{"id":7755,"date":"2018-11-07T17:14:16","date_gmt":"2018-11-07T16:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/?p=7755"},"modified":"2026-10-28T08:04:55","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T08:04:55","slug":"backpacking-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/","title":{"rendered":"Mexico Travel Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This giant North American country covers about 2 million square kilometers and over 10,000 km of coastline. It&#8217;s among the 10 most visited countries in the world and has something to offer for every taste: Caribbean beaches, mountains, deserts, ruins, colonial cities and much more. <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I spent more than a month backpacking around the country, and in this guide you&#8217;ll find a lot of tips and information to organize your trip as best you can.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"quick-menu\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Quick menu<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"text-align: left;\">\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#when\">When to visit Mexico<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#doc\">Documents and vaccinations to enter Mexico<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#what\">What to do and see in Mexico<\/a>\r\n    <details>\r\n      <summary>Destinations<\/summary>\r\n      <ul>\r\n        <li>\r\n          <details>\r\n            <summary><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#central-mexico-chiapas\">Central Mexico and Chiapas<\/a><\/summary>\r\n            <ul>\r\n              <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#mexico-city\">Mexico City<\/a><\/li>\r\n              <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#puebla\">Puebla<\/a><\/li>\r\n              <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#oaxaca\">Oaxaca<\/a><\/li>\r\n              <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#puerto-escondido\">Puerto Escondido<\/a><\/li>\r\n              <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#zipolite\">Zipolite<\/a><\/li>\r\n              <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#san-cristobal\">San Crist\u00f3bal de las Casas<\/a><\/li>\r\n              <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#palenque\">Palenque<\/a><\/li>\r\n            <\/ul>\r\n          <\/details>\r\n        <\/li>\r\n        <li>\r\n          <details>\r\n            <summary><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#yucatan-peninsula\">Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula<\/a><\/summary>\r\n            <ul>\r\n              <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#cancun\">Cancun<\/a><\/li>\r\n              <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#isla-mujeres\">Isla Mujeres<\/a><\/li>\r\n              <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#playa-del-carmen\">Playa del Carmen<\/a><\/li>\r\n              <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#cozumel\">Cozumel<\/a><\/li>\r\n              <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#tulum\">Tulum<\/a><\/li>\r\n              <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#valladolid\">Valladolid<\/a><\/li>\r\n              <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#holbox\">Holbox Island<\/a><\/li>\r\n              <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#merida\">Merida<\/a><\/li>\r\n              <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#campeche\">Campeche<\/a><\/li>\r\n              <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#bacalar\">Bacalar<\/a><\/li>\r\n            <\/ul>\r\n          <\/details>\r\n        <\/li>\r\n      <\/ul>\r\n    <\/details>\r\n  <\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#iti\">Suggested itineraries in Mexico<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#how\">How to get around Mexico<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#cost\">Backpacking Mexico: costs<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#safe\">Backpacking Mexico: safety<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/#quick-menu\" style=\"position: fixed; right: 18px; bottom: 18px; z-index: 9999; padding: 8px 12px; border: 1px solid #999; border-radius: 6px; background: #fff; text-decoration: none; font-size: 14px;\">\u2191 Menu<\/a>\r\n<h2><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/rovine_teotihuacan.jpg\" alt=\"The Pyramids of Teotihuacan\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The Pyramids of Teotihuacan near Mexico City.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"when\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>When to visit Mexico<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Summer, which runs from June to October, is theoretically the <strong>rainy season<\/strong>, but rainfall varies a lot depending on the region.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The center of the country is where the season is most pronounced, though the daily rainfall is usually concentrated in a few hours in the afternoon (Chiapas is the state where it rains the most). Along the coast, rainfall is less frequent but comes with high humidity, while in the north it almost never rains.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Between September and October it&#8217;s hurricane season: along the coasts rainfall is more frequent and, of course, there&#8217;s a chance of running into tropical storms.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">November marks the beginning of the dry season and is probably the best month to explore the country, since the rains have just ended, the vegetation is lush and the high season hasn&#8217;t started yet. From December to April the weather is excellent, and in fact it coincides with the high season, especially in the Yucatan.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That said, you can easily visit Mexico all year round. I was there at the turn of September and October, so during hurricane season: it often rained in the afternoon, but only for a few hours, and it was never a big problem.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/alba_laguna_bacalar.jpg\" alt=\"Sunrise at Bacalar Lagoon in Mexico\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunrise at Bacalar Lagoon.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"doc\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Documents and vaccinations to enter Mexico<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With an Italian passport, you get a 180-day tourist visa when you enter the country (the rules change depending on your nationality, so check yours).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The visa is free, but there&#8217;s a 717 MXN tourist tax that has to be paid when you leave the country. Some airlines include it in the ticket price. I entered by land from Guatemala and had to pay it. Keep the receipt!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are no mandatory vaccinations required to enter Mexico, but Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B are recommended.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">For up-to-date information on visas and so on, I recommend checking your own government&#8217;s official travel advice (for example, the UK&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/mexico\">Foreign travel advice<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/cascata_rovine_palenque.jpg\" alt=\"Waterfall in the forest near the ruins of Palenque\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Waterfall in the forest near the ruins of Palenque.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"what\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Mexico<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to planning a trip to Mexico, a country that on its own is bigger than all the Central American countries put together, it&#8217;s clear that you&#8217;d need to spend months, if not years, to see all of it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The classic Mexico itinerary basically runs from Mexico City to the Yucatan Peninsula. It&#8217;s an easy itinerary to follow and can be combined with neighboring Guatemala and Belize. As you can see from the map, this guide mainly covers these places, which in my opinion are a good compromise between beaches, cities and ruins, between nature and culture.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prices in this guide are expressed in the local currency. The official currency in Mexico is the Mexican Peso, abbreviated as &#8220;MXN&#8221; or simply &#8220;P.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The exchange rate is about 1\u20ac = 21 MXN. For the current exchange rate, I suggest checking <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.xe.com\/currencyconverter\/convert\/?Amount=1&amp;From=EUR&amp;To=MXN\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Messico_cosa_vedere.jpg\" alt=\"Tourist map of Mexico, what to do and see\" width=\"730\" height=\"365\" \/>\r\n<div id=\"central-mexico-chiapas\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<div id=\"mexico-city\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Mexico City<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The capital, with its 10 million inhabitants, which even exceed 20 million if you consider the entire metropolitan area. Many of the districts that make up the city are sketchy and generally don&#8217;t have much to offer tourists, but the heart of the city is truly fascinating and worth a visit.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Mexico City<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the city center, and particularly in the area around the Z\u00f3calo which is the main square (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/r4P8xgEKTE89FfJc7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), there are a lot of historic buildings, churches and museums. Among the museums I recommend the anthropology museum (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/h68gv9bDU9CzC1CZ8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), one of the best in the world, or the Frida Kahlo museum (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/6kXMPidumjZZjPxg9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which, however, I didn&#8217;t personally visit.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A couple of blocks from the main square you&#8217;ll find La Lagunilla (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/JTAcRhHjcNjvGaFBA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), a huge market that&#8217;s definitely worth a visit, and if you feel like it, you can join a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freetour.com\/mexico-city\/historic-downtown\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">free walking tour<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/museo_antropologia_citta\u0300_del_messico.jpg\" alt=\"The Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Pyramids of Teotihuacan<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also known as the &#8220;City of the Gods&#8221;, it&#8217;s an archaeological site located 40 km north of Mexico City (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/VLfdaEubENRfsWSU9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Here you&#8217;ll find some of the largest pyramids in the world, built by what was the largest pre-Columbian civilization, with a population that reached 150,000 people.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The site is truly impressive and deserves at least half a day. You can easily reach it by bus from the Terminal Autobuses del Norte (it&#8217;s along Metro line 5, at the stop of the same name, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/RxeiDhbfUHcZcNmV8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">); buses leave every 20 minutes from Puerta 8, 60 MXN one way.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Entrance to the archaeological park, on the other hand, costs 80 MXN and includes access to the museum. I recommend visiting in the morning, since there&#8217;s quite a lot of walking and the site is completely exposed to the sun; you can climb to the top of the pyramids, so it&#8217;s best to avoid the hottest hours of the day.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note: Once your visit is over, there&#8217;s no need to go back to the entrance; it&#8217;s better to exit from &#8220;puerta 3&#8221;, where the same buses pass every 20 minutes or so on their way back to Mexico City.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/piramidi_teotihuacan.jpg\" alt=\"Exploring the ruins of Teotihuacan\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>On top of the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Mexico City?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/mx\/mexico-city-hostel.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mexico City Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a good hostel. Quiet atmosphere and great location, literally steps away from the Z\u00f3calo.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Mexico City?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For short and long distances there are direct buses to many destinations. For longer trips I recommend looking at domestic flights which in some cases are really cheap. From all bus terminals, and also from the airport, you have direct access to the subway, which is cheap and efficient.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"puebla\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Puebla<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Puebla was the first city in central Mexico that was not founded by the Spanish over the ruins of some ancient settlement. During the colonial period, due to its strategic location between Veracruz and Mexico City, it was the second most important city, and you can still see its former splendor today.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Puebla<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Z\u00f3calo (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/wq7XKNnLzxXAF9nS9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is really beautiful and became a UNESCO site in 1987, with well-preserved colonial buildings everywhere and an impressive cathedral, especially in the evening when it&#8217;s lit up. It&#8217;s definitely worth walking around the adjacent streets as well.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I also went up to &#8220;Los Fuertes&#8221; (Fuerte de Loreto and Fuerte de Guadalupe), at the top of Cerro de Guadalupe, which overlooks the city. I walked there and it was a nice walk; there&#8217;s a nice park at the top and the view is great (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/v7g4Nwy6HLnRmUAy6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). You can also visit the forts.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/cattedrale_puebla.jpg\" alt=\"Puebla Cathedral in Mexico\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Puebla cathedral.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Cholula<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cholula is a city only 10 km from Puebla; the town has 45 churches and an archaeological site (not particularly impressive, in my opinion). The symbol of the city is the cathedral built on top of the Tepanapa pyramid, which dominates the city and is the largest pyramid in the world in terms of volume.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, during my visit, access to the top of the pyramid\/cathedral was closed because of the recent earthquake, but things may have changed since then. In any case, it was still possible to visit the tunnels under the pyramid and the archaeological area (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Xng6zXPx3ArEMbp36\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) that surrounds it, as well as the museum (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/8CMbYSNJKqGEkNM76\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), where during my visit they were showing a 3D video of various archaeological sites in Mexico. Admission to the site, which also includes the museum, is 85 pesos.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I visited Cholula on a day trip from Puebla, so I can&#8217;t speak from personal experience, but I was told the nightlife is great, since it&#8217;s mostly a university town. From downtown Puebla, it&#8217;s best to catch the bus at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/6ZPZCVnGTbB2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this spot<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: it&#8217;s a 20-30 minute bus ride, 7.50 pesos.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/cholula.jpg\" alt=\"One of the many churches of Cholula near Puebla\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The cathedral at the top of the Cholula pyramid.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Cuexcomate<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s the world&#8217;s smallest volcano and it&#8217;s located in one of Puebla&#8217;s suburbs (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Yxnt7RjWZa8nEEB77\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), in La Libertad, to be exact. It&#8217;s nothing spectacular, but it&#8217;s a nice way to spend a couple of hours. Take a bus along <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avenida 11 oriente <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bound for Libertad and get off at the main square, which is also the last bus stop; the volcano is in the middle of the square.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>How to get to Puebla?<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The city is only two hours from Mexico City and there are buses about every 20 minutes departing from Terminal TAPO (also known as Terminal de Oriente, San Lazaro metro stop, <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/wZJyCwewpwWFrK2y9\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) but also from Benito Juarez Airport and from Terminal del Norte, where departures are less frequent, though: it&#8217;s about 2 hours, 160-200 MXN.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Where to sleep in Puebla?<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/mx\/hostal-casa-de-arcos.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hostal Casa De Arcos<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is an excellent, really well-kept hostel a stone&#8217;s throw from downtown, with large, spacious dorms and a relaxed atmosphere.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"oaxaca\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Oaxaca<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oaxaca was undoubtedly my favorite city during my trip to Mexico. Its streets have a really relaxed atmosphere, but at the same time there&#8217;s always something interesting to see: a street performer, a demonstration or, if you&#8217;re lucky like me, even a rather unusual wedding.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/matrimonio_oaxaca.jpg\" alt=\"Wedding celebrations in the streets of Oaxaca\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The wedding celebrations.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Oaxaca<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As always, the area around the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Z\u00f3calo (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/meUo4VbRUj3nQk7N7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the liveliest part of the city, and that&#8217;s where you&#8217;ll find the most interesting colonial buildings; also take a stroll through the nearby Mercado Benito Juarez (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/YGS68QDEFhnrzndJA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). A few blocks further north, don&#8217;t miss the Ex Convento de Santo Domingo (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/ALf9yvM25ujhJLBS6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), open every day except Monday from 10:00 to 20:00, 90 MXN.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another site I particularly enjoyed was the botanical garden that is also part of the former convent. To visit it you have to join the guided tour but it was really interesting and I recommend it. The tour is offered three times a day in Spanish and in other languages on alternate days. The tour in Spanish costs 50 MXN versus 100 MXN for the other languages. At the bottom of <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.quepasaoaxaca.com\/jardin-etnobotanico-de-oaxaca\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you&#8217;ll find the schedule.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Monte Alban<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&#8217;ll start by saying that I didn&#8217;t visit the site, since I was coming off almost a year of travel and countless archaeological sites, but it&#8217;s said to be one of the most impressive in the region (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Ns3xgVqyjBdz99NMA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are numerous tours that leave from Oaxaca but if you want to visit the site on your own you can simply take a shuttle from Hotel Riviera de Angel (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/4WiXTfqcaUGSgAeQA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for 90 MXN. Site admission costs 80 MXN.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/monte_alban_oaxaca.jpg\" alt=\"The ruins of Monte Alban in Oaxaca\" width=\"1110\" height=\"625\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The ball court at the Monte Alban ruins.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Hierve el Agua<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s a surreal place, a spring at an altitude of about 1,700 meters that has formed a series of natural pools culminating in a giant petrified waterfall, all topped off with a spectacular view of the valley.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, the place loses some of its charm due to the heavy tourist presence and all that goes with it, but it&#8217;s still something unique.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The site is about 2 hours from the city and can also be reached by public transportation: from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/qVLZQUCgLr82\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">baseball stadium<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> take a bus to Mitla (18 pesos, 1 hour), from where there are camionetas to Hierve el Agua, 40 pesos.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Hierve_el_agua_oaxaca_messico.jpg\" alt=\"The Hierve el Agua waterfall near Oaxaca.\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The Hierve el Agua waterfall.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Oaxaca?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/mx\/hostal-de-las-ama-c-ricas.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hostal de Las Am\u00e9ricas<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> excellent hostel a short walk from downtown, new and clean place, really kind and helpful staff.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Oaxaca?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Mexico City but also from nearby Puebla there are numerous departures per day, about 6-7 hours. Coming from San Cristobal take a look at the <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ado.com.mx\/#\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ADO<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> website, it&#8217;s about 11 hours.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"puerto-escondido\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Puerto Escondido<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The famous Puerto Escondido is known for its excellent surfing conditions and great nightlife. Once a quiet fishing village, it can now be considered the classic &#8220;tourist trap&#8221;, with prices significantly higher than in the rest of the country, and it&#8217;s extremely crowded. If you think it could still be an interesting destination, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jenniewanders.com\/best-beaches-in-puerto-escondido\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here&#8217;s a guide to the various beaches of Puerto Escondido.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re looking for a more relaxed and authentic atmosphere, I recommend one of the towns further south along the coast, such as Zipolite.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Puerto Escondido?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are numerous direct buses leaving from Mexico City and Oaxaca. You can take a look at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ado.com.mx\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ADO<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"zipolite\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Zipolite<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zipolite is a destination that&#8217;s growing in popularity, especially among backpackers; it&#8217;s the ideal place for anyone looking for a seaside village with a relaxed atmosphere, an uncrowded beach and really cheap prices.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There&#8217;s not much to do in the village except enjoy the beach, maybe with good company or a good book. Surfing is also possible.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/spiaggia_zipolite_Messico.jpg\" alt=\"The beach of Zipolite\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The water is so dirty because of the heavy rains!<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Zipolite?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I slept at &#8220;<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/s5U8syZAhbH2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">El Carrizal Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; with a very hippie atmosphere and not exactly the cleanest, but extremely cheap at only 50 pesos a night. The French lady who owns the place is a real character. The hostel probably isn&#8217;t for everyone, but there are plenty of other options that are still cheap (closed since November 2023). Check out <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/mx\/digital-dorms.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maracuy\u00e1 Hostal Zipolite<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>How to reach <\/b><b><i>Zipolite?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ado.com.mx\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ado<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has quite a few buses (even at night) to nearby Pochutla (9-10 hours), from where there are colectivos to Zipolite, about half an hour. The quicker and cheaper but less comfortable alternative is to take one of the minibuses that shuttle back and forth during the day between Pochutla and Oaxaca; it&#8217;s about 7 hours. In some stretches, though, the road is full of hairpin turns, and for some people that could be a problem.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"san-cristobal\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>San Crist\u00f3bal de las Casas<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">San Crist\u00f3bal is a charming colonial town in the heart of the mountains of the state of Chiapas. The city itself, with its colonial buildings and its many churches and squares, is undoubtedly the main attraction, but you can also visit numerous villages where Mayan culture and tradition are still strong.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in San Crist\u00f3bal de las Casas<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned above, the city alone deserves at least a day of exploration; I recommend climbing the steps leading up to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/iS96bNRrLV82\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Iglesia de Guadalupe<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/c9jdoEr9RTD2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Iglesia Antonio<\/span><\/a><b>. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From both you have good views of the city.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/mirador_iglesia_antonio.jpg\" alt=\"View of San Cristobal de Las Casas from the Mirador Iglesia Antonio\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Mirador Iglesia Antonio.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>San Juan Chamula<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of all the Mayan villages surrounding the city, San Juan Chamula is undoubtedly the most visited. Here you&#8217;ll find a church where Catholic and Mayan rites have mixed over the years in a really unusual way (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/uga84a4pTrCaXbJr7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). The church is literally covered with candles and offerings to the gods are made all the time; I didn&#8217;t see it myself, but I was told that sometimes animal sacrifices are made too.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Admission to the church costs 10 pesos if I&#8217;m not mistaken, and you&#8217;re not allowed to take photos or videos, an interesting experience to say the least. There isn&#8217;t much else to do in the village, but you could take a stroll around the market (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/vFprRWeeeejFkFyL9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) or have a look at the nearby cemetery (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/umaK4dPoCnrZhArW9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which isn&#8217;t exactly a traditional one. The village is only 20 minutes from San Cristobal; colectivos leave from a microbus station near the main market (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/nUjRtPJH9unzzrHDA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">location<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), 20 pesos.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/cimitero_San_Juan_chamula.jpg\" alt=\"The San Juan Chamula cemetery\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The San Juan Chamula cemetery.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>El Chifl\u00f3n<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a series of truly impressive waterfalls and natural pools (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Y13feJWhqfryMn988\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). As always you can join a tour, which normally includes a visit to the Montebello Lakes, or rely on public transportation as I explain below.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take a bus (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/XVGk1LQazrikZHtXA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) or colectivo (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/NVD5eApy263p7RVP7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Comit\u00e1n, about 2 hours (colectivos are faster and cheaper); about 3 blocks from the Comit\u00e1n terminal (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/4UqfHWy7L96uFRsH9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) you&#8217;ll find the shuttles to El Chifl\u00f3n (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/fKc6Y5VcASEqk1zH8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), about 40 minutes, 40 pesos. Admission to the falls costs 80 pesos. The trail is really short, but the view of the main waterfall, &#8220;Velo de la Novia&#8221;, is truly spectacular.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/El_Chiflo\u0301n_chiapas_messico.jpg\" alt=\"The El Chifl\u00f3n waterfall near San Cristobal\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The El Chifl\u00f3n waterfall.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Sumidero Canyon<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I didn&#8217;t personally visit the canyon, but it&#8217;s a fairly popular attraction. In some places it&#8217;s more than a kilometer deep. The tour usually involves walking down to the base of the canyon and then getting on a boat to travel along a stretch of the canyon on the river that runs through it. On <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/storiesalongtheroad.com\/sumidero-canyon-solo-trip\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you&#8217;ll find a guide that explains how to organize the excursion on your own.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in <\/i><\/b><b><i>San Crist\u00f3bal de las Casas?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/mx\/posada-mirador.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hostel el Mirador<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a stone&#8217;s throw from the Guadalupe church I mentioned earlier; there&#8217;s a nice inner garden and a great breakfast included in the price, and it&#8217;s slightly far from the center.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach San Crist\u00f3bal de las Casas?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are direct buses to and from almost every possible destination; keep in mind that to Palenque the colectivos are faster and cheaper than the buses: you have to change in Ocosingo, but it&#8217;s a matter of a few minutes.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re arriving from or continuing on to <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Guatemala<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and don&#8217;t want to take the tourist shuttles (much more expensive), first take the colectivo to Comit\u00e1n (the same one as for El Chifl\u00f3n); from there, there are other colectivos to the &#8220;Ciudad Cuauht\u00e9moc&#8221; border. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.venturebeneaththeskies.com\/blog\/\/border-crossing-mexico-to-guatemala\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you&#8217;ll find a detailed article on how to continue to Quetzaltenango.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/cattedrale_san_cristobal.jpg\" alt=\"The cathedral of San Cristobal de Las Casas in Mexico\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The cathedral of San Cristobal.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"palenque\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Palenque<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Palenque is both the name of the town and of the famous ruins, about 6 km from the center. Honestly, the town is nothing special, although the area around the main square isn&#8217;t that bad; in any case, I recommend staying just outside the ruins at &#8220;El Panchan&#8221;, which I&#8217;ll talk about in detail in the &#8220;where to sleep&#8221; section.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Palenque<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obviously the ruins are the main attraction, but Palenque is also an excellent base for exploring other sites not too far away.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>The ruins of Palenque<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re staying in town, keep in mind that there are colectivos shuttling back and forth every 10-15 minutes, convenient and efficient, 25 pesos (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/JPhgcZnsg9n9Emvq6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). There are two entrances to the ruins. I strongly recommend taking the secondary one just after the museum (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/URCommYq6z3bK9PVA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), about 1.5 km before the main entrance, because there&#8217;s a short trail through the jungle with a small waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/DfseXavyd72YRPNK6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) along the way.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ruins are really worth it, and if you visit early in the morning (the site opens at 8:00) they aren&#8217;t even too crowded. Only the central acropolis has been excavated, so the site isn&#8217;t very large; in my opinion, a couple of hours are enough. Entrance to the site costs 90 pesos, and you also have to pay the entrance fee to the national park, 105 pesos.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/rovine_palenque.jpg\" alt=\"View of the ruins of Palenque\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The ruins of Palenque.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Agua Azul<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a series of waterfalls somewhat similar to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">El Chifl\u00f3n. You can easily visit them on a day trip from Palenque or, if you&#8217;re traveling light, you could combine the visit with the transfer to San Cristobal or vice versa.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The falls are in fact along the road to Ocosingo, so you can simply take a colectivo headed there. They leave from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/1fVCb4DnLhaVKXCK7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this spot<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and cost 60 pesos. Then you have to get off at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/QD37mNuGEksxm5iK7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this spot<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and take one of the colectivos that shuttle back and forth to the falls for 30 pesos; if you want, you could even walk. The entrance to the falls costs 40 pesos.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, you can visit the nearby ruins of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yaxchilan (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/p4KNeddpLtyyWWNP8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). I didn&#8217;t go there personally because, even without relying on a tour, it&#8217;s still relatively expensive to get there. In fact, the ruins can&#8217;t be reached by land, and you have to take a boat from Frontera Corozal for about 40 minutes; the cost starts at 800 MXN, so it may be worth it in a group, but anyway, judging from the photos, the ruins don&#8217;t look that impressive.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/agua_azul_mexico.jpg\" alt=\"Agua Azul waterfall in Chiapas, Mexico\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Agua Azul waterfall.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Palenque?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As I mentioned before, I recommend staying at &#8220;El Panchan&#8221;, a complex of all kinds of accommodation and some restaurants, literally immersed in the jungle at the entrance to the national park, a stone&#8217;s throw from the ruins.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I personally recommend staying at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Swco4io6CqzWx6V78\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jungle Palace<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: they offer really cheap cabanas (small bungalows). Nothing luxurious, but definitely a great option. In any case, there are other options nearby. There&#8217;s a really nice lady who runs a small &#8220;restaurant&#8221; just outside the place; the food is cheap, but remind her that you&#8217;re not a rich &#8220;gringo&#8221;.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Palenque?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From San Cristobal there are frequent buses, but remember that the colectivos via Ocosingo are faster and cheaper. Toward the Yucatan Peninsula, the only direct connections are to Merida with <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ado.com.mx\/#\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ADO<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you continue on to Guatemala, however, you can cross the border at Frontera Corozal as described in detail in the <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">guide dedicated to Guatemala<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Planning your trip? If you still need travel insurance, you can find my <a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/safety\/travel-insurance\/\">guide to the best travel insurance<\/a> here. Purchasing through the links in the guide supports this site at no additional cost to you.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"yucatan-peninsula\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>The Yucat\u00e1n <\/b><b>Peninsula<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula is undoubtedly the most touristy and expensive region in the country, especially along the so-called &#8220;Riviera Maya&#8221;, where places like Cancun and Playa del Carmen are now full of resorts and, more generally, have been extremely busy and popular for years, especially with North American tourists.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In any case, there are many destinations that are definitely worth visiting.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"cancun\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Cancun<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let&#8217;s start with the main hub of the peninsula, Cancun. Long story short, it&#8217;s not a place I&#8217;d recommend unless you&#8217;re looking for an all-inclusive vacation at a hotel\/resort by the sea, but I doubt you&#8217;d be here reading this guide!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In my opinion, the city can be described as a giant playground for Americans, who literally invade it, especially during school vacations. If, however, you&#8217;re looking for a few days of beach and nightlife, it&#8217;s probably not that bad; in any case, my advice is to skip it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/golf_car_isla_mujeres.jpg\" alt=\"Driving around Isla Mujeres in a golf cart\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Cancun on the horizon seen from Isla Mujeres in the company of some of the guys from the hostel.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Cancun?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/mx\/the-boat-house-cancun-cancun2.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Boat House Cancun<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a great hostel a stone&#8217;s throw from the bus station, so it&#8217;s ideal for spending a night before heading to your next destination.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"isla-mujeres\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Isla Mujeres<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Isla Mujeres is the island right across from Cancun. It was the last stop of my long trip through Latin America, and because of that the days I spent here had a very special feel, to say the least.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In any case, the island&#8217;s beaches are stunning and, despite the short distance from Cancun, much less crowded than on the mainland. I was there at the end of October and the island was extremely pleasant; it&#8217;s probably not the same during high season, but in any case the island is better than Cancun in every respect.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There&#8217;s not much to do on the island except laze on the beach. I rented a golf cart with some people from the hostel to explore the southern part of the island, where there are some &#8220;ruins&#8221;: a nice day, but honestly, you&#8217;re not missing anything.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Isla Mujeres?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/mx\/nomads-hostel-amp-bar-isla-mujeres.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mayan Monkey Isla Mujeres<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is one of the few hostels on the island, nice but not exactly cheap.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Isla Mujeres?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are at least a couple of companies that cover the route, and they leave from three different points in Cancun. By far the cheapest ferry is the one that leaves from Punta Sam (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/2jYXh5FQ9bYXJFCd6\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">); it&#8217;s the ferry that also carries vehicles, so it&#8217;s slower than the others but costs less. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/ultracarga.com\/en\/ruta-punta-sam-isla-mujeres\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can find the schedules on this page.<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The faster but more expensive alternative is <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/ultramarsales.ultramarferry.com\/en.html\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ultramar<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To reach Punta Sam, there are colectivos that pass <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/zD4cMz2CzDk\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">along the road in front of<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the bus terminal.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/spiaggia_isla_mujeres.jpg\" alt=\"On the beach at Isla Mujeres\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Giant soap bubbles on the beach at Isla Mujeres.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"playa-del-carmen\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Playa del Carmen<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s the first tourist destination heading south from Cancun. I&#8217;ll say up front that I haven&#8217;t been there personally, but everyone I talked to described it as a miniature Cancun; Wikitravel even calls it a &#8220;resort town&#8221;.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So if you&#8217;re looking for a destination with nice beaches and great nightlife for your vacation, it&#8217;s probably not that bad, but if you&#8217;re looking for something more authentic and cheaper, you&#8217;d better look elsewhere.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to get to Playa del Carmen?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Cancun, there are colectivos that run frequently (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/dQENGnVn8NU49XbD6\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). The trip takes about 45 minutes.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"cozumel\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Cozumel<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cozumel is the island across from Playa del Carmen. I&#8217;ll say up front that I haven&#8217;t been here either, but only because of time, since from what I&#8217;ve read around and from other travelers&#8217; stories, the island seems to be a truly incredible place.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s considered one of the best places in the world for diving, and that&#8217;s undoubtedly the main activity. The main settlement is the town of San Miguel on the west side of the island, but if you rent a car or a scooter, it&#8217;s worth exploring the east side, which is less developed and where breathtaking beaches dominate the landscape.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are also some archaeological sites, but I don&#8217;t think they&#8217;re as impressive as others you can find in the Yucatan.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Cozumel?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Departing from Playa del Carmen there are ferries about every hour. The trip takes 35-40 minutes and is offered by two companies: <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ultramarferry.com\/en\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ultramar<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as always, is the most expensive; the cheaper alternative is <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.winjet.mx\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mexico Waterjets<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/immersioni_cozumel.jpg\" alt=\"The coral reef surrounding Cozumel\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<div id=\"tulum\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Tulum<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I think Tulum is the best destination along the so-called &#8220;Riviera Maya&#8221;: a more relaxed atmosphere, more reasonable prices than Cancun and Playa del Carmen, and fantastic beaches. It&#8217;s also the ideal base for exploring the nearby ruins of Tulum and Cob\u00e1, not far away, and many cenotes (a type of cave with fresh water).<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Tulum<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The town is small and not particularly lively during the day, but in the evening people come out into the streets and everything comes to life. There are a few bars, but if you&#8217;re looking for a more authentic atmosphere, I recommend <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/Z5Hy3v6JtRx\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this square<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or even <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/tLcymnwEaW82\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parque dos Aguas<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where I caught a concert in the evening. Eat at least once at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/WWrxddHNWVK2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antojitos<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: delicious and extremely cheap food.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>The ruins of Tulum<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ruins (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/QqiHt4rQpMTgE4gL6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) are certainly not the most imposing you can see, but their setting makes them unique: the site is in fact on a cliff overlooking the crystal clear sea and white beaches.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ruins are extremely popular, which is why I recommend visiting them early in the morning, before the busloads of tourists from Playa del Carmen and Cancun arrive; the site opens at 8:00.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The entrance to the ruins is easy to reach with any colectivo heading north, since it&#8217;s only a kilometer from the main road; if you want, you could even walk or bike there, as it&#8217;s about 4 km from the center. The entrance to the ruins costs 95 pesos.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/rovine_tulum.jpg\" alt=\"The ruins of Tulum\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The archaeological site of Tulum.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Akumal<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s a small town between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, famous because a seaweed that sea turtles love to eat grows in the main bay, and in fact there are hundreds of them! (<a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Hw15Uf59U6WqRGFf6\">Google Maps<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s mandatory to go in the water with a life jacket, which makes it impossible to dive down and disturb the turtles; also, there are designated areas where you can snorkel, while others are off-limits. You can easily rent equipment on site. Entrance to the beach costs 120 pesos.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To reach Akumal, here too you just need to take any colectivo heading north; the beach is less than 1 km from the main road.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/tartaruga_verde_akumal.jpg\" alt=\"A green turtle feeding in Akumal bay\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>One of the hundreds of turtles in Akumal bay.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>The ruins of Cob\u00e1<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They&#8217;re certainly not the most impressive ruins in the region, but they have &#8220;El Castillo&#8221;, a really tall temple and one of the few you can still climb; from the top you get incredible views of the surrounding jungle (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/bErPKqTcp3dyQ2mX8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ruins can be easily reached by colectivo from Tulum (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/ucRKmTVmNPVTkGUL6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which takes about an hour. Admission costs 95 pesos.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Rovine_Coba_Messico.jpg\" alt=\"The ruins of Coba immersed in the jungle.\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>El Castillo at Cob<\/em>\u00e1.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>The cenotes<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are literally hundreds of them in the region. The most popular ones can be extremely expensive: Dos Ojos (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/XkVakZtSwYQdVcob6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) for example costs a whopping 400 MXN. In many cenotes you can go diving or just snorkeling.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personally, in Tulum I only visited Cenote Calavera (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/UbzbgKCwWUX8XQUS9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which didn&#8217;t particularly excite me; Gran Cenote (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/5eQNzuvPCRgHhDB17\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), not far away, seems to be many people&#8217;s favorite. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mexicokantours.com\/post\/our-guide-to-the-best-cenotes-around-tulum\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you&#8217;ll find reviews and photos of some cenotes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Tulum?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/mx\/maui-hostels-tulum.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maui Hostels Tulum<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a good hostel just outside the center.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Tulum?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are buses and colectivos frequently shuttling along the coast to Playa del Carmen and Cancun in the north, but also to Bacalar in the south and Valladolid in the east. Colectivo stop (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/ucRKmTVmNPVTkGUL6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/cenote_calavera.jpg\" alt=\"The Calavera cenote in Tulum\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The Calavera cenote.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"valladolid\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Valladolid<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Valladolid is a small city in the center of the peninsula that pleasantly surprised me: the center preserves lots of colonial buildings in good condition, and the atmosphere is far more authentic than in any other city I visited in the Yucatan.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s also the ideal base for visiting the nearby ruins of Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1 while avoiding the hordes of people arriving in the late morning from Cancun and Playa del Carmen.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Valladolid<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Valladolid is really small and can easily be explored on foot, although I recommend renting a bike for a day to also explore the nearby cenote I&#8217;m about to talk about.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Cenote at Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This cenote (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/BzxH2ZnPU6D39FqP7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is a great alternative to the more popular Cenote Zaci (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/hpSXcaK7Vv9ZkXFp6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which is right in the center of town. You can get there by taxi (about 70 pesos) or by renting a bike for about 80 pesos; it&#8217;s only 5 km from the town center.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cenote is really cool, with lots of roots running down the walls until they touch the water, and above all, it&#8217;s really uncrowded. Inside the property, there&#8217;s a nice pool. When I was there, it was possible to pay for the cenote entrance only (30 pesos), but from what I&#8217;ve been told, there are now only two types of tickets: access to the pool and cenote for 150 pesos, or 300 pesos with food and drinks at the bar.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Cenote_Hacienda_San-Lorenzo.jpg\" alt=\"The Hacienda San Lorenzo cenote in Valladolid, Mexico\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The Hacienda San Lorenzo cenote.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The famous ruins, considered one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World, are undoubtedly the most visited in the entire region and are literally overrun by day-trippers especially from Cancun and Playa del Carmen.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Valladolid, which is only a 45-minute bus ride away, is the ideal base for exploring the ruins before the crowds arrive. I recommend taking the first colectivo at 7:00 (they leave from the intersection of Calle 46 and Calle 39, at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/dziwYg5Q2LP2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this spot<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) so that you arrive at the entrance in time for the 8:00 opening. Entrance to the site costs 614 pesos, which is really a lot. I&#8217;m not convinced it&#8217;s worth it at that price.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, if you don&#8217;t want to join an organized tour to visit Las Coloradas, the best place to start from is Valladolid; in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/ShowTopic-g499453-i9228-k10745484-Q_Go_to_Las_coloradas_pink_lagoon_from_valladolid_by_bus-Valladolid_Yucatan_Peninsula.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this post<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you&#8217;ll find precise instructions on how to get there by public transportation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Chiche\u0301n_Itza\u0301_messico.jpg\" alt=\"The pyramid of Chichen Itza\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The pyramid of Chichen Itza.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Valladolid?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/mx\/hostal-tunich-naj.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hostel Tunich Naj<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is well located, a stone&#8217;s throw from downtown and the bus station, really kind staff.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Valladolid?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the bus station (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/JWogM5XrpdHWaRzg6\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) there are several daily departures to all major cities on the Peninsula.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"holbox\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Holbox Island<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I didn&#8217;t personally visit the island because the weather forecast was dreadful \ud83d\ude42 but many travelers had recommended it to me. It&#8217;s a Caribbean island that&#8217;s much less visited than the more popular Isla Mujeres and Cozumel.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s best reached from Valladolid and Cancun via the town of Chiquil\u00e1, from where ferries leave about every half hour during the day. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/thepartyingtraveler.com\/2022\/01\/10\/complete-travel-guide-isla-holbox-mexico\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you&#8217;ll find an article about it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Isola_Holbox.jpg\" alt=\"Holbox Island from above\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Holbox Island from above.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"merida\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Merida<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Merida, the capital of the Yucatan as well as the first city &#8220;founded&#8221; by the conquistadors. The city preserves a lot of colonial buildings, and in general the historic center is really beautiful.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There&#8217;s no particular sight to see, but the attraction is the city itself. There are, however, a couple of places that are undoubtedly worth visiting: Plaza de la Independencia (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/QCdzoRvcgQb4qXm76\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), the main square, where there&#8217;s always some event in the evening (<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.merida.gob.mx\/capitalcultural\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">find upcoming events here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), Palacio del Gobierno (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/cnQQYMnes1mwF6bi9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and the Cathedral (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/rZ46acG9konqJ74p9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). There&#8217;s also a tour of 3 cenotes in the area: <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/discovering-the-cenotes-near-merida-mexico\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you&#8217;ll find a detailed post.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Merida?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/prf.hn\/click\/camref:1100l3LP6\/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hostelworld.com%2Fhosteldetails.php%2FHostal-Catedral-Merida%2FMerida%2F267402%3FdateFrom%3D2018-10-08%26dateTo%3D2018-10-09%26number_of_guests%3D1\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hostal Catedral Merida<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a great hostel right in the center of Merida.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Merida?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Merida is a fairly large city and has direct connections to all the major cities on the peninsula, even Palenque. The bus terminal is conveniently located near the center (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/f7RQpQj3z4PWbUxx5\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/merida_viaggio_messico.jpg\" alt=\"The main square of Merida\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<div id=\"campeche\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Campeche<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I haven&#8217;t personally been there, but it&#8217;s another well-preserved colonial city still far from mass tourism, on the Gulf of Mexico coast. The historic center was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and is characterized by cobblestone streets and brightly colored buildings.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thepartyingtraveler.com\/2022\/01\/27\/backpackers-travel-guide-campeche-mexico\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you&#8217;ll find a great article that talks about the city in detail.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Campeche?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most practical and fastest way to reach Campeche is from nearby Merida, which is only 2 hours away and has buses that run back and forth every hour or so. But there are also direct buses from Ciudad del Carmen and Cancun, although less frequent.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"bacalar\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Bacalar<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bacalar, and more specifically the lagoon of the same name, is an incredible place to say the least, a true gem fortunately still little visited by vacationers who often stay further north along the coast.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Bacalar<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Without a doubt, the main attraction here is the Bacalar Lagoon, also known as the &#8220;Laguna de los 7 Colores&#8221; for its incredible shades of blue and azure.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also visit a small fort (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/dgSeuC1H8LoAVaeh9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) near the town square, though, honestly, it doesn&#8217;t look like much from the outside.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">N.b. From the town, access to the lagoon isn&#8217;t easy, since it&#8217;s full of private properties\/hotels\/hostels, but there&#8217;s a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/eEHiYMh1vQx\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">municipal pier<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> where you can get to the water.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Bacalar?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/prf.hn\/click\/camref:1100l3LP6\/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hostelworld.com%2Fhosteldetails.php%2FYaxche-Centro-Hostel-y-Camping%2FBacalar%2F76983%3FdateFrom%3D2018-10-08%26dateTo%3D2018-10-09%26number_of_guests%3D1\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yaxche Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: the hostel itself is nothing special and isn&#8217;t on the lagoon like many other places, but it has another property outside town, with a free shuttle service there every day. The area is really well equipped, with swings in the water, gazebos, a small bar\/restaurant and a few rooms. The water here is much cleaner and, being outside the town, it feels like you&#8217;re miles away from everything.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Bacalar?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the north (Tulum, Playa del Carmen and Cancun) there are several daily departures with ADO or MAYAB (cheaper), but there are also colectivos that go through <\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Felipe Carrillo Puerto, where you have to change. From Chetumal in the south, the cheapest option is the shared taxis that leave from <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/PXLRuanw2zo\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this spot<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/laguna_bacalar.jpg\" alt=\"Bacalar Lagoon\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The incredible Bacalar Lagoon.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Crossing the Mexico-Guatemala border<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Palenque -&gt; Flores\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I did the route in the opposite direction, but it shouldn&#8217;t make any difference; in any case, I recommend leaving early in the morning. I was told that from Palenque there are colectivos to Frontera Corozal only in the morning; if you miss them, no problem: take any colectivo heading south and ask to get off at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/w7RhARdaKCR2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this intersection<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. From here, there are taxis waiting to take you to the village.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you get to the village, go through immigration and then continue to the river, where small boats shuttle back and forth to La Tecnica for 40 pesos. From here, there are direct buses to Flores; the bus stops at immigration and waits for you while you get your passport stamped.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>San Crist\u00f3bal de las Casas -&gt; Quetzaltenango <\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I haven&#8217;t personally done this route, but you can find it described in detail <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.venturebeneaththeskies.com\/blog\/\/border-crossing-mexico-to-guatemala\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Take a look at my <a title=\"Backpacking Guatemala\" href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">travel guide to Guatemala.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Crossing the Mexico-Belize border<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crossing the border is really easy: getting to Chetumal from any city in the Yucatan is simple, and from there, there are frequent departures to Belize City from the Mercado Nuevo Terminal (cheaper) or from the ADO terminal (more expensive, with less frequent departures).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">N.B. You&#8217;ll be asked to pay the 717-peso tourist tax. The tax is legitimate, but some airlines include it in the ticket price, so you may not have to pay it: look through the price breakdown of your ticket and keep it as proof to show.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"iti\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Suggested itineraries in Mexico<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below I list two-, three- and four-week itineraries. Obviously, there&#8217;s no perfect itinerary for a given amount of time, so, considering what you&#8217;ve read so far, take what follows as inspiration and adapt it to your interests\/budget!<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Mexico itinerary: 15 days in the Yucatan<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Assuming your arrival airport is Cancun, I recommend moving straight on to Tulum the same day, unless it&#8217;s late at night.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/itinerario_yucatan.jpg\" alt=\"Two-week itinerary in the Yucatan, Mexico\" width=\"830\" height=\"550\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Tulum (4 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 1:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cancun &#8211; Tulum transfer.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 2:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit the ruins of Tulum and spend the rest of the day at the beach.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 3:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit Akumal.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 4:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit the ruins of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cob\u00e1 or some cenotes in the area.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Bacalar (2 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 5:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tulum &#8211; Bacalar transfer.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 6:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Full day at the lagoon.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Valladolid (3 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 7:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bacalar &#8211; Valladolid transfer.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 8:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Day at the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cenote at Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 9:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1 in the morning and maybe cenote Zaci in the center of town when you get back.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Isla Holbox or Isla Mujeres (4 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 10-11-12-13:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Valladolid you can easily reach Holbox, or go back to Cancun and board the ferry to Isla Mujeres. Holbox is less touristy and less developed than Isla Mujeres, but I think both are great choices.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 14:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Return.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Central Mexico and Chiapas itinerary: 15 days<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Assuming that your departure and arrival airport is Mexico City, I recommend the following itinerary.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/itinerario_15_giorni_messico_centrale.jpg\" alt=\"Map of a 15-day itinerary in central Mexico\" width=\"458\" height=\"264\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Mexico City (2 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 1:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recover from the jet lag and maybe take a quick look around the historic center.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 2:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit the Pyramids of Teotihuacan.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Puebla (2 nights):<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 3:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transfer from Mexico City. Explore the historic center.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 4:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit the nearby city of Cholula.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Oaxaca (3 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 5:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transfer to Oaxaca, explore the historic center in the afternoon.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 6:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit Hierve el Agua.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 7:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit the ruins of Monte Alban. Night bus to San Cristobal.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>San Crist\u00f3bal de las Casas (3 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 8:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enjoy the city and maybe visit San Juan Chamula in the afternoon.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 9:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">El Chifl\u00f3n <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Falls.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 10:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relaxing day in the city.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Palenque (2-3 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 11:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transfer to Palenque.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 12:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit the Agua Azul waterfall.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 13:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit the ruins of Palenque. By visiting the ruins in the morning you have plenty of time to take a bus to Villahermosa with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ado.com.mx\/#\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ADO<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the afternoon and then the evening flight to Mexico City with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivaaerobus.com\/en\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VivaAerobus<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, all of which is fairly inexpensive if booked in advance and will save you a long day on the bus.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 14:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Return from Mexico City.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to spend a few days at the beach my advice is to skip Puebla and go to Zipolite from Oaxaca.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Mexico itinerary: 20 days<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With three weeks available, I&#8217;d honestly still focus on one of the two regions (Central Mexico and Oaxaca, or the Yucatan Peninsula), following one of the two itineraries I&#8217;ve just described, maybe spending a few extra days in one of the destinations or adding one or two stops.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That said, if you have some destination in mind in both regions that you absolutely don&#8217;t want to miss, I recommend taking a look at domestic flights, since they&#8217;d save you a lot of time and generally aren&#8217;t too expensive.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>One-month itinerary in Mexico<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With a month available, you shouldn&#8217;t have any problem visiting both regions and seeing many of the destinations described in this guide. My advice is to combine the two two-week itineraries with an overnight bus from Merida to Palenque or vice versa, or with some domestic flights.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Itinerario_un_mese_messico.jpg\" alt=\"Map of a one-month itinerary in Mexico\" width=\"730\" height=\"365\" \/>\r\n<div id=\"how\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>How to get around Mexico<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Buses in Mexico<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buses and colectivos (minibuses\/vans) are by far the cheapest and most popular way to travel within the country. In most of the destinations described in this guide, the company &#8220;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ado.com.mx\/#\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ADO<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; operates, which is actually a collection of many different companies grouped under the same name.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They operate different types of more or less luxurious buses: the choice is yours. I&#8217;ve always traveled with the cheapest option and the buses have always been of a good standard. If bought a few days in advance, tickets are considerably cheaper.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Especially in the Yucatan, I noticed that second-class bus tickets tend not to be offered to tourists at the terminal; if you want to save a bit, just ask.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As for colectivos, they have fixed prices and really frequent departures on the routes they cover; generally they&#8217;re faster and cheaper than regular buses, and I strongly recommend them, especially for short and medium distances.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/colectivos_in_messico.jpg\" alt=\"Colectivos in Mexico\" width=\"1110\" height=\"625\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>A colectivo station in Mexico.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Domestic flights in Mexico<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Given the size of the country and the long journeys involved, it&#8217;s often worth considering some domestic flights, which luckily can be extremely cheap.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The two main low-cost airlines are: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.volaris.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Volaris<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivaaerobus.com\/en\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VivaAerobus<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. I flew with VivaAerobus from Mexico City to Chetumal for about 30\u20ac. For the best fares, though, you need to book in advance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Taxis in Mexico<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general, taxis are really cheap by European standards. Only some taxis use the meter (mostly in cities); others don&#8217;t, and in that case I recommend agreeing on the fare before getting in, so you avoid pointless arguments once you arrive at your destination. In some cities you can use <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uber.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uber<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cabify.com\/en\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cabify<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Hitchhiking in Mexico<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As in pretty much all Latin American countries, hitchhiking is really popular in rural areas and less so around big cities. In some cases the driver may expect a contribution toward expenses.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"cost\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Backpacking Mexico: costs<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How much does a trip to Mexico cost?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cost of a trip to Mexico depends a lot on the type of activities you&#8217;re going to do and also on the region you visit. The Yucatan, for example, is one of the most expensive states in the country, while Chiapas is one of the cheapest; in any case, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/planning\/40-tips-for-backpackers\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">traveling on a budget<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, an independent traveler shouldn&#8217;t have any problem with a daily budget of about 30-40\u20ac a day, and depending on the region you visit you can even get down to 20-25\u20ac.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Cost of food in Mexico<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Food in Mexico isn&#8217;t only delicious but also really cheap. &#8220;Street food&#8221; is really part of Mexican culture, and even the smallest town has a little stand serving tacos, quesadillas and tortas at rock-bottom prices.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A taco is normally sold for 6-8 pesos a piece, but sometimes even less, and for some people 3 tacos make a meal, so you spend more or less 1 euro. In San Cristobal, in the main square, I found a lady selling three delicious chicken tamales for 10 pesos and single-course dishes like enchiladas or soups for 30-40 pesos! In short, if you stick to eating where the locals eat, or anyway in local restaurants, food is extremely cheap.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Taqueria_tradizionale.jpg\" alt=\"Traditional taqueria on the streets of Mexico\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Traditional taqueria on the streets of Mexico.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Cost of transportation in Mexico<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transportation is really cheap, although long-distance buses can be relatively expensive compared to other Central American countries, especially if not booked in advance. If you have a well-defined itinerary, book in advance!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, remember to take a look at domestic flights for long distances: if booked in advance and if you <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/planning\/backpacking-light\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">travel light<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with only carry-on luggage, they can be really cheap.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Cost of accommodation in Mexico<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accommodation prices vary a lot depending on the region, but expect to pay about 10\u20ac for a dorm bed in the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, while in the Yucatan and Mexico City it&#8217;s generally closer to 15\u20ac; breakfast is often included in the price.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">To reduce exchange and withdrawal fees, see my <a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/gear\/best-travel-cards\/\">guide to the best travel cards<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<div id=\"safe\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Backpacking Mexico: safety<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is Mexico safe? In my personal experience, absolutely yes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, Mexico has been associated for years with drug trafficking and violent crimes, which are a reality. It has to be said that these issues are closely tied to specific areas and are very unlikely to interfere with tourism. <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/visionofhumanity.org\/indexes\/mexico-peace-index\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you&#8217;ll find a really interesting map that shows how the typically touristy states are also the safest.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In any case, as in all developing countries (but not only!), you should use common sense: for example, walking the streets of Mexico City alone at night is certainly not recommended. That said, I got around the country using public transportation only and walking alone through the cities, even at not exactly advisable times, without ever having any kind of problem; follow <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/safety\/backpacking-safety\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">my advice<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and you&#8217;ll see that everything will be fine.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Are you planning a trip to Mexico? Check out these posts:<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/gear\/packing-list\/\">What to pack in your backpack<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/gear\/travel-backpack\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Which travel backpack to choose<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Do you have any questions? Updated information? Feel free to leave a comment or message me on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ilbackpacker\/\">Instagram<\/a>!<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Since I no longer run ads, if you found this article helpful, please consider purchasing your <a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/safety\/travel-insurance\/\">travel insurance<\/a> through one of the links on this site. Doing so supports my work at no additional cost to you. For EU and UK residents, I recommend <a href=\"https:\/\/www.truetraveller.com\/?tag=4486\">True Traveller<\/a>. For everyone else, I recommend <a href=\"https:\/\/heymondo.com\/?utm_medium=Afiliado&amp;utm_source=ILBACKPACKER&amp;utm_campaign=PRINCIPAL&amp;cod_descuento=ILBACKPACKER&amp;ag_campaign=INPUT&amp;agencia=3e3e0e90cc3ad100e738962ea2e0b0be8d69\">HeyMondo<\/a>, which offers a 5% discount. Thank you for your support!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=QTBBEQQCE37GA\">For donations\/virtual pizzas and beers<\/a> \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\">Did you like the post? Pin it!<\/h5>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7597\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/backpacking_mexico.png\" alt=\"Guide to a budget trip to Mexico\" width=\"330\" height=\"495\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/backpacking_mexico.png 330w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/backpacking_mexico-200x300.png 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 330px) 100vw, 330px\" \/>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This giant North American country covers about 2 million square kilometers and over 10,000 km of coastline. It&#8217;s among the 10 most visited countries in the world and has something to offer for every taste: Caribbean beaches, mountains, deserts, ruins, colonial cities and much more.","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5910,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mexico"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.4 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Where to go, what to see, itineraries, costs, useful tips and more to plan your trip to Mexico.\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Tr1nCa92\"\/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/mexico\/backpacking-mexico\/\" 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