Mexico

con1982

Has anyone been to Mexico in the last few years.

I am planning a 3 week trip in June/July. I will probably follow the 'classic' route, from Mexico City-Oaxaca-San Cristobal-Palenque(and surrounds)-Merida-Tulum-Cancun.

I'd love to go to Guadalajara, north of Mexico City, looks lovely but I feel that 5 days in Mexico City followed by Oaxaca would probably be enough colonial architecture and cafe scene for me.

Oaxaca to San Cristobal is 12 hours on the bus. Is there a good place to stop of on the way for a day or so?

I'd love to hear if anyone else has spent time in the above, or anywhere else in Mexico.

Thanks

themacman

Sorry I can´t contribute but I´d be interested in responses. Heading over myself in May for at least a month I´d say.

Challo

Hey,

I'm not long back. It was a great trip, lovely food and people are really friendly. I had four weeks and did almost the exact same route as you are planning. I did make it up to San Miguel de Allende which I loved but like you said, depends on how much you want to keep moving or not. My one regret is not getting to Guanajuato which is also city up North, cobblestones etc but it really did sound great from other travellers.

Merida was disappointing but otherwise all great. Playa del Carmen is probably a better place to stay than Cancun and you can get a bus directly from Playa to the airport. The beaches are really gorgeous there and more backpackery than Cancun package type holidaymakers. From Oaxaca to San C, there is an overnight bus. I'm not aware if there was much to see, I went straight. Buses are great there by the way, slept really well on the night ones! In San C, one recommendation would definitely be to go to the Mayan village in the highlands, Chamula. The church on the plaza, pay the 20 peso to go in as it's pretty spectacular in terms of offerings & local customs, I've never seen anything like it and I've been in a lot of religious places around the world!

Hope that helps!

con1982

Challo,

How long did you stay in each place?

I was thinking
Mexico City 4days (cathedrals, museum, day trip to Teotihuacan, Xochimilca)
> early bus to Oaxaca

Oaxaca 3.5 days (town itself and Mt Alban)
>night bus to San Cristobal

San Cristobal 3 days (town + surround)
>early bus to Palenque

Palenque 2 days (town + mayan sights near border)
>night bus to merida

Merida 3 days (town, Uxmal + chichen itza)
>early bus to Tulum or Playa del Carmen

Tulum/Playa 4 days (beach)
>bus to Cancun airport

I would like to go to the beach before Merida (ie swap the last two destinations) but geographically it doesn't look right and the travel from merida to cancun airport is substantial.

Any thoughts?

sawdoubters

mexico is not safe to travel in,if your lucky you will be kidnapped ,if unlucky killed



http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings/mexico-travel-warning.html

degsie

sawdoubters wrote: »

mexico is not safe to travel in,if your lucky you will be kidnapped ,if unlucky killed



http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings/mexico-travel-warning.html

Naaa..that only applies to yanks :P

con1982

looks like you are right degsie

U.S. citizens are encouraged to lower their personal profiles and to avoid wearing conspicuous jewelry or clothing bearing logos of U.S. sports teams or military themed apparel which that may identify them as U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens are encouraged to maintain awareness of their surroundings and avoid situations in which they may be isolated.

The US site indicates that the issues are primarily towards the north of the country. It has no specific advice for Mexico DF, Oaxaca, Yucatan or Chiapas

Challo

@con 1982

Your route is quite similar to mine so I'd say you're grand! Palenque is small and apart from the ruins, there really is nothing noteworthy about the town so you could save a day there but again, no rush. I loved San Cristobal and stayed there five days but again, that was just personal preference when I got there. Yeah it makes sense to leave the beaches til the end. You can get a bus from Merida in the morning, stop off and visit Chichen Itza for the day (free luggage) and then get a bus in the evening to either Tulum/Cancun/Playa del C, all only about 3 hours. Again, nothing in Chichen Itza apart from the site.

Very safe! Just avoid taxis in Mexico City, they have a very bad reputation which is well deserved. I never felt uncomfortable any other part of the month I was there. Oh and the other tip I have is if you end up going to Playa, go to a cheap restaurant called El Fogon, near enough to the main strip. It's amazing!!!! Ended going three nights in a row as it was just too good.

hedgehog2

Folks be careful in Mexico especially if traveling by camper or hire car.
My Aunt used vacation up and down mexico in their camoer for 3 months st a time each year,they have not done this in 8yrs as it is too risky lots of targeted robberies and the violence is really bad around the east and west coasts.
I am also friendly with a mexican girl here whose best friend was kidnapped in Mexico city.
They target good looking ladies so travel in groups when out at night her advice.
The beaches of the south are relatively safe but just be extra vigilante.

degsie

hedgehog2 wrote: »

The beaches of the south are relatively safe but just be extra vigilante.

Sheldons Brain

I was thinking
Mexico City 4days (cathedrals, museum, day trip to Teotihuacan, Xochimilca)

Plenty to do in Mexico city.
I stayed 6 days and also took a day tour to Cuernavaca and Taxco.

GM Tourist

Hi Mexico travellers,

My hubby and I are going to Mexico for 3 weeks this Christmas.
I want to go to Copper Canyon (Los Mochis to Creel and back on the train, avoiding Chihuahua because I've heard that its dangerous).
We will also go to Mexico City and Cozumel in the Yucatán, taking internal flights between each place.

My hubby wants to avoid Copper canyon because of the US Gov warning not to travel to the State of Sinaloa, however the UK advise website has no such warning.

Has anyone been to Copper Canyon region recently?
We have travelled in India twice and SE Asia so we are pretty seasoned but obviously always cautious (and sensible)!

Thanks a million.