❤️
I have footage of a bunch of them over there. I'll be posting a "Best Of" Cenote video soon I think :)
Mike Corey - that will be awesome to see, I have been in one in both Cuba and Dominican Republic and they were the most amazing things I have seen. The energy are the cenote’s was very interesting.
I love these type of developments that blend in with the environment and not like those huge hotels.
Yes exactly, and add 12 years of abandonment and it blends even more
Thanks for posting this! I actually stayed there 15yrs ago. It was an amazing place to stay in it's day. I hate to see it in this state, such a waste of a beautiful location.
Wow what beautiful waters. I’ve been to Cancun and thought it was beautiful and when I heard it got hit by the hurricane and there was so much damage it was heartening to know such a beautiful area was most likely gone. Thanks for sharing this neat video and to let us know what it looks like now. Sad.
The coast still has a lot of abandoned places unfortunately. They do a great job of hiding them though, and the jungle has grown back quite thick.
I went to that park so many years ago, I can´t believe it turned out like this... It's amazing and creppy at the same time... Great video!
Really?? When it was open??
Like 20 years ago... (for real) Actually the year I went it was the first year it as open to public. They recommend it so much, I think went there instead of Xcaret or Xel Ha...
That water just looks perfect ❤️❤️
It was exactly that.
What an amazing and beautiful place!! So sad what happened to all the people that lost their lives, maybe one day that beautiful place will flourish once again. Thank you for taking us along this great journey!!
#EXPERINCES OVER POSSESSIONS 👍👍
I'm surprised a place that special can last 12 years without being rebuilt, or bought by another company. It's a special place that was a bit hard to get into!
Mike Corey i totally agree with you brother!!
I was there at that same abandoned resort. It was pretty trippy and so cool to see. We paddle-boarded there in the Cenote of the resort with wild manatees. And I swam/snorkled the Pet Cemetery Cenotes which isn't that far from there. It was so beautiful, even though I lost the diamond stud from my nose lol. Parts of that Cenote are 350ft deep. I could see the divers below us. On the way down to the cenotes there's a restaurant/bar on the right. The sign just says "Bar" but it's the only place around and they have fab food!
Safe travels!
Thank you so much for this video. My first big trip to any Mexican beach was in 2003 and it was here. I've been to some very fine resorts...Hawaii twice, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and several other resorts in Mexico and NONE of them compare to the magic that Xpu-Ha Palace had. The lagoon used to have incredible fish everywhere. I could have lived in that lagoon. 😆 I think the hurricanes wiped out all the coral. The cenote often had a lone barracuda hanging out in it at night. The upstairs huts had grass roofs. They were very spacious and comfortable. It was such a special place. So sad it was destroyed.
I stayed there back when it was open in early 2000s my friends got married there. It was a paradise loved that place. I always wanted to go back but never made it.
I also stayed there when they had just opened it. It was just gorgeous!
How sad to see all that beautiful architecture in piles of rumble and never rebuild. The cenotes are always beautiful no matter where, but the quietness would have made your swim surreal. Loved your video! Kudos for this video and so makes me want to get back to life of travel. Stay safe everyone. ✨
Amazing!! So beautiful and never realized the damage done by this hurricane. Love the videos and all the places you visit!!
Me neither. I was too young to really remember more than the name. It WRECKED that coast. There's a lot of abandoned resorts there
So cool mike!! I love your videos! They take me on vacation while I sit on my couch. I look forwards to your posts. Keep up the great work!
Thanks Liane, Happy you are with me on these trips!
Wow, this looks amazing! So jealous that you got the whole lagoon for yourself😮
Crazy a place this special is so secret!
I was at Barcelo Maya Palace in 2022 the property they built next door. My first time to Mexico. I took pictures of this abandoned resort from the lobby balcony at Maya across. I have some pretty good shots of it.
I love how fun are you two guys. You two break it down so funny!!
We went here twice when I was a kid. The place was beautiful. It was an all inclusive resort and was really nice.
I’m going to Riviera Maya in October and despite being a few years late to this video I hope that this is still something that I am able to see when I go. It is unbelievably beautiful.
I heard people are patrolling it to keep people out. You might want to be careful.
We vacationed there in 2004. It was a pretty awesome spot. Lots of fond memories.
The power of nature truly is breathtaking...so eerie to see what became of what must have been a beautiful resort before Wilma roared through the area in 2005. The lagoon and cenote are both stunning. Pretty cool that you spotted an iguana there - they were everywhere when I visited Mexico back in '99. Couldn't walk for more than two minutes without coming across one. I hope you enjoy the rest of your calls with Hand of Fame honorees, my man! And congrats Wes!!
So great to chat last week man!! Even the cenote felt abandoned with all the algae growing inside it. There's more like it along the coast. Can't wait to go back!
Our conversation was easily one of the most fascinating I've had in a very long time! And I hope you get to go back soon! I'd love to see more of the cenote.
We stayed there about 20 years ago. One of the coloest resorts I've ever been to. The lagoon and cenote were wonderful for kayaking and snorkeling. The huts/rooms were awesome - yes the stairs were wood and on the outside. There were at least 4 restaurants and the resort was so large you took bikes or golf cart trains to get around. Hopefully it gets rebuilt at some point.
Great video again Mike!, south of Xpu Ha and Tulum there is this Biosphere Reserve called Siaan Kaan. Awesome place. Some of the best beaches, lagoon, mayan ruins and even a colorful little town called Punta Allen. I think you can also camp in those beaches. You can ask the guards at the entrance pf the reserve. Saludos!
I've been wanting to go forever, but haven't made it happen yet. I think the drone videos would in incredible. I didn't know about camping on the beach, so thank you for that!!
wow!!!!!! Acabo de dar con este video y me he quedado impactada. En mi luna de miel (hace 20 años) nos alojamos en un hotel de esa cadena y pasamos un día haciendo snorkel y visitando las instalaciones. No podía imaginar como estaba, lo recuerdo con tanta vida, y al verlo así da tristeza, miedo....escalofríos!!!
Aw that hand thing is so neat and unique love this idea, and your channel
I enjoy you. I suppose I am going to have to watch all your videos now:)
didn't know about your channel until i saw your colab with Dan from The new travel. let me tell you just got a new subscriber. I just want to say thank you for sharing and appreciating these beutiful sites from my country, it really means a lot to me. Let the world know what Mexico is all about 👏
I stayed here once with my family around 2005. It was amazing. I read there have been property disputes which have prevented a rebuild. Really too bad.
I started following you about a week ago mike and you have the best content out on youtube besides exploring with Josh both of you guys are my top 2 youtubers thus far keep up the great work man. Hope to meet you one day im from san diego California and thanks for visiting my hometown guanajuato city of mummies
Bro, thanks for that! The Mummies were so wild.... Josh and I have been talking about meeting up and making videos this summer. Stay tuned!!
Cant wait to see what you guys have in store for all us fans. Keep up the great work and like always safe travels brother and i will be following every video you put out really love your content and ill be hitting your merch store this week coming up. The Amazon video with your buddy caspar is lit really love it and it was funny when his face got really swollen lol stay safe and be safe out there. You deserve more subscribers with the content you put out. All the negative comments and likes should boost you and not bring you down. Stay up brother looking to keep talking to you in future videos. I'll follow you on Instagram hope you follow back brother.
Dude. His face made me laugh soooooo hard. Mine swelled, but he looked like he was made of CLAY. Hahaha. Huge love for this comment man. Made me smile!
I love these videos, I lived my life the same way, always choosing the path less travelled and seeking new experiences and adventure, to gain understanding of others. Unfortunately I put my body through so much stress and injury that now in my 50s I am sick and I have to give it up
i stayed here back in 2013!! i remember half of the resort was closed off but it’s sad to see it completely abandoned now.
Wow, that is creepy and beautiful at the same time. I stayed there for a week back in 2003. It was a very nice resort. Is it sad to see what it has become. I loved laying in the hammock on the balcony looking at the ocean. I kayaked in the freshwater cenote and it was so peaceful. Great video!
The resort is still in operation, but they only use a small part of the property now. It’s called Belair Collection Xpu Ha. It used to be a zoo with all kinds of exotic animals. The lagoon is also still in use by the resort for guests to snorkel and kayak. If you sneak in from the ocean front you’re actually trespassing. We ran into some security guards today as we tried to explore outside the main resort grounds and they made sure we went back to where we were supposed to be. The beautiful, white sand beach next to the resort is not ‘made available’ to guests anymore, but it can still be accessed if you’re ok with some extra walking and exploring. The beach on the other side of the resort is also private property.
Yes, we had to do a bit of calling and negotiating to make this video happen. We met a friend of the guard who we chatted with for a while.
Mike Corey....Sorry Mike, I didn’t mean to rain on the parade. We’ve been staying at the resort for the last week and they need all the paying guests they can get☺️The staff are fantastic and our room is awesome, but it’s obvious that it’s not as grand a place as it was in the past. Still worth a stay if you’re ok with something a little more rustic. We’re in one of the two story paylapas from the video and they do indeed have a massive jetted tub in each room!
The storm is only part of the reason why some of the resort is abandoned now. There were issues between owners of the properties and Mexican laws changed regarding keeping animals in zoos. We’ve discovered on our days outside the resort that many Mexicans don’t even realize that the resort is still open.
J Grace thanks, ididnt k ow resort is still open.we staying at Catalonia resort that's close to it, we were trying to walk in and see cenote as we thought the hotel is abandoned but security met us and make sure we left. We don't speak Spanish so I didn't understand anything they were saying. Is there early way to still see the cenote somehow? Any help is appreciated . Thank you
Went here many years ago was a beautiful resort with lots of wildlife. Feel sad watching this... but nature is claiming it all back
Nature always takes it back
Nature is so incredible. Spanning from pure beauty to absolute devastation, and then rejuvenation. There is definitely a majesty and energy that only few will truly experience. Thank you again for sharing another delight. Have you thought about checking out Devil’s Island? Experiences over possessions
I have not? Where is devil's island? Sounds like my kind of place! Experiences over Possessions!
Devils Island is located off the coast of French Guiyana in Sth America. Here's a short description.
Devil's Island - the infamous "green hell" of legend - was a place no Frenchman would go unless sent by a judge. For here, and in prisons on the mainland, 60,000 prisoners endured a living death dubbed the "Dry Guillotine".
Now, 50 years after the last shackled convict returned to France, Devil's Island has become a macabre tourist attraction. Boats make regular trips and helicopters fly over the crumbling cell blocks, where vines and creepers seek to purge the island of its hideous past.
But this is just a facade. When the tourists have gone after the guide, and you stand on the wooden jetty that once echoed to the shuffle of shackled feet, it's not difficult to imagine the men in shapeless uniforms who died here. Their ghosts are everywhere in the crumbling ruins.
I think it would be right up your alley 😊👍 Experiences over Possessions!
The most beautiful Eco Friendly Resort…always in my memory from February 2004
I suck at mats to! That place is so breathtaking. There's something almost magical seeing nature reclaim its territory after a tragedy. Thanks for sharing another experience. #ExperiencesOverPossessions
Haha as do I. Luckily we don't need math for videos.
Stunning place 🤩 I’m heading to cancun for my honeymoon in a few days…. Need to try and find this place. It would be so peaceful away from the hustle and bustle
Wow so crazy! I stayed there in 2002. It was so beautiful!
Been there today. Absolutely amazing place. To the point when local guy with machete came to inform me that it is a private property. We managed to estabilish a deal of paying him 200 pesos for few pictures and quick drone flight. Place is now quite different. Much worse state of the buildings, can't really go inside as dzungle covered all the paths and there are trees inside the buildings. Cenote is still accessible, but for the fee and apparently you can meet manta rays in the seawater lagoon. Anyway, nice to see how it changed in just 5 years. Nature is pretty fast here.
Where were you able to enter?
@@lindsaykohout around the coast during low tide. I think approx at noon you can pass with dry feet.
@@mystero233 Brilliant. Thank you for responding. We tried to enter on the back wall to the left of the AO a few times recently and we're met w/security. I was thinking we could just walk around. Thank you!! :)It's so cool. I'm determined to check the place out sometime.
Hola Mike Corey buen video, eres muy creativo es mi youtuber favorito he recomendado tu canal hermano saludos.
Gracias Uriel. Eres Mexicano? Este pais es mi favorito ❤
Que bien Mike soy mexicano, y eres mi TH-camr favorito,espero conocerte algun dia sigue a si haciendo videos interesantes, abrazos.
Wow!! Beautiful! Great video bro..!
Thanks man. It was an epic place to explore
What an amazing place! Just found your channel and I have binged so many of your videos!! Thanks for the great content!
Hahaha that's great to hear! Which was your Favourite?
mm that is a difficult question, probably the amazon series!
I stayed there for a week it was beautiful with a ocean view. So sad for the people. Fabulous memory.
I'm surprised they didn't rebuild. Such a beautiful location. I was in Cancun when Wilma was heading for it. I rented a car and ran away to Belize lol. Funny thing, when I drove back into Mexico, no one stopped me at the border and I just kept driving until I got back to Cancun!
Why Me? It seems that the hurricane depleted the beach of sand. Nothing was left from what we could see on the video.
Hahaha wow, they abandoned the border??? I would have been crazy to be there immediately after
Fantastic video thank you for sharing
A beautiful place Mike I really like your style I’m a new subscriber found you by seeing you with Josh the Explorer
learnt a lot from this movie. I have tried 2 cenotes in Mexico and hope to try more.
That's awesome I love how nature just takes over and reclaims what's naturaly hers, the lagoon and cenote shots are beautiful!! Experiences Over possessions! #Kickthegrind
Slowly she definitely does. So happy to chat with you last week!
Mike Corey yes it was awesome! :)
Amazing as always
Thank you Katie
I had a rest in the restored part of the hotel in February March 2018. I also walked around the ruined part of the hotel. It was interesting.
There we met a guard who asked us to leave.
Were u able to swim in the fresh water cenote?
@@dougkrieg8432
yes
@@nickan8 i ll have to go down there, see if we can still get in
Probly one of the moat beautiful places Ive seen man thank you for sharing.
Great video always intrestting.
I always try to show you the coolest stuff
I went there around 2005. It was an amazing resort, great experience and very memorable. BTW we did not swim in the pool while we were there.
We honeymooned here in 2007, shortly before it closed. It was designed like an ecological sanctuary, with an enormous aviary. It was beautiful, even then after much of it was closed due to storm damage. Very eerie seeing it like this now, but happy the earth is taking back the land.
***WARNNG*** This place is no longer abandoned. I was staying in the resort next door this week and we happen to stumble on this walking the shore line and started walking around, but some dogs started barking at us, then some guys came and told us to get out (not in English) so we left. Then we researched what this was and came across your video. That's the point we learned about the cenote and we (me and one other) made it our goal to go swim in it. So, we went the next day and quietly walked the shoreline and made it to some long old docs to the clear ocean cenote. However, we heard some crazy bird call coming from the trees, and by buddy said "I don't think that's a bird". Anyway we jumped in and it was AWESOME... for about 10 seconds. That's when we heard a huge splash in the water and looked up and a guy was throwing large rocks at us, screaming, and he had a machete banging it on the rocks, screaming for us to get out and leave (we don't speak Spanish, but you knew what he was saying). We quickly did what he said and he followed us the whole way along the shoreline, hitting his machete on the rocks and yelling. There were more guys joining him before we got to the edge of the resort. Crazy! The next day we took a boat trip and told our captain about it, and he was shocked we went in there and said that those were cartel. The day after that, we went back and peeked around the corner and there were two guys just sitting there in a make shift hut. I think the bird call we heard was an alarm. There is defiantly something going on in there that they don't want people to see. BE WARNED if you are thinking of going to check it out! If you go alone, you may never come out.
Have been there today. Real comment I can confirm
Great video! :)
A really special spot!
I actually visited this property in 2002. It was part of the Palace Resort and I stayed at the one the Hard Rock owns now. Those room were 2 floors and had stairs on the outside but each one had a huge porch with a bed swing and hammocks. I still have those pictures. There were animals and birds all over as it was considered an eco-friendly property. The lobby/check in was it's own hut, same with the restaurants and there was an area that manatees would hang out in. We stayed the whole afternoon just enjoying the property.
The water is so beautiful, lucky you had the lagoon all to yourself
One thing we didn't show in the video was we went twice. The second time was for drone shots, and we saw the guards bring all their wives and kids to swim in the cenote. It's a private pool for them!
Hablo y entiendo poco el ingles pero creo q vale la pena suscribirme a tu canal. Tienes buenos videos y seguro creceras con la audiencia Mexicana.
Dude amazing video. It's so beautiful..
Was good man hello from Fresno California mi amigo 😊
Yo Freddy! Good to see you here man!
Amaizing!!! And soooo beautiful!!!
Gorgeous place! I wish more places had water like that and I loved the dinosaur bit. Wasn't an iguana? Great buildings, sunset and video! #ExperiencesOverPossessions #KickTheGrind
Hahaha yes, totally an iguana, just a big one!
Mike Corey - haven't seen an iguana that big in a very long time. Nice catch! And I love Mariannela's passion when she talked about the beach. The funny faces was a nice touch as well 🙂
MIKE YOU ROCK!!! Thank you so much that means a lot I feel honored bro!!! You ALWAYS have amazing content and breathtaking video! As long as there is a Kick the Grind with Mike Corey I will be watching!!! Man I will be going there hopefully end of the year I'll have to check this stuff out most deff!! So sad all the devastation mother nature can bring. I will have to get my Instagram back up and we can link up can't wait to chat bro I'm so stoked!!! IM ON THE HAND OF FAME!!!!!!!!! and wait for it ..................EXPERIENCES OVER POSSESSIONS!!!!!!!!
Yeaaaaah man!!! Or send me an email, that works too. Can't wait to chat!
Mike Corey I sent you a message on Facebook bro!
I stayed at this hotel for many times when i was a kid, I had no idea it was abandoned, so sad :( i had really good times there. Hurricane Wilma was awful, many hotels all over quintana roo got destroyed, I’ve lived in cancun my hole life and see this pictures are just heartbreaking
My wife and I stayed here before the hurricane ripped through..... It was one of the nicest resorts we stayed at..... This brought find memories back but tinged with sadness that it is gone forever..... We would surely have returned it not for the hurricane.
Very interesting. Do you have any videos on Ancient Mayan Cenote Sanctuary. We are looking at doing that excursion during our carnival cruise
I love to do the things & to go to the places that ur going.
But I cannot do that & go there.
That's why I'm following ur travel adventure.
I guess u r in Pakistan by now after the Fighter boys adventure in the Philippines.
I'll wait for ur nxt videos.
GodBless Mike
-from Singapore
Exploring with Mike Corey?😂👍 awesome work! Came over from Exploring with Cody's channel!
Cody is the man! We have another week together in Mexico!
Your the best Mike, I salute you
No entiendo porqué? tienes pocas vistas si tu canal es muy padre... que hace falta para que crescas más? Pues te lo mereces
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Mike my family was there that year 2weeks before the Wilma hit , the place was nothing ever seen before, sad that it looks like that. David
It must be so wild for you to see what it looks like now. How beautiful was it before?
ugh It's sad to see all those beautiful bodies of water go to waste and not being experienced, hopefully I can go see it one day
Actually, something that isn't in the video is we went there twice. The second time was to do the drone shots, and the guards had their families in there so they could swim. The benefit of being a guard 😂
great content. quality
Thank you for this comment
We stayed here when I was about 14 years old. Watching this video is creepy. I still remember exactly what everything looked like in pristine condition.
It broke my heart to see the most beautiful resort destroyed. We had the most amazing time there. They also had an animal conservation area.