BootsnAll Travel Community

If I drive from the Southwest US to Guatemala, what stops must I make? What can I simply not miss? Exact route is not yet planned...

Thanks!

Ann-Marie

Wow, there are so many places to see it would be impossible to name them all. I guess my only question is how much time do you have? That would help us help you a lot more.

Oh wait, I wasn't completely clear... the question mainly relates to Mexico. I know southwest US very well already and I know what I want in Guate. So, Mexico, say, 1-2 months, mosey-ing along? I am thinking Pacific ocean, myself, but am open to all suggestions!

I wish I could see the Monarch butterfly migration, but I think I will be too late for that- does anyone know the timing of that phenomenon?

Ann-Marie

COPPER CANYON - take the train as the sceneray is breathtaking. Stop at Creel and explore the region. The Tarahuamara still live traditionally - many in cave dwellings, but you have to get out of the city.

Stop at Guadalajara for a sunday Chareada - Mexican rodeo. Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful beach area and Puerto Escondido has amazing waves - but is dangerous.

Pop over to Pazcuaro and see some quaint colonial villages.

quote:

Originally posted by amsong:...
I wish I could see the Monarch butterfly migration, but I think I will be too late for that- does anyone know the timing of that phenomenon?

Ann-Marie

i was in mexico for the monarch butterfly migration a few years ago in november, and it was just starting, so i think i may be over by now. not sure if theres more than one place to see that. we were in angangueo (sp?).

if you plan to see pacific mexico, i would suggest getting the lonely planet. they have a pacific mexico book and thats the one we used. theres lots to see, but it depends on what your interests are.

there are some places that you can definitely skip, however. one of them is acapulco. i definitely dont recommend any of the resort towns with high rise hotels. thats just me though. good luck!

Never been there, but I think Baja Mexico would be interesting to see. I definately recommend Puerto Vallarta, there are lots of Canadians and Americans down there, so if your feeling lonely you have a good chance of running into someone from your neck of the woods. Other then that, what about Mazatlan, or Cabo?

I just got back from visiting the Monarch's in Michoacan. They are in Mexico from November to the end of March. So it looks like you will just mis them.

Also, I haven't been but I've heard from lots of people that Oaxaca is beautiful. I think thats the next place I will be visting in Mexico.

Heres one potential itinerary:

Los Mochis/Chihuaha-stopover
Creel- take train from los Mochis for better view, for better times pay 3 times the fare for the luxury train.

Creel-Chihuaha One day
Chihuaha to many northern Mexico locations.

From there you can travel to the Pacific coast, or down the center. I liked Guanajuato, Morelia, Patzquaro, Mexico city, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guatemala.

There are other stops from north to Mexico city, and not a lot from Mexico city to Oaxaca. Some people like Taxco for silver shopping and colonial charm.

I recommend you the pacific coast from jalisco to oaxaca, you will surpise with nice beaches.

http://members.virtualtourist.com/pedroebc

bye
pedro

Tijuana

I would recommend Guadalajara for a city of much beauty and culture, Puerto Vallarta is very beautiful if you go to the old town, but is very much a resort still. For less big hotels and resort type places I would recommend the Oaxaca coast in the south east. Puerto Escondido is more of a built up surf resort, though still much nicer and less developed than the likes of Acapulco. However my favourites were further down in the small beach villages of Mazunte and Zipolite - there´s also many more small coves and deserted beaches to explore in the area.

From there I would recommend heading into Chiapas and basing yourself in San Cristobal de las Casas. From there you can do day trips to the Agua Azul waterfalls, San Madeiro canyon and the Mayan temple ruins of Palenque amongst other things. Chiapas was my favourite region of Mexico.

From San Cristobal it´s a beautiful drive across the border into the highlands of Guatemala.

Enjoy your trip!

quote:

Originally posted by courtney elizabeth:
I just got back from visiting the Monarch's in Michoacan. They are in Mexico from November to the end of March. So it looks like you will just mis them.

Also, I haven't been but I've heard from lots of people that Oaxaca is beautiful. I think thats the next place I will be visting in Mexico.

not only is oaxaca beautiful, its lively, full of culture and festivities (especially in december), and people are great! i was just there in december, for the third time...my only gripe is that the people in the market (mercado de los abastos, to be specific) do not like their photos taken.

I am far from impartial, but vote a big yes to Puerto Vallarta...for its charm, cobblestones, activities, cafes, shops, tours, water and just plain sunbathing!

I would have to agree with garyrbeck on Puerto Vallarta. It is "must" place to visit if you are traveling through Mexico. Its a great beach with all sorts of places to visit either cultural or even just nightclubs and restaurants. It has everything you could possibly need. I personally stay at the Mayan Palace which is right downtown so you have the option of either resting in the hotel and enjoying the amenities offered, or you can go into town and see shops, museums, art galleries, etc. Here are some links that could help you. www.mexicosunplaces.com

It might be a bit off the main road through to Guatemala, but Taxco, Guerrero is one of my favorites in southwest Mexico. City of silversmiths. Good stopover for a single day, but not much more.

Taxco is very interesting, and the bus ride there is beautiful. Its a days ride from Mexico City.

It has lots of silver shops, houses built up and down a mountain face, and one of the most beautiful churches Mexico has to offer, if you're a church architecture fan.

The Main altar has to be seen to be believed, and the town square is one of the nicest, if small, that I have seen in Mexico.

Oh, and the prices for silver there are not much better than Mexico city, but your choice will be greater. Only wholesale customers get wholesale prices.

From Taxco there are some villages to visit, though I've not seen any.

There are the caves of CacaHuimpila to see, which should not be missed. It's said an entire army hid out in it during one of the many wars in Mexico.

quote:

Mayan Palace

Just like to point out that the above hotel is in the Marina, not downtown, see map:
Marina Airport

If you take the route through the center of Mexico, stop for a while at San Cristobal de las Casas and visit some of the Highland Maya villages nearby such as Zinacantan and San Juan Chamula.

At an elevation of 5,000+ feet, San Cristobal is also literally one of the cooler and more refreshing places you can stop in Mexico, and it is on the main highway to Tapachula, where there is a border crossing into Guatemala.

Ill give up a secret....


all depending on what you are looking for BUT if you like smalllllll cities and awsome street food and beaches, check out Caleta de Campos on highway 200 in Michoacan. Its just north of Lazaro Cardenas.

There are 1 or 2 small hotels there but not much else. Some small tiendas but the beach is very very nice and great body surfing. If you go, when you take the beach road and it dumps right to the beach, there are restaraunts to the left and right. A whole bunch facing left and rinning all the way down the beach. The very first one, should have a guy with his family working it. His hair is slicked back and his name is Javier. If you see him, PLEASE tell him David and Joe from Houston Texas said HELLOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! We camped there for 9 days and hung out with his family last year, awsome people!!!!!!

sorry about the picture size, my browser wont display the edit buttons now!

anyways, if you see him, please tell them hi. great people! first beach restaraunt on your left when facing the bay