Mexico City/Yucatan/Oxaca

[citylove]

We're traveling around southern Mexico starting next week - I am TOO excited. We're starting in Mexico City, and all we know now is that we will go to the Yucatan Peninsula to see the Gulf, Chitchen Itza, Medira, and some other ruins, going to Oxaca, perhaps even to Acapulco to catch the Pacific coast as well.

We only have two weeks.

Does anyone have any must-see adventures? We're not into resorts or any of that stuff, more into exploring the culture as well as the historical aspects of the country.

Any other tips are welcome, of course. It's my first time out of the country so I'm quite nervous!

[KrissyCat7]

We loved Tulum. The water was amazing there!

You might want to check out Cozumel too.

[Nigellas]

My DH and I drove around the Yukatan for a week a few months ago- It was AWESOME! I loved Merida (though it's not very driver-friendly), Valladolid was very quaint, Tulum is beautiful. We actually started in Cozumel and I'd skip that if we did the trip again (unless you dive - apparently the diving is great there - we couldn't dive because of my pregnancy) - it's pretty touristy.

[Asha]

the pyramids outside mexico city are a must. it was one of my favorite things about mexico. also, the diego murals on the gov't buildings are wonderful as well. i wish i had gone to the house of freida khalo (sp?). the archeological museum in mexico city is great too, but unfortunately i couldn't fully enjoy it bc i was suffering an extreme hangover from tequila shots. in addition, if you love to dance, make sure to hit one of the discos for latin dancing, but make sure to dress super sexy as the women there love to show off their bodies.

personally, i wouldn't drive in mexico. the drivers are very crazy, and you can go for long stretches of highway with nothing in sight. plus, i think it is pretty pricey as they have pretty hefty tolls on the highway. there are a ton of first class buses that aren't too expensive and comfortable for traveling long distances. that's the way i traveled around mexico.

[Jenyfer9]

I lived in Merida for 18 months, and let me tell you, you should really visit Uxmal in addition to Chitzen Itza. I LOVED Uxmal. I agree that Merida isn't really the most driver friendly city, but it isn't hard to navigate, IMO. You should also drive up north from Merida to Progreso... I haven't been there in quite a few years (it's been almost 7 years since I lived there), but it was a quiet little Port on the gulf.