Cancun to Belize
 

My friend and I will be traveling through Mexico (Caribbean coast) and Belize beginning in early July for 3 weeks. We will be backpacking and are planning to do most of our travel by bus (as opposed to renting a car). Our flights are booked, but other than that, no real firm plans as of yet.

Below is a rough itinerary – any suggestions on “must stay” accommodations or “must see & do” attractions would be very much appreciated.

So, rough itinerary:
Arrive Cancun, stay the night and head onto either Playa del Carmen or Tulum (any opinions on which city is the best to use as a sort of home base?).
While in the area we would like to visit the Tulum ruins, visit a cenote or two (possibly cenote snorkeling), kayak or other tour through Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, maybe Cozumel??
After a few days, onwards south to Chetumal.
Cross into Belize (is the border crossing anything to be concerned about or pretty straight forward??)
From there, head to the Cayo for some caving, hiking and general outdoor fun for a week or so. A side trip to Tikal is also planned (thinking of spending 1 or 2 nights in Tikal or Flores).
After the Cayo, back out to the coast to spend some time on Caye Caulker and/or Ambergris for more snorkeling and general relaxing.

We are both quite happy to go with the flow, but are always open to hints and suggestions as to great places. So, any advice or opinions (on transport, hotels, activities) would be very much appreciated.

Thanks!

Hi, Dibbs -

> Playa del Carmen or Tulum (any opinions on which city is the best to use as a sort of home base?).
While in the area we would like to visit the Tulum ruins, visit a cenote or two (possibly cenote snorkeling), kayak or other tour through Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

I thought Tulum was a great base for these activities! Great beach, it is easy to visit the ruins, and you can book cenote snorkeling (I used Hidden Worlds) and tours of Sian Ka'an (I used Cesiak for a bird-watching tour; they have other options). Hope that helps!

I love the beaches at Tulum, but the 'hotel zone' is several miles long, and the town is several miles away. Since I like to try different restaurants, and find a friendly bar or two to hang at, I find Tulum somewhat difficult without a car.

Playa del Carmen is easier for eating/drinking/wandering.

Unless you're arriving really late, I wouldn't even stay in Cancun one night. The airport is south of the city, if you aren't too late the Riviera bus runs about hourly and will get you to Playa del Carmen in 45 minutes or so, cost is about $US8.00. You can check out Playa, see if it's too busy for you, and if it is, head south to Tulum.

The border crossing to Belize is easy. Being really lazy, we've always hired a transfer service to pick us up at the Chetumal bus station and deliver us to the airstrip in Corozal. I've read conflicting reports on where you catch the bus from Chetumal into Belize, some day the main bus station in Chet. others have said the New Market (I have no idea where that is.)

I think your trip sounds awesome.

Thanks very much to you both for the opinions...

We kinda wondered about skipping Cancun altogether (although we arrive about 6:30 in the evening).

Lots of good stuff to keep thinking about though.

I just looked up the Riviera bus schedule, buses run late enough for you to get to Playa easily. It will take you almost as long to get to the hotel zone or downtown Cancun as it will for you to get to Playa.

Here's the link I found:
http://www.iloveplaya.com/schedules.php

JeanH - thank you for that. Awesome.
Any suggestions on good 'budget' accommodation once in Playa?

I haven't spent much time in Playa recently. Our last stay involved changing hotels in the middle of the night because it looked like the neon light next door was going to catch fire. The hotel we were in didn't seem concerned, so we left.

Our first visit we stayed at Hotel Colibri, it was fine, and right on the beach.

I don't know how budget you're talking. Obviously, if you go a few blocks off the beach, the prices drop.