Mexico - Cancun & Playa Del Carmen--how do they look now?

I was curious if anyone has first hand info on the beaches/nature reserves around the Cancun/Playa Del Carmen/Playacar areas lately. I know the hotels are mostly operating, but I heard a rumor that the sand had been swept away from the beaches and now it's just bare rocks :(

I know all the press releases have been that everything's back to normal, but the hotel we stayed at last time was in Playacar and it says it won't be opened until May, and then I heard that the property was so badly damaged they may just sell it and redevelop.

Some Cancun beaches were affected, many were not. Government is pumping sand back onto those affected beaches now and many have been restored. The rest should be fully restored shortly. Most are in fine shape now.

The well known nature preserves are all in great shape. Playa de Carmen had little damage and with a few exceptions is also in excellent shape.

I was in Cancun about a month ago...stayed at the GR Solaris in the hotel zone. Beach was completely normal...about half of the hotels were still renovating, but this it was the same great Cancun its always been.

Just got back from the Presidente IC on the 19th. North end is about 90% open hotel wise and 70% open store wise. Most of the still closed shops are the smaller local ones. Senior Frogs opened the 17th and all other chains and larget places are open, except for the Hard Rock and Planet Hollywood.

Only drove past the south end, but down by the Hilton and Omni, it looked more like 60% hotels re-opened.

Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel were hardest hit from Wilma. I've been back 3 times since the storm. Tankah and Tulum were barely hit and we had electricity restored in a few days and not much damage done at all. Playa recovered nicely. There is still so much construction going on in the hardest hit areas that it would not make for a great vacation, especially if you do not want to hear bulldozers and building noise all day long.

Your best choice would be anywhere from Playa del Carmen, Akumal, Tankah and Tulum for your trip.

Carole
http://CasaTropical.com

Back from Fiesta Americana Condesa at 7th. The hotel is in excellent condition, as is the Fiesta Americana Cancun. About 90% of the hotels are up and running, as is a 80% of the shops and other business. Hard Rock is back, and my wife (which didn't previously knew Cancun) had problems finding effects of the hurricane.

I was in Playa del Carmen and Tulum in March. Playa's beach has been significantly depleted from what it used to be, and there are lot more exposed rock outcroppings. Tulum and south of there is still in great shape, although there is a lack of shade from tree cover. Depends on if you want a big resort vacation or if you are ok with thatched cabanas.