Help please: Possible itinerary for Yucatan Peninsula & Chiapas
Replies: 19 - Last Post: Dec 5, 2012 10:35 AM Last Post By: tempestuous
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Help please: Possible itinerary for Yucatan Peninsula & Chiapas
Hi guys,I am currently on exchange in Mexico and it's coming to an end soon. I will be going to Peru from 13/12 - 18/12, and would like to explore the Yucatan and Chiapas after that alone. My flight out of Mexico for New York will be on 30/12.
My proposed itinerary is below. I would appreciate all the feedback and help that I can get. Am I gonna burn myself out too much? Am I moving from one hostel to the other too much? Are there any places that you think I should skip?
Alternatively, I can just focus on just either Yucatan or Chiapas, and have the option of flying out to New York earlier.
I am not a beach and party type of person, but I thought I should go to Cancun and some of the other beaches because it's Mexico, and I won't be coming to this part of the world any time soon.
Also I would be dragging my luggage with me throughout the entire journey. I've heard of a left luggage department in Mexico City Airport, but it is safe? Anyone has tried it? Thank you!
ITINERARY
18/12 - reach Cancun Airport around 1600hrs, settle into a hostel in Cancun
19/12 - Isla Mujeres for half a day, come back to explore Cancun i.e. El Centro and Playa Linda (should I bother making a trip to Zona Hotelera?)
20/12 - Cab back to Cancun Airport, take a bus to Playa Del Carmen, settle into hostel, chill at Playa Del Carmen
21/12 - Cab back to Playa's bus terminal, take a 1-hr bus to Tulum at 0730hrs, settle into hostel, explore Tulum, explore Coba
22/12 - bus to Merida, settle into hostel, explore downtown
23/12 - still exploring Merida
24/12 - Chichen Itza
25/12 - Uxmal, night bus from Merida to Palenque
26/12 - Palenque, stay in Palenque town, Palenque ruins
27/12 - Morning bus to San Cristobal at 0655hrs, reach at about 1300hrs, settle into hostel, explore San Cristobal
28/12 - Explore San Cristobal
29/12 - San Cristobal in the morning till evening, night bus to D.F. Terminal Norte at night
30/12 - Reach Terminal Norte at about 1000hrs, flight at 1350hrs to New York
THANK YOU!!!
1
Too rushed for me but I'm probably getting old :)) A couple of suggestions.20/12: No need to cab to Cancun Airport just to get the bus - just go to Cancun bus station (which is nearer) and get a bus from there.
24/12: Consider instead getting a bus to Chichen on the 22/12 and then proceeding to Merida from there (since it is virtually en route). That saves backtracking and frees up more time.
2
Mexican buses are occasionally delayed by unforeseen evens such breakdowns along highways, or waits for traffic to clear after accidents have taken place . So, consider rearranging your itinerary so that you will either: (1) Bus back to Mexico City in time to spend the night of December 29th there; or (2) reverse your plans by first busing from MC to San Cristobal and then flying back from Cancun to MC on either December 29 or Dec. 30th (very early).3
Day 1 hostel in CancunDay 2 all day in Isla overnight in Isla, forget Cancun
Day 3 bus from Cancun to Tulum, explore ruins, enjoy beach
Day 4 Tulum to Coba ruins to Piste (Chichen Itza)
Day 5 Chichen Itza be there at the 8 AM opening, bus to Merida
Day 6 Uxmal tour
Day 7 Tour to Celestun or hang out in Merida
Day 8 explore Merida night bus to Palenque
Day 9 Palenque ruins and the falls
Can't help with the rest.
this will stream line things a bit and cut out some beach redundancy.
Regards,
Bob
4
¨Mexican buses are occasionally delayed by unforeseen evens such breakdowns along highways, or waits for traffic to clear after accidents have taken place¨Where do you get that information. I use first class buses all over Mexico and never had a breakdown or minor delay. Last breakdown I experienced was on a second class bus about 15 years ago. Really not something to be concerned about.
Good advice from rjon. Except you dont need to worry about Piste. ADO first class and Oriente second class buses go directly to Chichen Itza.
5
Thanks guys! So the beaches are worth skipping? Yeap, not a beach person, but I thought of going there for a bit and snap a few photos etc. Afterall, most people equate Mexico with Cancun, and I'm pretty sure my friends will be going, "You went to Mexico but didn't go to Cancun??". But your advice sounds good Bob!Thanks queretaro for the tip. (:
Chris0daniel, alas I'm just a poor undergraduate hence the bus option since it's much cheaper I believe. I probably have to cut San Cristobal by a day. Thanks!
Thanks RobertSDF too for the tip!!
Anymore suggestions and feedback?
7
We are beach people and were in the Yucatan recently on a first trip. This is our feedback,,,,,,The ruins and cenotes were the highlights. We liked Tulum and its beaches, but not really the even more touristy Playa del Carmen. Have no regrets at not spending time in Cancun.Have a great trip.
8
I'd stay on Isla rather than Cancun and also skip PDC (too built up for me but you might like it) and go straight to Tulum. Depends if you like cities and high rises, or are a more laid back person like me. And agree about taking the bus from downtown Cancun, $5 taxi ride from the IM ferry to the bus station.10
I agree, duke. Skip Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Isla Mujeres. You wont miss much. Head for Chiapas.11
I plan to go to Isla to go see the turtles. ;p Are they not worth the time?Anyway I would really love to see the ruins in Yucatan, so I don't think I will go straight to Chiapas as two of you suggested. But thanks!
12
RobertSDF --You asked me why I believe Mexican buses are occasionally late reaching their destinations. ("Where do you get that information?")Over the years I have personally experienced each of the following sources of ground travel delays along Mexican highways: removal of rocks from a road following a landslide; waiting for a temporary ferry following a bridge washout; blockage of several hours as wreckage was cleared from a major accident; vehicle breakdowns (one tour van; one second class bus); two hour delay due to local political protest/blockade; extensive traffic congestion in Mexico City.
Of course, like you, I've also made a great many Mexican bus and car journeys that proceeded like clock work. My point here is not to criticize Mexico's highways or its wonderful public transportation system. Long distance buses there frequently complete their runs "on schedule".
I personally like, however, to build substantial slack time into my plans on occasions when timing matters, as it does when I catch an international flight following long distance busing. My life unfolds less stressfully lived that way.
13
"Also I would be dragging my luggage with me throughout the entire journey. I've heard of a left luggage department in Mexico City Airport, but it is safe? Anyone has tried it?"Tempestuous--No one has responded here yet to this question, so you may want to re-post it as a separate thread?
I've not used that particular airport facility, but I suspect that apart from the baggage security issue, the per day cost of storing luggage that way for seventeen days might cumulatively become problematical for you. An alternative would be store it instead at a Mexico City hostel or hotel. I've done that successfully elsewhere in Mexico. I wouldn't want to leave anything exceptionally valuable in a hotel storage closet, however.
