Mexico Transportation

Hi! If you don't care much for crowds or if it's not imperative for you to take a tour. I suggest that you rent a car and drive to Chichen-Itza. For about 40-60$ a day, you can bank in the Chichen-Itza and the Coba ruins in a day. My friend and I rented a car early in the morning at 7:30, were on en route to Chichen Itza and arrived there at about 10am. The drive was safe and we got to drive through little towns scoping out arts and crafts. When we got to Chichen Itza, the entrance fee was 101 Mx Pesos which is about 10$. There are guides that will give you the tour of the place for about $50. But we didn't really see the point of that. We were able to catch some of what the guides were saying to other groups while we were scoping the different ruins. In reality, the site is so spectacular that you don't really want to pay attention to anyone talking. If you know what I mean. Make sure to leave Chichen Itza by 1:30 if you want to make it to Coba with Ample time to see the Coba Pyramid (the highest in all of the peninsula)and go up on it. Yes, at Coba you can still go on the ruins during your visit. The entrance to Coba was 51 Mx Pesos about 5$. Make sure to rent a bike unless you want to hike in the heat like we did with my friend. Over all, during our whole day we spent $95 for a trip to Chichen Itza and Coba, including gas for two people... a real bargain.

In Cancun there are public buses up and down the hotel strip. They are safe, but you feel every pothole in the road. Great way to go to the restaurant zone or downtown.

Vera Cruz is all about shrimp and fried food. I found the cheapest way to eat is at the Local Market in old town. Just 5 blocks to either side and a shrimp cocktail could cost up to $7 US, compared to $1.50 US and twice the size at the market. Lunch is always cheapest. Lodging is expensive but you can find clean room if you look around from $11 to $15 US. I stayed right around the corner from the Zocolo and the owners made a point to make sure where I was going and who I was going with. Most hotels in the area were $50US-$240US and I paid $15 with TV/Hotwater. I loved the old town, but pretty expensive compared to rest of Mexico because of the port. People are there to work and make money. One of the few places I really needed to speak spanish since it is not really advertised for foreign traveler and most people are there on business or holiday from DF. People would either be fluent in english or not speak anything. The pier and museums where great. It is also the location of the Mexican Navy and Airforce. Lots of history within short drives or bus trips of the city. A great jumping off point for checking out the Yucatan. Lots of free concerts and events with the big party being Carnival, which shows how many people can deal with anything just for a chance to party. Amazing! I walked or took the bus everywhere, as a women traveling alone, I never get into a taxi unless I have been where I am going or have no choice. Always sit in the front seat. I always have a pair of sunglasses, its the only way to look at everything without sending mixed signals to the local men. I have never had a real scary problem but have gotten uncomfortable. The glasses allow me to really check out the culture without causing problems.

use the 'colectivos' to get to beaches near Puerto Escondido

The best known part of Cancun is the hotel strip which is a man made sand spit full of mostly 5 star hotels. There are precious few shops and restaurants and ATMs and the expectation is clearly to remain in your own resort for entertainment. There is a shuttle bus service into "town" - note that this isn't really Cancun town which is many more miles away and houses mostly the workforce in the tourist industry but another man-made town full of Hooters, KFCs etc Avoid anyone offering you legal or illegal drugs. The pimps are also rather blatant but I found more amusing with their catalogues than caused offence. In all Cancun is pretty convenient for popular excusrions into Chitchen Itza, Tulum, Merida etc. I hired a car and did my own sight-seeing which I highly recommend; plus it's cheaper, more flexible and completely easy and safe