Hi

I am off to Mexico in September from Australia, so am trying to get as much in place before I leave as possible.

I still need to organise transfers from the airport. As we arrive in MC at 11pm I'm a bit worried that it will be a little dodgy and would prefer to have something in place for when we arrive - any suggestions on a company to use and whether to prebook? We are staying in the Centro Historico.

Also, we would like to do a trip to the Shrine of Guadalupe and the Pyramids of Teotihuacan. There are a lot of companies offering this tour but we were wondering how difficult it would be to do this on public transport?

And lastly, we would like to go see the Xochimilco floating gardens, again this is offered by tour companies but we would really like to make our own way there if possible. Would appreciate any ideas you have for us!

Many thanks!
Susan

I arrived almost as late and took the advice offered in many places to take a pre-paid taxi. There are booths after you pass through customs at International Arrivals where you pay and get a voucher and allocated car.

Re Teotihuacan - easy to do by yourselves. Take metro to wherever the public buses go from; then take the bus. Sorry can't remember the details but it would be in any reasonable guidebook written for folk who like to take public transport. Think Lonely Planet or Rough Guide.

Don't let any of the "horror stories" put you off using the Metro - it's great and an absolute bargain. The mini buses too are fine.

Cheers.

The official taxi kiosks should be fine, even at night. I don't recall how to direct you to them in the airport, but your guidebook should say.

Ignore the touts who try to get you to go to the wrong puerta.

I liked the tours offered by Mundo Joven Adventures. They're a very good deal with knowledgeable guides, and they have one that goes to the Plaza de tres culturas, the Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, and Teotihuacan. It would be quite difficult to do all of these three on public transport in one day, but not bad by minivan.

For Xochimilco, just follow the directions in your guidebook. They'll probably seem simpler once you're actually there. (But I did this with Mundo Joven also, and we also went to Coyocoan and Diego and Frieda's houses.) If you really want to do Teotihuacan by public transport, your guidebook will tell you that too.

I agree that the metro is fine - I took it at rush hour even.

We hooked up with a driver through our(Majestic) hotel. He had a full size Buick & we used him for several days arranging drop off & pick up at various places including the floating, gardens, Several museums. the shrine Etc. That we he could get other fares & we had dependable transportation at a reasonable cost.
PS It also proved to me that even with my limited Spanish I can communicate when necessary with a Spanish only person.

Teotihuacan- Have not done this for a few years. Last time I did, from Zocalo- Metro to Indios Verdes, go up the steps and you are at a bus stop. Ask around as to which bus goes direct to Teotihuacan. There are other buses but they make the trip much longer. On the return trip it is easy to make a side trip on the metro to La Villa for la Basilica de Guadalupe. At your hotel you might inquire if this is still a good way to do it. We actually left and returned to Cuernanvaca the same day we did this so there is plenty of time.

The shrine of Guadalupe is at the Metro station La Villa-Basilica. Teotihuacan can be reached by buses from Autobuses del Norte, which is right by a Metro stop of the same name. Look for the Pyramides sign in the northern part of the station.

Xochimilco is a little harder to reach. Take the Metro to Tasquena, tranfer to the tren ligera (light rail) and take it to the end. When we took it last week, the train did not go all the way to Xochimilco (station renovation, I believe). We were directed to a bus which took us to the small embarcadero Belen. We then took a pesero to the much livelier Nativitas embarcadero. I would ask at the last stop of the light rail for Nativitas.
Have fun--Mexico City is a great city.