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Cenote X-Batun
The cafe, before opening
Merida the evening before the hurricane Dean
Grain storage building at Yaxcopoil
I'm trying to figure out if it's best/easiest to just stay in one place- Merida or Cancun, and do day trips to places like Chichen Itza and Tulum, or if I should plan to stay overnight in each place.
I'm not big into the nightclub/partying scene; more into the nature/history of the places. Just don't want to get stuck somewhere without a place to sleep...
So maybe advice about getting around- bus vs rental car would also be appreciated, as well as info about whether or not it's easy to just just walk into a hostel/hotel and book a room for the same day, or should I try to book beforehand.
Fyi- I will be in the area from the 1st to the 7th.
Muchas gracias,
Lina
I do not think you need to worry about booking ahead of time especially since you seem game for the hostel/hotel level of accomodations. Unless you are looking for travel companions I would recommend you skip the hostels and find a cheap centrally located hotel. (You could get a room for the same cost as a bed in a hostel.) If you are flying in, chose the cheaper tickets for either Merida or Cancun. Cancun would be central if you want to see go south of Tulum, see Isla Mujures, Cozumel and Chichen Itza, but it is a resort-tourist town with little history and an immigrant culture. I am sure that there are inexpensive hotels in the town rather than in the hotel zone on the beach. Merida is much older and culturally distinctive. It is central for Chichen Itza, Uxmal (etc.) plus caves and hemp haciendas, and Puerto Progresso for sea food. My choice would be to establish myself in Merida for the music, the food, the museums, the market and historic buildings.
If my flight arrived in Cancun I might go to Tulum and then turn around and head to Merida with a stop at Chichen Itza for either the trip to Merida or the trip back to the Cancun airport. A night in Cancun would be a waste unless it was necessry to go to Isla Mujeres.
The Mexican bus service is probably the best in the world. The greatest convenience, greatest range of service quality and still very fair pricing. This is capitalism with slight government regulation at its best. In general, I advise against car rental in Mexico --see multiple tips, warnings and other posts on VT --, but for a large group with an interest in smaller places and perhaps some Spanish language skills and an intrepid driver, it could be OK. Many have done it. I rented a van for a day once to do the Uxmal circuit and had no difficulty. It was easier and seemingly safer than driving in central Mexico.
Have a good trip. bob
thanks for the info, bob.
lina
On Sundays Merida's center turns into a big fiesta. Handicraft markets and dancing everywhere!! Some dancing groups show traditional dances wearing their finest sunday-dresses. On other places you can see the people dance Tango or Waltz.
18kms south east of Uxmal (and therefore c 100kms from Merida) is Kabah, another of the Puuc ruins that forms part of the Puuc Route. Much smaller than Uxmal, it is nevertheless an important site and is frequently incorporated with Uxmal on a private (4 people taxi) tour. It cannot be reached by public transport.
(To see more, I have placed a travelogue in the Ruinas Uxmal page)
This is a famous street, with many nice homes. Merida, Mexico in the Yucatan is sometimes considered the PARIS OF THE WEST. They call this city that for its resemblence of French looking architecture. It is a beautiful walk along this street. Various bars, eating establishments and cafes line up and down the boulevard. I took a picture of just one of the many beautiful looking structures along MONTEJO. About a week after I left, they got slammed by a hurricane that did a number on the place, but I think and hope they recovered.
Starting on Saturday evenings and until Sunday late night, the streets in downtown Mérida are blocked off to cars. It seems that all Meridanos come downtown and party. Bands play in every block, restaurants move their tables & chairs into the streets, vendors set up in the streets, roaming street performers perform -- basically it is PARTY time.
We went to a VT meeting on Saturday evening, and then wandered the streets, listening to the music and people watching. There are all types of music -- we heard tangos, old-style 50's music, even one band who played music I associate with Mexico - like they play on Clint Eastwood's spaghetti westerns.
We really enjoyed the community atmosphere, and recommend that you try to visit Mérida on a Saturday or Sunday evening.
Several blocks north of the downtown square is the wide tree-lined avenue of Paseo de Montejo, named after the Spanish conquistador, Francisco de Montejo who founded the city in 1542. The avenue is lined with French style mansions, most now neglected, that were built by wealthy henequen or sisal plantation owners in the late 19th century. Sisal was used to make rope and hammocks before nylon was invented in the 20th century bringing much of the sisal industry to an end. The avenue also has several restaurants and banks on it today along with some interesting sculptures.
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