jmcuellar

Hey guys, I'm in the beginning stages of planning a trip for two to Cuba, Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala for next summer. We've never been to any of these countries and want to see and do as much as we can in the time allotted! We can finally go to Cuba (we're Americans), so we're especially excited about that. We are young, fairly athletic, and willing to forgo sleep for once-in-a-lifetime adventures. We speak basic Spanish, which we're definitely going to work on improving by next year. Natural scenery, history, art, architecture, food, and music are our interests. We have a baby itinerary outlined, and we'd love any suggestions on what to do and where to go. We're trying to do this on the cheap, not caring too much about fancy lodging. Looking for your input on the places listed, advice, suggestions, concerns, anything! Transportation and lodging are definitely areas I could use help with. How much money should we save up? Anything "overrated" that we should skip in order to make time for something more exciting? Do we need to add a day or two, or can it be done? Thanks guys!

Days 1-3: Fly into Havana, stay three nights. Old Havana is a must.
Days 4-6: The beaches. Ones I'm interested in so far are Varadero, Cayo Jutías, Cayo Largo, and Cayo Coco. The less people, whiter the sand, and clearer the water, the better. I know Varadero doesn't fit that first qualification...
Day 7: Pico Turquino. Or is it too out of the way?
Day 8: Fly from Havana to Cancún.
Day 9: Chichén Itzá.
Day 10: Cozumel.
Days 11-13: Belize. We want to do Blue Hole and Pine Ridge. What are the best beaches following similar guidelines as the above?
Day 14: Tikal, Guatemala.
Day 15: Guatemala City. Lake Atitlán.
Days 16-18: Mexico City for 3 nights. What is the best way to get there from Guatemala City?
From here we will fly home to Dallas.

hopefulist

I can't speak to the Cuba part of your itinerary but you don't have time for everything on your list after that. Mainly there's no point in heading to Guatemala City and Lake Atitlán for only a day. Frankly, I'd leave Belize out, too, if you only have 3 days - just not worth the time and money to get there.

When I'm planning my trips I take a good, hard look at what my travel priorities are. What do I want to be doing with most of my time? Generally the last thing on my list would be 'sitting on my backside looking through grimy bus windows'. If you're averaging less than 3 nights per spot, that's what you'll be doing for ~half of the days of your trip. In other words, you'll be doing that more than all your other travel interests combined. That is bad trip math in my opinion, especially since the transition days can be surprisingly long and tiring in that part of the world.

Lots of folks feel like they want to cram in as much as possible in the time they have. By trying to see too many places and moving on every few days, or by choosing places that are geographically distant and require long bus times, you'd actually be diluting your time to explore and enjoy. If you really want to pack nearly every day full of cool adventures, in my opinion you need to pick a smaller geographic area and/or fewer stops.

Sounds like Cuba is a priority and you have a week before your 3 days in Mexico City; I'd spend them in Mexico and save the others for another trip (or 2).

hopefulist

PS About the Blue Hole: if you're planning to dive, note that it's an advanced dive; my shop required Advanced OW Certification and at least 25 logged dives. Also, no dive op goes out there without a certain minimum number because it's a 12-13 hour day and they don't spend the gas without a full boat. In other words, you probably couldn't fit it in during the slow summer season with only a day or 2 to choose from.

jmcuellar

Thank you! I think it makes sense to cut out Guatemala.

SambaChula

It makes sense to stick to 2 places max.

You could spend 2-3 weeks in Mexico, even just in the Yucatan. It seems a strange choice just to single out CI and Cozumel, when there are so many other wonderful ruins, cenotes, and beaches there. CI is not even the "best" ruin, and is mobbed with tourist.
You could combine a more comlete look at the Yucatan and a bit of Belize (one of the cayos close to Chetumal by ferry) Route could include Valladolid, Ek Balam, cenotes, CI, Merida, Uxmal, Ruta Puuc ruins haciendas and missions, Coba, Tulum beaches and ruins, Akumal to swim with huge turtles, and more ruins, Lake Bacalar, and on to Belize.

Certainly you could spend 3 weeks going across Cuba, from Havana as far as the historic city of Santiago at leaast. It is probably going to be more expensive than you think, even staying in B&Bs, and the food is not great, but the music IS, and the people are wonderful.
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Or do a shorter loop through the Yucatan (omit Merida maybe, and Uxmal, Ruta Puuc) and fly from Cancun to Havana for half your time, including Vinales countryside and/or Trinidad, or Veradero for beach.

SambaChula

btw, in Varadero, it is quite possible to not be surrounded constantly by foreign tourists. The resorts are mostly on the far end of the peninsula. The "town" (before Calle 62) has lots of casas particulares (B&Bs) and, for example, there is a relatively quiet little restaurant/bar on the beach at Calle 31 that has loungers and sun protection. Weekends see more Cubans there. But you could move slightly down the beach and be on your own, easily.
It's a pretty beach, said to be the prettiest in Cuba, but IMO Tulum in the Yucatan is much nicer.

cybor

Sorry to put a damper on your plans but the logistics of your trip don't seem workable or well thought out.
Also, know that food can be very costly in Cuba as is a trip to the Blue Hole.
Take a look at Google Flights to work out some of the flying and arrival details, then see how long it will take to get from point A to point B.
Also know that summer is tourist time at many of the places you mentioned and the prices may be higher than you think.
Figure out your budget and work backwards.
You have the making of a good trip with lots of refinement.
Good luck!

suze

I have no experience with the places you list, but you have WAY too much on your list for your time frame.

jmcuellar

You guys are right about trying to do too much. I've decided to stick to 1 week or so in Cuba, 1 week in Yucatán and Tikal, and the remainder of our time in Mexico City.

suze

Much better plan

SambaChula

Still too much. Take out Tikal.

Yucatan loop for 6 days: arrive Cancun (with a few hours to spare before dark, in order to get to Valladolid and get settled in), go direct to Valladolid as base for Ek Balam and cenote (day 2), CI and cenote (day 3), on to Tulum for ruins and beach(day 5) via Coba (day 4), visit Akumal from Tulum base or go into Sian Ka'an biosphere to float Maya canals, etc (day 6) back to Playa del Carmen or Puerto Morelos overnight (day 7) for flight out to Cuba (day 8).

One week in Cuba gets you a few days in Havana (check www.lahabana.com for restaurants and music, etc) and a couple of days outside the city (Vinales countryside and/or one of the cayos for beach)or some beach time in Veradero (pretty beach, AI resorts are at far end, casas particulares at the nearer). Don't try to eat cheap in Cuba; the food is bad enough in many places. Lots of shortages. Making reservations (or you may not get when you show up) at some of the reasonably priced places lahabana marks as 4*-5* (they aren't) is worthwhile to eat one main meal decently for about $7-10.

For Mexico City, you could spend a week in the city and with day trips. I particularly liked the Coyoacan neighborhood where Frida Kahlo's house is, very leafy and pleasant. Great and hugely sprawling Sunday fair with food and crafts. Historic center seemed a little gritty to me, though lots to see and do. Also a huge Sunday fair there.

SambaChula

And remember that 500 US dollars only gets you 435 CUC (Cuban, because of the embargo "fine" (13%). And that doesn't go very far at all in Cuba.
Private (not shared) taxis are particularly expensive while you are trying to figure out in a short time how to get from place to place or get 'home' at night. There's a hop on/off bus to orient you on day 1, which helps.

kja

Your call! I found it hard to keep my time in the Yucatan to about 2 weeks. Depends on what you want to see and experience.

cybor

I'm not sure where you're flying in from (forgive me if mentioned).
A few thoughts. You could easily fly into Havana from MIA or CUN and see quite a bit of Havana in much less than a week. Personally, the beaches are costly there and really nothing different from what you'll see elsewhere. I'd think about spending my beach $$$ elsewhere.
You could then hit some of the beautiful beaches along the coast of the Yucatan. You could also see some pretty amazing ruins on the Yucatan - many of these were populated by ancient migrating cultures from Guatemala.
You could then fly to Mx City and then fly home.
...or go from Havana to Cancun and fly or bus sraight to Belize, (go to beaches and Blue Hole) head south and up the river to Gautemala. You could then check flights to DF (Mx City)

Rohelio

Havana is really one of a kind... We stayed in old Havana in what is called a casa particularas. It was called PePe and smack dab in central. If you dont mind missing a nights sleep then this is where it will be. Make sure you check things out before paying as sometimes you can get a room without a window...
Of course, the sleepless night will be rewarded with what is waiting for you out there which is really a trip back in time. Do see the cemetery and the malecon, and Hemingway,s whereabouts alongside La Florideta, the Capital, La Englatera hotel and restaurant, simply amazing. I believe the popular street is called Obispo where there are clubs and musicians on every street corner and second door you see.
An amazing and unforgettable stay over for sure...