Where to go next in Mexico?
 

Hi all. We are thinking of going back to Mexico sometime in November. Won't be able to go for Day of the Dead unfortunately--timing not good for my husband's work. We are 70 yo active people who have been to Mexico many times and we are looking for our next area to explore. We could always go back to Oaxaca, as that is a favorite, but would ideally like to go somewhere new to us. We have been to Mexico City, Guanajuato, Patzcuaro, Oaxaca, Puerto Vallarta, Merida, Campeche, Valladolid . We have been along the coast from Manzanillo/ Barra de Navidad a lot when our kids were little. We like history, food, easy hikes, beaches, culture. Not interested in Cancun or Quintana Roo. If there are places in Quintana Roo that are not over run by tourists (like me!) then I would consider that! Thanks for any ideas!

Hi Christy

The place that came to my mind first reading your wants list is Veracruz.

Daniel

thanks, Daniel. I'll look into that!

It’s been 10 years, but we really enjoyed both Todos Santos and Loreto, on opposite sides of the Baja Peninsula. Spent a couple weeks in each.

Also about 10 years ago, Mahahual, Quintana Roo, near the Belize border was ok and not many gringo tourists if there was not a cruise ship in town. A negative was the beaches in the otherwise spectacular Sian Ka’an were littered with plastic flotsam in January. Have no idea if that is seasonal, or is better or worse these days.

Still a bit wet for the Yucatan (ruins).

Did you make it to Puebla?

I would second Veracruz, with Puebla perhaps as a starting point if you haven't been. Then Orizaba, Córdoba, Veracruz, (city), loop back through Xico, Coatepec & Xalapa. Coatepec is coffee country, Xico has an easily hikable waterfall, Orizaba has Cerro de Borrego with spectacular views that you can hike or take the teleferico. Nice river walk. Veracruz has the San Juan Ulúa fort, an excellent aquarium, classic cafés, and a culture unique in Mexico. The beaches near the Port aren't inviting, but there are decent beaches north & south of the city. Xalapa's Anthro museum is 2nd only to the one in Mexico City, also the Pinacoteca Diego Rivera has one of the largest public collections of his work. Free entry.

thanks for all the suggestions. I think we'll probably stay around the Puebla area and maybe go up to San Miguel. I know San Miguel is rather touristy but there's go to be reason people go there. There's so many places to explore in this fascinating country. No end to new adventures there.

I actually live in San Miguel so know the area quite well, fwiw.

BaldOne, I may pick your brain as our plans gel. thanks.

Hidalgo state?
I asked about that not long ago and Baldone gave me some good tips but I've not been yet....

Do they still run the Copper Canyon train from Los Mochis? That's interesting if you stay overnight mid trip; it was the homeland of the Tarahumara people but I don't know anything about that area in recent years..l

I've not seen the Copper Canyon train mentioned here, I don't think.....maybe it no longer runs..

Any interest in the Isthmus? (Tehantepec, Juchitan etc). I think there are some great festivals there but don't know when or where...certainly not touristy.....I've just passed through on my way to Guatemala on the bus and stayed only a couple of nights but not during the fiesta time.


In my travel writing days I did the chapter on Oaxaca and Chiapas for a major guidebook company.....I probably have some interesting things in there but it was published in the 80s, so probably not much to you anymore..

A friend has been on the copper canyon train in recent years so I think it's still running. Interesting about the Isthmus though. Probably not this time. thanks for the ideas!

Eks, I too thought about Hidalgo. But it seemed the direction was trending towards SMA. Good hiking, history, close to cdmx airports & Puebla. Christy, I can dig up a couple of trip reports I did on the area if you're interested. Or just research Huasca De Ocampo, Mineral del Chico, & Mineral/Real del Monte. Few if any gringo tourists. Copper Canyon train is still going, we researched a trip recently but the return flight from Los Mochis to BJX (Leon) had a 530 am departure. We're too old for that nonsense anymore.

thanks, BaldOne. I'll look those up. I saw a fabulous looking hotel in Chohula outside Puebla that I'd love to go to, so I think we'll stick with that area for now. I wish I could say no more 5:30 am departures but being from Alaska, that's not likely, but I too am getting too old for that! I wouldn't do it on a return though! lol. thanks for the info

Try Chiapas
 

Last time I went to San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas. Lovely safe, pueblo. Also, lots of day tours to beautiful places such as Sumidero Canyon, Palenque, Casacadas de Agua Azul. Excellent value hotels and super easy to organise tours!

thanks. how long ago were you there? in San Cristobal? Actually we are thinking of going there instead of Puebla area this time.

I spent a month in San Cristobal in late 2018 & loved it. Wrote about it here:
https://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/a-month-in-chiapas-1

I haven't been to Puebla but may very well go next year when I hope to spend 6 months in Mexico based in Oaxaca. But I'm most comfortable in smaller cities, what I describe as "big enough & small enough." San Cristobal is one of those for me.

thanks for the link to your blog. The more we think about it, the more we are inclined to go south this trip. It is such an extraordinary luxury to think about traveling to so many places. Love the travel conversation on these forums!

Christy, as you go about your research for Chiapas, be aware that there's been quite a bit of turmoil in the state. Especially in the more rural areas due to cartel presence. Even on the highway from San Cris to Palenque there's been roadblocks near Ocosingo.

thanks. I fully intend to look at that carefully. We tend to not go very far afield of larger towns. I don't plan to go to Palenque or places very far from San Cris, but thanks for the warning. I remember going to , I think, Guanajuato on the bus and we were stopped by police with uzis or some kind of big gun like that. and police/army presence in Oaxaca at least 10 or so years ago.

I don't know about San Cristobal. If you've not seen other areas of Mexico, its long way to go for one small town, although as you note, there are side trips.

I used to take the bus there and went many times when I wrote the chapters of a well-known guidebook on Oaxaca and Chiapas...(long ago, another lifetime!). I was not wowed by the town and cannot even imagine what it is like now. And it can get cold up there in hose highlands...

If you want to get a feel for indigenous life and customs, and handcrafts, I would look towards Guatemala, which I often visited by bus......

I'm rambling and my times in Chiapas were so long ago, when the Zapatistas were just rising.

As far as bus travel anywhere in Mexico, my take is that it is totally safe for a tourist........the bus service is fantastic, even if on the overnight runs, like from DF to San Cristobal, they seem to play videos all night long!!
I highly recommend buses as a great way to see the country, and for a tourist, it might be a shock about how kind and helpful your fellow passengers will be. I did all those bus trips on my own and there was NO fear factor...

I know I went off track here, but again, I would concentrate on Oaxaca state rather than Chiapas, but if you have the time, of course, do both!!!!