Mexico Travel Blogs on RealTravel

Zacatecas journal: Late Update, Sorry

2008-03-17T16:28:12Z

"Let me tell you drinking with the girls from Germany is dangerous"

a entry by Lisa & Matt from a trip to Zacatecas, Zacatecas.

Friday night Matt and I went to the movies and like always in the States we spent $20. Of course here that means we bought tickets and bought two of the most delicious Jamon Serrano sandwiches with huge drinks. We went to see 10,000 Years B.C. (or here 10000 Anos A.C.). As the narrator began to speak in the beginning, I knew that the gamble had not gone in our favor. This movie did not have subtitles in Spanish, it had been dubbed. But I forget how much Matt and I understand when we stop trying. When we are just relaxed watching a movie in the dark... Because neither of us got lost, or ...

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Oaxaca City journal: Oaxaca, viva Mexico!!

2007-06-03T02:03:20Z

a entry by Un Petit Tour from a trip to Oaxaca City, Oaxaca.

en construction

C'est une dizaine de jours plus tôt que prévu qu'on est arrivés à Mexico City, car les prévisions météo étaient mauvaises pour Huaraz au Pérou, on a pu changer notre billet sans problèmes...Donc pas de randos dans la Cordillera Blanca (ce sera pour une prochaine fois !) mais par contre, un super acceuil chaleureux chez Sandrine qui travaille pour l'Ambassade de France à Mexico City. Et qu'est ce que c'était CHOUETTE d'avoir les clés de l'appart, de pouvoir s'étaler sur le canapé en rentrant, choisir et mettre un CD de bonne musique, ouvrir le frigo et choisir ce qu'on ...

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Mexico journal: Mexico

2007-12-31T21:37:37Z

"The highlight of Merida and probably Mexico was the amazing cenotes"

a entry by Niall Hughes from a trip to Mexico.

Surrounded by multi million pound hotel resorts, McDonald's, Burger Kings and Subways, Cancun felt like a world away from Cuba. We weren't lucky enough to stay in the swish part of town though we did manage to get a decent hostel 10 minutes from the excellent beaches and resorts. The first thing that struck us about Mexico were the people, they have to be the friendliest and most open we have encountered on our travels so far. One thing I did find frustrating however is that Mexicans do not like to say no, so will often send you off in the wrong direction when they have no clue where you want ...

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Puerto Escondido journal: Puerto Escondido

2008-01-23T00:05:02Z

a entry by Sasha Chernenkoff from a trip to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.

After staying so many nights in San Cristobal we managed to arrange 3 free nights stay in our hostel. Being bargain travellers we took this as a sign to stay a few extra days. Once we`d used up our free nights we pulled ourselves away from our layers of blankets and our daily bonfires with the hope of hot December days on the Pacific coast. Our first night was spent in a hostel which had most amenities anyone could want, including a swimming pool, but we found ourselves lonely here as there were few other guests. The next day we missioned to locate a better living arrangement and found ...

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San Cristobal de Las Casas journal: San Cristobal de Las Casas

2008-01-22T23:56:09Z

a entry by Sasha Chernenkoff from a trip to San Cristobal de Las Casas, Mexico.

Kendra and I arrived in San Cristobal and were immediately overtaken by it`s beauty. I did my best, sucessfully to convince Kendra to study Spanish in the cute colonial town for a week so we`d have an excuse to stay. While she studied I went and helped out Matt (a Californian staying at the same hostel) with his project. The project was part of his masters thesis, but they ran out of funding and the project basically got abandoned. Now he is working on it with some of the locals and the funding from his father and an NGO. He is building a wash station for doing laundry for a community of ...

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Papantla journal: El Tajín

2007-12-04T00:58:46Z

"The voladores hurl themselves off a platform..."

a entry by Barbara & Dave from a trip to Papantla, Veracruz.

The net curtains on our bedroom window ensured an early wake up, and we headed out on a local bus to El Tajín, which dates from the Classic period (300 - 900 AD). When we visited it was free on a Sunday...just 35 pesos for your video.

(Please note: the rules regarding free entry to sites in Mexico has changed from 2008 - now it is only Mexican Nationals and anyone who has permanent residency in Mexico who can benefit from the "free on Sunday" rule. All other foreigners have to pay.

The most interesting building on the site is the Pyramid of the Niches, a 6-tiered structure, with a ...

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Chichen Itza journal: Chichen Itza

2007-12-15T03:15:47Z

"Good, once the groups have gone!"

a entry by Barbara & Dave from a trip to Chichen Itza, Yucatan.

It is thought that Chichen Itza was established around 300 AD and began to flourish between 800 and 925 AD. This site has all the signs of mass human sacrifice and glorification of military activity, leading to the belief held by many that the city was invaded by the Toltecs around this time. This fusion of Maya and Totlec culture is evident at the site, where imagery of the Toltec Quetzalcoatl (Kukulcan in Maya) and Chac-Mool (the Maya rain god) are both found.

Chichen Itza was abandoned in the 14th century, the reasons for which are still a mystery.

Having now visited many other ...

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Uxmal journal: Uxmal - Puuc architecture at its best.

2007-12-13T03:47:47Z

"Don't miss this one!"

a entry by Barbara & Dave from a trip to Uxmal, Mexico.

Late start today, not many of those recently, and we headed to the 2nd class bus station on the edge of town. With 2 tickets to Uxmal, and 82 pesos less in our pockets, we headed for the site.

There's no "official" stop for the Uxmal site, so we trusted the driver and got off when he stopped the bus, shouted "UXMAL" while pointing to the road on the right.

The price displayed on the board at the entrance states that is costs 45 pesos to go in. However when you buy your ticket you end up paying 95 pesos, 45 for the official ticket, and seemingly 50 pesos for a day-glow wrist band ...

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Merida journal: Mérida

2007-12-11T18:35:29Z

"Talking religion with a Mayan "Cuban" cigar seller!"

a entry by Barbara & Dave from a trip to Merida, Yucatan.

After a 3 hour bus journey from Campeche, we arrived in Mérida. Contrary to our expectations, this has turned out to be the friendlist city so far on our travels. Everyone wants to talk, and offer information free of charge, without even a hint of wanting to sell you something. They have a special knack of embellishing their stories which has a charm all of its own.

When the Spanish conquistadors entered T'ho (as Mérida was then known) in 1542, they found that the lime-mortared buildings reminded them of the Roman architecture of Mérida in Spain, so they renamed the city Mérida.

T ...

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Merida journal: Merida

2007-12-12T21:41:32Z

a entry by Sasha Chernenkoff from a trip to Merida, Yucatan.

After spending a week in luxury, though sad to see my parents leave, Kendra and I were both happy and somewhat relieved to return to backpacking and staying in hostels where people aren´t afraid to make eye contact and everyone is not a fat, rich, lazy tourist. We hopped on a bus to Merida with our backpacks feeling double their previous weight thanks to the wine, tequilla, granola, pancake mix, etc. etc. etc. that my parents left us with. Merida was a refreshing return to seeing some real Mexican culture.

The streets and main square of Merida were filled with live music on Saturday ...

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Mayan Riviera journal: Mayan Riviera

2007-12-12T20:57:51Z

a entry by Sasha Chernenkoff from a trip to Mayan Riviera, Mexico.

After nearly seven months of being away from home and living in hostels, I was very happy to spend a week in a luxury resort/condo with my parents. Kendra and I got royally spoiled, pampered, and overloaded with food and gifts from my parents. We were both pretty overwhelmed at first by the extreme luxury of the resort in comparison to some of the hostels we´d stayed in as well as the contrast to the true living standards of the Mexicans and Central Americans. The place was enormous and the pool absolutely gigantic. The bellboys informed us that if we needed anything, including a ...

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Campeche journal: Campeche, the walled city

2007-12-11T17:22:31Z

""13 rabbits""

a entry by Barbara & Dave from a trip to Campeche, Campeche.

Campeche is now a World Heritage site, and justifiably so. It´s a low-rise town, where the houses are painted in a wide spectrum of beautiful pastel colours. With its narrow cobbled streets, and relaxed atmospehere it is a joy to relax in and walk around.

Because most travellers seem to bypass Campeche, it is less commercial and seems a lot less touristy that many other Yucatan towns.

Campeche started life as a Mayan trading village called Ah Kim Pech, (Lord Sun Sheep-Tick). After several unsuccessful attempts by the Spanish Conquistadores to conqueror the city, they finally gained ...

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Villahermosa journal: Villahermosa - an unscheduled stop

2007-12-07T23:34:29Z

"Montezuma's revenge"

a entry by Barbara & Dave from a trip to Villahermosa, Tabasco.

As were were leaving the Aquarium in Veracruz, an elderly lady offered to read Barbara's palm, and promised to bring her good luck. Not really believing in such things, the offer was politely declined!

(On 4 December) We left Veracruz on the overnight "sleeper" service to Villahermosa, (although we have since renamed it the "not a wink of sleep" service) the plan being to catch a connecting bus out to Palenque the same day. What should have been a 7 hour journey, ended up being a 5.45 hour journey, such was the reckless abandon with which the driver sped us to Villhermosa. Montezuma - or ...

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Veracruz City journal: Veracruz

2007-12-05T01:23:33Z

"The windy city"

a entry by Barbara & Dave from a trip to Veracruz City, Veracruz.

Papantla:

Awoke early, the skies looked ominous. We went for breakfast, eggs again.

On leaving the hotel to walk to the bus station the heavens opened, (think Noah) The locals dived for cover and smiled as the two Gringo drowned rats carried on regardless downhill to the station. The rivers of water flooded past us and pick-up trucks which were parked under the overhead gutters filled with water and started to resemble mobile swimming pools.

On reaching the station we offloaded our kit and then watched wryly as the locals demolished part of a wall in the bus garage to release ...

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Mexico City journal: See the city for the price of a bus ticket

2007-12-02T01:00:55Z

a entry by Barbara & Dave from a trip to Mexico City, Mexico.

Four sore feet later.... we took the bus, the Turibus (patent pending apparently).

Toured a large part of the city in relative luxury, headsets thrown in! From the very posh areas of Zona Rosa and Polanco (Burberry, Gucci etc like Bond Street) to the more everyday areas with MacDonald´s and Radio Shack - can´t knock it as we had to pay a visit to buy battery chargers which would work with the half-hearted voltage here (only 110v).

Highlight of the day was the visit to the Anthropological Museum - one of the best museums in the world, for MesoAmerican artefacts, history and culture. ...

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Playa del Camen, Mexico journal: Playa del Carmen - relaxation, sea, engagement!

2007-11-23T03:00:11Z

a entry by Leigh & Jo from a trip to Playa del Camen, Mexico, Mexico.

Sunday 21st October – Merida – Playa del Carmen

Another early start today as we had a bus to catch but none of us had any sleep the night before as our rooms were so hot! We got a taxi to the bus station at just before 6am then bought tickets to Tulum which is cheaper than buying tickets directly to Playa del Carmen. The bus journey took around 5 hours which was an hour longer than advised but we managed to play scrabble on board which kept our minds occupied. We then bought second class bus tickets to Playa so Riff and Alex could jump off at their hotel on the way which was in between ...

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Merida journal: Merida - visit to Uxmal (Mayan ruins)

2007-11-23T02:35:41Z

a entry by Leigh & Jo from a trip to Merida, Yucatan.

Saturday 20th October – Chichen Itza – Merida

We got up this morning in time to stand in front of our hotel to wave down the 7am bus. It was running slightly late but pulled over on our request - 2nd class buses are great like that, whenever you want them to stop they do so. We got into Merida around 10am and walked through the town and busy market. Alex and Jo were not very keen walking through big dirty puddles on the roads in their flip flops due to poor drainage systems. We got to a cheap hostel, which was a few steps down from the type of our accommodation we had been staying at and ...

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Cancun journal: Rated #17 best out of #159 hotels in Cancun!

2007-10-12T16:38:11Z

a review of Golden Parnassus & Spa, a place to stay in Cancun, Mexico.

The Golden Crown Paradise Spa (now better known as Golden Parnassus Resort & Spa) in Cancun prides itself on being one of the best hotels along the entire, beautiful beach front. With its Caribbean views and five star amenities including indoor mini golf, fitness centre, small shopping gallery, volleyball and swimming pools to name a few, you don't really need to look far for something to do. My friends and I decided to book at this particular hotel with 'First Choice' because of its good reviews and amenities that were on offer and it didn't disappoint. The hotel is adults-only and mainly for ...

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Cancun journal: Breathtaking!

2007-10-12T16:56:08Z

a review of Tour Of The Mayan Ruins And The Chichen-Itza Pyramid, a thing to do in Cancun, Mexico.

The Mayan ruins of Chichen-Itza are an architectural treasure in breathtaking proportions. The Mayans had been living here, dating back to 2600bc so it's a fantastic site to still see after all these years. A Mayan City showing magnificence of a culture filled with a rich culture of art, mysticism and a harmony with Mother Nature. It is recommended that full protection from the sun is taken as the ruins themselves are in direct sunlight and there is a lot of open space. The trip itself lasted the day with groups of people being taken up to a Sacrificial Cenote first and then onto a Mayan ball ...

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Guanajuato journal: Adios Mexico

2007-10-23T23:36:08Z

a entry by Hanna Griffiths from a trip to Guanajuato, Mexico.

While I have moved on from Gunajuato to Samara Costa Rica there is so much that remains to be said about my time in Mexico. To catch up since I am so bad at this im going to sum up Guanajuato in on big super entry. First of all there is my family. This picture shows all of us together. The two other girls were there with me all but a week and Sra rebeca and Paco are on either side of me. I could not have had a better family! Ahora estoy en Costa Rica, pero hay muchos cosas de Guanajuato que necesito decir antes de comienzo con Samara. Entonces voy a escribir de todo de Guanajuato en un Blog ...

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Merida journal: First Annual Events in Merida

2007-11-16T15:26:43Z

"A Date? NO WAY!"

a entry by SunnySal from a trip to Merida, Yucatan.

This blog will be a combination of various experiences.

First Annual Women´s Run/Walk

Paseo de Montejo is a beautiful, tree lined wide street in Merida. There are old mansions on either side of the one mile long avenue. Many have been converted into offices, some are in disrepair but the street is a pleasant one to stroll.

On Sunday, Nov 11, the first race for women was held there. A two mile walk and a four mile run. There were prizes for the top three women in each of the four categories in the race. The prized decreased according to age.

About four thousand ...

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Puerto Vallarta journal: Rappelling and Ziplining

2007-11-16T03:45:58Z

a review of Vallarta Adventures, a thing to do in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

We booked this excursion with our cruise. Once we got off the ship and met our group, we all piled into a speed boat and headed across the water to an area that was mostly canopy.

We got off the boat and separated into 2 groups of 14 and got inside these big 4 wheel trucks to take us further into the canopy. It was a very bumpy ride, but lots of fun!

We got to the facility and got our equipment put on by the guides. We had 6 guides for our group and we were given good instructions before we started. We started the adventure with a mule ride up to the first zipline. We went on ...

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Mazatlan journal: Open Air Taxi

2007-11-16T03:40:08Z

a review of Tour Mazatlan by Pulmonia, a thing to do in Mazatlan, Sinaloa.

The pulmonia, open-air taxis, were a lot of fun to ride in. There are a lot of them available at the cruise ship terminals as well as regular taxi. You can usually bargain with them to take you on 1 hour or 2 hour tours of the city. Our server from lunch set us up with a driver for an hour tour for $20. They were going to charge us $10 just to take us back to the cruise ship anyway.

We went around seeing monuments, homes, and different areas of town. He made several stops so we could get out and take pictures. He also let us out to go inside the Cathedral in Old Town.

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Mazatlan journal: Magnificant Views of Mazatlan from the Top

2007-11-16T03:35:18Z

a review of Hike to El Faro Lighthouse, a thing to do in Mazatlan, Sinaloa.

Our ship offered this hike as an excursion for $50 pp. I wondered why someone would pay that much if you could get there on your own.

We walked out of the cruise terminal and went left towards the large hill in the distance. Lots of taxis were trying to give us a ride, but we wanted to walk the whole way. It was an interesting walk, we saw lots of locals out and about and we went by a school with all the kids outside having lunch. It took us about 20 minutes to get to the bottom of the hill to the lighthouse from the cruise ship. The hill is next to a sewage facility, so the smells ...

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Cabo San Lucas journal: Lots of Tequila Options

2007-11-15T22:34:36Z

a review of Pancho's Tequila Bar, a thing to do in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

I had wanted to go here last time we were in Cabo, but we didn't make it. After lunch, we decided to check out the tequila bar and have a few drinks.

We sat at the bar and the bartendar recommended his 2 favorite tequilas that weren't all that expensive. The Oro Azul was about $6 a shot and the Maestro Tequilero was about $8 a shot. We trusted his recommendation as there were over 100 to chose from. They were both very good and left us feeling very good.

You can also eat lunch here.

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