Feedback requested on Mexico Itinerary incl Guadalajara, Morelia, Mex City and Playa de Carmen
 

Hi Fodorites: We are planning a November vacation, the destination is not firm but thought we would consider Mexico. We'd like to try and catch the early part of the monarch migration season and will be vacationing from Nov 16-28.

I'd love feedback on this skeleton itinerary:
Guadalajara --Nov. 16-18
Morelia (butterflies) ------Nov. 19-22
Mexico City ---Nov. 22-25
P. del Carmen---------------Nov. 25-28

Flights from DC to Guad. and then Cancun to DC total $806.20 for 2 people. We'd add an internal flight from Mex. City to Cancun for $80 pp.

We are active and young and usu. have lots of time 'on the move" in our vacations but will reconsider if distances are too far (more than 4-5 hrs. driving). We like history and nature, the beach is not a priority. We are drawn to Mexico primarily for history (both ancient and colonial), and nature. If the beach will be nice that time of year, we'll relax there for a day.

Would love your feedback and suggestions!

If the beach is not your priority I might look at Merida or Valladoloid rather than Playa Del Carmen.

We went to Morelia (and Patzcuaro) in Nov 6-14, 2002 to see the Monarchs, we were told that the migration was between Nov 1 and Feb 28 . . . not in 2002!

When we were on-site in Morelia, we were told (by many . . . travel agents, big hotels, our hotel) that we were too early, that the Monarchs didn't really arrive until Dec and the best time was Jan/Feb.

OK, we went to Plan B and that's when we discovered Patzcuaro . . . a delightful, colonial town . . . reminded me a lot of Antigua, Guatemala.

So . . . don't get your hopes up about the Monarchs that early but I'm sure you'll find delightful towns in that vicinity.

I've typed up my travelog on that trip and if you're interested, email me at [email protected]. We're budget travelers so if you do, don't expect to read about 5* hotels and expensive meals!

Buen viaje,
Sandy (in Denton)

sandy: I realize that we might be too early for the monarchs. may need to rework the schedule so that we go to Morelia right before we leave rather than right when we arrive. I know even that won't be peak (if any) so i will keep an eye out on the migration situation. Would love to read your log--I'll email you.

Colokid: Any reasno you suggest these instead of Playa del Carmen? I chose that because I thought it would provide easy access to Chichen Itza, Tulum, and Coba, which are of great interest to us.

Ahhh. PDC is a lively little town - I'll be there tomorrow..woohoo. Tulum also has accommodations as well as Akumal that are much quieter than PDC. I've been to see those ruins that you mention and am going back to Coba on Friday. Ek Balam should also be on your list, possibly in place of Tulum. I thought you were just looking for colonial/historical spots which Merida lends itself to. There is a great discussion board about Merida called the Merida Insider that I read often. If you plan on visiting PDC Thanksgiving week I would certainly look at making reservations now. Or any place on the coast for that matter.

Second the advice to see Ek Balam. The high relief sculpture is stunning. You might want to stay in Valladolid to visit both CI and EB.

If you do go to Merida make certain to visit Uxmal and the Puuc hill cities. I thought they were the most impressive ruins we visited in the Yucatan.

Ek Bakam's on the (revamped) itinerary. I reversed the trip to try and get to Morelia later (and, it turns out, even better airfare--$690 for two) and have added details. I should probably cut some things, just not sure what:

Nov. 16 - Fly DC to Cancun, drive cancun to Valladolid
Nov. 17 - Explore near Valladolid, including Cenote Dzitnup and Ek Bakam
Nov. 18 - Full day Chichen Itza
Nov. 19 - Coba and Tulum
Nov. 20 - TRAVEL Day - fly Cancun to Mexico City
Nov. 21 - Half day Mexico City then drive to Morelia
Nov. 22 - Explore Morelia
Nov. 23 - Explore either Patzuaco or Guadalajara (if Guad. overnight--prob too far, though)
Nov. 24 - Explore ???
Nov. 25 - El Rosario Butterfly Sanctuary
Nov. 26 - Sierra Chincua Butterfly sanctuary (if open to public)
Nov. 27 - Drive to Mexico City
Nov. 28 - Fly Mexico City to DC

If butterfly sanctuaries aren't open yet, probably reroute to Guadalajara for a couple days.

Input?

Also, I should add that
a. Yes, we like to have almost all of the time on vacation pre-planned (don't gag).
b. Yes, we like to be on the go to see as much as possible.
c. Yes, it's ok if we are exhausted after our trip.

I know this is a different style of vacation from many but luckily DH and I are both this way so it works for us.

Morelia is a interesting city but spend time in Patzcuaro my favorite Mexican Mountain destination. Go to Monterey California to see the butterflies. A lot easier & surer. If you hit then right in Mexico all you will see is huge clusters of them not flying but sitting in a heap in the cold mountain air.

Topping since this didn't get posted in Mexico and I would love more feedback.

I haven't been to Guadalajara or Morelia and so cannot comment on their attractions, but I notice you haven't allowed yourself much time in Mexico City.

I would encourage you two spend two or three full days there. The Anthropological Museum alone will take the better part of the day and will greatly enhance your knowledge of the pre-Columbian civilizations. Then, in addition to the Aztec temple and museum at the Zocalo, there is the excursion to Teotihuacan. My favorite ruin in Mexico, so far, is the temple of Quetzalcoatl in the area known as the Citadel, some distance away from the great pyramids of the Sun and Moon.

The modern city is edgy and exciting. There are some hassles, and but we've found it an exceptionally rewarding city to visit.

Pausanias: Thanks, I think your advice is well taken--we probably will want to spend some time in Mexico City. I am just having a hard time with the overall scheduling sequence--I want to be in Morelia as late as possible and avoid backtracking as much as possible. Ideally, we would fly from CUN to Guadalajara, then Morelia, then Mex City for flight home but it's much more costly than the proposed plan.

Would we be cramming too much in to do:

Nov. 20 - TRAVEL Day - fly Cancun to Mexico City
Nov. 21 - Half day Mexico City
Nov. 22 - Explore Mex City
Nov. 23 - Mex City/Teotihuacan, drive to Morelia
Nov. 24 - Explore Morelia or Patzuaco
Nov. 25 - El Rosario Butterfly Sanctuary
Nov. 26 - Sierra Chincua Butterfly sanctuary (if open to public)
Nov. 27 - Drive to Guadalajara, explore
Nov. 28 - Fly home


Wonder if we should save Guad. for another trip?

Looks like it might work well. My only question is the long day visiting Teotihuacan and then driving on. Looking at my Lonely Planet it appears that Morelia is about a four hour drive from MC. Remember that you don't want to drive at night in Mexico.

But you always have to make some compromises. Sounds like a great trip.