Mayans and mariachis

Flying in to Mexico City is quite spectacular: at first you're flying between high volcano peaks at 2200m above one of the larges cities in the world, then the plane makes a sudden descent into the valley (and the smog). This is how your Mexico City to Cancun trip begins.

On arrival you'll be transferred to your hotel in the city centre, walking distance from the Alameda Park, the Revolution Monument, several famous plazas and the nightlife district Zona Rosa. Once you've freshened up take a taxi to the Zocàlo: one of the most famous squares in Mexico and one of the largest public squares in the world. If it's already quite late in the day then skip the Zocàlo and visit Plaza Garibaldi, a popular square lined with bars and restaurants and where mariachis in sombreros sing their serenades. Touristy yes, but still worth seeing.

When you're in Mexico City, be sure to visit the number one attraction - the Museo d'Antropologia. It's reputedly one of the best and most extensive museums in the world and boasts a fascinating collection of artefacts from all the different cultures of Mexico. The ruins and ancient cities you'll visit later in your trip will have far more meaning once you've visited this museum and learnt a little about the history and culture of these places. One tip: take a taxi  - the buses (as we experienced firsthand) are popular with pickpockets.

Why not plan a half-day visit out to the pyramids of Teotihuacan, an hour outside the city. The 'Avenue of the Dead' is lined with temples and pyramids that you can climb. An excursion can easily be arranged locally (approx US$30).
 

We want to make sure that you get to the right bus station to catch your bus out of Mexico City, so we'll arrange a transfer from your hotel directly to the bus terminal. The noisy city and suburbs will gradually make way for a dry, hilly landscape dotted with giant cacti (see left) and the occasional hacienda in the distance. It's the storybook Mexico you'll quickly recognise from the travel guides. After a 3 hour bus ride you'll arrive in Puebla.

You'll stay in a colonial hotel in a former Jesuit monastery. The hotel is one block from the Zocalo, the central square in Puebla. It's a fun place to visit, especially for its lively evenings.

Travel time on Day 4 of the Mexico City to Cancun trip: approx 3 hours

Today on the Mexico City to Cancun trip is free for you to explore the picturesque city of Puebla. If you like art, particularly paintings, then visit the artists district Barrio del Artista where you'll find several art galleries. If you're in need of a quick sugar rush, the Calle 6 Oriente is well-known for its sweet shops selling mouth-watering and tooth-cracking sweets like the famous dulce de leche and lime filled with sweet coconut, and 'rompope' a liquor based on egg yolk and vanilla.

Further up is the 150-year old Teatro Principal. Why not stop off for a drink at one of the nearby outdoor cafes, a popular meeting place for local  musicians, students and artists.

Today, you'll hop on the bus to Oaxaca for you today. Despite having 300,000 inhabitants, Oaxaca has a real small-town feel and can easily be explored on foot. From the bus station, you can take a taxi to your Spanish taverna in the heart of the town, where you'll stay tonight.

Oaxaca is even more Indian than Puebla. The town has an interesting mix of ethnic and colonial influences - local market stalls selling traditional crafts are set against the backdrop of baroque colonial buildings and many of the locals still wear the colourful traditional costume. Oaxaca, like Puebla, is an artistic town so you'll find plenty of cultural events going on. Ask at the hotel whether there's anything special going on while you're there.

Travel time: approx 4½ hours drive
 

This morning on the Mexico City to Cancun trip, you'll be picked up at your hotel for a visit to the top of the 'White Mountain' and the temple city of Monte Alban. The temple complex once served a religious purpose and later became the burial city where Zapotecs would bury their dead.

When you've finished exploring the ruins and enjoying the view, you'll hop on your bike for a guided mountain-bike tour of the area. Afterwards, you'll cycle (downhill) back to Oaxaca. On the way, you can stop off at little food stalls, and make detours to visit one of the villages. You'll be back in Oaxaca in time to grab a bite to eat before you board the 7pm first-class overnight bus to San Cristobal de las Casas, a trip which will take around 12 hours. 
 

Early in the morning, around 7am, you'll arrive in San Cristobal. This is the capital of Mexican Indian culture nestled in the highlands of Chiapas and home to a mix of Mexicans, Indians and travellers. You'll take a taxi to your posada, a cheerful hotel with beautifully decorated rooms. If there's a room available you can check in straight away - otherwise you can have some tasty breakfast while your room is being prepared.

The centre of San Cristobal is car-free so you'll set out on foot to wander round the colourful winding streets that slowly lead uphill through the city. The higher you get, the more beautiful the view: bright sunlight reflects on the green mountains against a background of clouds. San Cristobal is pretty high in the mountains (2100m) the evenings can get quite chilly so you'll need a sweater or a jacket. Or, you can use our favourite method and warm up with a tequila in one of the local bars....
 

This morning, you'll be collected for a half day trip to Chamula. As the village has a lot of rules and customs which you won't be aware of, we've arranged this excursion with a local guide to give you a full understanding of the place. Chamula is a small mountain village where, after the arrival of the Spanish invaders, the old local customs were intertwined with Catholic customs. For example, in the local church you won't find a priest but a shaman seated on the ground, giving advice to the villagers.

In the afternoon back in San Cristobal you'll have time to visit the local market where you can buy local produce, handmade clothes and souvenirs. 

Today, you'll take your next bus trip to Palenque, which will take you down from the cool mountain air to the tropical jungle in about 5 hours. You'll pass through wooded valleys and rural villages with pigs blocking the road and horses grazing in the ditch, and it's one of the most scenic stretches of your Mexico City to Cancun trip.

Palenque sits in the tropical jungle where it's very hot and humid, which is why we've arranged accommodation for you just outside the village and bus terminal. You'll stay in a small hotel with an all-important swimming pool. The Palenque ruins are a 10-minute drive away.

Travel time: 5 hours along very windy roads...

At 8am you'll be picked up at your hotel for the short trip to Palenque. Bring plenty of water - it's very hot so you'll be sweating buckets. Palenque is hidden deep in the jungle and is one of the few Mayan cities where archaeologists were able to decipher details of the life of the ancient Mayans. You'll have plenty of time to wander through the ruins before the heat drives you back to the comfort of your air-conditioned minibus waiting by the entrance. Not much later you'll find yourself immersed in the refreshingly cool waterfalls of Agua Azul. If you're feeling surprisingly fit you can follow the path up to the top of the waterfalls, the view is amazing.

At the end of the day you'll arrive back in Palenque.
 

From the bus terminal in Campeche it's only a short 1½ hour drive to Merida, where again you'll take a taxi to your hotel (approx US 2.50 just like all taxi rides within town). Merida is a large town and it's usually quite hot, so you'll stay in a colonial hotel with a pool close to the main square where you can sit in the shade and soak up the Mexican atmosphere. When it cools down a little towards the evening, you can take a walk around the town and be amazed at the colossal buildings in French Neo-renaissance style that form a stark contrast to the simple pastel-coloured Yucatan houses.

Today on the Mexico City to Cancun itinerary, you'll be free to visit the surrounding area of Merida. If you've been hit by Mayan-fever after your visit to Palenque, we can definitely recommend an excursion to Uxzmal, a Mayan city built in Puuc style. With its decorative statues, frills and flourishes we considered it one of the most beautiful Mayan ruins. If you'd rather see some local wildlife, head to the Gulf of Mexico for a boat trip through the Rio Celestun Nature Reserve, home to thousands of bright pink flamingos. Day trips can easily be arranged from your hotel in Merida. The trips leave daily around 8am, returning around 6pm. Price of these excursions approx US$60.

You'll make an early start today, as you'll take the first bus to Chichen Itza this morning (approx 4 hours drive). Before you enter what was the last major Mayan city, you can hand in your luggage at the entrance. The serene atmosphere of this ancient city is best experienced from El Castillo, the pyramid in the central part of the city. There's an amazing view across the temples, pyramids, the unusual playing field and the cenote where the Mayans used to fetch their water.

After you've explored the ruins, your bus will leave around at 3pm from the entrance for your next tropical destination: Playa del Carmen. 

Your hotel is centrally located: to the left you'll find the broad pearly white beaches, to the right is Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) a lively shopping street with several bars, restaurants and souvenir shops. There's always plenty going on there, especially in the evening. 
 

Next, you'll have a couple of days to stretch out and enjoy the tropical sun, sea and sand in Playa del Carmen, a former fishing village overlooking the turquoise Caribbean sea.

You can spend these few final days of your Mexico City to Cancun trip snorkelling, diving, visit the cliff-top ruins of Tulum or simply wile away the hours on the beach doing absolutely nothing at all. It's all up to you...
 

Day 18: Playa del Carmen - Cancun - End of Mexico City to Cancun trip