One month itinerary help - Mexico+Guatemala

Old Mar 23rd, 2014, 03:18 AM
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One month itinerary help - Mexico+Guatemala

Hi!
We are a couple planning a trip to Mexico & Guatemala - we have one month from mid September to Mid October.
We can start and finish from either country. We rarely get a chance to travel for a month so I want to get it right.

Profile:
We want to visit Mexico & Guatemala and combine local culture, nature, cities + night life, some light trekking, and some 'lay-on-the-white-sand-beach-with-drinks' style vacation, all in good balance. I also very much like to combine some off-the-beaten-track village(s) and place(s), I can speak fluent Spanish so no problems getting around. I've been in Mexico city (only) before for 10 days.
In addition I am also a diver (she's not so it'll have to be 2-3 dives max in a sweet spot). We are both foodies and love local food and special recommendations on that matter too.

Budget:
Not too tight, we'll sleep in private rooms, but mostly we prefer to be efficient with the time so internal flights are a necessity I think, but I really didn't find the right 1-month itinerary which combines all of our wishes and keep it efficient with minimum long bus rides and wasteful border crossings.

Can you guys help me out on how to plan this right?

Thanks so much!
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Old Mar 23rd, 2014, 06:49 AM
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Sounds like a great trip. Here are some recommendations on places we suggest:

Mexico City - it sounds like you've already spent a considerable amount of time there, but if you're planning on going back, a visit to the nearby cities of Teotihuacan and Tula make for a fabulous daytrip.

Near border of Guatemala: Palenque and Yaxchilan - both of these are incredible sites in beautiful locations. To reach Yaxchilan, you take a relaxing boat ride down the river that defines the border between Mexico and Guatemala.

In Guatemala: Tikal is a must-see - we recommend staying a few nights to take advantage of the sunrise and sunset views from the top of a temple. We also recommend the hike to el Mirador, a Maya site that is in the middle of being excavated - but it might be a bit more intense than what you're looking for.

As for beach, we found a wonderful little hotel outside of Mahahual (Mexico) -- Mayan Beach Garden -- highly recommended for pure relaxation!

And for food, Puebla and Oaxaca are high on our list to hit for the culinary scene.

Have a great trip!
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Old Mar 23rd, 2014, 02:50 PM
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For diving and white sand beaches, you might want to explore options for the Riviera Maya. Add in some other parts of the Yucatan (e.g., Merida and Valladolid) and you've got many of the other ingredients you are seeking. I thought the Moon Guide to the Yucatan particularly helpful.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2014, 08:01 PM
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I would fly into Guatemala City and out of Cancun. You can enjoy the highlands (Antigua, Lake Atitlan), then fly from GC to Flores to visit Tikal and maybe Yaxha, then head into Belize (caving?) and end up on a beach somewhere in the Yucatan. Lots of opportunities on that route to visit villages.

My photos with blog and travelogue links on the main page of each collection are below in case you're interested - all my recommendations are embedded there. Happy trails! http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections
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Old Mar 24th, 2014, 05:33 AM
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Given you interests, I agree with hopefulist except I'd consider doing the route in the reverse direction (arriving Cancun, leaving Guatemala City).

OR

With four-weeks you could do a loop trip, starting and ending in Cancun, but you'd have to be more strict with your itinerary.

If you don't want to rent a car you can get around easily, safely and comfortably on Mexico's excellent bus system. If you rent a car make sure it can be driven into Belize and Guatemala and if not doing a loop trip, that it can be turned in there too (with a large one-way drop fee no doubt).


Some highlights to consider along the route:
- Mayan ruins of Chitzen Itza (day trip from Cancun).
- Tulum ((ruins and excellent beaches)
- Cave exploring (in the Maya Mountains south of Belize city)
- Tikal and El Mirador (of course)
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Old Mar 25th, 2014, 03:03 AM
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Hi Guys!

Thank you so much for your insightful recommendations! Very helpful.

Few questions:

1. What are the reasons to begin in Guatemala city instead of Cancun? (Mexico city is out of the question, as I understand?)
2. Should I add Belize to the list? (on the way from Guatemala to Riviera Maya) Is the border crossing easy and quick?
3. Isn't the trip from Tikal area to Riviera Maya in Mexico very long? How do I do it most efficiently?
4. Should I cross to Mexico through Belize into the Riviera Maya or is it wise to go somehow through Yaxchilian area? (Many national parks there I see) Is it even possible?
5. @hopefulist: Any recommendations regarding the flight from Guatemala City to Flores? Order in advance? which airline/website/price to pay?
6. @approach_guides: Should I go all the way to north Oaxaca and Puebla in mexico? If so how to do it efficiently? and should't I leave from Mexico city in that case ? Do I even have time for that route?
7. @kja: you mentioned Merida and Valladolid, what's there?


Thank you so much guys!
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Old Mar 25th, 2014, 05:56 PM
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Merida: excellent small archeological museum; cathedral and generally well preserved Colonial architecture from the time when it was a very wealthy community; on Friday evening through Sunday, lots of public performances (dances, etc.), a pedestrianized market, a very lively and festival-like atmosphere; access point for the magnificent Mayan ruins of Uxmal and the Ruta Puuc....

Valladolid: Easy access to Chichen Itza and Ek'Balam; the beautiful cenotes of Dzitnup; a classic Colonial city with cathedral and park and market....

Both are well described in guide books and various on-line resources, which I highly recommend so you can identify what most interests YOU.
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Old Mar 26th, 2014, 03:47 AM
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Thanks! I will read more in the guide book about Merida sounds lovely.

Now, If I have to choose 1-2 archaeological mayan ruin sites tops.
Assuming I'd visit Tikal in Guatemala, which should I pick in Mexico? (or Belize??)

so many sites.. Chichen Itza, Palenque, Uxmal, countless sites around the Mayan Riviera, all sounds impressing. What's your recommendation?
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Old Mar 26th, 2014, 04:11 PM
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"Now, If I have to choose 1-2 archaeological mayan ruin sites topes" -- tough call! Uxmal and Palenque are grand and stunning. You can sometimes find that you have some of the more remote sites of the Ruta Puuc all to yourself. Calakmul is awesome, but hard to reach. Ek' Balam has an extraordinary and very unusual frieze. And so on. Each is different than the others.
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Old Mar 27th, 2014, 02:02 AM
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I would go with Tikal and Ek Balam.
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Old Mar 30th, 2014, 05:03 AM
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Thank you guys for your replies!
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Old Mar 30th, 2014, 07:40 AM
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Just seeing your earlier question: Should I go all the way to north Oaxaca and Puebla in mexico? If so how to do it efficiently? and should't I leave from Mexico city in that case ? Do I even have time for that route?

We took flights between some of the cities to cut down on the travel time -- the flights aren't wildly expensive and allow you to see more while maintaining a relaxing pace.

In terms of ruins, Tikal is spectacular and that would be my top recommendation. Palenque is also great, but it's a bit out of the way. Chichen Itza, while touristy, is a beautiful site and you'll see a very different architectural style than what you will see in Tikal, so it will make a nice comparison.

Have a great trip!
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