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Isla Holbox is technically a peninsula but you can only reach it by ferry following a three hour bus trip from Cancun. The roads are all made of sand and you get around by golf cart or on foot. On a trip there this past November tourists were conspicuous by their absence and we had the long beach pretty much to ourselves. The Ida y Vuelta hostel provided a good base just a block from the beach - a simple, clean cabana with bathroom cost just $20 a night. You can eat at the food stalls around the town square for next to nothing or splurge $10 on a whole grilled fish for two at Miriam's. Compared to other beach resorts and islands in the Yucatan Isla Holbox is still unspoiled - however the mosquitos can be bad in the wet season and the crowds arrive in the summer for the whale sharks.
www.holboxhostel.com
+52 984 875 2358
Google map: bit.ly/zDvwDE
Monte Alban is less well known than many other pre-Colombian sites in Mexico but it is in a spectacular location on top of a levelled-off ridge at the point where three valleys meet, just outside of Oaxaca city. Views from every vantage point are magnificent, with forest-clad mountains seeming to stretch infinitely towards Guatemala and beyond.
Mexico was the first stop on a world trip my wife and I did a few years ago and this location was significant to me as it was the first time I had been overwhelmed by the sheer vastness of nature. The feeling of eternity among the ruins with the stunning Sierra Madre backdrop made me feel insignificant. However I was surprised at how comforting this actually was. Truly awe-inspiring.
Monte Alban, Oaxaca: whc.unesco.org/en/list/415
Google map: bit.ly/xSvwSe
I visited Mexico as a self-funded school trip when I was 15. This was one of the hotels in which we stayed. It was phenomenal. Everything from the rooms to the fine dining and swimming pool were beyond excellent. The hotel itself is a converted jail with its fascinating tunnel network still intact and open to visitors. Amazing memories from this trip.
www.haciendavistahermosa.com.mx/
+52(0)1 800 090 9040
Km. 7 Carretera, Alpuyeca, Tequesquitengo, San José Vista Hermosa, Puente de Ixtla
Google map: bit.ly/mABxKN
A garden dedicated to wild orchids, OM has 450 species including the impressive large white blooms of epidendrum parkinsonianum and the tiny pinky purple nagliella purpurea. Temperate zone species arch from the branches of trees along paths to the tropical greenhouse with its jungly arrangement of branches like a miniature dense rainforest. If you’re lucky, Cisco the orchid man himself will be around to talk about his passion or Xun the Mayan gardener will answer questions. OM is at the foot of the mountains but only a 15 minute walk from the centre of town and has other air plants, pink tree cactus flowers and red and green bromeliads, as well as orchids. The whole garden is beautifully laid out with ponds and sculptures, a cool place in both senses.
Periferico Norte 4, San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas
+52 (967) 678-5727
www.orchidsmexico.com/
This bus will take you from La Paz (Turista bus station on the Malecon) to Cabo San Lucas, Todos Santos and San Juan del Cabo. It cost us about MX$250. The Aguila bus also goes from the same terminal but stops in more places.
Just one word of warning: the bus station in Cabo San Lucas is about 2km from the city centre. It is walkable depending on where you are staying. Walking may be the only option as there were not taxis when we arrived.
Malecon (La Paz)
www.peninsulaejecutivo.com/
This is a hotel that immediately becomes a home away from home.
It is not on the beach and is not a resort hotel. However, if you are looking for something that is smaller and more personal you can do no better than here.
The rooms are beautiful and very comfortable, coffee and water were provided and breakfast is included in the price. Breakfast was served each morning under shelter and consisted of a fruit plate, coffee/tea, homemade smoothie or juice and a savoury or sweet dish (pancakes, breakfast burritos etc) depending on the day of the week.
It is away from the beach but is easily walkable and the managers and their families were some of the friendliest most hospitable people I've encountered travelling. They would assist and arrange with whatever we needed.
I would have no hesitation in going back to The Bungalows were I to return to Cabo San Lucas.
We had a wonderful time at Casa Conde! Jacobo and Jorge did an amazing job welcoming us to their city. We loved the fresh juice and traditional breakfast and they were excellent in suggesting interesting places to visit. The house was clean, funky, affordable and made us feel very at home. It was located within a short walk to the park, Condesa, and metro stations.
casacondemexico.com/#home
Gob. García Conde no. 31, San Miguel Chapultepec
Miguel Hidalgo, 11850 Distrito Federal
045 55 3471 6923
Google map: bit.ly/g2bW3k
A lovely B&B in Oaxaca City, centrally located, wonderful friendly staff, beautiful leafy courtyard.
Tinoco y Palacios 411, Centro historico, CP68000 Oaxaca
+529515143298
www.hotellasgolondrinas.com.mx/
Google map: bit.ly/b27CKv
If you want a relaxed, friendly and funky base in Mexico City - stay at Casa Conde in San Miguel Chapultepec. Jacobo and Jorge are fantastic hosts (and cooks), the house is in a great location with a 10-minute walk to La Condesa, 20 minutes on the metro to the Centro Historico and short walk to Bosque de Chapultepec. You can even borrow bikes to spend a day riding in the park and visiting the museums and art galleries. The house is filled with arty riffs on Mexican icons, the famous pinata sound system and is a great place to hang out after a hard day exploring amazing Mexico City. Cannot recommend Casa Conde highly enough - do yourself a favour!
Gob. Garcia Conde #31
Col San Miguel Chapultepec, Mexico D.F.
11850
+52 1 55 27 66 13 63
www.casacondemexico.com/
Google map: bit.ly/9JGpK1
I stayed here for three nights and I'd highly recommend it. It's a fantastic bed and breakfast in a refurbished townhouse, with lovely patios and great breakfasts. The decor is just beautiful, with polished wood floors and high white walls. The multilingual owners are friendly and helpful, and it's close to the metro at San Cosme which is about three stops from the very centre of the city. Some (not all) of the rooms have a shared bathroom- a bit unusual in such a high-spec place- but if you don't mind the inconvenience of sharing, these are particularly good value.
www.elpatio77.com/
(+52) 55 55 92 84 55
Icazbalceta 77, Colonia San Rafael, C.P. 06470, Mexico
Google map: tinyurl.com/2u4bpqq
My family spent two weeks exploring Cancun and area. We rented a car and drove to Chichen Itza. My son loved it. The ball court was very interesting. We also did the ziplining with Selvetica (highly recommend) and we went to Xplor park. Lots of fun for the kids.
My family loved this place! We spent the day exploring this ecopark. My son loved the underwater river. There are floating inner tubes for the beach. There are animals and Mayan exhibits through out.
xcaret.com/
Blvd. Kukulcán Km 9.5, Hotel Zone, Cancún, México
+52 (998) 883-0470
Google map: tinyurl.com/3xjckmg
An excellent restaurant serving authentic, traditional Mexican ingredients in a modern style in a beautiful open air courtyard. Prices are high by Mexican standards so take advantage of the three course, 85 pesos lunch served only on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 2.30-4.30pm and make sure to try the complimentary shot of single village mezcal bottled especially for the restaurant.
Alcala 403, about 5 minutes walk north of the Zocolo.
Google map: tinyurl.com/yfzabz9
A beautiful island, close to Cancun but more orientated for those who wish to enjoy a nice relaxed atmosphere as supposed to Cancun's tackified hotel zone. The island is only about 12km long so getting around is fairly easy with plenty of taxi's or if you prefer you can hire bicycles, mopeds and even golf buggies. Lots of nice relaxing bars and restaurants on the beach and some amazing snorkelling and dive sites nearby. I stayed in the PocNa hostel geared for the backpackers out there. At only 100 pesos a night (around £5) including breakfast it is a price that cannot be beaten. With a beach bar and all the islands eateries within walking distance this is a perfect place for those on a very tight budget.
Isla Mujeres can be reached by ferry costing about 70 pesos from Puerta Juarez just north of Cancun. There are plenty of regular buses from the centre of Cancun costing around 5 pesos. Once on the isle of Mujeres the PocNa hostel is just a short walk from the docks and all the locals will be able to direct you.
www.pocna.com/
Google map: tinyurl.com/yag3e7p
www.isla-mujeres.net/home.htm
Enjoy a week immersing yourself in Mexico's most artistic and alluring town. Art, politics and passion are the lifeblood of this wonderful place. In the morning, study silk screen printing with the proud members of the Taller Lenateros cooperative. In the afternoons delight in the town’s incredible art and craft from impromptu street sellers, to modern Mexican art galleries.
web: www.tallerlenateros.com/
email: tallerlenateros@yahoo.com.mx
Calle Flavio A.Paniagua 54,
San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas Mexico
Tel./Fax: ++ (52) (967) 678 51 74
Google map: tinyurl.com/ycoq876
Take a bus to San Cristobal de las Casas from Mexico City or Oaxaca City.
Fly to Mexico City, spend about five days there, then bus to Morelia for a couple of days, then taxi to Patzcuaro for three days, staying at Villa Victoria, and finally on to Guadalajara for three days. Fly home from there. Gorgeous!
Driving a car in mexico is rewarding - other drivers are courteous. However road direction signs are few and misleading and some get vandalized. Everybody gets lost. Bring your own satnav with the right software. You could buy one with the local hire cost! You will cut hours from your journeys.
At the lodge at the Centro Ecologico Sian Ka'an we slept in a bed inside a tent set inside a thatch-roofed hut. Outside our cabin was a private patio and on our stoop was a hammock. The beach, with a few thatch umbrellas, is only twelve feet or so below, but to protect the vegetation on the dune you had to find the way to a wooden ladder. The lodge has no electricity except in the restaurant/reception area, though you can borrow a lamp after dark. There’s salt water in the taps and showers (but in Mexico you have to use bottled water anyway). Meals are on the roofdecks and from here we watched a vast sunset over the lagoon, followed by Venus and then the undimmed stars.
Centro Ecologico Sian Ka'an (CESiaK) Federal Road (307) Cancun-Tulum, #68 Tulum, Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Tel: (52) 984-871-2499 info@CESiaK.org
My tip for a great train journey is the Chepe from Los Mochis to Creel in Mexico, commonly known as the Copper Canyon Railroad.
The journey starts at around 06:00 from Los Mochis on the Pacific coast and over the course of the next nine and a half hours travels 300km and winds from sea level to an altitude of around 2400 metres to the old logging town of Creel, Chihuahua.
The journey begins travelling through scrub and desert before moving into lush greenery, mountainous backdrops and eventually, the canyon itself. The Copper Canyon, a huge network of canyons which in total dwarf their more famous neighbour in the USA, the Grand Canyon, (which would fit inside it). The journey crosses over 40 bridges with huge drops on either side and climbs the canyon by traversing the steep sides, the train switching back on itself numerous times to climb to the top. As the altitude changes so does the vegetation, from the tropical plants on the canyon floor to the fir forests at the top.
The highlight of the journey is a brief stop at Divisidero, a spot allowing 100 mile views across the canyon. The canyon can be seen to fall away beneath your feet and the spectacular colours and variety of flora can be appreciated from this spot.
The train does carry on to Chihuahua but the journey demands a stop in Creel, a town that has more than a little of Twin Peaks in the air. While the town itself is unremarkable, the rock formations, waterfalls and hot springs that can be accessed from it, on foot, mountain bike or 4x4 are stunning and it is well worth spending some time here. From Creel a bus can be taken that shadows the train line to Chihuahua city but reaches its destination quicker (5 hours), and has a more regular service.
The tickets come in first class and economy. The first class train has comfortable seats, a bar and a dining car, it is also possible to open the windows between carriages to appreciate the scenery first hand. A first class ticket one way train costs around £50, the economy train leaves later and takes longer but is cheaper. Aero California fly to Los Mochis and from Chihuahua from Mexico City, the journey is better taken from the coast as from Chihuahua the best of the scenery may be hidden by darkness. Casa Margerita's Plaza Mexicana offers basic half board accommodation from around £30 per room per night.
The world capital of silver, colonial city of Taxco, in the state of Guerero. Three hundred stores with silver, that's very impressive!
Two hours (on the bus) away from Mexico City, there's a colonial city of Taxco - the world capital of silver.
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