Thanks for reporting back. Glad to hear our advice was helpful.

FYPSA is a budgrt carrier that operates on some of the same routes as ADO, but they cost less. I have posted often about budget accomodation and transport in Mexico.

Locals are well used to gringos in that part of the country. A lot of Europeans as well travel around, actually more so than those from the USA (gringos). They are extremely polite and conscious of their space, so do the same and be polite and you will be well treated. Prices are very low in Chiapas.

What do you expect you'll be bargaining for?

LW

The amount of sand on the beaches changes on a monthly basis..Maybe rocky one week and full of sand the next.

Thanks a lot - that's good to know, especially the price! Transport costs were looking prohibitive but if I can shuttle around in the combi's for most of my shorter trips, that looks like a solid option. Plus I enjoy the look of confusion on the face of the locals when they get in and see some random gringo squashed up against the window on the back seat!

Cheers, good to know. What did you find was the best way to find out about these when over there? I'd most likely be staying at hostels where possible, so the staff are likely to be pretty clued up on such things, but elsewhere it would be handy to have an idea of what's out there.

Any examples of rough prices for trips you've taken recently, so I can try and get an idea of how much I might need to budget? As I mentioned earlier, I'm not fussed about what I'm taking, the cost is generally the main consideration - the less I spend the longer I can stay or the sooner I get get away from England and on another trip!

My Spanish is poor but generally functional when it comes to the general "travel" topics - transport, accom, bargaining and most importantly - food! ;)

Just an update post now that we've returned from the trip. SCdlC was amazing. We loved the mix of local traditional culture with a backpacking vibe. We found lots of great markets, food, and shops, without being overly touristy during our mid-January visit. It also served as a perfect jumping off point to visit indigenous communities, eco parks, and ruins. After gathering advice and perspectives (thank you, everyone!!!), we abandoned the idea of the long trip to Palanque, instead opting to go to Comitan for a night and making side trips from there. The ruins at Tenam Puente were excellent and very uncrowded - if you have a car, it's a must-see. We also loved El Chiflon. We could have spent an entire day there. We also headed down to Lago de Montbello. From there, we hired a local guide who took us to a coffee farm and the Guatamelan border. This part of the trip was a little overwhelming, so the certified guide was a good option. We'd recommend budgeting time for a trip on the log rafts to the island in Cinco Lagos, where you can swim and cliff jump. Everyone was very excited that Antonio Banderas filmed a beer commerical there. Big news story, it seems. Comitan was a nice change of pace for a night, and we're really glad that we decided to skip the half-day drive to Palanque and headed south instead.

For anyone considering San Cristobal, make sure that a visit to Chamula gets on your itinerary. We weren't super convinced, but it ended up being a highlight of our trip. A stop by Iglesia de San Juan is an unusual and extraordinary experience.

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I always stay in the Zona Romantica area when I'm in Puerto Vallarta. It's my favorite beach area. The beach, though, is rocky in that area -- not as much sand as you may find in other places. I'm not sure you'd see anything if you tried to snorkel -- water there seems turbid, stirred up all the time. It's a place with a ton of energy -- plenty of hotels, beach clubs, vendors, and restaurants. Plenty to see and do, and great for walking around.

I've only been to Sayulita once, and it wasn't my sort of place. Tons of English-speaking tourists, just not my thing. The beach and area might be better for water activities though.