jamie99

From Playa del Carmen to Tulum or Akumal should be about 40 maybe 45 pesos pp one way via colectivo (shared vans that go up and down Highway 307, no luggage allowed). At Akumal they will drop you on the highway, take the pedestrian overpass and walk in. Taxi is 410 pesos one way (not per person) and will take you straight to the beach.
For Tulum, the colectivos drop you on the highway and you can walk or take the tram in (20 pesos pp). They make a second stop in Tulum pueblo. To get to the beaches south, you need a rental car or taxi. The buses and colectivos do not drive on the beach road. Taxi should be maybe 100-140 pesos depending on how far south you go. I like Ziggy Beach Club at Cabanas Tulum and La Zebra.
Pay taxis and colectivos in pesos not USD, as they will only give you a 10-1 exchange rate and right now it is about 16.5 pesos to 1 USD. So if paying in USD you lose at least 50%.

cybor

<<"@ cyber, re: driving at night -- what Stewbear said, plus a number of back roads had no lights when I was there, so if one didn't know the roads, it was hard to see.">>

Sorry about that. I missed the part where the OP said she'd be driving on back country roads. Alas, the last I read, she said she didn't want to be driving on the 'right' side of the road.
OP - You can google William Lawson for driving tours out of Merida.

OP - what is your daily budget for food, hotels and transport?

Leely2

I was in Mexico this July/August: Mexico City six nights, Puebla two nights, Oaxaca five nights. What a spectacular trip! I could have stayed longer in DF and reduced the time in Oaxaca--but I am a city person and not particularly interested in markets and handicrafts.

In the DF we stayed in Colonia Condesa, which was a wonderful location. Roma would be very nice too.

The historic center is magnificent but very crowded in certain areas--lots of vendors. We enjoyed all the usual tourist sights: the Palacio Nacional, the Cathedral, Palacio de Bellas Artes, Palacio Postal, Palacio Iturbide (this was a great place to pop in when the afternoon downpour started), etc. Of course Chapultepec park, the castle and the Anthropology Museum, one of the best museums I have ever visited anywhere. And then further afield, in Coyoacan, we visited Trotsky's house, Casa Azul, and the churches in that area. Really loved Mexico City. It <i>is</i> intense, though.

Our hotel arranged a driver for us to Teotihuacan. We could have taken the bus but were in vacation mode and wanted to treat ourselves.

The same driver took us to Puebla, stopping in Cholula on the way.

You'd think I'd have been bored by pyramids by the time we reached Oaxaca but no. We booked a small group tour to Monte Alban. Also fantastic.

You are right, there is much to see in Mexico. Have a wonderful trip.