Uncrowded Experience in Yucatan
Sep 28th, 2016, 02:57 PM
#42
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If you could delay your trip until mid/late May there is swimming with the whale sharks which starts mid-May. The last two years they have been late issuing the permits, so maybe late May.
Otherwise your plan looks good. Have not been to Holbox yet, it is kind of an outlier for me so will let others comment.
Otherwise your plan looks good. Have not been to Holbox yet, it is kind of an outlier for me so will let others comment.
Sep 28th, 2016, 03:56 PM
#43
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I wanted at least 3 nights in Merida and at least 2 nights in Valladolid. And if you are getting a car, then I would highly recommend visiting the Ruta Puuc, with an overnight at either the Flycatcher Inn
http://www.flycatcherinn.com
or the Pickled Onion
http://thepickledonionyucatan.com
I also think you would do well to consult a good guidebook or two, perhaps that <i>Moon Guide</i> or <i>Rough Guide</i>. You'll want to pay attention to your options for sightseeing, activities, local cuisine, rules of the road, etc.
Good luck!
http://www.flycatcherinn.com
or the Pickled Onion
http://thepickledonionyucatan.com
I also think you would do well to consult a good guidebook or two, perhaps that <i>Moon Guide</i> or <i>Rough Guide</i>. You'll want to pay attention to your options for sightseeing, activities, local cuisine, rules of the road, etc.
Good luck!
Sep 28th, 2016, 08:19 PM
#44
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Thanks for the advice everyone, and waiting for yours Rohelio 
would have loved to do some whale shark swimming, but I can only go in April 
I think it will be something like:
2 nights Isla Muneres
4 nights Tulum/Alumal
4 nights Valladolid/Merida
4 nights Holbox
would have loved to do some whale shark swimming, but I can only go in April I think it will be something like:
2 nights Isla Muneres
4 nights Tulum/Alumal
4 nights Valladolid/Merida
4 nights Holbox
Sep 29th, 2016, 07:41 AM
#46
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If interest, Daniel will still be able to see quite a few ruins, cenotes, haciendas, etc as day trips if he stays in Vallalodid or Merida.
Daniel,
I just read my convoluted trip plan and wonder if it made sense to you.
What I meant to say was to fly into one airport and out of another. Into or out of Merida and into or out of Cancun depending on whether you wanted to do city or beach first.
Do not that there will be a drop off fee if you rent a car in one airport and drop it off at another. I think it's something like 150.
to do so.
Also, allow tons of extra time if you're planning to go from Holbox to Cancun to fly out. Personally, I wouldn't do Holbox on my last night as there's a lot of logistics involved.
Where are you flying in from?
Daniel,
I just read my convoluted trip plan and wonder if it made sense to you.
What I meant to say was to fly into one airport and out of another. Into or out of Merida and into or out of Cancun depending on whether you wanted to do city or beach first.
Do not that there will be a drop off fee if you rent a car in one airport and drop it off at another. I think it's something like 150.
to do so.
Also, allow tons of extra time if you're planning to go from Holbox to Cancun to fly out. Personally, I wouldn't do Holbox on my last night as there's a lot of logistics involved.
Where are you flying in from?
Sep 30th, 2016, 11:44 AM
#49
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As for Cancun, I'm like Suze : never been but been dissuaded by the sheer amount of people saying it is soooo touristy and the number of hotels. So instead of bashing her, maybe some of you could direct their energy into something positive or constructive.
So we went to Playa del Carmen. Oh my. Was nice but more touristy is difficult to find. And quite expensive - that is more like Florida than like Mexico.
For nice experience and uncrowded, we loved Chiapas. We started from Mexico city and traveled most of our time in Chiapas and ended in Yucatan.
Roads are awful in Chiapas but scenery, wildlife, people, ruins, are extraordinary - and not touristy.
When we arrived in Yucatan, the roads were in perfect conditions but quite crowded. (meaning a good management - why have nice roads where nobody drives ?).
As for food, it was equally bad everywhere. I mean, I love Mexican food. But after 3 days, I'm fed up. For me it is alawys the same everywhere - a sensation I experience in US too, actually. Yep. That is my idea of constructive bashing. Food is Europe or Asia, Middel East, Northern Africa, maybe South America. But not Central nor North America.
So we went to Playa del Carmen. Oh my. Was nice but more touristy is difficult to find. And quite expensive - that is more like Florida than like Mexico.
For nice experience and uncrowded, we loved Chiapas. We started from Mexico city and traveled most of our time in Chiapas and ended in Yucatan.
Roads are awful in Chiapas but scenery, wildlife, people, ruins, are extraordinary - and not touristy.
When we arrived in Yucatan, the roads were in perfect conditions but quite crowded. (meaning a good management - why have nice roads where nobody drives ?).
As for food, it was equally bad everywhere. I mean, I love Mexican food. But after 3 days, I'm fed up. For me it is alawys the same everywhere - a sensation I experience in US too, actually. Yep. That is my idea of constructive bashing. Food is Europe or Asia, Middel East, Northern Africa, maybe South America. But not Central nor North America.
Sep 30th, 2016, 01:36 PM
#50
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I spent a few weeks in Chiapas years ago, studied Spanish in San Cristóbal and lived with a local family. The 'mom' in the family was an incredible cook, a local legend. Such luck!
We actually love the food in Central America. Belize, for example, has tons of beans and rice with stew chicken, which we we never tire of fixed differently by every culture: creole, Garifuna, Maya, Mennonite, and more. In Guatemala the soups are incredible; my favorite is pepián but different regional versions of caldo pollo are fabulous and we love unique regional dishes like boxboles in the Ixil Triangle.
To each his/her own!
We actually love the food in Central America. Belize, for example, has tons of beans and rice with stew chicken, which we we never tire of fixed differently by every culture: creole, Garifuna, Maya, Mennonite, and more. In Guatemala the soups are incredible; my favorite is pepián but different regional versions of caldo pollo are fabulous and we love unique regional dishes like boxboles in the Ixil Triangle.
To each his/her own!
Sep 30th, 2016, 04:56 PM
#51
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So very well said hopefulist, we just love Mexican cuisine... Mexico and many central America countries have contributed so much to the global cookery. We often forget that corn, tomatoes, chocolate, avocados, beans,chiles, turkeys, squash including pumpkins and much more comes from these regions... We, for example, love cochin a pibil (not sure on spelling) a porc wrapped in banana leaves, frijol con puerco (black beans stew with porc) served with rice and the sopa de lima (originating from the Merida city area) which is just so rich and filling... honestly, if your fed up after several days, you should steer of taco stands...
Thank you for bringing this up !
Thank you for bringing this up !
Sep 30th, 2016, 05:16 PM
#52
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For Daniel, important notes to remember. The peninsula is made up of 3 states, quintana roo, yucatan and campeche. Keep in mind that quintana roo is one hour different than yucatan state (Merida). If renting a car, remember that you need to pick it up in Cancun with the sales rep who will take you there from the airport, we often choose America car rental.
Having read your itinerary, I would tend to modify it by starting off with Akumal and Tulum. If you choose Isla, you will need to backtrack towards Cancun and cross the city again and head south along the 307... lots of wasted time here.
From Tulum head north to Coba and Valladolid towards Merida and from Merida head back in the Cancun direction while stopping over in Holbox and Isla Mujeres.
There are so many details to consider but if you take your time and plan, you will have a very pleasant stay.
Remember that the roads are very well maintained, clean and easy to follow. I would not drive at night because of the poor lighting, speed bumps and animals crossing. While parked at the ferry docks, keep everything out of sight in the car and do register your wife as second driver.
Adventure awaits of which you will have memories for a lifetime...
Having read your itinerary, I would tend to modify it by starting off with Akumal and Tulum. If you choose Isla, you will need to backtrack towards Cancun and cross the city again and head south along the 307... lots of wasted time here.
From Tulum head north to Coba and Valladolid towards Merida and from Merida head back in the Cancun direction while stopping over in Holbox and Isla Mujeres.
There are so many details to consider but if you take your time and plan, you will have a very pleasant stay.
Remember that the roads are very well maintained, clean and easy to follow. I would not drive at night because of the poor lighting, speed bumps and animals crossing. While parked at the ferry docks, keep everything out of sight in the car and do register your wife as second driver.
Adventure awaits of which you will have memories for a lifetime...
Oct 1st, 2016, 05:53 PM
#54
>>>I love Mexican food. But after 3 days, I'm fed up. For me it is alawys the same everywhere - a sensation I experience in US too, actually. <<<
You must not know how to order. Mexico has many regional styles. As for the US -- it is difficult to imagine a more eclectic mix of cuisines. Why, just today my son had dinner in a restaurant specializing in Druze cooking. Where would you find that, outside Beirut?
You must not know how to order. Mexico has many regional styles. As for the US -- it is difficult to imagine a more eclectic mix of cuisines. Why, just today my son had dinner in a restaurant specializing in Druze cooking. Where would you find that, outside Beirut?
Oct 1st, 2016, 06:48 PM
#55
OK, Paris, I'll bite. Obviously your comment about Mexican food was either made to evoke a response or a result of only eating from roadside stands selling tamales and atole. So, Daniel, pay no attention to this troll.
Oct 2nd, 2016, 04:16 AM
#57
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You know, these sites and others like it, can sometimes bring out the best but also the worst in posters. Idealistically speaking, everyone seems to want to stay over on some secluded island and just while away the hours. THEN, reality sets in... I'm hungry, where's the washroom, need gas, where do we sleep, can someone watch over my things while we go for a swim... etc. etc etc...
Wether you like Cancun or not, or find PDC too touristy or the food sucks, at one point or another, we all need and appreciate the Cancun's of this world. wether you have been or not.
I also find it TOO EASY to throw out some useless or distasteful comments while staying anonymous... most of the posters don't even show their photograph.(watch the response I get from this comment !!!)
IMO, it all comes down to one thing, EXPERIENCE... moreso than personal opinions. When I suggest or advice someone on a particular place or subject, it is because I have actually been there, and smelled the food, walked the streets and swam the ocean. The time that I choose to spend writing on this site is meant to help and advice the unexperienced traveller so as to avoid pitfalls and needless expenses and help bring out the best that Mexico has to offer. We love Mexico, we invested in Mexico (condo) and wish to positively influence people in wanting the same.
Wether you like Cancun or not, or find PDC too touristy or the food sucks, at one point or another, we all need and appreciate the Cancun's of this world. wether you have been or not.
I also find it TOO EASY to throw out some useless or distasteful comments while staying anonymous... most of the posters don't even show their photograph.(watch the response I get from this comment !!!)
IMO, it all comes down to one thing, EXPERIENCE... moreso than personal opinions. When I suggest or advice someone on a particular place or subject, it is because I have actually been there, and smelled the food, walked the streets and swam the ocean. The time that I choose to spend writing on this site is meant to help and advice the unexperienced traveller so as to avoid pitfalls and needless expenses and help bring out the best that Mexico has to offer. We love Mexico, we invested in Mexico (condo) and wish to positively influence people in wanting the same.
