RAYMI INC

Location .

The United Mexican States or Mexico is located on the American continent, more precisely in North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States of America, to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean, to the east by the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, and to the southeast by Guatemala and Belize. Mariachi, gastronomy, the Voladores de Papantla, posadas, the Day of the Dead or the various Easter celebrations are just some of the cultural expressions most associated with Mexico.

Our Tour and Places to Visit

1.Chetumal-Quintana Roo. 

  .Boulevard.

  .Esplanade.

  .Little boilers.

  .Enjoy your meal.

2.Bacalar- Quintana Roo .

  .Walk around the lake.

  .Visit the San Felipe Castle.

  .Walk through its beautiful streets.

  .Enjoy its nightlife.

3.Playa del Carmen- Quintana Roo .

. Visit its beautiful beaches.

. Walk down 5th Avenue.

. Enjoy its nightlife.

. Visit Tulum.

4. Holbox Island – Quintana Roo .

. Visit Mosquitos Beach.

. Go to Punta Coco Beach.

. Enjoy its different beaches.

. Take a Tour in vote.

. Experience the nightlife of Holbox.

5. Valladolid Yucatan Mx.

. Municipal Palace.

Church of Saint Servatius .

. Convent of San Bernardino de Siena.

. Zaci, Ckekén and Samuelá cenotes.

. Try its gastronomy.

. Central Market.

. Had dinner at La Eleganza restaurant, the food and service were very good and the prices were very reasonable .

Visit the Mirador Don Alfonso, on the third floor of the Maria de la Luz hotel, you will have an incredible view of the Plaza Principal and the Cathedral .

. Take a Free Walking Tour.

6. Merida-Yucatan .

. Visit Progress.

. Big Square 

. Montejo House. 

. Cathedral of San Ildefonso.

. Government Palace

. The Grand Hotel.

Hidalgo Garden .

. Palace of music.

. The Church of Jesus of the third order.

. The Contreras Theater.

Autonomous University of Yucatan .

. Santa Lucia Park.

Magical Town of Izamal.

7. Campeche- Campeche.

 .Walking Tour.

. Sea Gate.

. The city wall.

. Main Square.

. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

Sweet Name of Jesus Church.

. 59th Street.

. Art Gallery.

. Land Gate.

. Have lunch at La Parroquia restaurant .

8. Calakmul – Xpujil.

. Visit tour the ruins of Calakmul.

9. Palenque.

. Visit Agua Azul and Misol Ha

. Go to Sailor’s restaurant.

. Visit Palenque Ruins.

. Visit Palenque Museum.

Mandatory visit to Robero Palacios Waterfall.

10. Chiapas-San Cristobal de las Casas.

.Take the famous Pozole.

. Visit indigenous villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacatán.

. Visit to the Sumidero Canyon.

. Go to the El Caminante restaurant.

. Go to Prague Bar – live music.

. Walk through its streets.

. Try Coffee.

. take a Walking Tour.

. Take a ride on the tourist tram.

11. Chiapas-Tuxla Gutierrez.

. Visit Miguel Alvarez del Toro Zoo.

. Hot springs of the Cerro Hueco reserve.

. Lovers’ lookout.

. Go to the marimba park.

. Visit viewpoints of the Sumidero Canyon.

. St. Mark’s Cathedral.

Bicentennial Park of Tuxla Gutierrez.

12. Oaxaca-Santa Maria de Huatulco.

. Catamaran tour of the 9 bays.

. Go to Santa Cruz Beach.

. Drunken Shrimp Restaurant.

. Go to Delivery Beach,\.

. Go to Arrocito Beach.

. Walk through the city center.

13. Oaxaca-Puerto Escondido.

. Go to Zicatela beach.

. Go to Sailor’s beach.

. Puerto Angelito.

. Lunch at the Zicatela market.

. Manzanillo Beach.

Carrizalillo Beach.

. Bacocho Beach.

14. Oaxaca City of Juarez.

. Take City Tour.

. Visit Boil the water.

. Visit Teotlitán.

. Go to Monte Alban.

. Walking through the streets of Oaxaca.

. Eat at the famous 20th of November market.

. Visit Benito Juárez market.

. Visit crafts market. 

. Eat street food.

15. Puebla.

.Take a Free Walking Tour.

. Take Bus tour.

. Go to the Zócalo.

. Visit Cathedral.

. Go to candy street.

. Artist’s neighborhood.

. Eat market of flavors.

. Walk through the historic center.

. Take Bus Tour.

16. Veracruz.

. Go to Ceviche del Rey restaurant.

. Go to San Juan de Ulúa.

. Visit Cathedral.

. Visit Boca dek Río neighborhood.

. Walk along the boardwalk.

. Visit the Plaza Mayor.

. Go late to danzón.

. Eating at the Hidalgo market.

17. Mexico City.

. Visit San Juan market.

. Take a free walking tour.

. Visit Zócalo at night.

. Visit Cathedral.

. Visit the Great Pyramid.

. Go to the Post Office.

. Go to the Palace of Fine Arts.

. Visit to the Anthropology Museum.

. Go to the restaurant La Opera Bar.

. Go to the Portals of Tlaquepaque.

18. Cuernavaca.

. Go to Frida and Diego restaurant.

Franciscan Convent of Cuernavaca.

. Cortez Palace.

Government Palace.

. Go to the Kiosk.

. Roberto Brady Museum.

Gaia House Museum.

. Ride Cuernabus.

. Go to Comonfort market.

. Visit the magical town of Tepoztlán.

Day 01: Arrival in Chetumal. 

The ferry from San Pedro to Belize City left at 7:00 am, we arrived in Belize City at 8:30 am, had a latte and waited for the shuttle that would take us to Chetumal, where the United Mexican States is born , we arrived at the border crossing at 11:00 pm (2 1/2 hours of travel) to leave Belize you have to pay $20 usd, to enter Mexico, you have to travel 5 minutes by car to the Mexican immigration post, to enter you have to pay $680 Mexican pesos per person, then we headed to Chetumal, the transport dropped us off at our accommodation, it’s about a 15 minute drive approximately, we left our luggage and went out to lunch, Sindy’s fish market, good price and excellent food, you have to advance the time an hour, then we went to buy some fruit and returned to the Airbnb to rest, tomorrow would be a new day. 

Day 2: Calderitas – Chetumal.

It is the capital of the state of Quintana Roo, which is part of the Gran Costa Maya, and has many tourist attractions surrounding it.

We chose to stay one night because we had to work almost all day, but we took advantage and were able to see the charms of this beautiful city. After midday we went to the

Calderitas, a fishing village that over time due to its proximity to Chetumal (15 minutes by taxi) has made the town develop tourism, its beaches are turquoise blue, typical of the Mexican Caribbean, in addition to being a place full of history, and having excellent cuisine; taxi from Chetumal $45 pesos, there is a bus that leaves you 3 blocks from the restaurants $8 pesos pp. We had lunch at the Los Cerros de Izamal restaurant , the food was very good and at good prices, there is a spectacular view of the sea and the mangroves, then we returned to continue working and at night we went out to see the Chetumal esplanade, walk along its boulevard and go to dinner, we were very struck by the number of food stalls there are on the boulevard near the esplanade, typical foods and sweets of the city, Marquesitas, Machacados, Chamolladas, Chicharrones, Aguas frescas and others, we walked along the Explanada a la bandera, consisting of two golden eagles that flank a pedestal where an obelisk with a clock stands, commemorating the defense of the country when Mexico declared war on Germany.

Then we walked along the boulevard next to the sea and/or surprise we found a crocodile swimming among the waves, we could not believe it, the locals told us that there are many crocodiles because of the amount of mangroves next to the boulevard, around 10pm we took a taxi and went to rest tomorrow we would travel to Bacaral, the city of the Lake of the 7 colors.

Tasting the delicious food at Calderitas.

Excellent restaurant in Calderitas.

The famous Marquesita – Chetumal.

Street food stalls – Chetumal.

Day 3: Baccarat.

Bacalar is a city in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, located on the shore of the Bacalar Lagoon or Lagoon of Seven Colors , a very important  tourist attraction . Its name comes from the Mayan Bakhalal, which means “near or surrounded by reeds.” We decided to take a taxi from Chetumal to Bacalar ($300 MXN), the difference in price between the ADO bus plus the taxi to get to the bus station and our accommodation was minimal. We left Chetumal at 10:45 and arrived in Bacalar at 11:20 am, a 30 minute trip. We left our luggage and went for a walk around the city. There are a lot of tourists and February is low season, restaurant prices are higher than in Chetumal. We bought some products for our breakfast and some dinner (we always try to find an Airbnb with a refrigerator, kitchen, and private bathroom) and we found the Olizabal restaurant on 3rd Street. The food was delicious and the prices were reasonable: grilled chicken, salad, beans, plantains, rice, and beef soup for $105 MXN. The bad thing is that they only open until 3 pm, so we went to rest from there. At 6:30 pm we went out for a walk around the city, it was getting dark, you could see hundreds of little birds flying towards the trees in the main square, the streets and restaurant terraces were filling up with tourists, the lights of the lanterns were beginning to turn on, we were impressed by the atmosphere and beauty of the city, around the square there are many restaurants, craft stalls, street food (where they prepare the famous Marquesita and other typical sweets from here), nearby is the Castillo San Felipe, around the main square there are mobile stands where they offer different tours to the Lake of the 7 colors, we bought the Pontón tour, 2 hours of travel and 1 hour of kayaking, included water and fruit. 

Then we sat on a terrace in front of the park to enjoy the city. After 10pm we went to rest, tomorrow would be another day. We were told that the party starts from 11pm until 3am, every day, tomorrow we will see if it is true.

Day 4: Tour of the 7-color lagoon.

We got up around 10 am, walked through the main park and around the Castillo San Felipe and took a taxi $50 mx pesos, to take us to Casa Árabe, the starting point of the Laguna de los 7 Colores tour; at 12pm we were leaving at the Pontón, we were 8 tourists and 2 guys from the crew, the day was nice, it was hot, the sun was burning hard, before leaving they gave us a couple of recommendations, the first, do not use sunscreen and the second do not touch the stromatolites, they are prehistoric microorganisms that live in the lake, if you touch them they die and do irreparable damage, we start the tour passing by the Castillo San Felipe, a fort that served as a defense in case of pirate attacks to the city, we made 5 stops.

1. “Cenote de la Brujas” or “Black Cenote” Named thus because of the belief that satanic rituals were performed in this cenote by the ancient witches of the region, as you get closer you can clearly see the change in color of the water in the lagoon, from light turquoise to dark black, this as a result of going from a depth of 2 meters to approximately 160 meters.

2. Pirate Channel . So called because pirate ships used it to access the city, which led to the construction of Fort San Felipe, which served as its defense . We had 20 minutes to bathe in the refreshing waters of the Laguna de los 7 colores, there is little depth, the water is so clear that it looks like a natural pool, a true paradise.

3. Bird Island . So called because it houses various colonies of birds such as the American stork, spoonbills, gulls and frigatebirds among other species.

4. Cenote Esmeralda. At this point we went back to swim for 20 more minutes, we were able to enjoy the beauty of the Lagoon of the 7 colors, unforgettable moments.

5. Cenote Cocalitos. Here we were able to appreciate for the first time in our lives, the stromatolites that  are the oldest evidence of life known on Earth and form part of the most important fossil record of early microbiological life.

The tour was amazing, an experience worth having. We returned to the pier after 2pm, from there we took a taxi back to Bacalar to have lunch at the Olizabal restaurant, and from there we rested. We had dinner around 7:30, walked through the main park and the tourist part, ate ice cream, and around 10pm we went to rest. Tomorrow at 9:20am we will leave for Playa del Carmen.

Arriving to start the Laguna Bacalar tour.

Bacalar Lagoon called The Lagoon of the 7 colors – Mx.

Cenote Esmeralda – Laguna Bacalar – Mx.

Pontoon over the Lagoon of the 7 colors – Bacalar – Mx.

Day 5: Heading to Playa del Carmen.

We traveled on the ADO buses, the cost of the ticket from Bacalar to Playa del Carmen was $400 MXN (if you buy in advance you get a good discount), the trip lasted approximately 3:30 hours. We arrived at Playa del Carmen around 2 pm, left the carry-ons at the accommodation and went to lunch at the Fogón restaurant, it was delicious and the prices were reasonable, they served you “abundantly”, so much so that we brought food for dinner, in front of the restaurant across the avenue there is a Mega supermarket, where we bought some food for breakfast and from there we rested. We went out at night to visit the famous 5th Avenue, it was a sea of ​​people, shops, restaurants and bars everywhere and the music from each establishment could be heard everywhere, the prices of the restaurants and bars were very high, as well as the souvenirs and clothes, etc etc, returning to our accommodation we found a great place where you can eat or have a drink and the prices were affordable, we went in and had a couple of margaritas and from there we went to rest, tomorrow we would go to the beach.

5th Avenue Playa del Carmen – Mx.

5th Avenue Playa del Carmen – Mx.

Playa del Carmen – Quintana Roo – Mx.

Day 6: Playa del Carmen.

We got up a little late, had breakfast and walked to Mamitas beach , 10 minutes from our accommodation, we passed by 5th Avenue, one thing is to see it during the day and another to see it at night, the change is amazing. Mamitas beach is beautiful, the turquoise color of the sea is incredible, the texture of the sand is very soft and pleasant to the touch, yes there are a lot of people, hotels, bars and restaurants, but we had a great time, we were there for a little over 3 hours and then we went to have lunch at Fogón, then to rest, at night we went out to 5th Avenue, to listen to live music at “La Vagabunda”, there are very good musical groups, we had a great time, after 12 am we returned to our accommodation, tomorrow would be our last day at the beach in this beautiful city.

Tip : We were planning to go to Tulum, the ruins and Paraíso beach, but they warned us that there was a lot of sargassum (a type of algae that covers the sea), and they gave us this address to check the beaches before going and/or planning a trip. RedSargazo.com .

Sargassum is a floating macroalgae that forms colonies that cover large areas and move according to ocean currents. They float en masse in the sea, move in shallow waters and end up on beaches.

Day 7 : Playa del Carmen.

It dawned cloudy and cold, so after breakfast we went to buy a good cut of steak for our lunch, we no longer wanted to eat in restaurants; we worked all morning, the weather did not change, it was cold so we decided not to go to the beach, tomorrow we would be on Holbox Island and there we would enjoy the beach, sun and sea. We bought the EPO bus tickets to our following destinations: Chiquilá, Valladolid, Mérida and Campeche, buying in advance you get a good discount for advance purchase, tomorrow would be another day

El Fogón restaurant is very good. 

Don Sirloin recommended.

Gourmet Park, bar and food stalls.

Day 8 : Heading to Holbox Island.

Holbox, which means “black hole” in Yucatec Mayan, is a small Mexican island located in the northernmost part of the state of Quintana Roo. We took the ADO bus from Playa del Carmen to Chiquilá, a small fishing village where we took the ferry to Holbox Island. Note! There are two terminals in Playa del Carmen. We left from the Playa del Carmen Tourist Terminal and the ticket cost $244 MXN ($13 USD). The trip lasted approximately 2 and a half hours. The cost of the ferry round trip from Chiquilá to Holbox Island was $800 MXN ($45 USD). The trip lasted 25 to 30 minutes. We arrived in Holbox after 3pm, we went to our accommodation, took a swim and went to lunch at Las Panchas restaurant , good food and reasonable price, what we noticed about Holbox Island is that it is very humid, there are no paved roads, they are all dirt, the prices in the restaurants are high, although there are always options, the atmosphere on the island is one of partying and relaxation, after finishing lunch we went for a walk along the beach and took the opportunity to take a nice dip, the sea is turquoise with dark blue, soft white sand, after 7pm we went to have a light dinner and to rest.

Tips:

It is not necessary to rent a golf cart to go to the beaches.

There are 2 emblematic beaches, Punta Cocos and Playa Mosquitos.

You can walk to Punta Coco beach along the beach, from the main port it is 25 to 30 minutes.

Mosquitos Beach: I recommend going by boat. If you go by bike or golf cart, you have to leave it when you reach the last hotel and then walk about 20 minutes between mangroves and the beach.

There are several beautiful little beaches between the main port and Punta Coco, in our opinion better than the two emblematic beaches of Holbox.

Every day from 9:30 pm there is live music at the Hot Corner restaurant , known as “ the 4 corners” many people sit on the bench outside the establishment to listen to the music, dance and drink their beers, quite a spectacle.

Arrival Chiquuilá – Qintana Roo – Mexico.

Holbox Island – Quintana Roo – Mexico.

DAY 9: Holbox Island.

We got up after 10:30 am, we booked the 3 hour boat tour for the next day, price $400 mx ($22 usd) pp, we would visit Punta Coco, Playa Mosquitos, Reserva Yalahau, Isla Pasión and we would have about 1 hour to swim, you have to bring water and snacks, then we walked to Punta Coco beach , we discovered many paradisiacal beaches along the way, there are very nice hotels and different bars, in approximately 25 minutes we arrived at Punta Coco, there are not many people, the sea is blue with turquoise parts, it is also necessary to bring water and some snacks, on the way back we stayed at another beach in front of the hotel “La Puerta Azul” we liked it more than Punta Coco, the extraordinary sea, the white sand, a paradise !!, at 2 pm we went to have lunch at “Las Panchas”, then we bought some things for dinner and went to rest, at night we would go out to see the famous “4 Corners”.

At 9:30 pm we arrived at the Hot Corner restaurant , the music was about to start, we entered the place but the prices of the cocktails made us run, so we opted like many mortals, we sat on the stool in front to listen to the music, dance and drink some beers and margaritas, we bought them at the store on one of the corners, we had a great time, we sang and danced, at 12 am we left, the party had to go on for a while, tomorrow morning we had a tour.

Punta Coco Beach – Holbox Island.

Beach  in front of the Blue Door hotel – Holbox Island.

The Hot Corner live music – Holbox Island.

 Holbox Island – Quintana Roo – Mex.

Day 10: Boat tour – Holbox Island .

After breakfast we went to the pier, the tour started at 10:15 am. The sun was shining, the good thing was that there was a breeze that attenuated the heat a little.

First Stop: 

Yalahau Cenote, this eye of water is a natural pool where fresh water springs forth, surrounded by plants, trees and bushes, you can also go up to a viewpoint where you will have a privileged view of the island, here you can bathe, there is a restaurant where you can eat or drink whatever you fancy, we were there for approximately 1 hour.

Second Stop: 

Passion Island, after 15 minutes by boat we arrived at Passion Island, here you can walk in the sea, the water reaches at most knee height, we saw different species of birds, there is a viewing point, you will have an incredible view of the island, we were here for about half an hour.

Third Stop: 

On our way to the famous Mosquito Beach, we passed by Punta Coco Beach and sailed for about half an hour in the beautiful sea of ​​Holbox. The sea has a light turquoise color, dark changing in certain places to a dark blue, truly a beauty, we were able to appreciate Holbox Island from the sea, from Punta Coco to Mosquito Beach, here we had more than half an hour to swim and enjoy the refreshing sea of ​​Holbox. Around 1:30 we returned to the main pier of the Island. It was worth having taken this tour, 100% recommended.

We walked down the main street of Holbox and passing the park 2 blocks away we found a place where they make grilled chickens, so we bought a roast chicken for $300 mxn ($17 usd) which includes chicken soup, rice and you can’t eat there, it’s to take away, it was enough for lunch, dinner and breakfast the next day. At night we went out to walk and buy some souvenirs and around 10:30pm we went to rest, tomorrow we would leave for the city of Valladolid – Yucatan – Mx.

Yalahau Cenote – Holbox Island.

Yalahau Cenote – Holbox Island.

Passion Island – Holbox.

Viewpoint on Passion Island – Holbox.

Mosquito Beach – Holbox Island.

Day 11: Heading to Valladolid Yucatan Mx.

We took the 9:30 am ferry and arrived in Chiquilá at 10:15 am. The ADO bus to the city of Valladolid left at 10:45 am. The trip lasted 2:15 hours.

Valladolid is a beautiful city, its people are very hospitable, and for a long time it has been identified by the richness of the Spanish legacy reflected in its temples and the ancestry of its old neighborhoods. It has an exceptional colonial flavor. Walking through its streets, with its brightly painted mansions, the neighborhoods with their churches and of course the imposing convent of San Bernardino de Siena, a palpable trace of the Franciscan presence throughout the peninsula, is like going back in time. Its welcoming Parque Principal offers the shade of its laurels to locals and strangers. Places to visit:

Municipal Palace.

Church of Saint Servatius.

Convent of San Bernardino de Siena.

Cenotes Zaci, Ckekén and Samuelá.

Try its gastronomy.

Central Market.

We went to dinner at the La Eleganza restaurant, the food and service were very good and the prices were very reasonable, then we went to have some margaritas at the Mirador Don Alfonso, on the third floor of the Maria de la Luz hotel, you will have an incredible view of the Plaza Principal and the Cathedral, after 11 pm we went to rest, tomorrow we would have the free walking tour.

Valladolid Yucatan Mx.

Valladolid Cathedral – Yucatan – Mx.

La Eleganza Restaurant – Valladolid – Yucatan – Mx.

Day 12: Valladolid – Yucatan – Free Walking Tour.

At 9:30am we met the Spanish speaking tour guide at Valladolid’s Parque Principal. Our visits were as follows:

Main Square. Called Francisco Cantón Rosado Park , it is located in the center of the city and is surrounded by large flowerbeds, restaurants that offer the delights of Yucatecan cuisine and buildings such as the Municipal Palace and the Parish of San Servacio, which dates back to the 18th century. In the middle of the square there is a fountain with a figure of a woman in her traditional dress that represents the Yucatecan woman, called the Aurorita or the mestiza.

San Servacio Church. The current construction replaces the one built in 1545, whose façade faced west like most of the Yucatecan temples of the colonial era. The temple was demolished in 1705 because two years earlier an event occurred inside it that is known as “The crime of the mayors”, since Fernando Hipólito de Osorno and Gabriel de Covarrubias had taken refuge in the sacristy and were murdered; for that reason it was decided to demolish it and reorient its main access towards the north, that is why the sculptures representing Saint Peter and Saint Paul are now seen on the sides since originally they guarded the entrance of the temple.

San Roque Museum. This is one of the places you should not miss during your stay in this Magical Town, as you will find the most relevant information about the history of Valladolid and the State of Yucatan.

Santa Ana Park. It emerged as the vertex of a pre-Hispanic Mayan population, it was a modest neighborhood of artisans and day laborers during the colonial era that registered rapid development after the layout of a road from the Plaza Grande in the 18th century and the construction of its peculiar temple. Currently, Santa Ana Park is home to markets, craft and food shows that are constantly set up on its esplanade, it is one of the must-see places for visitors to our city.

Cenote Zaci. Located just a few meters from the center of the city of Valladolid, it is an impressive semi-open cavern of about 40 meters in diameter. The color of the water varies from slightly greenish blue depending on the time of year. It has an approximate depth of 40 meters. 

Central Market. Called Donato Bates , you will find different types of fruit, vegetable stands, crafts, different spices used in traditional Yucatecan dishes and some food stands.

The tour ended at 11:30am, we liked it a lot, it allowed us to learn a little more about this beautiful city, returning just half a block from the market we found a place where they make grills, pork ribs, chicken, chorizos, blood sausage, we bought some to have lunch at home, it was great; at 7:30pm we went out to dinner at Eleganza, then to walk through the Main Park, in the middle of the Fountain is the fountain of “La Mestiza” or mostly called “La Aurorita” is a tribute to the Yucatecan woman product of the fusion of the Mayan and Spanish culture.

The sculpture proudly wears the maximum Yucatecan regional attire: the terno, there was a show where 2 women represented La Mestiza, in which they sang and danced regional songs from Valladolid, around the park there were many candy stands where the famous Marquesitas were offered among other delicacies, after 10 pm we retired to rest, tomorrow we would leave for Mérida, capital of the State of Yucatán.

Cenote Zaci – Valladolid – Yucatán – Mx.

Main Square, in the center of the La Aurorita fountain – Valladolid – Yucatan – Mx.

Day 13: Heading to Mérida.

At 10:30am we left the ADO bus station, heading to Merida. The cost of the trip or “corrida” as they call it here was $138 mxn ($7 usd) and the trip lasted approximately 2:15 hours. The city was founded on January 6, 1542 by Don Francisco de Montejo “El Mozo” and is the capital of the State of Yucatan.

We arrived around 1 pm and took an Uber to go to our accommodation $39 mxn ($2 usd) we left our bags and went to the Main Park of Merida, it was Sunday and we found a party atmosphere, music, food stalls and different types of Yucatecan sweets, we had some cochinilla tacos for lunch, we tried the chicken tamal colado, we walked around the square and took the bus that took us to Progreso, one way ticket $23 mxn ($1.5 usd). Progreso de Castro is a port city on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It is a common stop for cruise ships, which dock at its emblematic pier. Its boardwalk, is next to the beach, restaurants and bars; the Puerto Progreso lighthouse, built in 1893, is active. The city is a gateway to visit the different Mayan archaeological sites in the interior such as: 

Chichén Itzá is a world-famous Mayan ruins complex on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It is a huge stepped pyramid known as El Castillo, dominating some 6.5 square kilometers of the ancient city. It is located 1:30 hours from El Progreso . 

Uxmal. It is one of the archaeological zones of the Mayan culture whose architecture is one of the most majestic in Yucatan. Its beauty is characterized by having low and horizontal palaces, placed around patios or quadrangles, which are rich in decorations of very detailed sculptures made with thousands of small stones perfectly polished and adjusted forming geometric mosaics of a perfection unmatched in the entire Mayan area. It is located 120 hours from Progreso. 

Dzibilchaltún. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula, as it was one of the largest cities of the Mayan Classic period.

Places to visit in Progreso, Yucatan.

. Visit the El Corchito Ecological Reserve.

. Enjoy the beautiful Cerditos beach .

. Practice water sports.

. Walk along the boardwalk.

. Relax on the city beach .

. Cross the Chocolate Pier.

Falling in love with Love Alley.

. Take a kayak ride along the Puerto Progreso estuary .

We returned to the accommodation after 7 pm, tomorrow we would have a tour of the city of Merida.

Progress – Yucatan – Merida – Mx.

Boardwalk in El Progreso – Yucatan – Mx.

El Progreso Marina Lighthouse – Yucatan – Mx.

Day 14: Yucatan.

Mérida is the capital of the state of Yucatán in Mexico, it has a rich Mayan and colonial heritage. The center point of the city is the Plaza de la Independencia, which is flanked by the Mérida Cathedral, San Idelfonso, and the white limestone Church of the Third Order, both colonial-era churches were built on ancient Mayan temples, there is also the Casa de Montejo, a building built between 1542 and 1549 by the conquerors of the Yucatán Peninsula, the Montejo – Francisco de Montejo, the adelantado, his son “el Mozo” and his nephew Francisco, to be used as their family residence. 

The free walking tour in Spanish started at 10:00 am, our guide was Maria Fernanda, who made the tour very pleasant and gave us excellent information to learn a little more about this beautiful city, the tour lasted approximately 2:30, the route was as follows:

Meeting point Plaza Grande 

Montejo House. 

The Cathedral of San Ildefonso.

Government Palace

The Grand Hotel.

Hidalgo’s Garden.

Palace of Music.

The Church of Jesus of the Third Order.

The theater in Contreras.

Autonomous University of Yucatan.

Santa Lucia Park.

After the tour we went for a walk along the beautiful Montejo Avenue, we had lunch and after 3pm we went to our accommodation to rest and finish some pending work. Tomorrow we would go on our own to the magical town of Izamal.

Montejo House – Merida – Yucatan – Mexico.

San Ildefonso Cathedral – Merida – Yucatan – Mexico.

Santa Lucia Park – Merida – Yucatan – Mexico.

Merida – Yucatan – Mexico walking tour group.

Day 15: Izamal – Merida – Yucatan.

Izamal is a small city located in the central region of the Mexican state of Yucatán, at a distance of approximately 70 kilometers east of Mérida. 

After a hearty breakfast we walked to the Plaza de la Patria, on Paseo de Montejo Avenue. It is a stone monument erected in the mid-twentieth century, sculpted entirely by hand by the Colombian sculptor Rómulo Rozo. The monument is one of the most iconic structures in the city and the only one in the world to be entirely carved directly from stone. At the end of the visit we took a taxi for $40 mxn ($2.5 usd) to the bus stop to Izamal, the price of the one-way ticket was $23 mxn ($1.5 usd), the trip took 1.15 hours, the last bus back to Merida is at 5 pm. 

Izamal in Mayan means “dew that falls from the sky” it is also known as “The city of the hills” for having in its territory important archaeological remains among which stand out 5 large Mayan pyramids. In 2001 it was included in the list of the Magical Towns of Mexico program; and the truth is it deserves it, it is a magical town with very welcoming people that offers many places to visit as well as its excellent cuisine and crafts, these are some places that you cannot miss when visiting Izamal.

Convent of San Antonio de Padua.

Visiting its 5 pyramids is free.

Museum of crafts 

Get lost in the streets of Izamal

Enjoy its gastronomy.

Visit the jewelry store La Flor del Coxoyal of Mr. Esteban Aban Montero.

Carriage ride.

It was a wonderful day, we returned to Merida around 6 pm, had dinner at the Santa Ana market, and had some margaritas at El Impala, we walked back to our accommodation along Paseo de Montejo Avenue, where there are many bars, restaurants, ice cream shops, etc. You will see beautiful houses from the time of Porfiri Diaz, tomorrow we will leave for Campeche.

Plaza of the Fatherland, Merida – Yucatan Mexico.

Izamal Magical Town – Yucatan – Mx.

Convent of San Antonio de Padua – Izamal – Tucatán – Mx.

Tour in Caleza – Izamal – Tucatan – Mexico.

Day 16: Heading to Campeche.

We left the ADO bus terminal heading to the city of Campeche at 10:45am, the cost of the ticket was $54 mxn ($3 usd), we arrived in Campeche at 1pm.

San Francisco de Campeche [7] (from the Mayan : Kaanpech ‘Place of snakes and ticks’), is a historic fortified city located on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula, it is famous for being one of the few walled cities in America that preserves its historical heritage in excellent condition, it was one of the reasons why it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999 and for 

We had lunch at La Capilla restaurant , very good food, they have a la carte orders or the meal of the day for $101 mxn ($5.5 usd), it’s open 24 hours, we walked through its beautiful streets, after 4 pm we returned to rest. At night after dinner we went to the famous Av 59, they say it’s like the 5th Av in Playa del Carmen, here you will find many restaurants and bars, there is a great atmosphere, the tables are on the track (there is no vehicular traffic), we had a great time, after 11 pm we went to rest, tomorrow we had the free walking tour .

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

59th Avenue Campeche – Mexico.

Day 17: Campeche Walking Tour.

The tour started at 9:30 am and ended at 11:45 am, our guide Hector, better known as Hectourcito , was terrific, he knew a lot about the history of Campeche and was very entertaining, 100% recommended, these were the visits we made:

The Sea Gate.

The city wall.

Main Square.

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

Sweet Name of Jesus Church.

59th Street.

Art gallery.

Land Gate.

We had lunch at the La Parroquia restaurant , every day there is lunch, soup, second course, soft drink and dessert, for $101 mxn ($5.5 usd), from there we went to rest, in the afternoon we would go to see the sunset.

We were very lucky because the Carnival was being celebrated in San Francisco de Campeche and we were able to enjoy a wonderful parade and the sunset was fantastic. After finishing the parade we went to 59th Street to eat some beef tacos and have some beers. After 10 pm we went to rest. Tomorrow we would travel to Xpujil to visit Calakmul.

The beautiful city of Campeche – Mexico.

On 59th Avenue – Campeche – Mexico.

Sunset in Campeche – Mexico.

La Catrina – Campeche – Mexico.

 La Catrina is a figure created by José Guadalupe Posada as a satire on Mexican politics and named by muralist Diego Rivera.

Day 18: Heading to Xpujil.

We left at 8 am on the South bus, the cost of the ticket was $43 mxn pp, ($2.5 usd), we arrived in Xpujil at 1 pm, we went to the accommodation, rested a bit and then went to lunch at the Don Deme restaurant , the food was very good and the prices were reasonable, the specialty was chicken with mole poblano and beef cecina with rice, beans and chilaquies, I recommend it 100%, when we finished we went to buy some snacks, fruit and water for the visit to Calakmul tomorrow; the cost of the transport from Xpujil to Calakmul was $500 mxn pp, ($28usd) the trip lasts approximately 2.30 hours, behind the statue of the Campechana (represents the woman of Campeche) there is a very good ice cream shop, and near there the bakery La Concha, they sell bread with ham and cheese and a variety of pastries. Tomorrow we would visit the famous Mayan city of Calakmul.

Arriving in Xpujil to visit the famous Mayan city Calakmul – Campeche – Mexico.

Day 19: Calakmul – Xpujil.

From the Mayan Ka ꞌ aláak ꞌ múul ‘ meaning Two Pyramids. It is one of the largest cities in the Mayan world, where more than 120 stelae have been found scattered among large structures and pyramids; it is located in the second largest nature reserve in America. It was inscribed by UNESCO as a Mixed World Heritage Site in 2014, and was the capital of a regional state of approximately 13,000 km², having been, together with Tikal (Guatemala) and Palenque (Mexico), one of the great regional powers during the classical period of Mayan culture.

At 7am we were picked up by the bus that would take us to Calakmul. The trip took approximately 2:30 hours. It is a good idea to bring water and something to eat because there is nothing there, that is what they told us. However, at the first entrance they sell coffee, sandwiches, cookies and some snacks, which are very expensive. The entrance fee to Calakmul is $270mxn pp ($15 usd). You do not need a guide, everything is well signposted and explained. There are 3 routes: the short one lasts 2 hours, the medium one lasts 3 hours and the long one lasts 5 hours. We took the medium one lasts 3 hours. These were the places we visited.

Great Plaza. This was the heart of the ancient city of Calakmul, the central axis of public life from the Late Preclassic (200 BC) to the Late Classic (800 AD). It is made up of Structure VII to the north, Structure VI to the west, Structure 11 to the south, and Structure IV to the east; Structure VIII closes the northeast end, and finally, Structure V serves as a link between the two sectors of the plaza.

Structure II . This is the main building at Calakmul and the tallest, at approximately 50 meters. It was built during the Early Classic period (between 250 and 600 AD) and consists of a monumental central staircase and four buildings on top that were added later.

Structure I. It is the second tallest at 40 meters and is located southeast of Structure II. As in other buildings, there are stelae at its base, and in this case, we can also see several altars.

Great Acropolis. This was the residential area of ​​the city, where high society families must have lived, mixed with public buildings.

Chiik Nahb Acropolis. The importance of this Acropolis lies in its interesting and well-preserved wall paintings. It is located almost at the end of the tour and is optional. 

The tour lasted approximately 3 hours and we were able to observe different kinds of animals such as spider monkeys, ocellated turkeys, raccoons, among others.

We returned around 4 pm, went to eat and then walked around the town. After 7 pm we returned to the accommodation. Tomorrow we would leave at 4 am towards the city of Palenque.

Structure II – Calakmul.

Structure I – Calakmul.

Steles where the history of the city of Calakmul was written.

One of the Stelae in the Mayan city of Calakmul.  

Day 20: Heading to Palenque – Chiapas.

At 4:15 am, we boarded the ADO bound for Palenque, Chiapas, ticket cost $454 mxn ($25 usd), duration approximately 6 hours, after leaving our carry on, we went to have breakfast in the Main Plaza, in the back there are many food stalls at a very good price and very tasty dishes, then we went to find out about the tour to Agua Azul and Misol Ha. The Chiapas waterfalls of Agua Azul have been considered a Natural Biosphere Reserve since 1980 , and are composed of the tributaries of the Otulún, Shumuljá and Tulijá rivers forming shallow canyons with vertical cliffs. It consists of several waterfalls, recognized for their deep blue hues that originate from the unique mineral content and nearby limestone formations, tour cost $400 mxn pp ($23 usd) includes payment of entrances and transportation. At night we had dinner at the Marinero Restaurant , specializing in seafood and fish, excellent food and reasonable prices. At the end of the day we walked to the Main Plaza and enjoyed a spectacular festival, with dances and music from the region. After 9 pm we went to rest, tomorrow we would have the tour to the Chiapas Waterfalls.

Day 21: Palenque Tour – Agua Azul Waterfalls and Misol-Ha.

They picked us up from our accommodation at 11:45 am, we picked up a couple more couples and left for the Misol-Ha Waterfall, the ride was approximately 30 minutes. It is a 30 meter waterfall located in the middle of the jungle, the landscape is beautiful, the waterfall, the trail, the grotto and its natural pool make this place another destination that you can’t miss in Chiapas, we were there for just over 45 minutes, and then we headed towards Agua Azul , the trip was 1 hour. Its name is due to the blue color of its waters that happens because of the dissolved salts and carbonates, this spectacle can be best appreciated during the summer when, in rainy seasons the waters turn dark, the volume increases, and creates a beautiful spectacle. Here we had 3 hours, we had lunch, we walked around the area, there are many craft shops and restaurants and then we bathed in its refreshing waters, a reward for the long day we had had the last 2 days, we returned to Palenque around 7 pm, we had a light dinner and went to rest, tomorrow we would visit the ruins of Palenque and the Roberto Barrios waterfalls, it is not yet very well known by tourists and locals.

 Misol Ha Waterfalls – Palenque.

Blue Water Village – Palenque

Day 22: Palenque Ruins – Roberto Barrios Waterfall. 

The tour agency picked us up at 8am and we headed to the Palenque Ruins. We preferred the tour because of the time, the price was very similar to if we went on our own, and the comfort. The cost was $550 mxn pp ($30 usd). Before entering, we hired a guide. There were 4 of us in the group and it cost us $150 mxn ($8.5 usd). The Palenque Ruins are… Our tour was as follows:

. Tombs.

. Temple of the skull.

Red Queen Temple.

Temple of the Inscriptions.

. The great White House Palace.

Temple of the Cross or Four Directions 

The tour lasted approximately 2 hours, then we visited the museum, it is recommended to visit it, it is very interesting and at 11:30 am they picked us up to visit Roberto Palacios Waterfall , the trip lasted 50 minutes, it was around 12:30 pm so we went to have lunch at the only restaurant there, to our great surprise the food was very good and the prices were reasonable, then we went to enjoy the Roberto Palacios waterfall ……., at 4 pm we returned to the city of Palenque, after having lived a very beautiful and intense day. Tomorrow we would leave at 4am towards San Cristóbal de las Casas .

Arrival in Palenque Mexico.

Palenque National Park Mexico.

Entrance to the Red Queen temple.

Temple of the Inscriptions .

Roberto Palacios Waterfall – Palenque.

Magical Place, Roberto Palacios – Palenque.

Day 23: Heading to San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas.

We got up early at 3:30 am, packed our bags, had a sandwich and walked to the ADO terminal, which is 5 minutes from our accommodation.

We arrived in San Cristobal de las Casas at 12pm, took a taxi for $40 mxn ($2.5 usd) to the accommodation, the first thing that struck us about “Sancris” as they call it in Mexico is the colonial style of its buildings, the cobblestone road and the number of churches there are. After settling in we went to lunch, we had the famous Pozole, it was delicious, from there we went to separate 2 tours, one to visit 2 indigenous towns San Juan Chamula and Zinancatán. 

 $300 mxn pp ($16 usd) and the other to go to the Sumidero Canyon $450 mxn pp, ($25 usd), we bought some things for our breakfast and went to rest.

At night we had dinner at the restaurant “El Caminante” I recommend it, good food at a good price, from there we went to have a couple of wines and listen to live music in “Prague” excellent atmosphere and reasonable prices, after 11 pm to rest.

Places to visit in San Cristobal de las Casas Chiapas:

. Walk through its beautiful streets.

. Try the coffee.

. Sumidero Canyon Tour.

. Tour the towns of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán.

. Take a walking tour. (meeting point La Cruz in front of the Cathedral, every day at 10am)

. Enjoy its gastronomy.

. Get on the Coleto or Tourist Tram.

San Cristobal de las Casas Chiapas – Mexico .

Cathedral of Saint Christopher the Martyr , Chiapas .

Day 24: Touring San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas.

After breakfast we went to exchange dollars and do some pending work, after lunch we took the ride on the Coleto or Tourist Tram through the city, $100 mxn pp ($5.5 usd), the circuit lasts approximately 1:30 hours, it goes through important places in the city such as:

. Cathedral of San Cristóbal Mártir . It is the most important religious building to see in San Cristóbal de las Casas, it is located on the Plaza de La Paz, its construction began in 1528, and the use of ochre and reddish tones stands out.

. Plaza 31 de Marzo. Also known as Vicente Espinoza Park, Zócalo or Jardín Principal, it is the meeting place for tourists and locals. In the central part there is a roundabout, and on the second floor a marimba has been installed that livens up every night with Chiapas music.

. Temple of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. It is one of the temples to visit in San Cristóbal de las Casas, where we can appreciate the Chiapas baroque style.

. Calle Real de Guadalupe. It starts at Plaza 31 de Marzo and goes all the way to the Guadalupe Church, making it one of the streets you’re sure to walk down during your visit to San Cristóbal de las Casas.

. Andador Miguel Hidalgo. The Arch of Carmen stands out in Mudejar style, it belonged to the Convent of the Incarnation and served as access to the Ciudad Real, as well as a bell tower.

. Church or Temple of Our Lady of Guadalupe. To get to the Church of Guadalupe you will first have to walk along the Andador Real de Guadalupe and then climb the 79 steps of its staircase, since it is located on a hill, you will have excellent views of the city.

. Concluding at the viewpoint , where you will have a view of the entire city of Sancris . 

Then we went to the 31 de Marzo square to see the festival that was being held for the 100th anniversary of the creation of the distinguished Flavio Antonio Paniagua children’s school. We enjoyed the school parade as well as dances, songs and performances by its students. After 7pm we went to dinner and rest. Tomorrow we would go on a tour of the towns of San Juan Chamula and Zinancatán.

Day 25: Tour of the Indigenous Villages of Zinacantán and San Juan Chamula.

We were picked up at 9:45 am and headed to the Zinacantan community , the trip lasted approximately 30 minutes. Zinacantán is a traditional Tzotzil town known mainly for its fruits, flowers and crafts, located on the outskirts of San Cristóbal de las Casas Chiapas, we visited:

. The Church of San Lorenzo. For the Zinacantecos, it represents their faith. It is beautifully decorated inside with different types of flowers. The stewards (elected for a period of 1 year) are in charge of the care and maintenance of the Church.

. Visit to the Communal Textile Factory. We were able to appreciate and learn how to make different types of handmade products, a real art. We tried Posh, a liquor that the Zinacantecos drink in special ceremonies. We visited some stands where they display their products and they offered us coffee and handmade tortillas, which were delicious.

Then we went to the community of San Juan Chamula . Chamulas is the name given to the indigenous community of Tzotzil ethnicity that lives in the three neighborhoods adjacent to the Church of San Juan Bautista, San Juan Bautista itself, San Pedro and San Sebastián. It is a town that has continued to preserve its beliefs and customs over time.

. City cemetery. We could see the crosses in the open field, placed on mounds of earth, with crosses of different colors indicating who is in the grave, white is for children, blue for women and red for older men.

. San Juan Bautista Church. is the place where you can appreciate the marked religious syncretism of the Tzotzil Indians. To have access and see the inside of the temple you will have to pay a fee at the municipal offices next to the Temple. The best recommendation is to visit the community by purchasing a tour with a travel agency. Inside it is lit only by candles of different sizes, the floor is covered with pine leaves, and the atmosphere is full of multiple nuances, including the smell of posh, incense, the smoke given off by the candles, etc. You can find shamans who will cure you for $300 mxn (16 usd). Quite an experience. We returned around 3pm, visited the Sancris Municipal Market, bought fruit and went to lunch, rested, and at night had a delicious chicken pozole and went to rest. Tomorrow we would go to the Sumidero Canyon.

 Zinacantan indigenous textiles.

San Juan Chamula Market – Chiapas

Day 26: Sumidero Canyon Tour – Chiapas.

They picked us up at 9 am, we picked up a couple of tourist couples and headed towards the viewpoints of the Sumidero Canyon. The trip took approximately 1:30 hours and from there we would sail for 2 hours along the waters of the Grijalva River to admire the Sumidero Canyon in all its dimensions. The trip to the Osumacinta pier took 1:30 hours. The sailing time along the waters of the Grijalba River is approximately 2 hours. The tour ended in the town of Chiapas el Corzo. The route was as follows:

Coyota Viewpoint. This is the second viewpoint and from here you can observe the proportions of the immense canyon walls, which only light up when the sun is at its zenith.

. Mirador Los Chiapas. This is the highest part of the mountain, where you can admire the Grijalva River from a height of 1,000 meters.

. Sumidero Canyon. We arrived at the Osumacinta pier, got on a motorboat, you have to wear life jackets, the captain of the boat gave us an explanation about the tour and our adventure through the sumidero began. Before entering the canyon he made a stop next to another boat where you can buy water, sodas, beer, snacks, fruits, etc. During the tour you will receive a lot of information about the Canyon and you will be able to see many animals such as herons, sopotes, crocodiles, howler minos, etc. You will admire the beauty of the canyon, there are 1000 meter walls full of vegetation, it is an unforgettable experience, the tour ends in the town of Chiapas del Corzo, where our guide was waiting for us, we went to have a delicious lunch and they gave us an hour and a half to tour Chiapas del Corzo.

Chiapas del Corzo. It is a beautiful Magical Town considered one of the oldest towns in the American continent. It is located in the middle of the State of Chiapas, it was the first city founded by the Spanish during the conquest on March 1, 1528.

At 5 pm we would return to San Cristóbal de las Casas, but we took a bus that took us to our new destination Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Capital of the

State of Chiapas.

Sumidero Canyon, Chiapas.

Sumidero Canyon, Chiapas.

Magical Town of Chiapa de Corzo .

Day 27: 2/26 /23. Tuxtla Gutierrez- Chiapas .

The word Tuxtla comes from the Nahuatl Tuchtlán, which means “place where rabbits abound.” In honor of General Joaquín Miguel Gutiérrez, the name Gutiérrez was added years later. It is the capital of Chiapas and has the advantage of being in the center of the state, at a reasonable distance from many Magical Towns such as San Cristóbal de las Casas or Chiapa de Corzo.

Route within the city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez.

Miguel Álvarez del Toro Zoo is considered one of the best in the world of its kind due to its beautiful surroundings, which include a jungle crossed by streams. The tour lasts approximately two and a half hours.

The thermal baths of the Cerro Hueco Reserve are a volcanic crater with a diameter of more than 750 meters. The Purépechas considered it a sacred place due to the peace and tranquility that can be felt in this place.

Mirador de los Amorosos is the best option to get a beautiful panoramic view of the city.

. Parque de la Marimba is a place where families gather to walk and enjoy the good atmosphere. At night, you can listen to and dance to the live music of the marimba, a representative instrument of the state of Chiapas. Without a doubt, it is one of the most beautiful cultural sites in the capital. In the surroundings of the park you can find snacks, candy and cafes.

. Sumidero Canyon Viewpoints, there are 6 viewpoints of the Sumidero Canyon, you can observe the magnitude of the canyon and travel its 17 kilometers, starting at the La Ceiba viewpoint and ending at the last Los Chiapa viewpoint, which is the highest part of the canyon, it has a height of more than 1000 meters above the level of the Grijalva River.

. St. Mark’s Cathedral, located in the city’s Civic Plaza, was remodeled in 2009. It stands out because it has a tower with a carillon with 48 bells and every hour it offers a parade of figures of the twelve apostles. Its interior is decorated in a neoclassical style and its structure is a single nave in the shape of a Latin cross.

Bicentennial Park of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, here is the Flag Monument that has a huge 25-meter-high flagpole, it has children’s play areas, an area for holding public events, food sales, among others.

Tuxtla Gutiérrez combines its cultural wealth, natural attractions and modern infrastructure to make it an unforgettable stay for tourists visiting Chiapas.

Day 28: Santa Maria Huatulco – Oaxaca – Mx.

We left Tuxtla at 12am on ADO gel, the luxury bus, very comfortable, we arrived in Huatulco after 9am, we went to our Airbbb, we left our bags and went to breakfast, when we finished we went to buy the boat tour, they would take us to see the tourist development, from the sea, it is made up of nine bays; (Santa Cruz, Chahue, Tangolunda, Conejos, Chacahual, Cacaluta, San Agustín, El Órgano and Maguey) cost $450 mxn pp, ($25usd), from there we walked to  Santa Cruz beach , we enjoyed its refreshing sea all morning and part of the afternoon, at 2 pm we went to our accommodation to shower, change and went to lunch at the Camarón Borracho restaurant , the dishes were delicious and the price very reasonable, lunch on the beach is too expensive, the prices are exaggeratedly high, at the Camarón Borracho restaurant, prices are half the price of the beach, a taxi inside Huatulco was $35 mxn ($2 usd) for the trip. After finishing we went to buy some fruit for our breakfast and around 6 pm we returned to the accommodation to rest.

Ado Gel Transport, very good.

Restaurant “The drunken shrimp” delicious dishes.

Day 29: Catamaran Tour on Huatulco Bay – Oaxaca – Mx.

At 10:30 am we started the tour of 9 bays of Huatulco: Santa Cruz, Chahue, Tangolunda, Conejos, Chacahual, Cacaluta, San Agustín, El Órgano and Maguey, cost $450 mxn pp, ($25usd), the agency picks you up and returns you to your hotel; we were able to see a whale, the experience was incredible, in Chacaual bay, we went down to the beach some tourists went snorkeling and others like us enjoyed the extraordinary sea of ​​Huatulco, around 1:30 pm we went to San Agustín bay, to have lunch and be able to swim, lunch was very good, reasonable prices and the sea spectacular, around 5pm we were returning to the pier, we had a spectacular day, 100% recommended.

Embarking for the 9 bays tour.

Enjoying the boat ride, Huatulco Mx.

San Agustin Bay, Huatulco, Mexico

Having lunch on the beach, Huatulco Mx.

Day 30: La Entrega Beach, Oaxaca, Mx .

We walked from our accommodation for about 30 minutes, taxis charge $60 mxn ($3.5usd). It is a natural wonder where we can do different activities such as snorkeling, boat rides, jet skiing, etc. It also has a great variety of palapas and restaurants to taste the seafood of the region, a true paradise. It is called this because on January 20, 1831, the betrayal of the Genoese Francisco Picaluga was consummated, when he handed over General Vicente Guerrero, who shortly before was president of the Republic and who weeks later would be shot in the town of Cuilapan de Guerrero, near the city of Oaxaca. In the afternoon we had dinner at the El Camarón Borracho restaurant , and we walked to the central park of Huatulco. Tomorrow we will go to El Arrocito beach.

La Entrega Beach. Huatulco MX.

Day 31: Arrocito Beach Oaxaca, Mx .

Its name comes from the type of sand it has, it is very different from the other beaches in Huatulco, it is thick and similar to rice grains, because of this particular characteristic it is known as playa el arrocito, it has a significant vegetation, even the mangroves that are there function as shade for tourists, around it you can see bushes, mesquites, mulattoes, cacti, nopales, palm trees and other flora characteristic of the region. At 10:30 am we took a taxi to playa el Arrocito $55 mxn ($3usd) travel time approximately 10 minutes, you can go on foot, you will have to walk approximately 1 hour. There is only one restaurant with many tables and umbrellas, to use one of them they charge $200 mxn ($10 usd), whether you are there for 1 hour or 3 hours, the prices of the food are very high, so we preferred to lie on the sand and enjoy the sea, after 1 pm we returned to the accommodation, had lunch and rested until 3:30, time when we went to the cinema to see the film The Whale, where Brendan Fraser has a magnificent performance, it is based on an overweight literature professor, confined to his house and who seeks to reconnect with his teenage daughter, whom he abandoned when the girl was 8 years old. The film was great, then we walked to the Main Plaza, ate the famous Tlayuda al pastor, had a latte and rested tomorrow would be our last day at the beach in Cruzecita.

Arrocito Beach, Huatulco Mx.

Enjoying Arrocito beach, Huatulcp MX.

Day 32: Last day at the beach in Huatulco, Oaxaca , Mx.

After breakfast we decided to go to what for us was the best beach in Huatulco, La Entrega , it was our last day at the beach in Huatulco, tomorrow we would leave for Puerto Escondido, we took a taxi $35 mxn ($2 usd), heading to La Entrega, we arrived at 11am, we sat under an umbrella and enjoyed this paradise, don’t forget to order “Margarita Globo” , after 4 pm we returned to the accommodation, we skimmed off and at night we had a light dinner, a little chat with the hosts and after 10:30 pm to sleep, tomorrow we would leave for our new destination, Puerto Escondido-Oaxaca-Mx.

Goodbye Huatulco, Oaxaca, MX.

Having lunch at “La Entrega” beach, Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico.

Day 33: Puerto Escondido, Mx.

We took the ODC bus, the cost of the ticket was $280 mxn pp, ($15 usd) and the trip lasted approximately 2 hours.

Taxi to accommodation $50 mxn ($3 usd). 

We had lunch at Magaly restaurant, reasonable prices and good food.

We went to the Benito Juárez market to buy different products for the 5 nights we were going to be in Puerto Escondido. Here there are also many stalls that sell food. We asked about the prices and they were similar to those at the Magaly restaurant. After finishing shopping, after 4 pm we went to the accommodation to rest. Tomorrow we would visit some beaches in Puerto Escondido.

Day 34: Zicatela Beach, El Marinero, Puerto Angelito, Manzanillo Beach, Puerto Escondido, Mx.

After breakfast we went to buy tickets by bus, agency Villa del Pacífico , the route from Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca City , cost $300 mxn PP, ($17 usd) and the duration of the trip is approximately 8 hours, there are other companies that provide the same service, most are located around the ADO terminal, another way to go from Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca City is by ADO, but the duration of the trip is approximately 11 to 12 hours. In Puerto Escondido you can travel by taxi, price is between $50 to $80 mxn per trip ($3 to 4 usd) or travel by bus $12 mxn pp, ($0.5 usd), the latter is the most used by locals and tourists to go to the different beaches.

Zicatela Beach. This is an open sea beach, approximately 4 km long and with a width that varies from 30 to 40 meters. The waves sometimes reach up to 6 meters high, ideal for surfing. It is recommended not to swim in its waters, as there are very strong currents, except for experienced swimmers. It has different restaurants and bars along its boardwalk, and at night there is a lot of partying.

Playa Marinero . This is a beautiful beach located between Playa Zicatela and Playa Principal. You can walk to all three beaches. The beach is approximately 200 meters long and 50 meters wide. There are several restaurants that serve lunch and offer umbrellas and chairs for $200 MXN ($11.5 USD), whether you eat at the restaurant or not. We thought the price was high, so we decided to lie down on the sand and enjoy the sea. After 1 pm we took the bus to Mercado Zicatela , which is a 7 minute drive away. It was an excellent decision. Here you can find many high quality restaurants at reasonable prices and with a view of the sea. 

Puerto Angelito Beach. A very nice beach but very uncomfortable, it is very small and there are a lot of people and there are too many boats that constantly enter and leave the beach, doing different tours. That is why we decided to stay at Playa Manzanillo.

Manzanillo Beach . It is located next to Puerto Angelito, you walk along the beach. It is an attractive beach, whose approximate dimensions are 70 meters long by 30 meters wide. Its sand is fine, white, and the water is warm, transparent and has shades of green and blue. It has little depth and moderate waves. It is a paradise. After 4:30 pm we returned to the accommodation to have dinner and rest. Tomorrow we would visit other beaches.

Zicatela Beach, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.

Manzanillo Beach, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. .

Day 35: Carrizalillo Beach, Puerto Escondido, Mx.

It is one of the prettiest beaches in Puerto Escondido, it has all the charms that characterize a good beach: fine golden sand, palm trees all around, huge rocky cliffs decorating the scene and turquoise, crystal-clear waters. To get to Carrizalillo you have to go down a long, steep stone staircase of about 200 steps, let me tell you, it’s worth it!

The activities you can do are snorkeling, swimming, surfing (for beginners, etc.) What I didn’t like was the excessive charge to use the chaylones, $500 mxn for 2 and an umbrella ($30 usd) that’s why most people choose to bring their own umbrella and lie on the sand, the charge for food and drinks is also very high.

At night we went for a walk along the famous cobblestone promenade, it is called that because it was one of the first streets to be paved, it is located near the main beach of Puerto Escondido, the best time to visit it is at night, since the passage of vehicles is restricted, there you will find many craft stalls, clothing stores, ATMs, currency exchange offices, restaurants, nightclubs, etc. without a doubt it is a place that you have to visit. After 10:30 pm we returned to the accommodation, tomorrow we would have another day at the beach.

Carrizalillo Beach, Puerto Escondido Oaxaca, Mexico.

Day 36: Bacocho Beach, Puerto Escondido, Mx.

It is an open sea beach, not very suitable for swimming, it has very strong and changing currents, but you can take walks along the beach. The sand is fine and gray and the sea is greenish blue. There are a couple of beach clubs where you can pay $600 MXN pp ($35 USD) to enjoy their facilities, swimming pool, bathrooms, showers, food, and soft drinks. The sunsets are beautiful and you can walk to Playa Coral , which is very pretty. In the afternoon, you can see the release of baby turtles, a magnificent experience. After 4 pm, we went to rest. Tomorrow would be our last day in Puerto Escondido.

Day 37: Manzanillo Beach, Puerto Escondido, Mx.

It was our last day in this beautiful city we decided to go to the beach we liked the most, Manzanillo beach, a true paradise, we arrived after 11 am and to our surprise they were giving us the use of the chaylones with an umbrella with the consumption in the restaurant, this was because it was a weekday (Wednesday), because on weekends they charge between $400 mxn to $500mxn ($30 usd) plus the consumption you have, to us it seems excessively expensive. We enjoyed the beach all day, sand, sun and sea, the perfect combination at 4 pm, adding that there were few people, on weekends there are a lot of people, after we went to the accommodation, tomorrow we would leave for Oaxaca city.

Enjoying the beach..Bacocho Puerto Escondido Oaxaca, Mx.

Day 38: Oaxaca de Juarez.

You have several options to get from Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca City:

Plane : There are two companies that provide this service, Aero Tucán and Aero Vega, flight cost $3500 mxn pp (190 usd) duration approximately 1 hour.

ADO Bus:   cost $450 mxn pp ($25 usd) duration approximately 11 hours.

Buses: cost $300 MXN pp, ($17 USD) trip duration approximately 7 hours.

Car rental .

We chose to travel by bus, with the Villa del Pacífico agency. We left at 8:30 am and arrived in Oaxaca at 4 pm. The trip was smooth, the bus was comfortable. We stopped at 12:30 pm to have lunch and go to the bathroom. The taxi to our accommodation cost us $60 MXN ($3 USD). After settling in, we went to dinner at the 20 de Noviembre market. There are many food stalls, one better than the other. The place is clean, the food is excellent at very good prices. It was quite an experience.

Day 39: Oaxaca City City Tour.

The tour started at 10 am, our Guide Pepe gave us a historical overview of this beautiful city and we began our tour, 

The Cathedral

• Temple of Santo Domingo de Guzmán
• The Solitude
• Plinth
• Handicraft Market
• Harvest Market
• Benito Juarez House
• cochineal neighborhood of 
• The oldest neighborhood in the city. 

The tour was interesting, highly recommended to get an idea of ​​its history and learn about part of its cultural heritage.

From there we went to have lunch at the already famous 20 de Noviembre market.

Cathedral Oaxaca City, Mexico

Sightseeing through the beautiful streets of Oaxaca, Mx

Day 40: Oaxaca City, Hierve el agua tour – Teotlitán.

There are different agencies that offer this tour, the average price is between $600 to $650 mxn ($35 usd) the tour includes;

. Guide in Spanish.

. Round trip transportation.

Visit Teotitlán del Valle.

. Visit Hierve el Agua Waterfall.

. Visit to a Mezcal factory.

They picked us up at 8:30 am. After picking up other tourists, we began the tour.

. Teotitlán del Valle. In Nahuatl it means “Land of the Gods”, it is a Zapotec town known for its textile products that are made on wooden looms. There we met a textile factory where they explained to us the process of making their products.

. Hierve el Agua Waterfall. It is a little over an hour away, the first thing we saw was a panoramic view of the light area where there are natural pools of water, then we descended a path almost to the end of the second waterfall where we could see and touch these formations that have formed for years, we continued walking through some springs and viewpoints until we reached the natural pools where you can take a nice bath, it should be noted that the waters are not hot, they are at the temperature of the day, they are not hot springs as most people usually think, it is called Hierve el Agua, because the crystallization of the waterfalls gives the sensation that the water is boiling. 

Entrance fee $50 mxn ($3usd), we were there for about 2 hours.

Before continuing our tour we stopped at a buffet restaurant for lunch, cost per person $150 mxn ($9usd) the food was very good.

. Mezcal production. Here they explained the production and handling of mezcal, and we were able to taste several flavors such as: coconut, cajeta, pineapple, natural, etc. After the tasting, they left us at our accommodation. The tour is 100% recommended.

Boil the water, Oaxaca Mx.

Boil the water, Oaxaca Mx.

Day 41: 3/12/23. Monte Alban Tour, Puerto Escondido, Mx.

You can get to Monte Albán like this:

. In your own car.

Public Transportation, Mina Street 518 in the center of Oaxaca there are tourist buses that take you directly to Monte Albán.

Tour.

We opted for the tour, you save time and go with a guide, there are many agencies that offer this service, the average cost is $420 mxn pp, ($25 usd), it includes:

Transportation (pick up from accommodation)

Guide in Spanish.

Entrance to the archaeological zone.

Food and drinks not included.

We were picked up at 8:00 am, the archaeological site is located 10 km from Oaxaca, we visited the Great Plaza, the ball game, the Palace, tombs and stelae, Monte Alban served as the capital of the Zapotecs, it is considered a cultural heritage of humanity. We returned around 12 pm, the tour is highly recommended.

Monte de Alban Oaxaca, Mx.

Monte de Alban Oaxaca, Mx.

Day 42: 3/13/23. Last day in Puerto Escondido, Mx.

It was our last day so we decided to walk through the beautiful streets of Oaxaca, visit some of its beautiful churches, have a mezcal in a restaurant in the Zócalo, eat a taco at a street stand (they are delicious), try Tejate, the city’s typical drink and finish by having lunch at the 20 de Noviembre market.

In the afternoon we took a tourist bus, it cost $100 mxn pp, ($6 usd) it was interesting, we went to rest early, tomorrow we would leave for the heroic city of Puebla.

The best tacos in Oaxaca, Mx.

Traditional drink from Oaxaca, Mexico (pineapple and peel)

Day 43: Heading to Puebla.

We left by OCC bus, the ticket cost $390 mxn pp ($21 usd), the trip lasted about 4:30 hours, we watched 3 movies, we didn’t even feel the trip. Good news in Puebla there is Uber which is cheaper than the taxis in the city, we arrived at the accommodation, left our things and went to dinner, then we walked around the city a bit and came back to rest tomorrow we would have the City tour.

Arriving in the beautiful city of Puebla, Mx.

Day 44: Free walking tour – Puebla .

The walking tour started at 11 am, the meeting point was the Zócalo of Puebla, after a brief introduction about the city, we began the tour:

. Zócalo of the city of Puebla. . Cathedral of the city of Puebla. . Chapel of the Rosary, Temple of Santo Domingo. . Street of sweets. Colorful streets tasty and typical sweets. . Neighborhood of the Artist. . El Parián Market. . Street of the Toads. bazaars.

The tour was interesting, Puebla is a beautiful city with a lot of colonial style, after the tour we went to have lunch at the Mercado de Sabores, it is a place you should not miss, you will find many stalls selling traditional Puebla food of excellent quality and at a very good price, 100% recommended.

Central square Puebla, Mx.

Cathedral Puebla, Mexico.

Historic center of Puebla. Mx.

Famous Mole Poblano .

Day 45: Bus tour – Puebla.

Puebla is famous for its colorful architecture as well as its characteristic mix of stone and painted tiles in the same building, located in a valley surrounded by four volcanoes, Puebla is 2,160 meters above sea level in the center east of the Mexican territory. During the morning we walked through its beautiful streets and visited some of its 365 churches, at noon we got on the Turibus, it is a tourist bus that goes around the city, leaving from the Zócalo, the ticket costs $80 mxn ($4 usd) and has a duration of 1:20 hours, part of the tour was the following:

. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, its two towers are the tallest in all of America.

. Zócalo, where the Cathedral and Municipal Palace are located.

They tell you about the history of Puebla, its architecture, gastronomy, legends and more.

. La Luz neighborhood.

. San Francisco Church.

. Loreto Fort.

. Planetarium

Museum of evolution.

. Peripheral.

. City viewpoint.

Olympic Stadium.

100% recommended.

The beautiful city of Puebla, Mx.

Tourist bus tour, Puebla Mx.

Day 46: Heading to the city of Veracruz.

We left at 10:15 am on ADO, the ticket cost $480 mxn ($27 usd), the trip lasted approximately 4:15, the taxi to our accommodation $60 mxn ($3.5 usd), after leaving our belongings we went out to have lunch at the Ceviche del Rey restaurant, the food was very good at reasonable prices, then we went to buy some things for breakfast and returned to the accommodation, a good bath and to rest, tomorrow we would go out to see this beautiful city of Veracruz.

Shrimp stew.

Seafood tower. Fantastic!

Day 47: Veracruz City.

Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, also called simply Veracruz is a destination that offers its visitors many options such as beautiful beaches, great treasures such as San Juan de Ulúa, where legends come to life, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Asunción, the popular neighborhood of Boca del Río, full of restaurants and good atmosphere and its delicious cuisine, after breakfast we went out to walk along the boardwalk next to the Veracruz sea, towards the main square, the walk was approximately 40 minutes, we passed by different beaches, places of recreation, restaurants, the aquarium, until we reached the main square, these were the places we visited:

The Plaza Mayor, as the main square is also known , was laid out in accordance with the ordinances of Philip II . It is the main point where both tourists and the local population come together and dance to enjoy the traditional Jarocho atmosphere. You will usually always find some type of entertainment, whether it be the Danzón afternoons (also located in the Plazuela de la Campana), some event or some independent artist.

. Municipal Palace . It is the building with the most history in the Zócalo of Veracruz, its construction began in 1609 and has undergone several adaptations throughout its life; it shows baroque architecture, 

Not colonial or Tuscan as some say, it stands out for its arches, its cannons, its courtyards and its watchtower.

. The Portals of Lerdo . They are located in the Zócalo of Veracruz since the 18th century, and are famous for their roof design supported by semicircular columns, 

. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. Construction began at the beginning of the 17th century in the Zócalo of Veracruz and was completed in 1731, dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption.

Some of the main characteristics of the cathedral are that it has a single tower, that its dome is octagonal in shape and that it was consecrated in 1963. 

Juan Malpica Mimendi Photo Library . It is part of the Veracruz Institute of Culture, and was founded on November 27, 1998, to safeguard, preserve and disseminate all historical photographic documents relevant to the State of Veracruz .

Danzón Afternoons. This is a dance of Cuban origin that was brought to Mexico via Yucatan and Veracruz in 1890. In Veracruz, due to Cuban immigrants, it became quite popular with the population until it became part of the local culture. People gather to dance in the middle of the Zócalo of Veracruz or the Plaza de la Campana. 

. Plazuela de la Campana. The party starts on Wednesday and lasts until Sunday, as there is live music of various genres such as salsa, chunchaca, son, rumba, and others every day. Although it is not in the Zócalo of Veracruz, it is just a few minutes walk away.

. Callejón de la Lagunilla . The third Friday of every month, Fandango afternoons are held, where young people dance to the sound of jaranas.

Finishing the tour we went to have lunch at the Hidalgo Market , we found several food stalls, specializing in seafood and fish, very tasty dishes, very well served and excellent prices, you can also enjoy live music, 100% recommended.

Day 48: 3/19/23. San Juan de Ulua-Veracruz.

There is a tourist bus that leaves at 10am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the ticket costs $100 MXN ($5 USD) and the ride takes approximately 15 minutes, round trip, it goes along the tourist boardwalk, you will have an enviable view, the bus leaves you in San Juan de Ulua around 10:30 am and picks you up around 1 pm.

Beautiful city of Veracruz, MX.

The Zocalo, Veracruz, Mx.

Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral, Veracruz, Mexico.

Boardwalk, Veracruz, Mx.

Day 49: Veracruz City.

We took advantage of the morning to do some work that we had delayed, after 1 pm we went to lunch at the Hidalgo market, we ordered a mojarra enchilpayada and a campechana “vuelve a la vida” with large shrimp, octopus, snail, oysters it was fantastic. From there we walked to the zócalo (approximately 10 minutes) bought some souvenirs and walked along the entire boardwalk, it was a walk of almost an hour, but it was worth the effort, you will see different beaches, you will pass by the aquarium, and different restaurants, we arrived at the accommodation after 5:30 pm, we took a swim, had dinner and rested tomorrow they would pick us up at 5 am to go to the airport, our destination Mexico City.

Mojarra in garlic sauce .

Chippotled tilapia.

Day 50: Mexico City. 

It was our second time visiting CDMX, we were returning to this beautiful city after almost 4 years. The taxi picked us up at 5:00 am to take us to the Veracruz airport, the trip was approximately 20 minutes and the price for the transfer was $200 mxn ($11usd), after the routine check-in we went to the boarding lounge, we have the Priority Pass card, which gives you access to the VIP lounges at different airports (check with your bank, they may be able to provide this service) in our case the Priority Pass is linked to our international credit card, the cost is $350 usd per year, but for using the credit card they give us points, and each year you receive a refund of $150 usd per plane ticket, which is practically free for us.

We arrived in Mexico City, CDMX, at 9am, the good news is there is Uber, the cost of the transfer to our accommodation (historic center) was $210 mxn, ($11 usd).

We went to have lunch at the San Juan market, here you will find various restaurants that offer traditional Mexican food, Spanish dishes, Peruvian food and exotic dishes (scorpions, lion meat and more) the dishes are of good quality and reasonable prices, then we bought some products for our breakfast and after 5 pm we went to buy some clothes and to walk around the historic center of CDMX, the main square at night is very pretty, we passed through Chinatown, we walked along Maderos Street, one of the main streets in downtown Mexico City, we went to have dinner some chicken broth that was very good, after 9 pm we went to rest, tomorrow we would have a free walking tour.

Arrival at Mexico City airport.

San Juan Market .

Exotic dishes, San Juan market, CDMX.

Exotic dishes, San Juan market, CDMX.

Day 51: Free Walking tour – Mexico City. 

The meeting point was in front of the Cathedral in the Zócalo, Plaza de la Constitución, the tour started at 10:30 am, we toured the center of Mexico City for a little over 2:30 hours. These were some of the points we visited:

.Mexico Cathedral.

Constitution Square.

Government Palace.

. Municipal Palace.

. Holy Inquisition.

. Templo Mayor Pyramid next to the plinth.

. Palace of Education.

. Santo Domingo Square and Church. 

. National Museum of Art.

. King Charles IV Horse Square.

. School of engineers. Part of the meteorite that fell in Yucatan and destroyed the dinosaurs can be found here.

. The post office.

Palace of Fine Arts. 

. Latin American Tower.

Monument to the revolution.

. House of tiles.

The tour was very interesting, 100% recommended. We went to have lunch, regional Mexican food, green flautas and flautas with mole, they were delicious. After lunch and having rested a bit, we went to the Palacio de Bellas Artes . Entrance is $85 mxn pp ($5 usd). The good news is that people over 60 years old don’t pay entrance, regardless of your nationality. You just have to show an identification document. A little tip: On the tour there are guides who explain the murals of Diego Rivera, Orosco, Tamayo, Silva, Siquiros, Camarena. I recommend going with one. The good thing is that they give an explanation of the different murals that are in the Palacio de Bellas Artes. At the end of the tour, each person gives a monetary donation to the guide (whatever they think is fair). It is a must-see, 100% recommended. After finishing the tour to the Palacio de Bellas Artes we went to the Metro station next door and bought a boarding pass $10 mxn ($ 0.60 usd), each trip is $5 mxn ($ 0.25 usd), with this card you can move around CDMX by Metro or Metro Bus, it was very useful for us, we were able to go to the Anthropology Museum, the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe and we took a ride on the double-decker Metro bus along the entire La Reforma Avenue, where there are many points of interest such as El Ángel de la Independencia, El Caballito, Chapultepec Castle, Campo Marte, Museum of Anthropology among others, around 7 pm we went to our accommodation to rest, tomorrow we would visit the Anthropology Museum.

Mexico City Cathedral.

Mexico City Cathedral.

Palace of Fine Arts, Mexico City.

CDMX Post Office.

“The man who controls the universe” Diego Rivera.

“The New Democracy” David Alfaro Siqueiros 1945.

Day 52: Museum of Anthropology – Mexico City. 

This is a visit you can’t miss. General admission $90 MXN pp, ($5 USD), opening hours from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, time you will need to visit it is approximately 3 hours. Guided tours are free from Tuesday to Saturday twice a day, at 10:00 and 12:00 hours.

The National Museum of Anthropology is one of the most important museums in Mexico and America, housing and exhibiting the archaeological legacy of the peoples of Mesoamerica, as well as the current ethnic diversity of the country. The rooms we visited are the following:

. Maya Room.

. Oaxaca Room.

Gulf Cultures Room.

. Mexica Room.

Toltec Room. 

These are some pieces that you shouldn’t miss.

. Sun Stone. Located in Sala Mexica. This monolith is one of the few from its time that is preserved in its entirety. It dates back to the 11th century AD. The reliefs on the surface of the so-called Aztec Calendar are representations of the Mexica cosmogony, the way in which they measured time and solar cults.

. Tláloc . The seven-meter monolith was found in 1964 in the State of Mexico and, as a curious fact, the day that its 168 tons. It represents the terror of the clotheslines, location, entrance to the museum.

. Pakal’s Mask . Pakal the Great, ruler of Palenque, the mask is made of jade, shell fragments and two obsidian discs. It is estimated that he was buried with it in 683 AD and it was not discovered until 1952, by archaeologist Alberto Ruz.

. The Tree Fountain or the Umbrella.

Designed by Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, it is a concrete column and a slab supported by 20 radial beams. Water falls from the top of the column and forms a curtain of water behind which bronze plaques sculpted in high relief by José and Tomás Chávez Morado can be seen.

Sun stone. Also called Aztec Calendar.

Tiáloc. 7-meter monolith.

Pakal’s mask. Pakal the Great, governor of Palenque.

The Tree Fountain or the Umbrella.

After finishing the tour at the National Antioch Museum, we went to have lunch and visit a couple of emblematic bars in Mexico City, 

The Opera Bar. The official story is that Villa put a bullet in the ceiling with a shot just to show off to the diners. The Opera stopped being a cantina many years ago and is now more of a restaurant bar that tourists never fail to visit. Its bar and back bar, unique in the world, were brought from New Orleans.

Portales de Tlaquepaque . A sensational jukebox, friendly bartenders, kind waitresses, well-served and well-priced drinks (always ask about beer promotions), and a kitchen that never stops. This is a place you should not miss.

After 7 pm we went to rest. Tomorrow we would leave for Cuernavaca.

The Opera Bar. CDMX .

La Opera Bar. CDMX .

Day 53: Heading to Cuernavaca.

We left at 10 am on the Grupo Pullman de Morelos bus, ticket price $200 MXN pp ($11 USD), trip duration 1:30 hrs. We arrived in Cuernavaca just after 12 pm, left our bags at the accommodation and went to have lunch and walk a bit around the historic center, we really liked the good weather in this beautiful city, around 3 pm we went to rest for the night, have a light dinner and rest, tomorrow we would have a very long day getting to know the city.

Day 54: 3/25/23. Sightseeing in Cuernavaca .

We had breakfast at a neighborhood restaurant (very good) Frida y Diego , the food was good and the prices were very reasonable, and then we started our tour:

. The Franciscan Convent of Cuernavaca . It is a 16th century building, making it one of the oldest cathedrals in the country. It was originally built as a convent of the Assumption, the fifth Franciscan foundation in Mexico. It was established in 1525 by the first twelve Franciscan friars who arrived in the country.

. Palacio de Cortez . The fertility of the lands of Cuernavaca induced the conqueror to establish his favorite residence there, ordering its construction in the mid-16th century. 

. Government Palace . This building is the attraction for many visitors, not only for what it houses, but for its architecture and history. In front of the Municipal Palace is the statue of the Caudillo General Emiliano Zapata Salazar, who in 1910 started the Revolution in the South of the Country, and uttered the phrase “The Land Will Return to Those Who Work It with Their Hands.”

. The kiosk. It is located next to the Government Palace, in the Juarez Garden, some days of the week and on Sundays the State Government orchestra plays, delighting locals and foreigners alike. Here you can harvest various products, from artisanal to food, such as the famous corn on the cob with mayonnaise, cheese and chili or the traditional corn on the cob with chili and lemon, among many other products.

. The Spire of Calvary Cuernavaca . It is a construction consecrated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, a spire is a type of open chapel with pyramidal roofs that were built in the 16th and 17th centuries. It is the only one that is preserved in all of Mexico.

Teopanzolco . It is an archaeological zone in the Morelos Valley, whose earliest evidence of occupation dates back to the Middle Postclassic .

. Robert Brady Museum . Located at Netzahualcóyotl 4, downtown Cuernavaca, Morelos, opening hours Tuesday through Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., entrance fee $60 mxn pp ($3.5 usd). Known as the House of the Tower. The collection of over 1,300 pieces was assembled by Robert Brady (1928-1986), born in Iowa, USA. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Tyler Center for the Arts at Temple University, and the Barnes Foundation in Pennsylvania, USA.

He lived for five years in Venice, Italy, before moving permanently to Cuernavaca, Mexico in 1962.

Throughout her life she travelled tirelessly to expand her private collection, which includes important works by Rufino Tamayo, Frida Kahlo, Miguel Covarrubias, Maurice Prendergast, Marsden Hartley and Graham Sutherland, Mexican colonial furniture, pre-Hispanic figures, along with art from Africa, the Americas, Oceania, India and the Far East. The fourteen colourful rooms are preserved just as Brady left them.

. GAIA House Museum . It houses an important and valuable exhibition of plastic artists who had their heyday at the end of the 19th century and much of the 20th century, in what was once the resting place of the film and theatre actor, Mario Moreno ‘Cantinflas’. One of the attractions of the complex is the pool, which is decorated with a figure made of Venetian mosaic, of the Goddess Gaia, from which the museum takes its name. This figure was designed by one of the most important artists of the 20th century, Diego Rivera.

. Get on the Cuernabus . Price $100 mxn pp ($5.5 usd) duration of the tour 1 hour. Points of interest that we visited:

Juarez Garden.

Parade ground.

Morelos Cinema.

Calvary Church.

The Little Castle.

Teopanzolco archaeological zone.

Amanalco Bridge.

Palace of Cortes.

Rivera House.

Revolution Park.

Cathedral. 

Robert Brady Museum.

And more.

At night we went to dinner at Mercado Comonfort, there are several restaurants in one place, very good food, good atmosphere, around 10 pm we went to rest tomorrow we would visit the magical town of Tepoztlan.

GAIA House Museum. It houses an important and valuable exhibition of plastic artists who had their heyday at the end of the 19th century and much of the 20th century, in what was once the resting place of the film and theatre actor, Mario Moreno ‘Cantinflas’.

Cuernavaca’s Main Square.

Day 55: Magical Town Tepoztlán .

We took a bus that took us from Cuernavaca to Tepoztlán in 45 minutes, ticket price $18 mxn pp ($1 usa), it dropped us off at the entrance of the city, we walked 5 minutes and we arrived at the center of Tepoztlán, the town is very pretty, very lively, there is a street from end to end full of stalls where you can get souvenirs, clothes, food, cocktails, margaritas, beers, etc. One of the most important tourist attractions is the Cerro de Tepoztexo , you climb to the top in 45 minutes and you will have a fantastic view of the city, here you will find the Tepotezco pyramid, it is a pre-Hispanic place of worship, then we went to visit the crafts market, located in the main square with a large corridor of stalls selling jewelry, souvenirs, food and cocktails.

Visit the former Convent of the Nativity, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1944.

We ended up at the Carlos Pellicer Pre-Hispanic Art Museum, a must-see, where you will find an archaeological collection by the poet Carlos Pellicer. And one of the most important stops is to enter the market near the main square, where you will find hundreds of food stalls, each one more delicious than the last. We ate some purple chicken and pork tacos, they were fantastic. We returned around 7pm on a direct bus that went on the toll route (you pay to go on the highway, it gets there faster) trip duration 30 minutes. 

Magical Town of Tepoztlán, Cuernavaca, Mx.

Magical Town of Tepoztlán, Cuernavaca, Mx.