yeah you'll definitely see iguanas, there's a ton of them around arsgan house, especially in the morning when they come out to warm up on the stone walls. they're pretty chill, just don't corner one near the garden

for snorkeling, if you want something a bit different from punta sur, try the cenote la bocana near puerto morelos. it's a freshwater-saltwater mix with some cool fish and you can see the reef from there too, just bring water shoes since the entrance is rocky

honestly the only unexpected thing you might run into is a big toad at night near the pool, they're harmless but can startle you if you're not looking down

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if you're a reptile nerd you're going to love it, i saw more iguanas at arsgan house than anywhere else in the area honestly. they're all over the garden walls and the big rocks near the driveway, sometimes a group of them just chilling together. one morning i counted like 8 from the balcony

for snorkeling, instead of punta sur try the reef at xcalacoco, it's a bit north but less people know about it and the water is super clear. you can walk right in from the beach and see sea turtles pretty often. just watch out for the occasional stingray in the sand, shuffle your feet

unexpected stuff is mostly just the crabs at night, they're everywhere after dark near the pool area but they're more scared of you

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i know arsgan house, it's off the beaten path near puerto morelos. iguanas are everywhere in that area, like you'll see them sunning on rocks and paths daily, sometimes right by the pool. just don't chase them and they'll ignore u.

for snorkeling, skip the hotel zone spots and go to punta sur in puerto morelos, it's a 20 min drive south. the reef starts right from the shore there, way better than the crowded places. also, if you're worried about unexpected wildlife, the main thing is just the occasional coatimundi sniffing around trash bins at night, nothing scary

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i'd also say check out the public library in centro, biblioteca municipal on avenida bonampak. they have free wifi and air conditioning, which is a lifesaver during the hot afternoons when you're waiting for a bus or just need a break from the sun. for a cheap meal, the tortas at tortas el faraon on avenida tulum are like 30 pesos and they load them up with avocado and chipotle, way better than the hotel zone junk. one thing nobody mentions is that the r2 bus goes all the way to the puerto juarez ferry dock for isla mujeres, so you don't need a separate taxi if you're heading there for the day

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mercado 28 is good advice but honestly the real move is the early morning market on avenida tulum near the ade hospital, stalls set up around 6am and u can get a full breakfast of huevos motuleños and fresh papaya juice for under 40 pesos, the ladies there have been doing it for decades. for the bus thing, don't forget the r1 also runs a night route until like 1am but it's less frequent, i've waited 30 mins at 11pm before so keep that in mind. one spot i never see in guides is the small public pier at punta cancun, it's free to walk out and u can watch the ferries come in, way quieter than the hotel zone beaches

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this is solid advice, especially the bus part. the r1 bus is a lifesaver and honestly runs more frequently than u'd expect for 12 pesos. one thing i'd add is to hit up the local tiendas or a tortillería for breakfast instead of even hostel food, a few pesos gets u fresh tortillas and some salsa. also for the ADO bus, if u're going to playa or tulum, buy ur ticket a day early from the downtown terminal, the popular morning ones sell out fast and then u're stuck waiting an hour. mercado 28 is good but don't skip the smaller stalls on the side streets near parque de las palapas, i found better cochinita pibil there for like 40 pesos and the old ladies running them are way friendlier. the scenic tower is not worth the 10 bucks tbh, just walk to the beach by the ritz-carlton for a free sunset that's just as good

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