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Most of your travel can be achieved by first-class bus. You can see schedules at www.ado.com.mx (or boletotal.com.mx). Oaxaca-Puerto Escondido can be achieved more quickly by shared van across the mountains (6 hours rather than 12 hours by bus). Nearly all your travel between destinations involves a bus journey of 6+ hours so it is a LOT of travel (although you don't say how much time you have in total for this trip).

Being blond is irrelevant (there are many blond Mexicans) but of course you will be recognized as tourists. There will be plenty of them in the places you are visiting - and generally tourists are less likely to be victims of crimes than locals. Keep an eye on your things on the bus of course.

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Bus Travel, taxi or van (easiest, fastest, most safe, routes to avoid, times to avoid).
Absolut must-sees on the route
How to get from P.E to San Cristobal dispite the Night bus?
And just generel advice.;O)..
Thanks.

I recommend reading a guide book to Mexico, then coming back with specific questions.
There's no way most of us can answer questions such as "must sees" or "general advice" without knowing more specific info as to your interests. Mountain climbing? Clubbing? Whale watching? Touring ruins?

The "blond" question sounds like a troll to me. Or maybe the whole post is.

Edited by: Anonimo

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about being blond...
you're girlfriend might be attracted to handsome dark-haired Mexicans, so if I were you I'd keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn't wander.

I did a similar route years ago, all by bus. When you arrive at a station, take note of when the buses to your next destination depart and then decide your schedule.

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Agree with sanddrifts - biggest risk with girlfriend is her taking off with some moreno, smooth-talking, guayabera-wearing hombre rather than being kidnapped or raped.

As for "must-sees", they're around every corner in Mexico and I've learned not to walk out of the door without my camera handy. In your case, what are your interests? My must-sees may not be your must-sees.

As for your itinerary - It's doable given enough time and money, but you don't tell us about time and money, so can't help much. All I'd say is don't rush through Mexico - slow down. Try to plan at least two days and three is better at each destination.

As for travelling: Mexico has one of the most comprehensive buss systems in the world and you can literally get from anywhere to anywhere on them. First class busses are inexpensive, clean, safe and efficient. Second class busses are more, shall we say, rustic.

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How to get from P.E to San Cristobal dispite the Night bus?

Take a second-class SUR bus departing in the morning from Oaxaca to Tehuantepec (there, your girlfriend might be more worried about a local man coming on to you than her). Stay overnight if you have time and continue the next morning to Tuxtla Gutierrez and San Cristobal de las Casas. Second class buses vary greatly in their comfort and reliability; if you stick to one of the ADO marks, that is SUR, AU, Mayab, etc, you'll be fine.

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Thanks for the advice.

To fill in:
We have 3 weeks to complete the trip.. Is that to little? We are thinking about skipping Agua Azul and go directly from P.E to Merida. Any experience on that trip? (And yes, I know its a long one).

I wouldnt ask your guys questions before reading guidebooks.. But it seems to me that they are pretty random.. One say one thing and anothers says something else..

Im pretty confident that my girlfriend will stick with me ;o)..

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for my tastes, you've got too much on your itinerary.

3 days in df (I could spend much, much longer there but on my first trips when I wasn't familiar with the city, I found it overwhelming and wanted out after two or three days. So, see the highlights in the city (these differ from person to person so you choose) and maybe go to Teotihuacan for a day trip.

3 days in Oaxaca. You could do 2 days but I'm taking into account travel time. Even so, this is rushing it. You won't be able to visit surrounding villages.

3 days in P.E. It takes a long time to get from Oaxaca city to P.E. (or you can fly). You can 'see' P.E. in an afternoon but the point of the place is chilling on the beach so 2-3 days is enough for some, not for others.

3 days San Cristobal de las Casas. Again, this includes travel time (I did it in reverse and our bus got stuck in Juchitan for hours and hours due to a blockade on the highway-stuff happens) so just a quick stop, again.

1 day Palenque. actually just a few hours as you'll have to travel from San Cristobal and to Merida (unless you plan on staying the night, in which case 2 days Palenque)

3 days Merida. this is a minimum with the long trips from Palenque and to Tulum (why you've got Tulum next instead of Cancun/Isla Mujeres I don't know)

ok, so another 5 days for Cancun/Isla Mujeres/Tulum

You can do it. I wouldn't...rushing through everywhere, even the beach portion. Too much time in bus stations and on buses.

btw, you didn't mention if your girlfriend is beautiful (I know you think so, but objectively do other people think she's beautiful?) Sure there are blondes in Mexico but not the super pale/needs SPF 60/even has blonde eyelashes-type. So if she is also beautiful then she may get a lot of attention and no, not from robbers ;-)

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1. Sanddrifts

Thanks for you comments.

We do not want to spend our whole trip on a bus, so maybe we should skip some of the destinations.. I dont know.

Ive heard that you can get from Oaxaca to PE in a van which is only 6 hours instead of 12.. How do you find vans like that?

Haha.. Youre right about the beauty part.. Maybe the mexicans have a different taste of women..

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Ive heard that you can get from Oaxaca to PE in a van which is only 6 hours instead of 12.. How do you find vans like that?

I've used these vans several times, as recently as this summer. They are fast, but comfort depends upon which seat you're assigned, and how much luggage is stored inside the passenger compartment. Check the tires to see how badly they're worn. And take a dimenhidrinato pill before boarding if you're at all prone to motion sickness. Most of the vans are Toyota Hiace-brand, which are okay, but I prefer the Dodge/MB Sprinter or VW Crafter vans which are more spacious and comfortable. Price approx 140 MXN each way. Enjoy the great scenery.

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Hi Festerdinho,

Mexico is a beautiful country (your first time visiting?) and you shouldn't rush through it. While I love seeing the countryside from a bus, perhaps you could fly to some of your destinations, in order to save time? Or drop out Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido entirely?

I can tell you for certain that the Mexican men are charmers and flirts. I found this out on my first visit in 1980, and in 2010, despite the increase in my age by several decades, it was no different.

Way back in 1984 my husband and I had only ten days, and we visited Mexico City, then flew to Oaxaca and then flew to Puerto Escondido. It worked out well, time wise.

The trip I am planning now, I will start in Cancun, then Isla Mujeres, Valladolid, Campeche (I've been to Chichen Itza, Merida, Uxmal already), Palenque and San Cristobal. I have planned and allotted three weeks for these places alone.

I'm not exactly sure, but in November is there still a possibility of rain slowing down your bus travel in Chiapas? Plan for that, if it is the case.

Anyhow, good luck! Mexico City is a most beautiful place.

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BCMum, what a coincidence, I also visited Puerto Escondido (stayed in Frac. Bacocho), flew to Oaxaca (in a DC-3), and Mexico City (by jet) in 1984.

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Yes, it was a very small plane, landing kinda in the middle of nowhere! I do remember that even back then, there was talk about a new airport and major tourism development to come, but it seemed a bit hard to believe.

What a lovely quiet place PE was at that time, but it was so HOT. We have never been back, but my hubby and I still talk about the gigantic shrimp that he had for dinner our first night there, in a palapa restaurant just off the dirt road near the beach. OMG delicious. Didn't really think PE had changed much until one night a couple of years ago I saw it featured on House Hunters International.......

The flights back then were a very reasonable cost, which is why I mentioned the possibility of flying for the OP to save a bit of time, but maybe flying isn't a viable option now.

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Some tourists prefer to fly: Aerotucan operates turboprop Cessna Caravans between Oaxaca city and Puerto Escondido for approx 120 USD each way, one hour.

Yes, some things have changed....