I want to go to Mexico. I’m still at the “where to go” stage.
In particular, I’m trying to decide between the Yucatan area vs. the other part, Mexico City/the Pacific Coast.
Anyone been to both areas?
Well having lived in AZ for many years, I can say you had better make a good itinerary before you go. The major cities are nice, especially the coastal cities, but as soon as you get past the niceness it gets very poor, very quickly. I’d suggest going to the cozumel and Riviera Maya areas. They are very nice, and well within the places where getting lost won’t hurt too bad. If you’d like to go to the pacific coast I’d suggest Puerto Vallarta and surrounding cities. I’d avoid Mexico City all together. This is only my opinion however. Oh and always carry some American $20’s for the ferales if you get pulled over. And always obey all the laws. Even the speeding laws… you do not want to mess with the federales.
Yeah, in my haste to post I neglected to mention that my Spanish is almost non-existent and I’ll be traveling alone so I’ll probably end up on some sort of small group tour. (But of course there are endless choices, so you just trade one decision for another.)
What are you looking for? Scenery? Interaction with the indigenous people?
My experience in Mexico is far, far from extensive, but my impression of the Yucatan was that if you strayed very far from the ocean or the ruins, there was pretty much nothing to see but rather dull forest.
I’ve been to Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, and Mazatlan, and absolutely loved Mazatlan. It’s on the west coast right across from the tip of Baja California. The people are great; the hotels and restaurants are less expensive, the nightlife is fantastic, the … well. I’d go back in an instant. You can actually (at least 10 years ago) lay on the beach without being constantly accosted by vendors.
I’d be happy to help as well if you could let me know what you want from this vacation?
Another vote for Mazatlan. I drove there (from Laredo) and back as my first Mexico experience. On the way there, the deserts were gorgeous and the mountain roads were scenic and thrilling. Staying in Gomez Palacio was a very pleasant non-touristy experience. Mazatlan itself struck me as some sort of unknown and endearing gem.
I’ve also been to Puerto Vallarta (twice, but by air) - very fun, especially if you’re interested in a gay scene. I stayed in the older hotel area south of town. I wouldn’t recommend the big newer resorts to the north - unless you’re into beautiful but prepackaged and isolated versions of “Mexico”.
Wouldn’t say “extensively” however have been to areas perhaps not frequented by other people. Mexico City is very populated, crowded. Yucatan is very isolated…people are a little different…each state in Mexico is a little different, much like Canada / U.S. provinces /states. After a while, you can spot, by facial characterisics, who is from where.
Yucatan is very interesting in that the people are a little more warm, friendly opposed to Mexico City where high pollution levels and crowds will be your nemises (sp?).
Depends on what you would like to see.
I’d like to find a place without all the time share people!
Anyone been to Monterrey?
What are your interests? Mexico is a very large and diverse place. Are beaches your thing? How about archealogy? Modern cities with a lot of night life? Colonial towns of the central highlands? Deserts, forests, jungle?
And please, don’t listen to the “horror” stories of the uniformed. Mexico recieves millions of foreign visitors every year. Very few have any problems. Many of the few who do felt they didn’t need to respect the law or local customs.
Take the Green Tortoise to the Yucatan. Stay the hell away from Cancun, which has got to be one of the most vile places on earth. Jungles, ruins, cenotes…lots of fun.
I like a little bit of beach, but not more than a couple of days. Very big on the ruins. Not so interested in the big cities, they tend to be too similar. Like the little villages. Don’t want to stay in the same place for too long because I get bored.
even sven, that Green Tortoise looks really interesting. I was also looking at camping tours (like TrekAmerica), which are in the same vein but with a van and tents instead of a bus with sleepers.
BTW, when I asked if anyone had travelled “extensively”, I was just trying to find people who had gone to more than one Cancun.
Oaxaca is the place for you then.
My sister went there last month for the same reasons you said.
I have traveled hitchhiked from Merida to Chicen Itza, Tulum, Palenque, San Cristobal de la Casas, Mexico City, Leon and then up to El Paso. That was about 30 years ago. I gave been to Baja several times and just got back from Mexico City. In general, the further you get away from the tourist areas the better. People seem to like Americans more when they haven’t seen too many of them. Can’t say I blame them. I really like the Yucatan but it is getting more and more touristy. Chiapas is really neat. San Cristobal de la Casas has Indians from a whole bunch of tribes come down for market day. They all have distinctive native dress. It’s not on the beach however. I think the Green Tortoise idea is a good one. They also have a trip to Baja. La Paz in Baja is not as touristy as Cabo and is also cheaper. You can take a ferry from there to Mazatlan and other places on the “mainland”. Mexico City is interesting, but it’s one place where I’d rather stay in an expensive hotel in a safe area.
Mexicans are wonderful. I had people buy me dinner and shots of tequila. They are thrilled if you try and speak Spanish. Bring some postcards of your home town and some trinkets like flag pins to give to the kids.
What’s wrong with Cancun, or with “jungles, ruins…”?
We’re considering a trip there this year.
PS what are “cenotes”?
Cancun is fine if you aren’t in the insane, spring-break tourist section. Cancun didn’t exist 40 years ago- it is a tourist contruct specializing in heavy drinking, overpriced crap and bad tattoos. But you can avoid that if you want to! The “real” Cancun is inland, away from the tourist peninsula. The bus will take you into town for markets, etc. The bus is awesome, you can get anywhere for 60 cents. Do NOT pay for a cab in Cancun. Let’s face it- it’s pretty much one really long avenue, and the bus runs the length of it. A cab ride from one end to the other can run you more than $10 US.
We stayed at the Westin Regina (almost at the end of the long, long row of hotels and resorts) and it was a good jumping-off place for our touring.
We hired a private tour guide who is an archaeologist (everyone seems to have a second or third job in the tourist industry). We spent one day at Chichen Itza and one day at Tulum & Coba. Coba was amazing- more than 70% of it is still overgrown jungle.
Our guide made it all worth it. Nothing like learning about a ball court from someone who not only helped to excavate it, but who has actually played the game the way it was originally played. We overheard hotel & Xplora tour guides giving tourists all kinds of half-truths and outright bullshit at every site… Pathetic.
The Maya people are very hospitable and friendly. We had people in villages who were very welcoming.
On the other side of Mexico is the Baja peninsula, which is more CA south than “real” Mexico! 
But there are some interesting places to see once you get away from Cabo. Don’t expect the peripheral roads to be paved, but don’t worry about it. A Jeep or similar vehicle will have no trouble. We drove up and down Baja almost aimlessly, just checking out the towns, snorkling, etc. We stumbled onto several very cool places and people and had a great time.
Be open to adventure and you’ll be fine. If you are adverse to local poverty, dust or local cooking, don’t venture out of your hotel.
A cenote is a deep spring that you can scuba dive in. The Blue Hole is probably the most famous cenote.
I think it should be read as “stay away from Cancun (because it’s touristy) and go to the rest of the Yucatan, which has jungles, ruins, etc.)”.
Of course, you fly into Cancun, so you can’t entirely avoid it.
Thanks. Smackfu-that’s the information needed to plan a trip effectively.
Given what you’ve shared, here’s an itinerary suggestion for the Yucatan peninsula that many of my clients really enjoyed:
Fly into Merida.
Plan to stay several days in Merida and rent a car.
Lots of people speak English and if you’re friendly, you may get adopted and taken to a fiesta as we were.
On your second day, drive to the nearby ruins of Uxmal (which can also be reached by bus):
Uxmal includes:
Take another day to vist the ruins at Kabah, Labna and Sayil. They are smaller sites but wll worth seeing.
You can combine them with a trip to Loltun Caverns.
There are daily guided tours in English.
For more natural wonders in the area, visit the coastal town of Progreso-it’s a funky little town with good seafood and a far cry from Cancun.
Combine it with a boat tour of Celestun:
From Merida, either bus or drive to the coast to Playa del Carmen.
Many rental car companies will let you pick up a car in Merida and drop it in Cancun.
Spend a few nights in Playa-the town is still small and fun and has great restaurants and lots of European tourists.
Relax on the beach for a day and oogle the topless ladies.
Then drive down to Akumal. Akumal has a marine preserve with wonderful snorkeling.
Finally, return the car to Cancun and fly home.
I’m sorry, jungles and ruins are awesome. The Yucatan is brimming with them and it’s a blast. One million billion times better than the surreal hell that is the created city of Cancun. Save the airfare and just stay at a resort at home.
SmackFu The tortoise is indeed a camping tour (although not exclusively nature-based). They do try to minimize the nights spent in the bus- I think we did two on the 9 day Yucatan trip and you are welcome to bring tents and stuff (I highly recommend buying a hammock on your first night- the Yucatan is famous for having the best hammocks- and using that as your “tent” for the rest of the trip.) The guides are excellent and the itineraries are great. It’s not at all a tour where you feel herded around. The food is great (although communally prepared, so prepare to chop and wash dishes- don’t worry, it’s fun, the people are great) and some really special stuff happens. At one distant ruin, the drivers convinced the local caretakers to let us all spend the night on top of the pyramid. The next night, we threw a big tequila filled party (complete with pinata) in the middle of the jungle for them.
jlzania’s plan looks pretty fun- Merida is widely regarded as one of the best towns in the area- but I would skip Playa del Carmen or something to make it over to Palenque. Palenque is big and pretty touristy, but it’s one helluva ruin and it’d be a shame to go all that way without visiting.
And have fun! Mexico is a lot of fun. I can’t recommend getting a copy of A People’s Guide to Mexico enough. It’s a great read even if you are just armchair travelling and it can be a lifesaver on the road. A very, very, very excellent book.