October 13, 2008 5:00 AM
Travel tips for Mexico?
November 30, 2006 8:26 AM
Leaving in one week for Mexico. Any travel tips or things that we must see or do? Going to Merida, Valladolid, Chichen Itza, Playa del Carmen and Isla Mujeres.
In Playa and on Isla, we'll mostly be on the beach, but any tips would be great.
I'll be in Valladolid for one night and Merida for 2 full days, and I'll just be exploring. Any suggestions appreciated.
Also - transportation tips? Planning to take inexpensive buses everywhere (ADO and Riviera bus lines).
Hotels not needed - all are already booked.
posted by kdern to Where to go? (13 comments total)
In Playa and on Isla, we'll mostly be on the beach, but any tips would be great.
I'll be in Valladolid for one night and Merida for 2 full days, and I'll just be exploring. Any suggestions appreciated.
Also - transportation tips? Planning to take inexpensive buses everywhere (ADO and Riviera bus lines).
Hotels not needed - all are already booked.
Advertise here: Contact FM.
Uxmal is reachable from Merida, if you're not Maya'd out from Chichen Itza. I liked both sites.
posted by Quietgal at 9:06 AM on November 30
posted by Quietgal at 9:06 AM on November 30
Drink. Bottled. Water.
posted by allkindsoftime at 9:06 AM on November 30
posted by allkindsoftime at 9:06 AM on November 30
There's been several Playa/Mayan Riviera threads lately, I've probably babbled on all of them. I think I haven't said this stuff before:
In Playa: ASADOR DE MANOLO - Restaurant in Playa del Carmen El ASADOR Specializes in “Parilla Argentina” which is an Argentinean Grill serving fine cuts of meat, with the authentic chimichurry sauce; a medley of spices where parsley, rosemary, oregano and the chef’s secret ingredient marinate in extra virgin olive oil.
Location: 10th Ave between Calle 24 y 26 - we ate there once in July '05, talked ourselves out of going back the next day and had a lame meal at La B del M (have a mojito or two, skip the food - it was like TGI Friday's with plantains) instead. We're going back in January with the same friends we had dinner with there and it's first on our list. Get the mixed grill, but show up hungry.
The bar at Posada Freud on 5th (in PdC, between Calles 8 and 10) is a great place to sit and people watch and chitchat with strangers. It's really small and I don't remember any music at all, and the bartenders know everything. There are some (locals and repeat visitors) who say they make the best margaritas.
We went on the ATV Adventures tour because we wanted to do something that wasn't all day. It had rained buckets the day before, and the ride was gloriously muddy - we had a blast. A couple of days later we went on Alltournatives' [url=http://www.alltournative.com/day-expeditions/mayan-encounter.php]Mayan Adventure tour[/url], which absolutely recommend, especially this time of year when it's not so hot. It was painfully brutal at Coba in July.
I haven't been to Isla Mujeres before, but I'm looking forward to it. There's a little info about it on the playa.info forum, and just about all the rest of my information has come from myislamujeres.com.
Oh, and I bought the Mapchick maps for Mujeres and for the Mayan Riviera, and they are both really great. She generally ships same day (check the site), so you could probably get them before you leave.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:08 AM on November 30
In Playa: ASADOR DE MANOLO - Restaurant in Playa del Carmen El ASADOR Specializes in “Parilla Argentina” which is an Argentinean Grill serving fine cuts of meat, with the authentic chimichurry sauce; a medley of spices where parsley, rosemary, oregano and the chef’s secret ingredient marinate in extra virgin olive oil.
Location: 10th Ave between Calle 24 y 26 - we ate there once in July '05, talked ourselves out of going back the next day and had a lame meal at La B del M (have a mojito or two, skip the food - it was like TGI Friday's with plantains) instead. We're going back in January with the same friends we had dinner with there and it's first on our list. Get the mixed grill, but show up hungry.
The bar at Posada Freud on 5th (in PdC, between Calles 8 and 10) is a great place to sit and people watch and chitchat with strangers. It's really small and I don't remember any music at all, and the bartenders know everything. There are some (locals and repeat visitors) who say they make the best margaritas.
We went on the ATV Adventures tour because we wanted to do something that wasn't all day. It had rained buckets the day before, and the ride was gloriously muddy - we had a blast. A couple of days later we went on Alltournatives' [url=http://www.alltournative.com/day-expeditions/mayan-encounter.php]Mayan Adventure tour[/url], which absolutely recommend, especially this time of year when it's not so hot. It was painfully brutal at Coba in July.
I haven't been to Isla Mujeres before, but I'm looking forward to it. There's a little info about it on the playa.info forum, and just about all the rest of my information has come from myislamujeres.com.
Oh, and I bought the Mapchick maps for Mujeres and for the Mayan Riviera, and they are both really great. She generally ships same day (check the site), so you could probably get them before you leave.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:08 AM on November 30
As tempting as it is, don't rent a scooter. If you do, insist on a helmet. Personal experience makes me an expert on this topic :-)
posted by GreenTentacle at 9:08 AM on November 30
posted by GreenTentacle at 9:08 AM on November 30
La Cueva del Chango in PDC. I love this place with an unholy passion.
posted by desuetude at 9:24 AM on November 30
posted by desuetude at 9:24 AM on November 30
Grr, wrong menu. Trying again:
A couple of days later we went on Alltournatives' Mayan Adventure tour
posted by Lyn Never at 9:24 AM on November 30
A couple of days later we went on Alltournatives' Mayan Adventure tour
posted by Lyn Never at 9:24 AM on November 30
In Valladolid, be sure to check out the Convento de Dan Pernardino de Siena, which is built over a cenote. If you go when it's open, you can get a cool little tour. Also be sure to go into the city hall building to check out the fabulous murals. Finally, take a short trip out to Cenote Dzitnup and Cenote Samulà for a swim. Earlier in the day is better for the cenotes as the fill up with people from bus tours from Chichen Itza later in the day.
In Merida, if possible, plan to stay over a Sunday. "Domingos en Merida" are a big craft, art thing and most of the downtown streets close off and there are all sorts of vendors and bands in the zocolo and various other plazas. Be sure to drink a Negro Modelo and Leon Negra which originated in this city (I believe). If you need more beach time, it's easy to get to Progreso, which is a favorite with the locals and very different from Playa.
In Playa, go grab a beer at Alux - a restaurant in a dry cenote. It's about a 10-15 minute walk from 5th ave and any taxi will know where it is.
I've written more about this area on my site, which I've self-linked in other threads on this topic. Have a great trip, it's a great part of the world.
posted by Staggering Jack at 11:11 AM on November 30
In Merida, if possible, plan to stay over a Sunday. "Domingos en Merida" are a big craft, art thing and most of the downtown streets close off and there are all sorts of vendors and bands in the zocolo and various other plazas. Be sure to drink a Negro Modelo and Leon Negra which originated in this city (I believe). If you need more beach time, it's easy to get to Progreso, which is a favorite with the locals and very different from Playa.
In Playa, go grab a beer at Alux - a restaurant in a dry cenote. It's about a 10-15 minute walk from 5th ave and any taxi will know where it is.
I've written more about this area on my site, which I've self-linked in other threads on this topic. Have a great trip, it's a great part of the world.
posted by Staggering Jack at 11:11 AM on November 30
er, make that the Convento de San Bernardino in Valladolid. That Dan guy has a whole 'nother convent.
posted by Staggering Jack at 11:21 AM on November 30
posted by Staggering Jack at 11:21 AM on November 30
Tulum is beautiful, if you can fit in a trip there. I really loved snorkeling in Xel-ha, too.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 1:19 PM on November 30
posted by Pater Aletheias at 1:19 PM on November 30
Second the ATV Adventures tour. It's a blast if you like going fast, and pretty close to actually dangerous. Hurtling down a trail way too fast with rocks and trees 6 inches on each side, with no helmet. Woo!
Another fun thing is the Hidden Worlds cave snorkeling. As close as you can get to cave SCUBA diving, without the risk.
posted by smackfu at 1:31 PM on November 30
Another fun thing is the Hidden Worlds cave snorkeling. As close as you can get to cave SCUBA diving, without the risk.
posted by smackfu at 1:31 PM on November 30
I recommend one of the day expenditions with Alltournative. We did the Mayan Encounter which takes you to Coba and lunch in an Mayan village where you'll rappel down into a cenote, zip line over a small pond, and have lunch in the Mayan village.
posted by mamaquita at 1:45 PM on November 30
posted by mamaquita at 1:45 PM on November 30
Second Pater Aletheias - I spent a month living on the beach at Tulum in a palapa- besides snorkeling the barrier reef and Xel-ha I made the local cenotes part of my daily schedule.
posted by ptm at 12:25 AM on December 1
posted by ptm at 12:25 AM on December 1
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In Merida, there is a great flag lowering ceremony in the main square every day that's worth seeing. At dusk-ish. The hammock salesmen in the square should know the specifics.
posted by smackfu at 8:48 AM on November 30