Mexico and Belize

max_power

Thinking of heading there for around a month this Summer. Has anyone ever done it? Few questions if you have, at the moment the plan seems to be to fly into mexico city, is there any better optios? Or is Mexico city worth seeing? WE plan to travel down South to Belize then. Where in mexico should we stop? Any recommendations? Also would Guatemala be worth stopping into? Any issues with visas etc.? So we plan to finish up in Belize on the coast with the barrier reef and cayes. Anyone ever done anything like this any advice or reccomendations appreciated.

max_power

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Absolut

I did a similar trip last August - flew into Guatemala city, Guatemala, bussed around the south of Guatemala, over to Belize along the south and east coast, then up the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico to Cancun. Amazing trip, definetly worthwhile.

max_power

That sounds like a cool trip, how much were flights into Guatemala? Can't find anything for less than 1000. What kinda budget did you have? O and what was the weather like? Any other info let me know thanks.

Absolut

Well I was based in Washington D.C at the time, so the flights were relatively cheap - about $400 for Washington - Atlanta - Guatemala City, overland to Cancun, then Cancun - Atlanta - Washington. All with Delta Airlines. My budet is a bit hard to estimate, since I went on a group tour with a tour company where accommodation and transport was all prepaid. I went for the tour option since I don't speak any spanish and I had a fairly limited amount of time to see everything along the way, so it was a little easier than doing it solo. Everything's extremely cheap in Guatemala - hotel rooms less than $20 a night for decent B&B, transport on chicken busses is dirt cheap and not as bad as people make it out to be. Food is cheap too (and if you like Mexican type food, then you'll be in heaven). Also, they have the best "smoothies" that I've ever tasted.

Belize is nice, but stick to the islands (Caye Caulker is amazing, paradise - but expensive). I went on a diving trip to the Blue Hole, which I would definetly recommend if you're certified. Its about €250, but definetly worth it. Belize is not a particularly cheap country (not when you've just came from Guatemala anyway).

Mexico I found to be a lot more Americanised, which isn't something I was really after. Playa del Carmen is a good place to stay for a few days for some decent nightlife (the nightclubs on the beach are definetly recommended). Cancun is a Mexican Las Vegas - crazy nightlife. $20 into these massive clubs (Coco Bongo and the City are particularly good), with open bars all night. The alcohol is local, and you'll probably have the most painful hangover of your life, but it's good fun. I split my time between Cancun and Isla Mujeres, about 20 mins away by ferry.

Weather when I went was great (August, about 30 degrees every day), a welcome relief from the intense heat and humidity of DC.

max_power

Sounds good, gonna try and ge the wheels in motion on this, might be getting back to you with more q's, cheers. Oh btw did you go to any of the rainforests in Belize?

Bradidup

I took the Green Tortoise back in 1990, its basically a time warped "hippy" converted 50ies / 60ies commuter bus that travells from San Fransisco down to Mexico city and further down south to Yucatan and back, You can get on and off at any time. They do several different trips & routes. Its an experience!!! (I ended up working for them when I got back to San Fransisco and I believe nothing has changed since then!!!)

On the down side you have to participate, ie cook food and help out!!!!! and the food is all vegie!!!!. One good tip is bring your own tent, and make sure its 100% mozzie proof!!!!!. The bus has fold up bunks and a large mattress in the back

I left the bus near the Belieze border and took local busses trains and hitched back up Baja, dirt cheap. I avoided Cancun, Cabro san Lucas and most of the American tourist spots. Mexico City is an experience in itself worth a few days. Long distanse trains are very slow, often packed, if you can afford 1st class go for it!!!!. busses more expensive and are faster,

The Los Mochis to Chiawa train through the Copper Canyon is well worth doing, avoid the special tourist train, its a rip off!!!

http://www.greentortoise.com/

max_power

Cheers for all the advice, does anyone have any recommendations for booking flights to cancun? whats the cheapest way to go about it? i can't seem to find anything for less than a grand, or is that the norm?

zanzara

We're flying to Cancun and out of Gua City with Iberia, paid €800. not bad!

max_power

Thats pretty damn good, how long ago did you book? Do it online or through an agent?

zanzara

booked it about 5 weeks ago through trailfinders!

edanto

Woah!!! This is an old thread... but it has been an interesting read. max_power, did you go on this trip after all?

I notice that you asked about going to the rain forest in Belize, did you?

I like the sound of Absolut's trip through Guatemala, we're thinking of going there ourselves... heard any good tips about it lately?

pepefloyd

edanto wrote: »

Woah!!! This is an old thread... but it has been an interesting read. max_power, did you go on this trip after all?

I notice that you asked about going to the rain forest in Belize, did you?

I like the sound of Absolut's trip through Guatemala, we're thinking of going there ourselves... heard any good tips about it lately?

Go to Guatemala, wonderful country, if you have any questions where to go, how, how much, etc...send me a pm..


a Guatemalan