Mexico Trip Late 2015 into 2016 to Yucatan/Quintana Roo

Ooops - sorry - I forgot to paste the website where I found the list . . . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_archaeological_sites_by_country . . . and also a list a Maya sites . . . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Maya_sites . . .

Vieques was great and we took Spanish lessons and also classes where we worked with Puerto Ricans with us trying to teach them English slang and then trying to teach us Spanish slang. Lots of fun but it did not take. We also took Spanish classes in Mexico. Still did not take. We have books and tapes to study. Our brains do not seem capable of new information. But we do seem to get by with our limited vocabulary.

For SCUBA diving we stayed at Paa Mul and arranged to dive with the outfit there - but we did not like their style of diving and would never dive with them again. There was an outfit at Akumal we liked and would prefer diving with them. Diving cenotes with a guide is also a great experience. I did that many years ago when there were only a few accessible cenotes but now they have opened access to many of them and have rules in place about guides and experience etc. Guides may not take more than 4 divers - obvious safety reasons.

Friends of ours stayed at Xpu Ha on the beach in a 36' motorhome but resources are limited and the water is awful. Depending on the size of your rig we think Maya Bell at Palenque is one of the most memorable places we have stayed anywhere. We boondocked in the parking lot at Uxmal with no problem.

We took the coast route down along the gulf and it was more work than fun. Many people now say to cross at Laredo and take the cuotas all the way down. That would be - 85/85D from Laredo to Monterrey - 57/57D from Monterrey to the Arco Norte ( http://www.arconorte.com.mx/mapa ) north of Mexico City - 150/150D from Puebla to 145/145D - to 180/180D to Villahermosa.

Along the way we stop at Matehuala off 57D and take a day to visit Real de Catorce - a must see. Then after San Luis Potosi we cut across 110 to Dolores Hidalgo and 51 down to San Miguel de Allende to visit that area. From there you can take 111 back to 57D near Queretaro and on down toward Mexico City. We would definitely find a way to visit Teotihuacan if you can. There is a way to get there from the Arco Norte (40D) to 132D - or 5D off 57D takes you closer to Mexico City but it is shorter - traffic not too bad if you don't make a wrong turn. A stop in Cholula to visit Puebla and the Cholula Pyramid if time allows. 150D takes you over a mountain pass that is often shrouded in clouds - but if you get a clear day there are several mountains is the 17,000 to 18,000 foot range - Orizaba - Popocatépetl - Iztaccíhuatl - among the tallest mountains on this continent. Between Puebla and Villahermosa we stayed at a Pemex as there are no RV parks close along that route.

Many people still take the gulf coast route but it can be rough and confusing - though it has probably improved some since we did it. The route I suggest is more miles and more tolls but probably faster and easier driving.

I can't tell you much about crossing to Belize or Guatemala but have heard it can get confusing as you may have to turn in your permits and vehicle paperwork at the border when leaving Mexico and then get all that stuff done again when you re-enter Mexico. I have nothing against going to other places but with the time you said you have it could be more than enough to try to see what Mexico has to offer. Take the time to experience the places and not just fly by.

I would also suggest getting the latest Garmin GPS as well as Microsoft Streets & Trip 2013 to map your route and take the time to check and double check to see that your GPS is taking you the correct route - any wrong turn can lead to problems.

BrianSue,

Quite an impressive list! Your Spanish must be good from living in Vieques and your travels in Mexico.

I loved Chichen Itza and Tulum. Have to also go again to xCaret, it was a beautiful/wonderful park! And also visit some of the other ones.

I do have the Church's Books. I have both, The Mexican Camping and The Baja one. That is where I got some campgrounds to visit and check while we were vacationing there. We used our vacation there as a scouting trip for the RV trip.

I will start planning a route and with possible stops in the route to Cancun. We will probably only travel about 6 hours a days on route and probably stay at some places for few days to rest and check the local areas.

We are very excited to go back to Mexico and to Belize for the first time! We are also into Scuba Diving so we also plan to do some of that. Love the Drift Diving in Cozumel!

We probably won't be doing the same trip you are planning (but you never know). But we can make some suggestions. Essential guide - Travelers Guide To Mexican Camping by Mike & Terri Church - often referred to as "The Church Book" - and their website . . . http://rollinghomes.com/Update%20log.htm . . . with updates to the book. Roam around the website to learn lots more.

See the "Stickies" at the top of this forum and study the info found there.

By the way - I grew up just outside NYC and lived on Vieques, PR for 8 years.

If you are into ancient ruins as we are there is a Wiki list of the ruins of the world - see web address below - with list of sites in Mexico. We have visited quite a few of these and forget many of them. We have read the pyramid at Cholula near Puebla is the largest in the world by volume and the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan is the third largest by volume. Now that there are new roads around Mexico City you can get to Teotihuacan and Puebla without going through Mexico City traffic. Sites like Chichen Itza and Tulum can be overwhelmed by tourist buses and venders selling junk souvenirs - get there when they first open in the morning and you might be able to beat the crowds. Off the top of my head our favorites are Palenque, Teotihuacan, Uxmal, Ek' Balam. You can research all of these sites online. Here is the wiki list of sites in Mexico - with some of the majors and our favorites in UPPER CASE.
Acaneh
Acanmul
Achiutla
Acozac (archaeological site)
Ake
Almuchil
Altar de los Reyes
Altavista petroglyph complex
Anayte'
El Amparo
El Arbolillo
El Azuzul
Balakbal
Balamku
Balankanche
Balcón de Montezuma
Becan
Bellote
Bolonchén
BONAMPAK
Cacaxtla
CALAKMUL
Calixtlahuaca
Calotmul
La Campana (archaeological site)
Candelaria Cave
Cansacbe
Cantona (Mesoamerican site)
CAÑADA DE LA VIRGEN
Capacha
Casa de la Cacica
Castillo de Teayo (Mesoamerican site)
Cempoala
Cenotillo
El Cerrito (archaeological site)
Cerro de la Estrella (archeological site)
Cerro de las Mesas
Cerro de las Minas
Cerro Juanaqueña
Chac II
Chacchoben
Chacmultun
Chactun
Chakalal
Chakanbakan
Chalcatzingo
Chalchihuites
El Chanal
Chiapa de Corzo (Mesoamerican site)
Chicanna
CHICHEN ITZA
Chichmul
El Chicozapote
Chimalhuacán (archaeological site)
Chinikiha
Chinkultic
CHOLULA (MESOAMERICAN SITE)
Chuctiepa
Chunchucmil
Chunhuhub
Chunlimon
Chunkunab
Chupicuaro
Coatetelco
COBA
Comalcalco
Comitan
El Conde
El Coporo
Cozumel
Cuajilote
Cuarenta Casas
Cuauhtinchan
Cuca
Cueva de las Jarillas
Cueva De Las Ventanas
Cueva de Oxtotitlan
Cuicuilco
Culuba
Cutzamala (Mesoamerican site)
Cuyuxquihui
Dainzú
Dzehkabtun
Dzekilna
Dzibanche
Dzibilchaltun
Dzibilnocac
Dzibiltun
Dzilam
Dzitbalche
Dzula
EDZNA
EK' BALAM
El Encanto
Etlatongo
La Ferreria
Flor de Mayo
Frightful Cave
Gheo-shih
Guachimontones
Guaquitepec
Guiengola
Hacienda Hotzuc
Halakal
Halal
Haltunchon
Hoboyna
Hochop
Holactun
Hormiguero
Hotzuc
Huamango
Huamelulpan (archaeological site)
Huandacareo
Huapalcalco
Huápoca
Huatusco (archaeological site)
Hunanhil
Huntichmul
Huntichmul II
Ichkabal
Ichmac
Ichmul
Ichpaatun
Ichpich
Los Idolos
Ihuatzio
Ikil (Maya site)
Isla de Jaina
Isla de Piedras
Isla Uaymil
Itzamkanac
Ixcateopan
Ixil
Ixtelha
Ixtlan del Rio (archaeological site)
Izamal
Izapa
Jolja'
Jonuta
La Joya
Juxtlahuaca
Kabah (Maya site)
Kana
Kanki
Kinich
Kakmo
Kintunich
Kantunil Kin
Kayal
Kiuic
Kohunlich
Komchen
Kukab
Kuluba
Labna
Lacanha
Laguna de los Cerros
Lambityeco
Loltun
Las Bocas
Las Choapas
Las Flores (archaeological site)
Las Ranas
Malpasito
Managua (Maya site)
El Manatí
Mani
La Mar
Mario Ancona (Maya site)
Matacapan
Maxcanu
Mayapan
El Meco
Mesa de Cacahuatenco
Miraflores
Misantla
Mitla
Mocu
La Mojarra
MONTE ALBÁN
Mopila
Moral Reforma
Mul chic
Muluch Tsekal
La Muñeca
Muyil
Nakaskat
Ndaxagua
Nicolas Bravo (Maya site)
Nocuchich
Nohpat
Ojo de Agua (Maya site)
Okop
El Opeño
Organera Xochipala
Otompan
Oxcutzcab
Oxkintok
Oxlahuntun
Oxpemul
Oxtankah
Oxtotitlán
El Pabellon
Padre Piedra
Palace of Cortés, Cuernavaca
PALENQUE
El Palmar (Chiapas)
El Palmar (Quintana Roo)
El Palmillo
Panhale
PAQUIME
Paso de la Amada
Pechal
Peralta (Mesoamerican site)
Pestac
Piedra Labrada
La Pintada (archaeological site)
El Pital (Veracruz)
Pixoy
Plazuelas
Pomoná
Pomuch
Potonchán
La Proveedora
Punta Sur (Cozumel)
PUUC
La Quemada
Quiahuiztlan
El Quirambal
Remojadas
El Resbalon
El Retiro
El Rey
Río Bec
Río Michol
Sabacche
Sabakalal
Sacchana
San Andrés (Mesoamerican site)
San Claudio (Maya site)
Sacnicte
San Gervasio (Maya site)
San José Mogote
San Lorenzo (Campeche)
San Lorenzo (Chiapas)
San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán
San Miguel Ixtapan (archaeological site)
San Pablo Huitzo
Santa Cecilia Acatitlan
Santa Elena (Maya site)
Santa Rosa Xtampak
Santoton
Sayil
Sihó
Silvituc
Simojovel
Sisilha
La Soledad de Maciel
Suchilquitongo (archaeological site)
T'Ho
El Tabasqueño
Tabi
EL TAJÍN
Tamaulipas early agricultural site.
Tancah
Tapachula
Techoh
Tecoaque
Telantunich
Templo Mayor
Tenam Puente
Tenam Rosario
Tenayuca
Tenochtitlan
Teopantecuanitlan
Teopanzolco
Teotenango
TEOTIHUACAN
Tepatlaxco (Mesoamerican site)
Tepcatan
Tepeticpac
Los Tepoltzis
El Tepozteco
El Teul
Tila
Tingambato
Tipikal
Tizatlan
Tlapacoya
Tlatelolco
Tlatilco
Tohcok
Toluquilla
Tollan
Tonalá
Toniná
Tortuguero (Maya site)
Tres Zapotes
TULA
TULUM
Tunkuyi
Tututepec
Tzendales
Tzibanche
TZINTZUNTZAN (Mesoamerican site)
Tzocchen
Tzum
Uaymil
Uci (Maya site)
Uitzina
Ukum
La Union
UXMAL
El Vallecito
La Venta
Xaltocan
Xbalche
Xcalumkin
Xcambo
Xcaret
Xcocha
Xcochkax
Xcoh
Xcorralche
Xcucsuc
Xculoc
Xel Ha
Xicalango
Xkalachetzimin
Xkichmook
Xkipche
Xkombec
Xkukican
Xlapak
Xnucbec
Xochicalco
Xochipala
Xochitecatl
Xpujil
Xtobo
Xul
Xupa
Yaaxhom
Yagul
Yakalmai
Yalcabakal
Yaxche-Xlabpak
Yaxchilan
Yaxcopoil
Yaxuna
Yo'okop
Yucuita
Yula
Zaachila
El Zapotal
Zazacatla
Zohapilco

I am completely open to going to Belize and Tikai. Actually I would prefer for the trip to also include Belize. I seriously thought about going to Belize when we were in Tulum, but was short on time.

I recently retired (July 2014 at age 59) and have plenty of time to do it.

We do travel slow (but not too slow) and like to take in the areas. I am not the type to just wants to Drive Drive Drive to say they have been there. We like to have enough time to enjoy the different places.

If we can get enough interested, maybe part of the group can just do Mexico and return and the rest of the group continue to Belize.

My Info: Born and raised in New York City to Puerto Rican parents. Fully bilingual in English and Spanish. Worked 40 years in IT. My wife is French and Bilingual in French and English, but understands Spanish pretty well.

When I think about this trip, I am think anywhere from 4 to 8 months.

Let's do it!!!

While I cant make that trip with you I would encourage you to continue into Belize and thence to Tikal in the Guatemalan Jungle. Tikal is the largest pyramid in the Americas and one of the most stunning of ancient sites in Central America. (or the world for that matter) The road from Belize to Tikal is well traveled and OK for RV's and Trailers (at least it was back in the 90's when I drove it.) To be that close and not see Tikal would be a true shame. There are also many great historical sites in Belize and Belize is a Beautiful country...but not cheap.

Good Luck and Have a a happy and safe journey.