4 months after coming back, here is the full tale of our World Trip! We used Polarsteps as our journal, writing down all our adventures for our friends and family. We now have printed a book (332 pages) with some photos and graphics. Just a small teaser:
(more…)Category: Mexico
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Budget for a World Trip
We travelled for 14 months and gathered all the prices thanks to TravelSpend application: Here is the detail of how much did we pay the planes, accommodations, activities, transportations, food… You will know all about what you should expect to spend on a World Trip!
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Budget to travel to Mexico
After 2 months in Colombia, we arrived in Cancun and visited Yucatan’s Peninsula and crossed the country from Chiapas to Guadalajara, from June 19th to August 9th.
Note: We are a couple travelling for 1 year and we’ve already spent half of our time and budget and time (20000€ total). The prices mentioned in this post are PER PERSON, except for the taxis and accommodation (usually private double rooms).
Food
Mexican food is quite the same everywhere, with the same products: corn, avocado, cheese and spicy stuff! A lunch in the market cost around 60$MX.
Note: tips around 10%
- Pizza: 170$MX a medium
- Full breakfast: between 50 and 150$MX full
- Burger: 125$MX
- Ceviche: $MX
Drinks
- Water: 15/25$MX
- Beer: 20$MX a 500ml can in supermarket, 20/30$MX a bottle in a bar
- Juice: around 40$MX
- Coffee: 30/50$MX
Transportation
Bus: See the details in the post One month in Mexico
Colectivo: Private agencies offer transportation in mini bus, see the details in the dedicated post.
Taxi:
- You can use Uber in the main cities.
- They also have secured taxi from the bus terminals to the center: 120$MX Mexico, 170$MX Guadalajara, 100$MX Puebla.
- The taxi from Tuxtla airport to the center: 362$MX
Metro: 5$MX a metro ticket in Mexico city
Rent a car: The best way to visit the Yucatan peninsula.
Accommodation
Country Minimum Maximum Average Mexico 250$MX 1172$MX 434$MX € 12€ 56€ 21€
Activities
For the entrances fee in the various ruins and museums we visited, please check the dedicated post.
Extras
- Phone: With Telcel you can have 3Go and a simcard for 200$MX
- Laundry: between 10 and 30$MX per kg
- Cigarets: around 50$MX a pack
Click on the title of the post
To follow those spendings we used TravelSpend App. Looking back…
Yucatan and Puerto Escondido were quite expensive (it’s also holidays period). With the average of 21€ for a double room, Mexico is one of the highest country in term of accomodation’s price.
We spent 43€ per day per person (third most expensive country of Latin America after Chile and Brazil where it was also holidays when we were there). -
1 month in Mexico
After 2 months in Colombia, we passed 9 days in Yucatan peninsula, and then 5 weeks to visit Chiapas, Oaxaca, Puebla, Mexico, the Pueblos Magicos of Querétaro, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato and finally Guadalajara (total 42 days).
Summary of our itinerary in Mexico
9 first days: Yucatan Peninsula
Day 10 flight Cancun => Tuxtla Guttierez
Day 11 to 13: San Cristobal de las Casas
Day 14: Villahermosa
Day 15 – 16: Palenque
Day 17: Bus Palenque to Oaxaca
Day 18 to 21: Oaxaca
Day 22 to 26: Puerto Escondido
Day 27: Return to Oaxaca
Day 28: Tehuacan
Day 29 to 31: Puebla & Cholula
Day 32 to 34: Mexico
Day 35 – 36: Querétaro
Day 37 – 38: San Miguel de Allende
Day 39 – 41: Guanajuato
Day 42 – 52: Guadalajara
We arrived in Cancun and visited in 9 days the Yucatan’s Peninsula by car
Chiapas
Tuxtla and Canyon del Sumidero
We took a an evening flight directly from Cancun (with VivaAirline 1500MX), slept in Tuxtla (Los Pinos hotel, 350$MX a double room) and went to Chiapa de Corzo in colectivo to visit Sumidero canyon. We paid 16 the colectivo + 465 the tour from Chiapa de Corzo. It left us directly to the terminal of Tuxtla to go to San Cristóbal.
Note: Those same tours start in Tuxtla (9.30am to 6pm, 500$MX) with the combo 2h30 boat cruise and view points tour.
San Cristóbal de las Casas
2h from Tuxtla (60$MX by colectivo) this charming fresh city located in a valley (2200m high) is the oldest town of the region. Founded in 1528 it was part of Guatemala until 1824, before the annexion of Chiapas to the Republic of Mexico.
We did a tour for tips (starting from the Wooden Cross place at 10am and 15pm).
Good local restaurant: Pisca de CanelaVillahermosa
Villahermosa is not so lovely AT ALL. The only attraction point here is Parque Museo La Venta where you will find artifacts of the Olmec civilisation (700 to 400BC) moved here from La Venta in the state of Tabasco.
Entrance to Parque la Venta: 53$MX
Bus from San Cristobal: ADO 510$MXPalenque
From Villahermosa we took and ADO to Palenque in the morning, famous for its ruins and nice waterfalls all around.
After lunch we’ve visited Palenque ruins (colectivo 40$MX with return, entrance 85$MX per person). The museum only opens from Tuesday to Saturday.
Second day we took a colectivo to Roberto Barrios (nearby the market, 100$MX with return, 45min) and visited amazing waterfalls (entrance: 60 $MX).
Buses:
– Villahermosa <-> Palenque 100$MX around 2h
– Villahermosa – Oaxaca around 1200 but we had a promo 650$MX nightbus 14h!Looking back:
–You can also come to Palenque directly from San Cristobal but there are still conflicts around Ocosingo so be careful.
– We only visited the main site but you can also take a one (long) day tour for Bonampak and Yaxchilan (around 1300$MX).
Oaxaca
Oaxaca is the name of a region and a really nice city. We wanted to visited there the Museo de las Culturas but it’s closed Saturday Sunday and Monday… Instead we did a Tour for tips (starting at 11am in front of Hotel Marqués on the Zocalo) and discovered the best “Chocolatin” in Boulenc restaurant. We stayed at Hostal Pueblo (300$Me per night for a double room and a rooftop). You have plenty of tours leaving every day around the town, but we preferred to do it alone (half day in Monte Alban and a full day at Hierve el agua).
Oaxaca de Juarez & Monte Alban
Monte Alban is a very impressive archeological site with magnificent view on the city. Those ruins have been built from 500bc to 500ac.
Hierve el agua
Nice petrified waterfalls in the middle of nowhere, with baths where you can swim.
Note: We waited 2h for the colectivo to be filled in with enough people (12 total). We missed the visit of Mitla ruins because of that…Monte Alban:
– Entrance: 85$Me
– Bus: Leaving from Diaz Ordaz 407 – 90$Me with return
Hierve el Agua:
– Entrance: 50$Me + 15 for the road access
– Bus: From Terminal de 2da clase to Mitla, 40$Me with return (around 1h) and a touristic colectivo 150$Me with returnPuerto Escondido and Pacific Coast
Transportation Oaxaca <-> Puerto Escondido:
280$Me in colectivo Villa del Pacifico (7h40).
Note: if you want to sleep, prefer ADO buses.
Prices:
– Hotel May Flower: 500$Me a private double room
– Food: between 150 and 200$Me a ceviche, 100$Me a coctail, 35$Me a Corona, 160MX a burgerAs Mazunte and the beaches around had been reached by Agatha storm, we decided to choose Puerto Escondido, a very nice and enjoyable city by the sea. You have boat tours leaving every day at 7am for 500$Me a 3h discovery of dolfins, turtles and whales (depends on the season).
We finally stood there 5 nights to take a break and visit the beaches around (be aware that there is a LOT the current and swim carefully):
- Playa Principal: Water is not so clear than in the other places, even if it’s quite safe to swim there, but it’s a nice place to enjoy the end of the day.
Direct access from the main avenue (Pérez Gazga). - Playa Zicatela: 3km of surfing beach, with a lot of restaurants with cheap beers (between 30 and 40$Me), it’s not recommended to swim here (and you shouldn’t).
Access from Playa Principal or avenida Del Morro. - Playa Manzanillo and playa Angelita: Full of restaurants with deckchairs but also shadow to lay on the beach, the water is nice and beautiful.
Access by stairs calle Quinta Sur. - Playa Carrizallilo: Full of restaurants and no shadow without them, it may be the perfect beach to start surf lessons but a bit hard to swim there.
Access by stairs calle Focas. - Playa Coral: with only one restaurant in a complex with swimming pool, this one was the most quiet beach, still with strong waves but good for swimming.
Access by shitty but nice walk from the Mirador Las Tortugas or 20$Me by the Hotel Posada Real Puerto Escondido.
Puebla’s region
Tehuacán
After those quiet days on the Pacific coast, we went back to Oaxaca just for a night (after a 9h colectivo) and made a stop in Tehuacán.
The city center is nice but nothing crazy, only the Zocalo and terrasses look nice. But we were there to visit a very nice archeological site: Tehuacan piramids.Colectivo Oaxaca – Tehuacan: 200$MX
Hotel Tehuacan: La Casa Colibri (350$MX small studio)
Taxi to the ruins: 180$MX
Entrance to the pyramids: 70$MXPuebla city
With it’s beautiful historical center, this city might be in my top 3 of Mexico! Nice churches (with the amazing Capilla del Rosario), the bohemian streets and handcraft market of El Sapo, one of the oldest theater of Latin America, Palafoxiana library… there is a lot to see here! We visited the Museo Amparo with its precolonial artefacts, and Museo de las Muñecas, colection of scientific tools and a weird reduced head of a momified woman.
To go there: From Tehuacán, Reforma Norte 118 take a Colectivo to Puebla Terminal (2h, 100$MX)
Taxi: we paid 100$MX from the terminal to the center, 56$MX to go back there with Uber
To sleep: Hostel Vee Yuu, 350$MX a double roomCholula
This small town owns the biggest pyramid of the World! Larger than Guizeh, it has been evaluated at 4.45 millions of m3. You sadly won’t see a lot, as it had been entirely covered. The Spanish built a beautiful yellow church on the top of the hill, destroying the temple for its stones.
From Puebla to Cholula: You have a bus around Puebla’s market leaving you on the main road of Cholula, few blocks from the city center (30min – 10$MX)
Mexico city: See the dedicated post
From Mexico city to Guadalajara
On our way to Guadalajara (where we have our flight to Vietnam), we took one week to visit the beautiful colonial cities classified as “Pueblos Magicos” full of history and nice architectures.
Querétaro
1h30 from the Terminal Norte of Mexico city, you have this very cute village full of nice churches, places and green spaces. You have plenty of houses and museums:
- Casa de la Zacatecana where a woman made her husband killed, and killed herself the murderer and burried both of them in the house which is now haunted
- Museo Regional in a XVIs century franciscan monastery
- Casa de la Corregidora, now used as Palacio del Gobierno, where the wife of the governor informed the resistance of the arrival of the troops
- Other tematic museum like MUCAL, Calendar museum, or Museo de Arte
From Mexico City: 286$MX Primera Bus Terminal norte (1h30). Then from Querétaro Terminal you can take a bus to the Alameda, the main avenue few blocks from the city center (11$MX).
To stay: El Petate Hostel (500$MX a double room).San Miguel de Allende
Very historical and cute city, with a pink cathedral and a lot of churches, a Mirador (point of view), great market and great (but expensive) rooftops.
We visited the Museo Historico de San Miguel, Casa natal de Ignacio Allende where we learnt all about the city and the revolution (65$MX).
We stood there 2 nights but if you have more time you can also visit a nice Botanic Garden el Charco del Ingenío, 5km from the center and Atotonilco, a nice village nearby.
To go there: ETN or Primera Bus from Queretaro terminal (1h30, 96$MX), then you have a purple city bus just in front of the station (8$MX).
To stay: Hostal Catarina (615$MX a double room).Guanajuato
Maybe the most original city we ever been: built between hills, the streets look like a labyrinth, with underground galeries and charming architecture everywhere! Silver and golden mines made this city famous, as 2/3 of the metal were extracted from here.
The monument of Pipila offers you a nice view of the city. The huge statue represent Juan Jose de los Reyes, famous for burning the Alhondiga de Granaditas where Spanish were hidden. You also have a nice legend about Callejon del Beso (I will let you discover it), Hidalgo market, the University, Don Quijote museum or Teatro Juarez… So many beautiful stuff!
We walked 4km to the Valenciana mine (you also have buses going there) which wasn’t so interesting as you only see one galery… At least we have learned the importance of the region and saw the church decorated with the gold coming from the mine… You also have el Museo de las Momias, too creepy for us!
Every night you have a great tradition: Las Callejoneadas, where Mariachis play their music in the streets, telling the stories and legends of the city with huge groups following them! A must do (see the video).
To go there: ETN or Primera bus (180$MX, 1h30) then from the terminal you have buses going to the very center (6$MX).
Hotel: Casona del Truco (476$MX a double room).
Guadalajara
Last step of our journey in Mexico, but also on this continent, we stayed in Guadalajara to take a good rest before going to Vietnam. We found a very nice accomodation close to Chapultepec avenue (great area for the nightlife).
We sadly chose the only rainy day to visit the city center. We discovered the huge Orozco’s murals in the Palacio del Gobierno (400m2 of painting) and went to the Regional Museum. The Degollado theater was closed and with the rain we decided to pass the visit of Instituto cultural Cabañas with its 23 patios, and the Mercado Libertad with its 3 floors…
Accomodation: La Paz & Love hostal, 354$MX a double room
Taxi from the bus terminal: 170$MX
Bus to go to the center: 10$MX from Chapultepec
Museums: Palacio del Gobierno was FREE and the Regional museum 85$MX
- Playa Principal: Water is not so clear than in the other places, even if it’s quite safe to swim there, but it’s a nice place to enjoy the end of the day.
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What to do in Oaxaca
After 2 months in Colombia, we passed 9 days in Yucatan peninsula and 7 days in Chiapas. Here is the detail of what we did in Oaxaca (4 nights in Oaxaca and 5 in Puerto Escondido).
Oaxaca is the name of a region and a really nice city. We wanted to visited there the Museo de las Culturas but it’s closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday… Same for Yagul ruins (1h from Oaxaca) opened only Sunday to Wednesday.
Instead we did a Tour for tips of Oaxaca (starting at 11am in front of Hotel Marqués on the Zocalo) and discovered the best “Chocolatin” in Boulenc restaurant.
We stayed at Hostal Pueblo (300$Me per night for a double room and a rooftop).
You have plenty of tours leaving every day around the town, but we preferred to do it alone (need half day in Monte Alban and a full day at Hierve el agua).
Oaxaca de Juarez & Monte Alban
Monte Alban is a very impressive archeological site with magnificent view on the city. Those ruins have been built from 500bc to 500ac.
Hierve el agua
Nice petrified waterfalls in the middle of nowhere, with baths where you can swim.
Note: We waited 2h for the colectivo to be filled in with enough people (12 total). We missed the visit of Mitla ruins because of that…Monte Alban:
Entrance: 85$Me
Bus: Leaving from Diaz Ordaz 407 – 90$Me with return
Hierve el Agua:
Entrance: 50$Me + 15 for the road access
Bus: From Terminal de 2da clase to Mitla, 40$Me with return (around 1h) and a touristic colectivo 150$Me with returnPuerto Escondido and Pacific Coast
Transportation Oaxaca <-> Puerto Escondido:
280$Me in colectivo Villa del Pacifico (7h40).
Note: if you want to sleep, prefer ADO buses.
Prices:
– Hotel May Flower: 500$Me a private double room
– Food: between 150 and 200$Me a ceviche, 100$Me a coctail, 35$Me a Corona, 160MX a burgerAs Mazunte and the beaches around have been reached by Agatha storm, we decided to choose Puerto Escondido, a very nice and enjoyable city by the sea. You have boat tours leaving every day at 7am for 500$Me a 3h discovery of dolfins, turtles and whales (depends on the season).
We finally stood there 5 nights to take a break and visit the beaches around (be aware that there is a LOT the current and swim carefully):
- Playa Principal: Water is not so clear than in the other places, even if it’s quite safe to swim there, but it’s a nice place to enjoy the end of the day.
Direct access from the main avenue (Pérez Gazga). - Playa Zicatela: 3km of surfing beach, with a lot of restaurants with cheap beers (between 30 and 40$Me), it’s not recommended to swim here (and you shouldn’t).
Access from Playa Principal or avenida Del Morro. - Playa Manzanillo and playa Angelita: Full of restaurants with deckchairs but also shadow to lay on the beach, the water is nice and beautiful.
Access by stairs calle Quinta Sur. - Playa Carrizallilo: Full of restaurants and no shadow without them, it may be the perfect beach to start surf lessons but a bit hard to swim there.
Access by stairs calle Focas. - Playa Coral: with only one restaurant in a complex with swimming pool, this one was the most quiet beach, still with strong waves but good for swimming.
Access by shitty but nice walk from the Mirador Las Tortugas or 20$Me by the Hotel Posada Real Puerto Escondido.
- Playa Principal: Water is not so clear than in the other places, even if it’s quite safe to swim there, but it’s a nice place to enjoy the end of the day.
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What to do in Chiapas
After 2 months in Colombia, we passed 9 days in Yucatan peninsula, and we have now 5 weeks left to visit Chiapas, Oaxaca, Mexico and Guadalajara regions. Here is the detail of what we did in Chiapas as we are currently travelling in Oaxaca:
Chiapas
Tuxtla and Canyon del Sumidero
We took a an evening flight directly from Cancun (with VivaArline 1500MX), slept in Tuxtla (Los Pinos hotel, 350$MX a double room) and went to Chiapa de Corzo in colectivo to start the tour in the Sumidero canyon. For the same price you have tours starting in Tuxtla at 9.30am to 6pm for 500$MX with the combo 2h30 boat cruise and view points tour (instead we paid 16 the colectivo + 465 the tour from Chiapa de Corzo). It left us directly to the terminal of Tuxtla for San Cristóbal.
San Cristóbal de las Casas
2h from Tuxtla (60$MX by colectivo) this charming fresh city located in a valley (2200m high) is the oldest town of the region. Founded in 1528 it was part of Guatemala until 1824, before the annexion of Chiapas to the Republic of Mexico.
We did a tour for tips (starting from the Wooden Cross place at 10am and 15pm).
Good local restaurant: Pisca de CanelaVillahermosa
Villahermosa is not so lovely AT ALL. The only attraction point here is Parque Museo La Venta where you will find artifacts of the Olmec civilisation (700 to 400BC) moved here from La Venta in the state of Tabasco.
You will pay 53$MX the entrance of the archeological parc + a zoo.
Palenque
From Villahermosa we took and ADO to Palenque in the morning, famous for its ruins and nice waterfalls all around.
After lunch we’ve visited Palenque ruins (colectivo 40$MX with return, entrance 85$MX per person). The museum only opens from Tuesday to Saturday.
Second day we took a colectivo to Roberto Barrios (nearby the market, 100$MX with return, 45min) and visited amazing waterfalls (entrance: 60 $MX).
Buses:
– Villahermosa – Palenque 100$MX around 2h
– Villahermosa – Oaxaca around 1200 but we had a promo 650$MX nightbus 14h!Looking back:
–You can also come to Palenque directly from San Cristobal but there are still conflicts around Ocosingo so be careful.
– We only visited the main site but you can also take a one (long) day tour for Bonampak and Yaxchilan (around 1300$MX).
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Yucatan peninsula by car
Arriving from Cartagena after 2 months in Colombia, we rented a car in Cancun for a 9 days road trip through Yucatan, Campeche and Quintana Roo. Here is our itinerary, places to visit and expenses.
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Mexico DF in 3 days
I arrived in the beginning of my trip in Yucatan to DF and took one day to visit Teotihuacan site. When I came back after one week playing Indiana Jones in the pyramids, I took a week-end to enjoy the city and celebrate the “Dia de los Muertos”.
Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan was the largest city in the pre-Columbian in America, its construction has been determined around 300BC, and stay quite mysterious. The Aztecs arriving to the empty city thought it was the place where the Gods were created, or where they built the Universe! We don’t really know yet why the place has been left, or what the pyramids were made for (sacrifices surely).
You will start your visit from the south part, visiting first a citadel and the Temple of Quetzalcóalt (the Plumed Serpent) where a tunnel had been recently found. Then you will start your way to the Calzada de los muertos (the Roadway of the Dead), seing habitations from each sides before go up the Pyramid of the Sun, the tallest one.
Behind this huge pyramid, you will find the museum of teotihuacan culture with the bones discovered behind the pyramids and other reliques which gives you highlight of the development of the city.
In the end of the visit you will arrive to the Moon pyramid, and the courtyard of the Quetzalpapálot palace where you can still enjoy the painted on the walls.
Once you exit the site, you can visit the small Museum of murals and take back the bus to Mexico DF.
You would need at least 4 hours to visit everything fully, you can climb all the ruins and even if it’s full of tourists, it’s unmissable!
Infos:
To get there: Metro line 5 yellow to Autobuses del Norte stop and go “puerta 8” where you will find buses for 50 MXN (45min drive)
Entrance: 85$MXUpdate 2022:
You can no longer climb on the pyramids…After this gorgeous site I had 2 days to visit the capital of Mexico
What to do in Mexico DF
After one week in the nice and quiet countryside (in Yucatan) I must admit I haven’t been really happy to come back to this huge capital. I just had a couple of days to discover this city… I’ve walked a lot in the historic center, Coyoacán and Xochimilco areas, and visited the museum of anthropology. I met in the hostel an american from California who joined me to share the first day of those visits.
Centro historico
I had an hostel one block from the Cathedral, so I visited a lot this area. I would recommend to visit its bells, and the ruins of Templo Mayor right behind the cathedral (as the majority of the catholic churches, they used the stones of the old temples to build it…). I advise you to visit the museum (85$MX).
Bellas Artes
Taking the 5 de mayo street I arrived to this gorgeous building, and walked until the San Juan market, and then came back crossing the Barrio Chino to join the historic center.
Museo Nacional de Antropologia
You need at least 2h to visit this museum, it was so huge I think you can take much more time! Then I walked until the Angel de la Independencía passing by Condesa and Roma nice areas. If you have time you can also climb Chapultepec castle in the heart of a parc.
Museo Nacional de las Culturas
Starting from the Zocalo, the cathedral place, there’s a pedestrian zone where you will find a very nice museum of cultures latin american (and others).
Xochimilco
Thanks to the bad weather this very touristic place was empty, and we were able negotiate the price of one embarcation for two 300$MX (in 2016). It was a nice boat trip, but nothing really special but there was the traditional mariachis playing music on an embarcation! After 1h we came back and went to a market few blocs from the port, a very local place I totally recommend.
Coyoacán
The museum of Frida Kahlo was closed but we enjoyed all the Coyoacán area with all the animations for the Dia de los Muertos (good food, hot chocolate, pan de muerto… delicious!). We also visited the Parroquia San Juan Bautista and stood at the Cervecería de Barrio to wait for the rain to stop…
Celebrate El dia de los Muertos
Mexico DF wasn’t really the best place to celebrate this special day. All the city was decorated for the event, and the streets were full of performances, offerings, and people dressed incredibly scary, but that’s it. For the first year they prepared a parade (that I missed) because of the reputation the last James Bond had generated, but I think the countryside is better to fully enjoy the traditions!
What you can see those days…
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Yucatan in one week
I initially had a flight for Mexico DF but couldn’t go to this country without visiting the pyramids I’ve always been passionated about! So I took a cheap flight to Merida, and had one week to discover some sites of Ruta Puuc, Chichen Itza, Coba, Tulum, before visiting the great Calakmul! I’ve also visited Valladolid and its cenote, and the nice city of Campeche.
Note: I came back in 2022 for a 9 days roadtrip from Cancun
La Ruta Puuc from Merida
I arrived by night in Merida and took a taxi to my hostel (30min, 40 pesos). They had a tour to visit five of the Ruta Puuc sites, but as I hate to follow a group I prefered to go by myself. It was great to take my time, and to enjoy a local bus (where I discussed all along with a maya maid), but I only visited two of the sites: Uxmal and Kabah.
Uxmal is the first maya city I’ve discovered in Yucatan, it takes at least 2 hours to visit it, and much more if you take a guide. It’s really gorgeous and impressive! Kabah is smaller but famous for some 300 masks dedicated to Chac, the rain god. It’s also very well preserved, you can cross the road to go to the west part, you will only distingish the ruins on the left of the way, and you will find a mysterious door which seems to be the start of an old autoroute of procession.
Here are the five sites you can visit in one day (if you take the bus you’ll be running, easier by car):
Uxmal
Kabah
Sayil
Labna
Xlapak
Looking Back…
The best way to visit this amazing region is to rent a car and enjoy the visit by yourself.
By bus you take a bus from Merida direction Campeche and ask the driver to stop to Uxmal (1h30 drive, 70 pesos). Then you take an other bus to go to Kabah (30min). And to go back you just need to stand on the road and to make a sign to the bus driver when he arrives…Infos:
– Entrance price to Uxmal: 70 pesos*
– entrance price to Kabah: 50 pesos*
– Hostel in Merida: Hostel Nomadas with their huge rooms, kitchen and swimming pool, 220 pesos (10e) per night!
› Pictures of Uxmal (on Facebook)
› Pictures of Kabah (on Facebook)
*For prices updated 2022, check this postAfter this nice introduction I took the road of one of the World’s Wonder…
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is just a chef d’oeuvre! Its modern ans so special style can be related to the fact it has been built on an other maya pyramid like the one you can see in the region (with just one side to climb on). It has a total of 365 steps and draw twice a year (during the on equinoxes), a shadow in the shape of a snake, finishing by the snake heads on the bottom! You will also discover there the biggest ball court of the country, a huge “cenote”, an amazing observatory, or a huge palace full of columns!
You will need at least half a day to visit everything. One only bad point: it’s so famous that it’s really full of tourists, guides and shops…
Infos:
– To get there: Bus from Merida to Chichen Itza: 2h – 100 pesos / bus from Chichen Itza to Valladolid 45min – 65 pesos
– Price for the entrance of Chichen Itza: 70 pesos
– Best period to visit is definitly during the equinoxe (19/21 march and 22/23 september) where they organize a special show!
› See the map of the site
› More pictures (on Facebook)Valladolid
Valladolid is a really nice city where you will visit a spanish convent, various cenotes to swim in (I only visited the one in the center), a very small museum where you will find the oldest cross of the region (as they say…) and various cathedrals.It’s a nice example of a colonial city, in 2 hours you will see everything, doesn’t really worth to spend more.
Good to know:
The Cenotes which look like nice natural swimming pools originally served as place for sacrifices… Think twice before diving in!
Coba
After one night in Valladolid, I went to Coba, one of my favourite ruins! It’s a juge city so you may need one of the bike driver avalaible in the entrance, or a bicycle to rent. I prefered to walked to fully enjoy this peacefull land! You finally can climb on the main old pyramid to enjoy an amazing view of the jungle.
After maybe 3 hours of visit, I went to Playa del Carmen, and hated this place! You are in “Gringolandia”: a VERY touristic city, without soul… It’s nice for partying, though, because it’s full of bars and restaurants and has nice beaches!
Infos:
– To get there: Bus from Valladolid direction Tulum (around 150 pesos to arrive to Tulum)
– Price for the entrance: 60 pesos (price in 2016)
Pictures: › check the album (on Facebook)Update 2022: You can no longer climb on the main pyramid, which was the most interesting stuff here… See the post 2022
Tulum
After one night in Playa del Carmen I took the road to Bacalar and stopped to Tulum, the main maya port and only site on the coast. It’s also full of tourist, but the view and sea atmosphere is a nice experience to live! You need a half day to visit the whole site, full of reptiles… (even snakes!)
I paid 40 pesos the entrance, and 150 the bus to Bacalar.
To finish I found peace and ended this trip in a magic place lost in the jungle
Bacalar & Calakmul
After a long trip from Tulum (3 hours), I arrived to this small city where there is not a lot to do but chilling! Bacalar has a old fort but that’s it, so I took a break in a very hippie hostel (Green Monkey), which was a paradise for young travelers! You can enjoy the nice blue lagoon, do standing paddle, kayak or jet ski but that’s it. I stood there one day and a half, and I met Mat to share the rent of a car from Chetumal to go to Calakmul.
Calakmul is the sister of Tikal, a huge maya city with pyramids which look like mountains! I’ve been impressed by Coba and Chichen Itza, but here is an other thing! All the hills you can see in the jungle are actually a potential pyramid. We arrived in the limit of the hour (accepted until 3pm), paid 70 pesos* the entrance, and stood there until the sunset. You should go early to really appreciate all the site, we barely saw 25% of the ruins. From Chetumal we rented a car, and then you need 1h45 to get to the ruins (see the map of this site / Check the pictures on Facebook).
We ended this trip together in Campeche where we left the car, and I took a bus to go back to Merida when I had a flight to DF.
*For prices updated 2022, check this post
Summary:
Day 1 – Ruta Puq & Merida
Day 2 – Chichen Itza & Valladolid
Day 3 – Coba & Playa del Carmen
Day 4 – Tulum & Bacalar
Day 5 – Break in Bacalar
Day 6 – Calakmul
Day 7 – Campeche and Back to MeridaDuring this trip I’ve met those (crazy) guys
