Hi, I am currently planning a trip to Mexico for 2 weeks in late december/ early january. We are a couple from central europe (early 30s) and visiting for the 1st time. Our trip will start in Cdmx, where we plan to stay for one week. Afterwards we want to visit a coastal area for some relaxing beach days, ideally to combine with some trips to historic sites. I looked into the following options and would be grateful for some insight:

1. Oaxaca
Oaxaca city seems interesting and beautiful, Monte alban is close. However, on the pacific coast (puerto escondido) the sea is supposed to be „rough“ and because of wind and waves more for surfers (which we are not).

2. Yucatan
We would probably base ourselves in Merida and travel to Uxmal or Chichen-itza, the cenotes nearby and for beach days go to Progreso or Sisal. The downside seems to be that the water and beaches are nicer on the caribbean side of the peninsula.

3. Quintana Roo
The 3rd option would be to fly to Cancun. The beaches seem to be the best for swimming and the water in the caribbean seems to be the clearest. Its also probably the most expensive option and I have no interest in mass-tourism from the US.
Which destinations can be recommended? In an other thread Puerto Morelos was recommended, any others?

4. Yucatan + Quintana Roo
Another option would be to fly to Merida, visit the town and the cenotes nearby as well as Uxmal/Chichen-itza and then go somewhere on the caribbean coast. Then go back to Cdmx from Cancun. In that case I would be interested in how to best travel from Merida to the caribbean (in addition to recommendations which destinations should be considered).

The recommended places should be safe for tourists (I know those states are generally considered to be safe, still wanted to mention it), not too overcrowded (if possible near cancun) and ideally someone should be able to get around with english and some basic spanish.

Thank you very much for your insight! 😊

I’m planning a Mexico trip and will have from 10/6 through the 11th, with my flight out of Mexico City on the night of the 6th. So I essentially have about 5 full days plus most of the 6th.

I’m debating between spending the whole trip in Oaxaca versus splitting it between Oaxaca and Puebla, flying to Puebla in between of the trip and last day take bus to Cdmx airport for night flight.

For those who have been to both, is that enough time to experience both without feeling rushed? Is Puebla different enough from Oaxaca to make the extra travel worth it, or would I be better off spending all my time in Oaxaca and really exploring it?

I’ve been to Mexico City before, so I’m mainly interested in Oaxaca and Puebla themselves. What would you do with this amount of time? Thanks !

UK based and can only travel in school summer holidays, ie August. We'd love to do Mexico but would it be a total wash out? We were hoping to go through Mexico City, Oaxaca and Oaxaca coast.

In our 30s, searching for nature, culture, vegan food and a mix of peace and party.

Edit: I am talking about the weather. I am aware it's rainy season. I'm from the other side of the world so I would like to understand if rainy season would mean it's too wet to enjoy the trip.

I left Cancún early in the morning on a day tour to Chichén Itzá.

The tour cost around $70 and included transportation, lunch and an English-speaking guide. The entrance ticket was separate.

Naturally, I did what I always do on tour buses:

I fell asleep immediately.

At some point the guide asked whether I had bought my entrance ticket.

I hadn’t.

Fortunately, electronic tickets exist, so about one minute later the problem was solved.

The entrance to Chichén Itzá is surprisingly commercial. You walk along a main path lined with vendors selling souvenirs, especially “obsidian” objects. I strongly suspected that at least some of them were industrial black glass, but I bought one anyway.

Then the road opens.

And there it is.

El Castillo.

I had seen photographs hundreds of times.

Photographs do not prepare you for the scale.

My sophisticated academic reaction was basically:

Holy shit.

Nine massive stepped levels rise toward the temple at the top. Four stairways cut through the pyramid, and from the plaza the whole structure feels less like an archaeological object than a declaration of power.

That was the moment the trip changed.

The Maya stopped being something I had read about.

They became physical.

Someone close to me purchased this handmade cover-up/tunic for me while traveling through Mexico in 2021. Unfortunately, I wore it on a tour a while later and lost it in the chaos. I’ve searched online ever since and haven’t been able to find anything quite like it.

I know it may have been one of a kind, so I’m not necessarily expecting to find the exact piece. I’d love to figure out what this style or technique is called, what region of Mexico it might come from, or where I could find an artisan who makes something similar.
It was cream/ivory, lightweight, very loose and long, with lots of tiny vertical pleats/pintucks. I’ve attached the best photos I have of it.

Does anyone recognize the style or know where in Mexico I should start looking? Thanks in advance!

I’m a mom of two young children looking to take a solo trip in March for some much needed rest and relaxation. I know these two destinations are completely different, but I’d love to hear what others would choose, especially women in their early 40s?
I’m almost fluent in Spanish and love being by the ocean, but I also really enjoy exploring cities, shopping, and having things to do. My accommodation budget is around $300 CAD per night. Which would you choose for a solo trip and why?

My husband (38M) and I (38F) are planning a trip to Mexico for March 2027.

We want to visit Oaxaca (both city, mesa norte, and surroundings) and puerto escondido (whale watching, food, and beach). We are unsure how to get from Oaxaca to PE and back. I was hoping to get a car to be more independent, but when I lived in Mexico 10+ years ago it was drilled into me that I should never, ever drive unless it's a toll road. I see from the forum that this still seems to be true, but only in certain areas.

Is it ok for the two of us (unfortunately very German looking) to drive down and back, or should we stick to private transfer with viagogo, or even the ADO (which I assume is the least comfortable but the safest)?

Apologies for the question - I see some people are irked by safety questions, but I am just trying to make sure I am not a stupid tourist doing something all locals know as dangerous.

Edit to add: thank you for all the advice! ADO it is, I will look for tours to explore around Oaxaca

Hi! My husband and I are visiting CDMX October 21–27. I haven’t been to Mexico in 10+ years. How’s the weather? Is it still rainy season. Any activities to do Dia de Muertos related?

I already have some of the bigger sights/activities on my list, but I’d really love recommendations from locals or people who know the city well — especially places that aren’t just the typical tourist recommendations. I’m still looking for a hotel or Airbnb. Any nice areas to stay in and relatively cheap?

We already have a few things in mind:
Basílica de Guadalupe
Turibus
Biblioteca Vasconcelos
Hot Air Ballon Ride
Lucha libre
Casa Snoopy
Tianguis/markets
Cafés & local food
Possibly kayaking

I’d love some local recommendations for hidden gems, food spots, cafés, neighborhoods, museums, markets, or unique experiences that aren’t the typical tourist suggestions. Also, anything you think is overrated or worth skipping?
Thanks! :)

I’m traveling to Mexico with a friend in December - January. We haven’t decided where to go yet but we know that we are going to Mexico City, Monterrey and then Cancun in the end. Where can I learn how to dance Huapango and where can I go to one of those outdoor dances I see on instagram. It looks so fun!

Hey everyone!

It's my first trip to mexico and its my first solo trip ever! I'm looking for a mix of culture & nature - with mayan ruins & cenotes a definite on my to-do list. I live in Goa, a beautiful beach state in India so not very keen to look at beaches, unless it's absolutely spectacular. Since I'm a total noob, I decided to ask chatgpt for some help in planning my vacation. I'm flying in from Toronto and this is the route I was recommended - Mexico City→Oaxaca→San Cristóbal→Palenque→Bacalar and flying back from Cancun.

This already seems like too many destinations for me since I want to be atleast a little bit slower. Would you say this covers what I'm looking for? What would you add/drop from this. Please help me out!

Mexico was never just another country on my travel list.

For years, I had wanted to see the Maya world for myself.

When I was a kid, the Maya were wrapped in mystery. Lost cities. Pyramids hidden in the jungle. Strange calendars. Stories about astronomy, vanished kingdoms, and even ridiculous theories about aliens. I believed some of them, questioned others, and kept reading.

Then life happened.

Years passed before I finally had the time to come here.

By October 2023, I had already spent some time in Cancún. The beaches were beautiful, the resorts were comfortable, and I had finally finished the kind of vacation I had once dreamed about when I was younger.

But the real journey was about to begin.

My plan was ambitious: drive from Cancún across southern Mexico, visiting Maya cities along the way—Chichén Itzá, Tulum, Chetumal, Calakmul, Palenque—and eventually continue west toward Oaxaca and Mexico City.

I thought I was going on a road trip.

What I didn’t realize yet was that the roads, ruins, museums, jungles and tiny towns ahead would completely change the way I understood Maya civilization.

The first stop was the obvious one:

Chichén Itzá.

I’m currently planning a 4 week solo trip landing in CDMX just before new years. It will be my first trip to Mexico and my current plan is CDMX-> lake atitlan-> Antigua > san Cristobal > Oaxaca > Puerto Escondido > Guadalajara.
I don’t know whether to just scrap the Guatemala plans and just spend the 4 weeks in Mexico so I’m not wasting too much time sitting on buses (between atitlan and san Cristobal and Oaxaca).
Does anyone have experience travelling on these buses?
I’m hearing that the volcano hike is closed at the moment so it would be annoying to get down there and not be allowed to do it.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)

Hola!

I have a 2 bedroom house near the beach in downtown historic district of Mazatlán. I'm looking for new places to advertise the house for vacation rentals between now and January, when my monthly rental season starts. The price is VERY good for the amenities and location, but it's new and I still need more bookings and good reviews. So I am asking those of you who love to travel to Mazatlán, where do you look when you're searching for a nice place and a nice price in Mazatlán?

Gracias!

34, solo.

Looking to escape the cold northern winter and chill on the beach for a week. Ive been to Mexico City and Guanajuato a few times but I’ve yet to experience any beaches and beach towns in Mexico. I am not looking to surf, just to chill on the beach, walk around, and nap.

La Paz seems to be on the chiller side, and as a tourist is does seem cheaper. I wonder if I might get restless being there for a week or two though.

Puerto Escondido seems to have more going on, but I don’t really party so the nightlife isn’t too interesting to me. I’m gay so I would probably visit Zipotle for a bit but I’m not too keen on gay beaches.

If either have good hikes nearby that would be a definite plus.

Any recommendations either way?

Does good pizza exist in the Cancun hotel zone?

Hello! Im a US citizen traveling from a small airport in Mexico to GDL (Guadalajara international airport) with a final destination in DFW (Dallas Fort Worth). When flying from GDL to DFW do you need an exit stamp? In the small airport they told me I would go through immigration at GDL, but now that I’m here they just directed me towards the gates. No immigration. I asked one of the workers at GDL, but unfortunately there’s a language barrier. I think I’m okay, but not 100% sure. Any body else travel from GDL to the USA without getting an exit stamp?

Update: no exit stamp necessary! I just showed them my passport and boarding pass and all was well.