lishy

Hi all, my husband and I are looking at flying from Canada to Mexico on the 27th November and departing on the 14th December (dates not confirmed) to Houston.
This will be our first time to Mexico, we have previously spent 3 months traveling through South America and enjoy seeing the unique differences in each country.
With just 16 nights how best can we use it to see some of the must sights in Mexico?
Our interests would be to see the museums in Mexico City, perhaps take a cooking class, see the ruins, enjoy the music, and maybe a couple of nights relaxing on a beach.
We are young, fit, backpackers and don't need 'down time', we are happy to push on and do big days.
I'm having a hard time trying to get my head around all the different ruins as the names seem so foreign to me. I should mentions that we speak little Spanish, and we are happy to take flights to save us from catching long busses.

Hope that gives enough info to start a dialogue here.
Cheers

baldone

I'll start the dialogue suggesting the following route:
Mexico City (of course), Puebla/Cholula, bus to Oaxaca (it's only 4 hours and the scenery is impressive), Oaxaca De Juarez (Oaxaca City), then Huatulco/Zipolite/San Agustinillo for beach time.
Ruins in and around DF would of course be Teotihuacan & Templo Mayor.
Cholula has it's pyramid and an active nightlife, plus the Puebla/Cholula region is known for it's food, colonial architecture, as is Oaxaca.
Oaxaca's better-known ruins are Monte Alban & Mitla, and a couple minor ones between O de J and Mitla. Oaxaca is known as well for it's unique food and many cooking classes are available, not to mention Mezcal, quality rug weaving in Teotitlan, crafts/pottery, gold filigree jewelry, coffee, chocolate, marimba music, indigenous influence, etc.
I would fly TAR to Huatulco, they now have a Huatulco route for under $100 US. Aerotucan has a Cessna Caravan that flies to both Huatulco and Puerto Escondido, but more expensive, like $125? TAR will be tough competition for them to HUX. Huatulco is a FONATUR development, and thus will have more resort type properties, but few if any high-rises. But from their 8 bays you can certainly find relative seclusion via taxi. Zipolite and San Augustinillo are more back-packy and isolated, while PE is a surfing destination. Huatulco has an international airport, you should be able to fly out from there.
There are better ruins in Chiapas and the Yucatan, but distances and thus logistics from Mexico City complicate travel. Of course, the Yucatan beaches are world class, (apart from the seaweed) but the food and culture not as unique as that of Oaxaca.

Fra_Diavolo

If you do wish to visit the Yucatan, you might consider an open jaw flight. For example, fly into Mexico City and immediately continue to Oaxaca. Fly back (or bus, perhaps via Puebla as described above) and spend five days in MC. Then fly to Cancun, or better yet Merida, to visit Uxmal and the Puuc cities, Ek Balam, Chichen Itza, Coba ad Tulum, with some beach time, and fly home from Cancun.

crosscheck

I love Puerto Escondido, but it's a schlep if you only have 16 days.

Mexico City - Oaxaca - Merida (see Chichen Itza) - Tulum (see Coba and Muyil/float trip - off the beaten track). If you do this route, make sure you stop in the colonial city of Valladolid in between Chichen and Tulum -- tour Casa de los Venados, a museum/residence with incredible folk art and swim in a cenote.

OR, more off the beaten track:

Mexico City - San Cristobal de las Casas (the most magical of the magical villages) - Palenque (my fave ruins) - Merida - Isla Mujeres or Tulum.

OR, you could start in Oaxaca for your markets and ruins, then head north:

Oaxaca - Puebla - Mexico City - Guanajuato (colonial grandeur) - (fly to Puerto Vallarta) - Yelapa (remote fishing village) or Sayulita (cool surf town)

lishy

Thank-you for the replies. I've made a bit of head way.
We are now flying into Cancun and we have 17 nights to play with.

How would you recommend visiting the following areas
- Chichen Itza
- Playa del Carmen
- Tulum
Is it easy enough to hire a car in Cancun and self-drive? How many nights would I need to allow to see the area? is 7 too many? Is there any swimming to be done in the sea this time of the year or are the beaches laced with seaweed?

Ok now on to Mexico City.
Do I need 5 nights to see to main sights? And which is a good way to divvy up the sights and day trips in and around Mexico City?

A big MUST for me is to take a cooking class and mole happens to be my favourite Mexican flavour. As it appears Oaxaca is the home of mole sauce and therefor I'd love to take a cooking class there. While in the area easy is it to get to the coast to enjoy some beach time?

Is it worth while catching a bus from Mexico City and stopping in either Puebla or Cholula on the way? Or should I look at flights?

If I had to chose between San Miguel de Allende and San Cristobal de las Casas for just a short 2 or 3 night stay, which would be the pros for each?

Thanks!

Fra_Diavolo

I haven't driven in Mexico so cannot advise on that. however, Chichen, Playa and Tulum can all be reached by public buses (which I would choose) and tours. Coba is another major Mayan city beyond Tulum which you might consider.

There are day tours to Chichen Itza, but you will be there during the hottest and most crowded time of day if you take them. You would do better staying at one of the resorts or other hotels near the site and getting there early. An even better option is staying in Valladolid (about 20 miles from CI) and working in a visit to Ek Balam as well.

I think the most striking ruins in the area are to be found near Merida, at Uxmal and the Puuc cities. Merida is a rewarding destination itself, particularly on weekends, when they close the center to traffic and music and dancing fills the streets.

I would say five nights is about ideal for Mexico City. Figure on the better part of a day to see the Anthropology Museum and nearby parks, another for Teotihuacan, another for the Zocalo area with the cathedral, National Palace and ruins of the Great Temple, another for Coyoacan to visit the Frida Kahlo house and various markets.

The direct bus to Oaxaca takes about six hours, and passes through some beautiful country -- volcanoes and desert. You might want to take the bus down and stop at Puebla on the way back. From Puebla you can take buses to airport and connect to the colonial cities such as SMdA. Not sure of the schedules. Note that SMdA is gringoland. You might prefer beautiful Guanajuato. Note that by including this area, you are starting to stretch your time thin.

I haven't been to the Pacific coast so cannot comment, but I am sure someone will be along who can!

baldone

Some thoughts:
<As it appears Oaxaca is the home of mole sauce and therefor I'd love to take a cooking class there. While in the area easy is it to get to the coast to enjoy some beach time?>
As I mentioned, there are 2 easy flights to Huatulco. Aerotucan: https://www.aerotucan.com.mx/php/index.php
And TAR: https://tarmexico.com/
Flying would of course be more expensive, but by avoiding a grueling bus ride you are buying more sightseeing time. Huatulco is a series of some 8 bays; something for everyone.
As Fra mentioned, both Guanajuato and San Miguel are really out of your way. I'd do San Cristobal. Both San Miguel and Guanajuato are probably livelier at night, GTO being a University town, and SMA being actually more popular with weekenders from Mexico City than gringos. We tend to stay home when the chilangos invade.
So, the pro would favor San Cristobal, as it too is accessible with a direct flight via Aerotucan to Tuxtla. You could probably fit in a boat ride through Canon Sumidero. But San Cristobal is well worth 2-3 days.
<Is it worth while catching a bus from Mexico City and stopping in either Puebla or Cholula on the way?> Yes. Especially if you like mole. Cholula is, for all intents, a part of the Puebla metro area, so a taxi can get you there easily.
<Or should I look at flights?> No.

Leely2

There are certainly other options, but we took the ADO bus between Puebla and Oaxaca (there are direct buses from Mexico City as well). Very comfortable, some pretty views on the ride.

http://www.ado.com.mx/ado/index.jsp

As noted, Cholula is very close to Puebla and you can taxi.

Have a wonderful trip.

jamie99

Yes it is very easy to rent a car, figure on about $35-40 per day, take all the insurance and rent directly from a local car rental agency. I have used both Easyway and America Car Rental. Do NOT book your car through a third party like Kayak or Expedia, I hear nothing but bad reports from people who have gone this route. Just obey the speed limit signs rather than trying to "keep up with the flow" and stay right.
There is a toll road to Chichen Itza just south of CUN airport. It is kind of pricey but boring.
Good idea to stay near Chichen Itza one night, have stayed in both Valladolid and Hacienda Chichen Itza.
Tulum you need either a rental car or taxi if staying on the beach road, there is no public transport there like bus or the colectivo vans. Lots of nice beach clubs and cabana hotels there. You can visit Coba ruins (can still climb the pyramid there) from Tulum.
You might also like a visit to the Jungle Place, where you can interact with rescued spider monkeys. $80 and you have to reserve at least 2 months in advance. The owners only allow visitors a few days per week. This is outside of CHemuyil, just south of Akumal. Akumal itself is also worth a visit, great snorkeling with sea turtles.

cybor

One of the problems I see with renting a car here is that many of the agencies charge an extra (hefty) drop off fee if you're not bringing the car back to it's original pick up point. My suggestion is to fly to each location and then rent a car for local touring.
Flights are very inexpensive here.
Being that your coming from Houston is great because you can fly to Mex City, Merida or Cancun and work your way either east or west depending on whether or not you want the beach first or last. I'm always torn about which way to do this - relax at the beginning or relax at the end.
Anyhow, there are many ruins and gorgeous cenotes to cool off in here in the Yucatan. There are also many cooking schools. I've heard that David has nice classes in Merida.
http://www.los-dos.com/
... or you can do what I do - there's plenty of women here who will teach you how to make local specialties. I recently learned how to make Napolatan Flan - stuff is to die for.

RamonLV

Mexico City is a must. Just think of its buzzing population. You're bound to find all sorts of life.

http://www.mexicocityvibes.com/mexico-city-population/

EYWandBTV

Having a car in the Yucatan makes life much easier. A few suggestions re driving:

1) never drive after dark

2) learn the meaning of "topes" -- big bumps in the roads to force traffic to slow down; they are usually well marked ahead of time

3) watch your money at the Pemex gas stations. Don't fall for the trick, when you give them a 200 M$ bill, they turn and then show you that you only gave them a 20 M$ bill for the 128 M$ gas charge.

4) at the Pemex gas station, always stand near the attendant filling your tank and make sure he replaces the gas cap. It has been known that they steal the caps and sell them, and then you have to pay the car rental company when you return the car (#3 and #4 happened to us).

This is not to dissuade you from having a great time driving around the Yucatan. The people are welcoming and kind.

Yucatan drivers seem saner than Italian drivers, if that helps!

In Mexico City, consider visiting the Franz Meyer museum, a beautiful collection of colonial furnishings and art work, housed in a palace hear the Alameda ( = Central Park NYC). Great espresso bar for relaxing, overlooking the garden courtyard.

Also in M.C.: Museo de Arte Popular, a few blocks south of the Alameda. Stunning collection of folk art.

Museo Mural Diego Rivera: on the edge of the Alameda; his giant mural of Sunday in the Alameda park; you will see Diego, Frida, and many other personages. Rivera's murals are found in many other places in the city, including the presidential palace on the edge of the Zocalo.

The gigantic cathedral on the Zocalo and the excavated bases of the Aztec Templo Mayor next to the cathedral.

The massive Anthropology Museum, certainly the world's best, with extensive collections of statues, fragments of temples, and art work by the Aztec, Mixtec, Zapotec, and other native peoples.

Museo Frida Kahlo (her home) in Coyoacan (take the metro out there).

Ballet Folklorico, performance in the Bellas Artes concert hall: ballet based on Aztec and other native people dances and music. Before the ballet begins you will see the Tiffany glass curtain of the concert hall: 27 tons, one million pieces of stained glass, representing the Mexico City landscape with the two volcanoes surrounding the city.

Note: I think all of the above museums have good web sites.

Cafe Tacuba: a few blocks east of the Alameda. Old-time fave restaurant, not gourmet, but truly a blast from the past, circa 1920.

Use the metro to get around: it's safe, fast, easy.

Ah, on this November day you are making me want to get back to Mexico, fast.