For this years summer vacation, my wife and I are planning on driving across Mexico from Cancun, to Acapulco. We’ve driven in Mexico before, from Cancun to Merida, to spend a night, then tour the Mayan ruines the next day. But this is a bit longer drive, through different areas. Has anyone ever done something like this before? How safe/unsafe is it really? If we stick to the main sights, and main roads, and only drive during the day, will it be ok? Or should we just rethink this.
I want to see Palenque, and visit Villa Hermosa and Oaxaca as well as sights in between. The plan right now is to fly into Cancun, stay one day there, do the drive across to Acapulco, stopping at variouse places along the way, and ending in Acapulco with a full day there, and then flying out the next day. 10 days total, with 2 days travel, and a day at each end recover, leaving 6 days for the drive, and sight seeing. Is this enough time? Or should we add more?
Any advice, opinions, or relevant stories and expiriences will be appriciated.
Do you have any extra room? I hitch hiked from Merida to San Francisco via Chicen Itza, Tuluum, Palneque, San Cristobal de Las Casas, Oaxaca, Mexico City, and Ciudad Juarez. That was over 25 years ago however. Six days seems a little too short. Some suggestions on things to see: Agua Azul is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been; San Cristobal De Las Casas is a really interesting place with lots of indigenous villages that come down to market in their distinctive costumes; in Palenque there are some coffee plantations and you should pick up some coffee. It’s also known for it’s “shrooms” if you are into that.
Pick up “The South American Handbook”. It has info on the little towns you will be going though.
Thanks Dan…I’m going to bump this for the start of the week, to see if I get more responses.
Of course we booked the airline tickets, before checking out rental cars. Man, that’s going to hurt. The rental itself isn’t bad, but the droff off fee is like…$700 :smack: but since the airline tickets are non-refundable, we’re just going to suck it up and pay it. Not a lot of choices. I suppose we could look for a cheap airfair from Cancun to Acapulco, but I really want to do this drive.
Agua Azul and San Cristobal De Las are both on the itinerary. As is Palenque of course. Anything else that’s along that general route that anyone can reccomend? Anyone out there do a drive similar to this?
There is a strange little waterfall and swimming hole outside Palenque on the road to Agua Azul. I think it is called something like Mislo Ha. There is a cave behind the waterfall. Leaving San Cristobal, maybe a couple of hours away, I came across a very strange matriarchal (sp?) village. When we stopped there the men looked at me and shook their heads in a way that seemed to mean “get out of here while you can”. There was a fiesta going on and the women danced with each other while the men looked on from the sidelines. The village is mentioned in The South American Handbook. It isone of the strangest places I have ever been.
Check out some of the non-major rental car places. In Europe we go a great deal from EuropByCar. They don’t rent in Mexico unfortunately. For $700 drop off fee it would be cheaper to have a local come with you and drive it back.
I hitch hiked from Merida to San Francisco via Chicen Itza, Tuluum, Palneque, San Cristobal de Las Casas, Oaxaca, Mexico City, and Ciudad Juarez. That was over 25 years ago however. Six days seems a little too short. Some suggestions on things to see: Agua Azul is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been; San Cristobal De Las Casas is a really interesting place with lots of indigenous villages that come down to market in their distinctive costumes; in Palenque there are some coffee plantations and you should pick up some coffee. It’s also known for it’s “shrooms” if you are into that.