May 2014 found me once again exploring the Riviera Maya on the Mexican Caribbean Coast. This was my second solo trip here and boy had the towns and communities grown since 2009.

Back in 1985, I traveled by cruise ship tender to a sleepy village. My first time on a one of a kind white sandy beach, and enjoyed snacks off a pushcarts traveling cobblestone streets. I made a wish to live in that location; aka, Playa del Carmen.

Fast forward and this trips purpose was to pursue that dream. Dream and reality mesh for a perfect place to have a condo; something as an investment now and could be a home in the future. I checked out properties in Akumal, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen. I knew I needed to create revenue streams, I had limited cash available, and bank financing is not something readily available for international real estate; so owner or builder financing was my only option. I didn’t solidify any purchase this trip, but the goal was reinforced.

The few days of adventure were amazing too. I did take a formal tour with ALLTourNative for my first hike up the Cobá ruins, zipline across an open cenote, repel into the depths of a semi-open cenote, and smoke ceremony with a refreshing swim in a cave cenote.

Day-tripped via Colectivo bus from Playa del Carmen to Puerto Adventures and Akumal Bay; these were multi purpose days for real estate and fun. The Manatee encounter was extra special as I was the only one in the pool, with two adults and one baby and got a full 30 minutes swimming with them and feeding them romaine lettuce. The Dolphin Discovery center in Puerto Adventuras has a captive breeding program for this endangered species. After quickly viewing a number of stellar condos in this sea port town, it was time for me to walk back out to the highway and catch the Collectivo further south to Akumal. Once in Akumal, I walked from the highway to beach. I found a private guide in Akumal and had a fantastic snorkeling tour of both reef and then saw over 20 green sea turtles enjoying the sea grass; all accessible from this sandy beach of Akumal Bay; aka home of the turtle.