October 2022. First the parking. Keep driving, you don’t have to pay. It’s a Scam. Some people rented bikes but it's not exactly safe with all the cars. We saw a woman hit a pot hole and fall over. It’s very hot. Fellow gringas, wear a hat, reef-safe sunblock, and bug spray. Bring lots of water and snacks. Entry to the ruins is $ 10 USD. There are people all over selling front-of-line ruin passes that include a boat tour of the ruins which is really just a selfie stop and then they take you to the reef to snorkel. We were told it was 1hr wait to get in into the ruins. We were there on a Sunday afternoon. My girlfriend didn’t feel well so we opted for the boat tour for $45USD per person. We were told the tour left every twenty minutes, that we would have access to bathrooms, and two free margaritas. Also, a scam. We waited for 1 to 1.5hrs. Had to change in a hut and there are no restrooms anywhere. The margaritas were tiny and tasted like Kool-Aid. We got thirsty and ordered one beer and one water. It was $13USD. We felt like we were being taken advantage of. They will not tell you the price until they bring it to you. Highly recommend that you learn how to convert Pesos to USD if you plan to explore without a guide. Learn to haggle in Spanish. Leave your valuables in your car or hotel or in the US for that matter. We left our belongings with the tour shack and it was all returned untouched. The tour company and staff were very friendly and helpful. Our tour group was a mix of locals and Americans. Once on the small fiberglass boat, they stop for ruins selfies. Not my jam. I'd rather walk the ruins. Next stop, the reef. Snorkeling was beautiful. The gear will get you by but it is very basic. It sits it some sort of solution to “sanitize” it. So many sting rays. Sea turtles, clownfish, and I saw a barracuda. They feed the sting rays sardines. They tell everyone the reef area is shallow water 4-6ft and you could touch the sand. Another scam. It felt like everyone we spoke to only tells half-truths. Seriously, you cannot trust anyone outside the resorts. Again, learn as much Spanish as possible. They ask for tips for being your boat guide. They said we would learn the history of the ruins on the boat tour. Nothing historic was shared. Now back to the beach. The sand is a lovely white soft sand. The area is beautiful. The water is warm and fairly clear and calm. Feels like a local beach. We felt like we were being watched most of the time. When we were leaving there were four plus drunk guys and I mean drunk!!! They were harassing all the women. Disturbing. We didn't explore Talum but it is being developed like crazy! Starting to resemble Honolulu shops but with a Yogi vibe. We had to get back to our hotel before dark as most roads do not have lights and people and animals are constantly running across the roads. All in all a beautiful beach but come prepared, come early, and leave with plenty of time to get back to your hotel. One last thing of mention there is seaweed in the beach but it's a beach. You walk over it and you're in beautiful water with a view of myan history.