1

There is an excellent bus connections between Palenque and Merida. You could even make a stop in Campeche, which is a city on the UNESCO heritage list. Merida has plenty to offer, you can see your flamingos on a day trip to Celestun from Merida, and explore many Mayan sites around there, if this is of interest. You can also visit cenotes (sink holes) for swimming and exploring from Merida. OR if swimming and beaches is of more interest, go to Chetumal and stay on that coast, and visit Coba (a must) from Playa.

2

Quite a list for 25-days. I'd recommend slowing down some.

Some suggestions:

First of all figure travel time between destinations into your itinerary. So far it doesn't look like you have.

Give yourself three or four days in Mexico City. It has ancient ruins, world-class museums, Spanish colonial historical center, great nightlife and restaurants, quiet neighborhoods - in other words, a lot to see and do.

Palenque: Give yourself three days in Palenque in order to take the all-day-long trip to the ruins of Yaxchilan and Bonampak and maybe take a guided jungle walk.

San Cristobal: Another three days or so to see nearby indigenous communities and simply to enjoy this colonial mountain city. Between San Cristobal and Palenque are the stops for the waterfalls at Misol-Ha and Aguas Azules.

Once you reach Merida plan three days there for side trips to Mayan ruins, Celestun as recommended, listening to the live music in the streets and strolling by the mansions lining Paseo de Montejo.

Oaxaca deserves at least three days (Monte Alban, the massive city mercado, nearby indigenous communities)

That brings you to about 20 -days (adding in travel time between destinations) with only 5 left for Tulum and surroundings.

3

I agree with Bob....sloooooooooow down and enjoy your trip. After Palenque, see Yaxchillan adn Bonampak two great ruins that can be done in one day from Palenque I just returned from Merida and it is a beautiful cith with friendly people. Tou could do lots with Merida as a base.

4

Hi guys,

thanks for your reply's.

Now we have the next itinerary:

1 Flight to Mexico
2 Mexico City
3 Mexico City
4 Bus from Mexico City to Oaxaca (in the morning). In the afternoon visiting Oaxaca
5 Oaxaca - Tour: Monte Alban, Arrazola, Cuilipan & Coyotepec
6 Oaxaca - Tour: Tule Tree, Mitla & Hierve El Agua
7 Oaxaca + Night bus from Oaxaca to San Christobal
8 San Christobal - Tour: Canon de Sumidero & Chiapa de Corzo
9 San Christobal - Tour: San Juan Chamula u Zinacantan
10 San Christobal - Tour: Laguna de Montebello
11 Bus in the morning from San Christobal to Palenque (or is it better to take a bus in the evening of day 10?) + visit the ruines of Palenque in the afternoon (we don't going to visit Bonampak)
12 Palenque - Tour: Misol Ha & Agua Azul
13 Bus from Palenque to Merida
14 Merida
15 Merida - Celestun or Las Coloradas & Rio Lagartas => suggestions? Or can we do both or is it to much the same?
16 Merida
17 Bus from Merida to Tulum
18 Tulum: Tour - Coba & Cenote
19 Tulum: snorkling in Akumal
20 Tulum
21 Bus from Tulum to PDC
22 Playa del Carmen (Chichen Itza & Cenote)? Or is it twice the same (with the cenote by Tulum?)
23 Playa del Carmen
24 Bus to Cancun and flight from Cancun to Mexico City
25 Flight from Mexico in the evening => we can drop our bagage at our last hotel to walk the last day in the city

For information: we made a few travels the last 4 years, so I know we will see a lot in these 25 days and we will have not so much time to be on the swimming pool or just hanging out, but we don't go to Mexico to be a hole week on the swimming pool...

Do you have any suggestions about the tours and about the connections between the city?
thanks a lot!