Mexico Travel Guide

Things You Should Know About Mazatlan

Jessica — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:28:11 +0000

Taking a trip to a Mexican beach resort town shouldn’t require studying a huge amount of pre-vacation material, but when the town for which you’re headed has some surprises in store – let’s just say it can’t hurt to be well-informed. Mazatlan offers all kinds of surprises – mostly of the extremely pleasant variety – and some of them are good enough to sway you toward choosing Mazatlan over other resort towns in Mexico.

Here are the things you should know about Mazatlan.

Further Reading:

You can drink the water.

Getting sick while traveling is tough to avoid in some places, especially when you’re not accustomed to brushing your teeth with bottled water or shunning ice cubes in your soft drinks, so it’s a major plus when you get to Mazatlan and find out you can drink the water (yes, the tap water) pretty much everywhere. The big resort hotels, like big resort hotels nearly all over Mexico, have purified water – but even in small, local restaurants around the city you don’t have to worry about ice cubes in your drinks. If the taco stand where you stop to have lunch doesn’t have a water supply and all they’ve got for washing up is a bucket full of water, you might want to steer clear of ice cubes – but otherwise, it’s just not something you’ll need to worry about, which is a huge relief.

The beaches are public.

Vacationers are used to seeing private beaches connected to big tourist resort hotels, especially in places that are famous beach destinations, and there are some private beaches on resort property in Mazatlan. The beaches in the historic center, however, are public, open, and absolutely free. There are plenty of small hotels in the center, too, so although you can’t walk from your room straight onto the beach, you can get to the beach from your hotel with only a short walk.

This is tomato and shrimp country.

The state of Sinaloa, of which Mazatlan is a part, is considered the tomato capital of Mexico. In fact, you’ll see a tomato on all the Sinaloan license plates. (The colors are often faded enough that it vaguely resembles Florida’s orange license plates.) Mazatlan itself is considered the shrimp capital of Mexico. As a result, you’ll see plenty of both ingredients used in local restaurants. Seafood in general is a very big deal in Mazatlan, as you can imagine, and another popular fish on menus is the marlin. There’s a marlin soup (with a tomato base) that’s commonly sold only on Sunday mornings at taco stands throughout the city, as locals think of it as an excellent hangover cure.

You’ll hear the historic center referred to as “colonial,” but it’s really not.

Mexico has a plethora of colonial towns, many of which are tourist attractions for their beautiful architecture. While Mazatlan is special in that there’s an historic town right on the beach, that town isn’t colonial – it’s actually post-colonial. Okay, yes – this is nitpicking a bit, but a little historical context is a good thing. During the colonial period, Mazatlan as we know it today didn’t exist, and the area was sparsely populated. It was technically founded in 1531, but wasn’t until the early 1800s that Mazatlan grew into more of a town, and the historic buildings in the center date from the 19th century.

There are big tourist resort hotels in Mazatlan, but they’re not in the historic center.

Mazatlan, like any Mexican beach resort town, has its fair share of all-inclusive resort properties. Unlike most beach resort towns in Mexico, however, the town didn’t grow up around the resorts. The resorts were built quite a distance from the historic center – it’s usually about a half-hour if you’re driving – and though most of the people who stay at the all-inclusives venture into the historic center during their visit, you don’t feel as if you’re surrounded only by resort vacationers when you’re in the old town. Should you decide to stay in one of the all-inclusives, just keep in mind the time it’ll take to get into town.

There are taxis, and then there are pulmonias.

Mazatlan has taxi service like any sizeable city, as well as public buses that are pretty much locals-only (the system for figuring out which buses go where is more than a little challenging to discern if you’re not familiar with the area), but for a few pesos more than a regular taxi you can zip around town in one of the souped-up golf carts that you’ll find nowhere else. They’re called pulmonias, and they’re great fun when the weather’s nice, since they’re open on all sides. It’s still a relatively cheap method of getting around, so even though the (boring) normal taxis are cheaper, a pulmonia ride is worth it.

This is the city that gave birth to Señor Frog’s.

Señor Frog’s is the kind of place that, now, is sort of ubiquitous in Mexican beach towns, and is intended to be an identical experience no matter where you go. This isn’t where you go when you want a “sense of place,” by any stretch. But it may interest you to know that the very first Señor Frog’s was opened in Mazatlan, way back in 1970. There’s a big Señor Frog’s in Mazatlan, with a gift shop that’s nearly as big as the bar/restaurant itself. As a side note, when you’re crusing along the Malecon (the main road that runs along the beach), keep an eye out for the statue of the frogs in a pulmonia – an homage to Señor Frog’s.

Germany has left its mark on Mazatlan.

Not long after Mexican independence in the early 1800s, German immigrants began arriving in Mazatlan in large enough numbers that they ended up altering the city’s personality. Today, the most obvious signs of German influence are the local Pacifico brewery started by German immigrants in the city, and the local “banda” music that’s a mix of Mexican mariachi-style music and Bavarian oompah music. It may sound like it wouldn’t quite work, but somehow it does.

The airport has an official mime on duty.

Okay, this isn’t actually something I can confirm, except to say that my flight was greeted by a mime who was wearing an official airport staff security badge, and I saw photos of the mime throughout the airport “performing” various duties – mostly mimicking passengers as they went about their passenger-y business. The Mazatlan airport website doesn’t have a “what’s with the mime?” question on their FAQ page, nor does a search for the word “mime” yield any results, but I know what I saw. (Also, there are random references to an airport mime in a few other spots I’ve seen online, but still. I’d like more concrete information. If anyone’s got some, please send it my way?)

Full disclosure & whatnot: I visited Mazatlan as a guest of the Mazatlan Hotel Association, but my opinions are completely my own.

photos by: jcheng, Wonderlane, el isma, Renee Silverman, bryce_edwards, sonyaseattle, seanosh, df.medrano, eva.pebar

Why You Should Add Mexico City to Your RTW Itinerary

aseper — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:06:18 +0000

Mention travel to cities in Mexico outside of the Caribbean and Pacific resort towns, and you may be met with a skeptical look. The media has managed to portray this entire country as a war zone, plagued by drug cartels and kidnappings of westerners. While there are some extremely dangerous parts of the country, and you should always be careful when traveling to a country with as much violence as Mexico, there are still plenty of places to go that are perfectly safe.

Mexico City is one of those places that should not be skipped because of fear. Heading to one of the largest cities in the world and seeing all they have to offer should be on any traveler lover’s wish list. If you are planning a big, round the world trip, I would suggest doing some research on a country like Mexico. Adding Mexico City to that round the world trip itinerary would be a fantastic idea, especially if you are from the US or planning on traveling around Central America for any length of time.

Did you know that Mexico City has the largest number of museums in the entire world, ahead of both New York City and London? Have you heard about the amazing street food on offer for prices that will keep your budget in the green for a long time? The beauty of traveling to Mexico City on your RTW trip is that you can do it on nearly any budget you want. If you’re a backpacker with limited funds, it’s not difficult to get by on $25-$30US/day. If you have a higher budget and want to do it up right, there’s plenty of top notch hotels and restaurants waiting for you. No matter what type of traveler you are, Mexico City will have something for you.

Photo credit: 1

Getting from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta

Cristina — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 07:00:22 +0000

Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco, in Mexico. It is a colonial city and much of the architecture dates from the independence period. It is a lovely city to explore on foot and it has a more relaxed feel than Mexico City.

Puerto Vallarta is a popular resort on the Pacific Coast of Mexico , which combines nicely the high end traveling with the activities in nature. Old Town Vallarta is an excellent choice if you are looking for an authentic Mexican town experience.

Quick summary

The cheapest option for traveling between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta is the bus. The fares start at 317* pesos (about US$22.60) and the travel time is 5 ½ h.

Flights from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta

Guadalajara is served by Guadalajara International Airport (GDL) , located about 16 km south of the city. It is Mexico’s third busiest airport and a hub for Aeroméxico Connect, Volaris and VivaAerobus.

Puerto Vallarta is served by Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR), connected to the city by public buses. The airport isn’t hub for any airline.

The only airline offering direct flights between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta is Aeromexico Connect. The travel time is about 40 min. Regardless of when you plan to travel, single fares start at US$153.

>>read more about Cheap flights to Puerto Vallarta

Buses from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta

Primera Plus runs buses betwen the two cities. The travel time is 5 ½ h and includes a stopover. There are buses running both during the day and night and they depart every hour from Guadalajara. The faresaver is 317 pesos (about US$22.60) and the standard fare is 352 pesos (about US$25).

>>read more about Bus Travel in Mexico

Driving from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta

There are about 306 km between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta so you can easily rent a car and drive the distance in about 4 hours.

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Note:* at the time the article was written

Photo credit

Getting from Puerto Vallarta to Manzanillo

Cristina — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 07:00:08 +0000

Puerto Vallarta is a very popular resort on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. It blends nicely the high end traveling with the activities in nature. Also, Old Town Vallarta is an excellent choice should you looking for an authentic Mexican town experience and want to escape the resort feel.

Manzanillo is located in the Colima state of Mexico and is a lovely beach destination. It is also known for the outdoor activities and the festivals filled with local flavor.

Quick summary

Although both cities are served by airports, there isn’t any airline offering a service between them. In fact, the only option is to go though Houston (Texas) and Mexico City , so flying isn’t an option at all when traveling from Puerto Vallarta to Manzanillo.

So you are left with traveling by road. The cheapest option is the bus , which takes about 5 hours to get between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo. The single fare starts at 265* pesos (about US$19)

Buses from Puerto Vallarta to Manzanillo

Primera Plus runs a daily bus between the two cities. It departs Puerto Vallarta at 7:45 a.m. 5 h 15 min to get to Manzanillo. The fare saver is 265 pesos (about US$19) and the standard fare is 294 pesos (about US$21).

On the way back, catch the bus from Manzanillo at 12:30 a.m. and there will be three stops along the way. You’ll be in Puerto Vallarta at 6 a.m. The same fares apply.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Mexico

Driving from Puerto Vallarta to Manzanillo

There are about 281 km between d Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo so you can easily rent a car and drive the distance in about 3h 40 min. Most of the road runs along the coastline, so you’ll be rewarded with spending views.

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Note:*at the time the article was published

Photo credit

New Year’s Eve in Mexico

Julie Blakley — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 20:37:57 +0000

While sun, sand and palm trees may not immediately make you jump to thoughts of New Year’s Eve celebrations, I can imagine few better ways to ring in the New Year than by celebrating on a beach (a beverage with tequila would also be a lovely addition). Much like in other Catholic countries like France, New Year’s Eve in Mexico is usually celebrated over a long meal which is followed by parties, fireworks and festivities.

New Year’s in Mexico is a particularly colorful affair, and no matter where you find yourself in the country, you will be surrounded by brightly colored decorations and fireworks.

Traditions

In Mexico, it is traditional to eat twelve grapes as the clock strikes midnight, making sure to eat each grape as you make a new wish for the New Year.

Mexico New Year’s traditions also involve wearing red underwear in hope of new love or prosperity in love for the next year.

Those that hope to have good luck financially in the new year, wear yellow.

If you are hoping for a future trip pr travels in the New Year, many Mexicans traditionally will take their luggage for a walk around the block for good luck.

Celebrations around Mexico

Mexico City

There is a large street festival in Mexico City, and from the city’s main square Zocalo the route to the Palacio de Bellas Artes will be closed to traffic. Along the closed streets, stages will be erected and in the evening hours bands will play, food will be served and revelers will fill the streets (drink in hand) to ring in the new year. At midnight there is also a fireworks show, followed by partying until the wee hours of the morning. Because this large event happens in Latin America’s largest city, this party has a New York Times Square feel to it, and there will be camera crews, major Latin American television and music stars will be in attendance. If you plan on hanging out here on New Years, it’s recommended you get there early to stake out a good spot.

Cancun

Known as a big party destination, Cancun will certainly be alive with festive spirit on this holiday. Starting at sunset, tourists and locals will be flocking into the clubs and onto the beach to drink, listen to some of Mexico’s best DJs and ring in the new year. With parties spilling out onto the beaches, revelers are sure not to be disappointed with the New Year’s festivities in this resort town.

Puerto Vallarta

This beach resort town will also be alive with activity on New Year’s Eve, with DJs spinning jams in the clubs, restaurants hosting special events and parties will spill out onto the beaches with fireworks displays at midnight and partying until dawn sure to follow.

Getting from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel

Cristina — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:00:22 +0000

Playa del Carmen is a coastal resort on the Yucatan Peninsula. It is the center of the Riviera Maya and offers a distinct European flavor, different than the rest of the resorts in the area. The closest large airport to Playa del Carmen is Cancun International Airport (CUN), to which it is linked by buses and shuttles.

Cozumel is an island located just off the Yucatan Peninsula. It attracts tourists thanks to its superb beaches and excellent dive spots.

The only way to get between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel is by ferry. There are both passenger and car ferries but they don’t depart from the same place. However, rental cars are not allowed on the car ferry.

The passenger ferry terminal is located in downtown Playa del Carmen, about a block and a half from the main square. In Cozumel, the ferry terminal is also in downtown right in front of Punta Langosta mall. The journey time is about 45 minutes.

There are two companies which run such services: Mexico Water Jets and Ultramar. Both offer 12 departures per day, the first being at 7 a.m. on Mexico Water Jets or 6 a.m. on Ultramar. The last departure is at 10 p.m. (both companies). The first ferry to Playa del Carmen departs at 6 a.m. (both companies) and the last at 9 p.m. (both companies).

On Mexico Water Jets, the single adult fare is US$11.58, while on Ultramar the single fare is 156 pesos (about US$11.12).

Photo credit

Getting from Cancun to Merida [Chichen Itza]

Cristina — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:00:37 +0000

Chichen Itza is the most studied Mayan archeological site, but there is still a lot of mystery surrounding it. There are many legends and contradictory theories linked to this wonderful city.

Chichen Itza is located midway between Cancun and Merida, the largest city in the Yucatan Peninsula. Should you have enough time on your hands, then you can consider traveling from Cancun to Merida , spend a night here, and then visit Chichen Itza the second day. However, this is possible only if you rent a car as there is no bus service between Merida and Chichen Itza.

But most of those who visit Cancun, choose to go Chichen Itza on a day trip. If you don’t go as part of tour group, you’ll definitely be rushing things, especially if you choose to travel by bus.

Buses from Cancun to Merida [Chichen Itza]

ADO Bus offers direct buses between Cancun and Chichen Itza. They depart at 9 a.m. from downtown Cancun and the travel time is 3 hours. Single fare is 184 pesos (about US$13). On the way back, the bus leaves Chichen Itza at 4:30 p.m.

Should you want to go all the day to Merida, take the bus which leaves Cancun at 10:30 a.m. The travel time is 4 hours and the single fare is also 184 pesos (about US$13). On the way back, catch the bus from Merida at 3:50 p.m. and the single fare is 246.65 pesos (about US$17.60).

>>read more about Bus Travel in Mexico

Driving from Cancun to Merida [Chichen Itza]

There are about 200 km between Cancun and Chichen Itza so you can easily rent a car and drive the distance in about 2 ½ h.

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Should you want to go all the way to Merida, the drive distance is about 307 km and can be covered in about 4 hours.

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Photo credit

Getting from San Diego to Cabo

Cristina — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 07:00:21 +0000

Cabo San Lucas is the jewel of the Baja California peninsula and a favorite vacation destination for the Americans and Canadians. With its superb beaches, a variety of water sports, golfing and snorkeling, Cabo attracts million of vacation goers every year.

Getting from San Diego to any of the cities in Baja California is easy and a very popular choice for those living in the US. Actually, the border crossing between San Ysidro and Tijuana is the busiest in the entire world.

Quick summary

The cheapest and hassle-free way to get from San Diego to Cabo is by plane via Tijuana. Take the bus to Tijuana Airport and then a domestic flight to Cabo. The bus fare is US$12.15* and the single airfare starts at US$62 outside the high season.

Flights from San Diego to Cabo

San Diego International Airport (SAN) is located 3 miles from the central business district of San Diego and 20 miles from the border crossing to Mexico. It is the second busiest single runway commercial airport in the world (London Gatwick is the first) but is not hub for any airline. It is, however, a focus city for Southwest Airlines.

Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) serves Los Cabos area and is the seventh busiest airport in Mexico. It is located outside of San Jose del Cabo and it takes about 30-45 minutes drive to get to Cabo San Lucas from the airport.

Direct flights from San Diego to Cabo are run only by Alaska Airlines. The flight time is 2h 5 min. During the high season (December 2011) expect to pay from US$259 per person for a single ticket , while return flights start at US$522. Outside the high season (March 2012), expect to pay from US$149 for a single ticket and from US$412 return. Alternatively, you can opt for connecting flights, which start at US$199 one way on US Airways, if you want to fly in December 2011, but the travel time increases to 4h 20 min.

A much cheaper alternative is to travel from San Diego to Tijuana Airport by Greyhound bus There are hourly departures from San Diego and the travel time is about an hour. Single fares start at US$12.15. Then catch a flight from Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) to Cabo San Lucas. Volaris operates on this route and single fares for the high season (December 2011) start at US$105 one way. Outside the high season, single fares start at US$62 one way.

>>read more about Cheap flights to Cabo San Lucas

Buses from San Diego to Cabo

Taking the bus to complete this journey is quite a hassle and here are the reasons why. First, you need to take the Greyhound bus to Tijuana . It takes 1 hour and fares start at US$12.15 (web fare only). There are buses departing San Diego hourly.

>>read more about Getting from San Diego to Tijuana

From Tijuana, take another bus to La Paz, the state’s capital. ABC Bus offers services but it’s not easy to figure things out on their website (Spanish only), so your best bet is to ask at the bus station. From La Paz , take the Aguila bus (also operated by ABC Bus) to Cabo San Lucas.

In total, the journey takes about a day (24 hours).

>>read more about Bus Travel in Mexico

Driving from San Diego to Cabo

You can rent a car in San Diego and drive all the way to the parking lot before the border crossing. Be careful to take the “Last U.S. Exit, Camino de la Plaza” ramp, unless you want to end up driving across the border, which will prove to be a big hassle.

Should you want to drive all the way to Cabo, you’ll need to drive your own car. The shortest route is 1035 miles via Carr Federal 1/Mexico 1 and the total drive time is about 19 hours. You should consider making several stops along the way.

Alternatively, you can rent another car in Tijuana for the reminder part of the journey.

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Note:* at the time the article was written

Photo credits : Cabo Airport , Cabo Bus Station

Getting from San Diego to Tijuana

Cristina — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:00:32 +0000

The U. S. Department of State has been issuing traveler alerts for the U.S. citizens living and traveling to Mexico since 2008 and the latest dates from April 2011. Resort areas and tourist destinations generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime which occur in the border regions. Visitors are urged to use common sense and visit only the tourist areas during daylight.

Tijuana , one of the world’s most visited cities, is included in the travel warning. No one says not to visit it, but you should stick with the tourist areas and you can also consider taking a guided tour.

San Diego International Airport (SAN) is located just a few miles north from the border and is often used by travelers who want to visit Tijuana. In order to get from the airport to the border crossing you need to first get on the 992 Airport bus to Broadway and then take the San Diego Trolley to the border crossing.

Quick summary

The easiest way to get from San Diego to Tijuana is by bus. Fares start at US$12.15* and the travel time is about 1 h (from San Diego to Tijuana; and 2 hours on the way back). Another option is to take the San Diego Trolley to the border crossing and then catch a local bus to get Tijuana city centre.

San Diego Trolley

The easiest way to get from San Diego to Tijuana is by San Diego Trolley , often referred to as Tijuana Trolley. Take the Blue Line, which terminates at the border crossing. One-way fare is US$2.50 and the day pass is US$5.

To get to the border, use the pedestrian bridge to get to the other side of the road and go through the turnstile.

To get from the border to Tijuana city center, take one of the buses which leave from the parking lot. Mexicoach runs all the way to the Tourist Terminal on Avenida Revolucion, Rosarito Beach and the Tijuana Bullring. Another option is to the take the local buses once you are on the Mexican side of the border. Just look on the front of the bus.

When you get from Tijuana to San Diego U.S.-bound border crossing is on the opposite side of the highway. Now take the pedestrian bridge and you are in line for border crossing procedures. Once on the United States side, the San Diego Trolley will be straight ahead.

Buses from San Diego to Tijuana

Greyhound offers direct buses which depart every hour from San Diego, starting at 5:10 a.m. The last bus is at 1:25 a.m. The travel time is between 45 min and 55 min. The web only adult single fare is US$12.15, while the standard fare is US$13.50.

On the way back from Tijuana, you need to change buses at San Ysidro and the total travel time is 1h 50 min. The first bus leaves Tijuana at 7:15 a.m. and the last at 11:15 p.m. The standard fare is US$15.00.

Driving from San Diego to Tijuana

You can rent a car in San Diego and drive along I-5 to the big border parking lots on the U. S. side of the border from Tijuana. That’s where you need to leave the car, if you rented it. Make sure to take the “Last U.S. Exit, Camino de la Plaza” ramp, unless you want to end up driving across the border, which will prove to be a big hassle.

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Note:* at the time the article was written

Photo credit

Getting from Mexico City to Cancun

Cristina — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 07:00:10 +0000

Mexico City , the capital of Mexico, is one of the largest cities in the world. It is a huge place and is definitely hard to tackle for those who visit it for the first time. Still, with a good map in hand and relaying on the public transportation, you can figure this place out. Plan to visit at least some of its landmarks – Zocalo, La Catedral, the crafts market or Torre Mayor – before traveling to other parts of the country.

Cancun is definitely a place to visit if you are looking for sun, sand and fun, or if you plan to check out some the Mayan sites located close by: Chichen Itza and Tulum. Regardless of your reasons for traveling, you should know what means of transportation are available and what you should expect in terms of budget.

Quick summary

The cheapest and hassle-free way to travel between Mexico City and Cancun is by plane. Thanks to the many low cost carriers flying between the two cities, fares start at US$68 one way during the shoulder season.

Flights from Mexico City (airport code: MEX) to Cancun

Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) is the country’s busiest airport and hub for Aeromar, Aeromexico, Aeroméxico Connect, AeroUnion, Interjet, Magnicharters and MasAir. It is also focus city for VivaAerobus and Volaris.

Cancún International Airport (CUN) is Mexico’s second busiest airport and also the busiest in Mexico and Latin America for International passengers. The airport is not hub for any airline.

Flights from Mexico City to Cancun are run by Aeromexico , Interjet, Magnicharters, VivaAerobus and Volaris. The flight time is about 2 hours.

If you plan to fly between the two cities during the high season (January 2012), expect to pay from US$88 per person , one way on Volaris. In March 2012, expect to pay from US$68 per person, one way, also in Volaris; while return flights start at US$135 on the same airline.

Read more about:
>>Cheap flights to Cancun
>>Cheap flights to Mexico City

Buses from Mexico City to Cancun

It is possible to travel by bus from Mexico City to Cancun, but you’ll have to have a stop along the way, in Coatzacoalcos. ADO Buses covers the entire route.

Step 1 – Mexico City to Coatzacoalcos : buses depart every 20 to 40 minutes from Mexico City TAPO and the drive time is between 7 h 45 min and 9 hours. Single fares range from 530 pesos (about US$38) to 1032 pesos (about US$74).

Step 2 – Coatzacoalcos to Cancun : there are two buses departing early in the day (at 1:20 a.m. an 3:05 a.m.) from Coatzacoalcos and the travel time is almost 15 hours. The single fares start at 974 pesos (about US$69.50).

>>read more about Bus Travel in Mexico

Driving from Mexico City to Cancun

You can rent a car and drive the 1608 km between Mexico City and Cancun. The total drive time is about 18 hours so make sure to plan some stops along the way.

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Photo credits: Mexico City Airport , Cancun Bus Station