First-hand travel advice for Playa del Carmen, Tulum and the Riviera Maya, from a licensed local guide.
Welcome to LifeOfTerry
LifeOfTerry is a practical travel guide to Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel and the wider Riviera Maya, written by Terry Barkhuizen, a NOM-08 certified tour guide (SECTUR credential N012608) with eight years of guiding experience in the region.
You will find first-hand information on Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Cozumel, the cenotes, Maya sites and wildlife of the Yucatán, and how to visit them responsibly. More about Terry.
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Plan Your Trip · Getting Around · Cenotes · Wildlife & Nature · Safety
Latest travel articles
Daily budgets for backpackers, mid-range and luxury travellers, plus 2026 prices for hotels, food, transport, ruins, cenotes and the hidden fees.
Where Uber and other ride-hailing apps work in 2026, how local taxis are priced, the airport rules and how to avoid overpaying.
Puerto Juárez or the Hotel Zone piers? Prices, crossing times, the last boat back and how to reach the pier for the Isla Mujeres ferry.
What sargassum is, when it arrives, the record 2026 season, how to check live maps, where it’s usually lighter and what to do instead on seaweed days.
Nesting and hatching dates, the four species, the rules for visitors and how to see turtles responsibly on Riviera Maya beaches.
Muyil canal float, Punta Allen boat trip or a community-run tour? How to choose a Sian Ka’an tour, with durations, costs and what to bring.
The turtle-zone rules, guide costs, best time of day and how to snorkel with Akumal’s wild green sea turtles without harming them.
Season dates, how tours work, the official swimming rules, costs and how to choose a responsible whale shark operator from Cancun or Isla Mujeres.