Pausanias

I will be in Cuernavaca for three days and would like to visit Xochicalco and Malinalko. Is it feasible to do this in one day? I know there are busses to Xochicalco, but I don't believe there are direct connections to Malinalko. Would it be worth renting a car for the day, or should I hire a car and driver? Thanks for your assistance.

gypsyluce

wow, to xochicalco, it seems a long way away from cuernavaca, is it direct? There werent even direct buses to malinalco from mexico city so i doubt from cuernavaca. Id suggest getting a car and driver, roads arent very well signed, apart from big main ones. Would be closer to visit from mexico city. From cuernavaca you can visit taxco, the caves at cacahuamilpa, tepotzlan, with its arqueological site etc.

Pausanias

Are you sure? My Lonely Planet says Xochicalco is 15km SW of Cuernavaca, so I thought it might be possible to do both in a day.

gypsyluce

hi, me again, It's true Malinalco is closer to cuernavaca than mexico city but maybe access is the same, would check out how long would spend on bus to get to xochicalco, probably closer to taxco, and see if worth it. if go to malinalco have great river trout there and also one of best mamey ice creams Ive ever had. Let m know what you find out about buses. Please

gypsyluce

hiya, sorry, Xochicalco is 38km from cuernavaca, so shouldnt be a problem.
To go to malinalco, although its not far is 2 buses and then a taxi ride.I've done it, but i guess it depends on your level of spanish and adventure. I prob wouldnt attempt both in one day going by bus. Chalma on way to malinalco is pilgrim site and fascinating in itself, lovely scenery on way. If you speak spanish go on to
http://www.malinalco.net/espanol/tur...cuernavaca.htm
it has the directions on how to get there. That site has loads of good details.

Pausanias

Thanks, I'll take a look.

DUBinNYC

Hi Pausanias ..... how was your trip to Xochicalco? I am interested in going there and onto Taxco. What did you do for transport?
Thanks

Fra_Diavolo

Pausanias is an old friend of mine -- I fear he has left the boards. When last heard from, he was heading up the Ganges to Varanesi on a spiritual pilgrimage, but also hoping to open a riverfront bar and grill. He left me extensive notes on his trip to Xochicalco -- unfortunately mostly in the 12th century Arabic script he affected towards the last . . .

From what I can gather, he took a taxi to the ruins, at a roundtrip cost of about $60 for three or four hours. The ancient city lies on a mountaintop a steep climb from the modern village -- where passenger busses would let you off. There is a van service from Cuernavaca, but its off in the market by the Casino and he decided it wasn't worth the hassle.

There are stunning views over the valley, a remarkable temple to Quetzelcoatl (one of his favorite gods), and an extraordinary observatory from where the sun casts light down a narrow chute at certain times of the year, one of which is early August.

The grounds are extensive and entirely exposed. He advises one to bring water, a hat and sunglasses. It is uncrowded, and well worth the effort to reach.

His last words on the subject were "and how extraordinary to see ruins of a city built by the Maya at this northern point!"

DUBinNYC

Wow!!! What a guy. Perhaps he should create his own ruins up the Ganges, and maybe that would benefit his new grill ...... those tourists will buy anything.

Anyways, we don't care ..... he left his notes! Can you check those notes to see how he got the taxi? ... $60 is not too bad. Did he just bargain with random taxi drivers or is there some other way of locating likely taxi drivers.

I've got sunblock etc ....!

Fra_Diavolo

Hi Dub --

It appears he simply asked the hotel (Casa Colonial) clerk to call one for him. According to his notes, " . . . the rate appeared to me so reasonable, and the driver so personable, that I thought it not worth my while to bargain, and agreed forthwith . . . and indeed, gave him a tip for his trouble on our return . . ."

He also advises that one should ask the driver to take the highway, and offer to pay the toll -- about $4, if he balks. This can save more than a half hour each way.

Fra

DUBinNYC

Thanks Fra ....

very useful information ...... looks like I'll go with the flow and see what happens ..... good to know that the taxi is a possibility.

Did our friend spend long at the ruins? ..... He's obviously very spiritual and soaked up the atmosphere and was at one with the Mayan gods and nature ..... i just want to have a walk around and take a few photographs!

So .... taxi time to the ruins and time needed there? Anything in the notes?

Cheers

Fra_Diavolo

DuB --

Pausanias' usually detailed notes are a little vague on those points. It appears he spent about two and 1/2 hours on the site, which also includes a small but quite good museum. An specialist could easily spend more time. Photo opportunities include not only the ruins themselves, which have some interesting abstract patterns, but the great valley of Morelia.

He writes that the drive back, via highway, took about 40 minutes. The drive there, using local roads undergoing construction was considerably longer.

FD

DUBinNYC

Thanks so much for all the help, and thank Pausanias (if you ever see him again). An excellent note taker .... a skill you don't see too much of today.

If you don't mind ..... can you see if Pausanias has a restaurant section in his notes? We'll be in the DF and Taxco. Any recommendations, don't want to break the bank, but good value/ good food? Basics are good too.

Once again, thanks a million.

Fra_Diavolo

He favored Cafe de Tacuba and Fonda el Refugio in Mexico City, and enjoyed "1521" in Cuernavaca (across from the Palace of Cortes). This is a large subject, though, far removed from Xochicalco, which is bit off the beaten trail. I would suggest searching under Taxco or Mexico City Restaurants or starting a new thread to attract a wide range of responses.

DUBinNYC

Thanks Fra

Those places were on our list!

Thanks for all your help over the last couple of days ... you've given me some great information.
We're heading there over thanksgiving, and i'll let you know how we get on.
Hopefully i can give you some answers another time.

All the best

Fra_Diavolo

Have a great trip!

Adios.

DUBinNYC

Hi there Fra,

Just wanted to let you know that all worked out. Hired a taxi from Teploztlan which took us to Xochicalco. Due to a couple of "delays" and also wanting to get to Las Grutas afterwards, we only spent about 45 mins at the site. But it was great .... we were the only ones there at the time.
Thanks for all your previous help.

Dub

Fra_Diavolo

Glad it worked out for you.

FD