Backpacking Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize advice

I think that even with 30 days you would have had time to get to Atitlan but of course it would have been more rushed. In your first message you were going to Merida first not last. Keep in mind that it is a good idea to get to your farthest point fairly quickly and then work your way back. I would imagine that you want to make a loop without backtracking too much. Leaving from Mexico City opens up a whole different can of worms and you will have to ask someone else about that. If anything, I would return from Guatemala City and then you will have more time to enjoy the trip.

I did a similar trip a few years ago, but traveling from Honduras through Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico, ending in Cancun in September.
Highlights:

Caye Caulker, Belize-- great for snorkeling(Hol Chan Reserve).. if Junie is still around, find him and see if he'll take you on his boat. (If he doesn't like you, he'll say the boat is full haha)

Yucatan, Mexico-- the CENOTES. If you SCUBA dive, don't miss Chak Mool.. you need a guide but its amazing clear fresh water cave diving. (you could also snorkel and swim in many cenotes but diving under water caves is scary/amazing!)

If you can fly into your starting point and fly home from your ending point, you'll maximize your time. Looping around or back tracking is a bummer!

As this is the Guatemala forum and I love Guatemala let me point out that you could spend 4-6 weeks in Guatemala alone. For Lake Atitlan, Antigua, Lanquin/Semuc Champey, Flores/Tikal 2 weeks would be good but you may need more if you want to climb a few volcanoes. And Guatemala has many other interesting places (Xela, Nebaj, Rio Dulce, GC...).

Get maps and guide books and figure out the costs. Belize tends to be expensive. Belize city is a must miss itself but Belize has some interesting Maya ruins. Guatemala is wonderful and just so much to see and do and the same for Mexico. The Yucatan is full of maya ruins and cenotes plus great beaches. Photos on wolf calls.com.

Does anyone else have any experience with the loop route vs. going from Cancun to Mexico City? The two options I envision are:
Loop Route: fly into Cancun to Tulum to Caye Caulker to San Ignacio, to Flores, to Semuc Champey to Antigua/lake Atitlan to Xela to San Cristobal to Palenque to Merida and back to Cancun to fly home (or do this in the opposite order).
OR
fly into Cancun to Tulum to Caye Caulker to San Ignacio, to Flores, to Semuc Champey to Antigua/lake Atitlan to Xela to San Cristobal to Palenque to Oaxaca to Mexico City
With six weeks, are both similar in doability? How do Oaxaca and Merida compare?

This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.