Hey all! <BR>My brother and I are flying in to Cancun December 10(and leaving tourist-town pronto) for a two week bout of backpacking. We've been doing some research (i.e. Fodor's/ Lonely Planet etc...) so we're starting to get a feel for what we would like to see and do while we're there. <BR>If possible, I would like to hear from some experienced travellers who have been there in the last couple of years and have some intimate knowledge of the Yucatan Peninsula that they might like to share. <BR>We haven't made any reservations and we are open to suggestions in regards to things to see and places to stay. Both of us want to see some ruins and spend some time on the beach and in the Ocean snorkling. We have also read that Merida is a good place to pick up local crafts to bring home. So... Where to first? Playa del Carmen? Akumal? Tulum, Sian Ka'an Biosphere? Then over to Chichen Itza and Merida? What about Uxmal and Mayopan? Worth seeing on a tight time schedule? What about these Cenotes I've been hearing dot the countryside? Any nice cheap Palapa's to stay in at any of the places I've listed above? Dave and I are on a shoestring and we are looking for non-Cancun holiday. <BR>Cheers <BR>Jamie from Toronto

Have been to Tulum and Chichen Itza but not as far as Merida. If you're looking for a place to stay close to Chichen Itza try Hacienda Chichen. This is a 17th century hacienda turned home base for archeologists working on the ruins in the 1940's. The rooms were around $50.00 a nite no phones,tv but clean rooms with showers and a resturant on the veranda it also has a swimming pool.

We've been to the Yucatan a few times. There are loads of hotels in Playa del Carmen now - the place has had a real construction boom, so it's very easy to find a place to stay, especially in December. We booked a hotel in advance the last time and realized that we didn't need to do so. You should be able to get a good deal. <BR> <BR>It's been a few years since I visited Chichen Itza, but we stayed in Vallodolid which is only 1/2 hour from Chichen Itza. Accommodation was very reasonable. We hadn't booked anything in advance. I can't remember the name of the hotel, but it was quite near the main plaza in the town. Vallodolid was quite pleasant. <BR> <BR>There are lots of hotels in Merida. We found a place very easily with no reservations. I liked Merida. <BR> <BR>If you get over to Isla Mujeres, accommodation is more limited, but again it probably isn't difficult to find a place. We stayed at the Hotel Belmar, above Pizza Rolandi. It was very nice, maybe $25 US a night for 2 people. Noise wasn't a problem. <BR> <BR>Re cenotes, they are all over the Yucatan. I remember a very deep one in the south, just above the Belize border. There was a wonderful seafood restaurant right on the edge of it. It was outside the town of Bacalar where there was a pretty lagoon. There weren't a lot of hotels in that area, but we stayed in one right on the shore of the lagoon. Again, very reasonable. There were ruins nearby with almost no people - just the 2 or 3 people who worked there. It was like discovering it ourselves! <BR> <BR>It's easy enough to get around on buses. We've done that a few times. We also treated ourselves and rented a car, sometimes for a few days, the last time just for a day. <BR> <BR>Snorkelling isn't great in Playa del Carmen. The waves are too big. We snorkeled at Akumal last time and that was great. Cozumel also has wonderful snorkeling. There's lots of accommodation in San Miguel in Cozumel. <BR> <BR>You'll probably have trouble limiting where you want to go on this trip. There's a lot to do and see down there. Have a great time!

Might want to check www.cancunmap.com. Offers inexpensive maps that work as great travel guides too!

A brief note to thank those who generously took the time to respond to my queries. As a first time user of Fodor's as an internet tool, I was happily surprised by the amount of useful and relevant information available as well as this open forum. Again, thank you for the useful information posters! <BR>J

I wouldn't call myself an expert on the area, but I did spend a busy 1 1/2 weeks there a couple of years ago. You can see my photos and travelogue at my embryonic Web site: oneeyed.homestead.com. I visited Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Chichen Itza, Coba, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Merida, and Uxmal. Yes, Uxmal is definitely worth it on a two-week trip.

Hi Jamie. I leave Nov. 19 for the Yucatan and return Dec. 3, and I will post a trip report when I get back so check this board before you leave. We are going to Isla Mujeres, Merida, Laguna Bacalar, and Pto. Aventuras (like you, we are skipping Cancun), and are planning to see a lot of the ruins also. FYI, we have booked a B&B in Merida that is supposed to be great, called Casa Mexilio. You might want to look into it since you're going to Merida too. It was recommended in several guidebooks and the rates are pretty reasonable. The website is http://www.mexicoholiday.com/destinations/mexilio.html but I'll let you know what we thought of it when I get back.

two weeks in the Yucatan is the right amount of time--If you are flying into Cancun, you can bus to Merida, where you can spend a few days-check out the ruin at Uxmal and Chichen Itza-North of Merida is Progresso-a neat beach town. <BR>Try to spend a few days on Isla Mujeres-its a great place to relax-close to Cancun, but far from the tourists. <BR>You probably will not need reservations for hotels except close to x-mas! <BR>