Hi there,

I’ve been reading some really conflicting info about the best ways and advantages of exchanging euros for Mexican pesos. For those with recent experience, could you shed some light? Is exchanging at the airport currency exchange offices more worthwhile? Other advice suggests that withdrawing with an international bank card is the best option. Thanks for sharing your experiences on this! Philippe

Hey fellow travelers! For those of you drawn to Mexico, I put together this little site to share our 49-day trip in January 2026. (Give it a few seconds to fully load—you’ll see there are tons of photos, tips, and more!) Happy travels! https://noemarphil6.wixsite.com/voyagesdenoemarphil

Hi, For those who’ve tried it, are Uber or similar services (if available—could you also let me know the names of local equivalents?) reliable and safe? Thanks in advance. Philippe

Hi there,

I’m planning a trip around Mexico and looking for the best way to get from Mazunte to San Cristóbal de Las Casas by bus.

Has anyone done this route before?

Thanks in advance!

Philippe

Arrival at Chetumal Airport - Car rental - 3 days in BACALAR: Magnificent lagoon. The edges of the lagoon are private (so paid access!). From the road, you can't see the lagoon. You have to take one of the many unpaved trails and walk about 2 km. You get a beautiful view of the lagoon from the Bacalar fort, a charming little lively town. Los Rapidos: A really beautiful spot (paid entry, of course!). It's definitely worth spending a few hours there. You just let yourself drift gently with the current in turquoise, warm water. Hard to find—it's very poorly signposted. Cenote Azul: Very close to Los Rapidos. It's a round lake with deep blue water. Nothing extraordinary. We have the same in Auvergne! A little restaurant by the edge is nice. Cocalitos: Beautiful viewpoint over the lagoon and the submerged cenote. Developed shoreline (large field to lay your towel, hammocks, bar). Mayan ruins ICHTIKAL, recently discovered. Recent developments, and one of the few places still free (parking is paid). A lovely walk in the woods, but as everywhere in this region, there are very few animals! 1 night in Pisté to visit Chichen Itza at the first light. Hire a French-speaking guide and go at opening time to enjoy the site before the tourist buses arrive. It's an exceptional place! At the end of the visit, check out the Sacred Cenote. It's inside the site at the end of a small path lined with souvenir vendors. Just to see—no swimming. Cenote TSUKAN: A recently discovered cenote, so still not very crowded (12 km from Pisté). Very peaceful environment. Swimming (water max. 22°C). Life jacket mandatory. Good restaurant. 2 days in Coba - Visit to the Coba ruins. Very busy site. Paid parking + tax for the Mayans + site entry. Punta Laguna: A 3-hour walk in the woods with a guide. We saw just one pair of howler monkeys high up in a tree, 25 m away! As I mentioned earlier, we saw few animals and birds in this region (except for iguanas, which are everywhere). I imagined trekking through the jungle surrounded by monkeys and toucans—nope, no jungle, just undergrowth, and no toucans (they come in July during the rainy season, apparently!). 4 days on the island of COZUMEL: Car ferry taken from Calica (Punta Venado). Bookings on the Ultramar or Transcaribe websites. Sargassum invasion on the beaches (same, if not worse, in Tulum and Playa del Carmen, according to tourists we met). All beaches are private. Access to Beach Clubs is expensive. You have to book entry to Playa Palancar if you want to be sure to get a spot (it was full for us!). The El Cielo beach to see the starfish is only accessible by boat! Near El Cielo, many stingrays swim in the shallow waters of El Cielito. That's where all the boats stop, and we enjoyed ceviche with water up to our knees and rays looking for food! Poor rays!!!

Hi, We’re planning a trip to Mexico this summer (loop through Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Campeche). We’re thinking of using public transport or possibly renting a car. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website has a lot of recommendations. Are these states safe for solo travelers? Are there any precautions we should take or areas to avoid? Thanks,

We’re going to have our hot-air balloon baptism over the Teotihuacan site and the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon! We had to give up on this experience about a dozen years ago in Myanmar, over the temples of Bagan, for budget reasons. In 2019, we were supposed to do it over the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan, but the unpredictable weather (too much wind) didn’t allow the flight to go ahead. So this year, we didn’t want to miss the opportunity.

This one-month trip, from January 18 to February 17, 2026, allowed us to visit Mexico City and travel through the states of Puebla, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. We mainly used buses (ADO company) for medium and long distances and colectivos or taxis (or Uber) for shorter trips. Before leaving, I had contacted several people on the ground: Harry, a Vendéan settled in Oaxaca offering, among other things, discoveries of artisan villages or the Monte Albán site, and Oscar in Comitán de Domínguez. I’ll come back to our meeting with Oscar, who runs a local agency (CVL Travel Turismo Alternativo & Corre la voz) and owns a very pleasant hostel, a real highlight of our trip. Our journey took place in 8 stages on a loop starting from Mexico City. The connections between each were made by day or night buses depending on the trip duration. I had booked our seats in advance, either directly on the ADO company’s website or through booking platforms depending on the rates offered. Note that by planning ahead, I was able to benefit from very interesting "Early Booking" rates. There are several comfort classes. For all our trips, I had booked seats in Primera class buses, except for two in GL (Grand Luxe) class. The rates are very reasonable, and the buses turned out to be comfortable or even very comfortable (only the basic seat recline might surprise you).

Our itinerary and number of days per stage: Stage 1 – Mexico City: 4 days Stage 2 – Puebla: 2 days Stage 3 – Oaxaca: 4 days Stage 4 – San Agustinillo: 4 days Stage 5 – San Cristóbal de las Casas: 3 days Stage 6 – Comitán de Domínguez: 6 days Stage 7 – Palenque: 4 days Stage 8 – Mexico City: 2 days If I were to do it again, I’d remove one day from Palenque and add it either to Puebla or San Cristóbal to visit nearby sites or villages, or to San Agustinillo to enjoy one more day by the Pacific Ocean.

Stage 1: Mexico City (2,200 m / 9.2 million inhabitants) We arrived in the Mexican capital around 10:00 PM. The simplified customs process was very quick. After exchanging some money at the airport, we took a taxi to our youth hostel. We got around the capital on foot, of course, but also by metro. Signs are very rare, and we took the train in the wrong direction several times. After a few mistakes, we systematically asked on the platform if we were going the right way. The metro is very affordable. You need to get a rechargeable card (the Tarjeta de Movilidad Integrada) and top it up as needed. This card (less than 1 €) isn’t personal, so there’s no need to get one per person.

Mexico City: Day 1.



Visits and walks of the day (note: many museums are closed on Mondays): The Zócalo or Constitution Square: it’s one of the most beautiful, largest (195m x 240m), and oldest squares in the world. This is where Cortés decided to build the center of the new Spanish city on the site of the former Tenochtitlan market. Stones from the pyramids were used to pave the esplanade and build the surrounding colonial churches and buildings. During our visit, the huge square was covered with (resin) cacti, the theme of the temporary exhibition at the time. Indeed, temporary events or exhibitions take place here throughout the year. It’s also the endpoint for many protest marches.











The cathedral: it’s sinking by one centimeter per year despite massive stabilization work (the collapse of many Mexican buildings—30 cm/year—is due to groundwater pumping). It was built starting in 1571 and completed in... 1813. The modest remains of the Templo Mayor (exterior view): they have high symbolic value, as this monument was the most important in the Mexica Empire.

We then walked through the streets of the historic center to the Santísima Church, unfortunately closed for renovation work. Next, we took the metro to visit one of Mexico’s most important pilgrimage sites: the Insigne y Nacional Basílicas de Santa María de Guadalupe, as well as the Capilla del Cerrito on the hill. The first, dating from the colonial era, is really leaning a lot.



The second, shaped like a rotunda, is very impressive from the inside.



In the basement, there’s a sacred tunic where, in 1531, an image of the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared. A real mystery for scientists, the garment has never deteriorated since that date. Slow-moving conveyor belts allow pilgrims to admire it, preventing crowds from gathering in front of the image for hours. Well thought out!

From the top of the Capilla del Cerrito, you get beautiful views of huge Mexico City.

Hi everyone, I’m writing here because I’m really torn—I want to go on a trip. A vacation? 10 to 12 days, maybe 14 days. Starting March 14th. I’m in a wheelchair but completely independent. I was thinking of going to Martinique, but apparently, the hotels aren’t all-inclusive, which might be a hassle. If you have any advice, that’d be great. Otherwise, I was considering Mexico—a long-time dream. At an all-inclusive hotel with accessibility on one level (since I’m independent but in a wheelchair). Do you know of any nice, budget-friendly hotels with activities in Mexico? Or Zanzibar is also an option for me, same idea.

Thanks in advance for your help! If you have any tips, that would be amazing so I can finally make up my mind and plan my trip without too much stress. I’m looking ahead so I have plenty of time. Feel free to ask questions if you’d like. Thanks for your feedback, have a great evening!

Hi there,

We’re planning a road trip in Mexico.

Is it feasible to rent a car from Mexico City to Oaxaca? What’s the road safety like?

After that, we’d like to take a domestic flight to the Yucatán. Same question—especially about safety when visiting Palenque.

We have a child, so we don’t want to take any risks with safety.

We speak Spanish and have already lived in Nicaragua for two years.

What’s the weather like in August? We’re a bit unsure.

Thanks for your help and tips!

Marc

Hi everyone, happy to be back on this site. I’m tired of spending hours and hours searching for all-inclusive hotels for my first trip to Mexico to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. Can anyone recommend 5 or 6 hotel names that meet the following criteria? (I’m not too picky, lol) 1. All-inclusive 2. Adults-only 3. Beautiful beach and pool 4. Hotel for relaxing (no "factory hotels") 5. One-week stay in February 2026 6. A nice hotel (3 or 4 stars) but no need for an ultra-palace

Oh, and I almost forgot the main thing 😉: budget between 3500 € and 4000 € for two, including flights from Montreal-Mexico-Montreal.

Thanks to all of you for your recommendations! Adjou

Hi everyone!

That was about all the Spanish I could say before we left... Luckily, Tom, 15 and in high school, gets by really well! And Caroline did a year of Duolingo before we left... Anyway, after 55 days in the American West three years ago, it’s Mexico’s turn for this second long trip.

Hi, I’m heading to Cancun next January and I’m looking for a rental car. I’m overwhelmed by all these cheap offers from sites like Booking, Carigami, and others... Some reviews mention extra insurance fees that had to be paid on the spot. I’d love to hear about your experiences—what company did you use? Were you charged any additional costs? A lot of ads redirect to Touracancun, but they don’t seem trustworthy to me. Thanks for your feedback!

Hi everyone!

That was about all the Spanish I could speak before we left... Luckily, Tom, 15 and in high school, gets by just fine! And Caroline did a year of Duolingo before we took off... Anyway, after 55 days in the American West three years ago, it’s Mexico’s turn for this second long adventure.

A quick intro to the crew:





- Oscar, 10, a sporty and lively little boy who loves swimming and basketball, - Tom, 15, a high schooler, sporty and tall, who loves swimming and American football, - Caroline, 47, a PE teacher, sporty , loves hiking and snorkeling, - and me, Sylvain, 50, a science teacher, sporty, loves traveling and always has a possible next trip in mind

We mostly travel by swapping our house to discover beautiful France and the world: 135 swaps over the last 13 years.....

Our itinerary is pretty classic since it’s our first time in the Yucatán, and we’ll make a little 10-day detour to Belize...

See you soon...

Hi everyone,

My partner and I would like to travel to Mexico during the Christmas holidays. We’re well aware that this is a peak tourist season, but it’s the only time of year when we can take a long trip (over two weeks) due to work commitments.

We’re looking to avoid overly touristy areas and travel independently (renting a car). We want to explore Mexico’s history, take our time, and enjoy nature and the sea.

I’ve never been to Mexico before, and I’m considering the following regions (not all of them, of course): Yucatán (outside Quintana Roo), Baja California, Oaxaca, or Chiapas.

I’ve more or less ruled out Chiapas for safety reasons (even though the nature there looks amazing), and I’d love to hear your thoughts on the other regions. From experience, I know that even in highly touristy areas, you can often find quieter spots with good planning and by avoiding the main hotspots. For example, we were in Thailand last year during the same period, and aside from 2-3 places, we had a very peaceful trip—sometimes even being the only Westerners around. Would the same be true for Yucatán or Baja California?

Do you have any recommendations for nice, less touristy spots? What are your thoughts on the regions I mentioned?

Thanks so much for your help, and I hope you have a great weekend!

Hi,

My son is finishing up a year of working holiday in Canada soon. His plan is to take a bus from Montreal to Florida on 10/26, stay there for a few days, then fly to Cancun, Mexico. From there, he doesn’t have a precise plan yet, except to head down to Panama if the security situation in the countries he’ll cross allows it. Then, in March 2026, he’ll take a flight to Martinique, where he’d like to either find a sailboat (as crew) for the return transatlantic crossing (option 1) or do a sailing internship that includes the crossing (option 2).

So my questions are: - Will he be able to re-enter Mexico without an exit date or proof of a flight back to Belgium? Would being able to prove his return by sailboat with a specific date (option 2, the sailing internship) make things easier? - Are there any countries to avoid between Mexico and Panama? He’s traveling backpacker-style on a small budget.

Thanks for your answers.

Claire

Hi everyone, absolute travel lovers after our 20 trips to the USA, we’ve decided to head to Mexico in February (flight already booked: Nice to Cancun on February 20th, returning on the evening of March 1st).

I’m mainly hesitating about trying to do too much, as usual when discovering a new country. Here’s my itinerary—I’m unsure about a few things: - **Day 1**: Should we stay relaxed at the resort we booked, or should we do Isla Mujeres instead? If we stay, when’s the best time to visit the island? - **Day 3**: If we visit Chichén Itzá right at opening, will the Ik-Kil cenote be quieter in terms of tourists? If not, which cenote nearby would you recommend? - **Big decision**: Should we go all the way down to Bacalar or not? After that, it feels a bit rushed. **Day 6** is mandatory, or are there other options? Honestly, I’m counting on your advice!

For context, we’re a family of four (with very grown-up kids who are used to traveling), and we’ve already rented an SUV for this period. Thanks in advance for your help—it’ll be invaluable!

**Departure – February 20th**: Arrival in Cancún

Arrival at 8:20 PM, pick up rental car. Overnight in Cancún.

**Day 1 – February 21st**: Isla Mujeres

Ferry from Cancún to Isla Mujeres. Playa Norte, snorkeling, golf cart tour. Return to Cancún. Overnight in Cancún.

**Day 2 – February 22nd**: Ek’ Balam + Cenote X’Canché → Valladolid

Drive from Cancún to Ek’ Balam (~2h). Visit the archaeological site. Swim at Cenote X’Canché. Drive to Valladolid (~30 min). Overnight in Valladolid.

**Day 3 – February 23rd**: Chichén Itzá → Bacalar

Early departure to Chichén Itzá (~45 min). Guided tour + optional visit to Ik-Kil cenote. Drive to Bacalar (~4h). Overnight in Bacalar.

**Day 4 – February 24th**: Bacalar

Boat excursion to the "Laguna of Seven Colors." Cenote Azul + Fuerte San Felipe. Overnight in Bacalar.

**Day 5 – February 25th**: Bacalar → Tulum + Ruins, Cenote & Beach

Drive (~3.5h). Settle in Tulum. Visit the Mayan ruins of Tulum (stunning ocean view). Swim in Gran Cenote or Cenote Calavera. End the day at Playa Paraíso. Overnight in Tulum.

**Day 6 – February 26th**: Sian Ka’an Reserve

Guided excursion:

Option Muyil (half-day): boat tour + swim in the Mayan canal. Option Punta Allen (full-day): dolphins, turtles, snorkeling on the reef.

Overnight in Tulum.

**Day 7 – February 27th**: Tulum → Akumal → Playa del Carmen

Morning: snorkeling with turtles in Akumal. Lunch, then drive to Playa del Carmen. Evening on 5th Avenue. Overnight in Playa del Carmen.

**Day 8 – February 28th**: Playa del Carmen → Puerto Morelos

Free morning in Playa del Carmen (beach or Cenotes Azul & Cristalino). Afternoon: drive to Puerto Morelos (~30 min). Overnight in Puerto Morelos.

**Day 9 – March 1st**: Puerto Morelos → Cancún → Return flight

Relaxing morning in Puerto Morelos. Drive (~30 min) to Cancún Airport. Return rental car. Return flight.

Hi everyone, Back from my summer vacation, and it's already time to start planning the next one! I mean, I work to go on vacation and explore with my family—don’t you? Next destination: Mexico (Yucatán and Quintana Roo), When: February/March 2026, Duration: 17 nights there (+1 arrival night, either a layover or late in the evening), Who: Two adults and two young kids (3 and 8 years old), Transport: Rental car Interests: Culture, a little relaxation, hiking (though I’m not sure if the destination is ideal for that), and nature exploration.

The plan is to do the classic route but stay longer in each place—it’s easier to manage with kids. Here’s what I had in mind:

Valladolid = 3 nights to visit Ek Balam, Chichén Itzá, and a cenote. Mérida = 3 nights for a stop in Izamal on the way, exploring Mérida, then Uxmal + a trip to Celestún. Campeche = 2 nights to see the Xtacumbilxunaan cave and the Edzná Maya site. Calakmul = 1 night Bacalar = 3 nights for the Lagoon of Seven Colors, Fort San Felipe, some downtime, and a possible day trip to Cozumel if needed. Tulum = 5 nights to visit Cobá, Tulum, cenotes, the beach, Sian Ka’an + Muyil. Then back to the airport (1h30 drive or 2h if flying into Cancún).

Does this seem well-balanced? Could I improve it by grouping accommodations more? I’m guessing Palenque/Yaxchilán is too far (even if I cut other things from the itinerary)? It still sounds like an amazing trip... Thanks,

Hi everyone from QUEBEC, no other province, and country.

Winter trips, early Nov 2025 to end of March 2026.

The 3 countries mentioned above. No others.

Each has their own residence or co-rental. /// Solo, as a couple, or in a group.

J.M.

Hi there,

Back in 2002, we spent two weeks in Playa del Carmen. We did day trips to Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Chichén Itzá, Tulum, and Xcaret.

We’re heading back at Christmas with our two daughters, aged 15 and 19. I’m sure it’s changed a lot with the booming tourism.

Flights are booked: Paris-Cancún on 19/12 (arriving at 8:20 PM) and Cancún-Paris on 01/01 at 1:30 PM. We’re still finalizing the itinerary because we want to explore but don’t want to switch hotels too often. We’ll be there for 13 nights and 12 days, so we’re choosing among: - Playa del Carmen - Cozumel - Holbox - Valladolid - Tulum - Mahahual

We won’t do everything, so any tips would be great! I’m also unsure if renting a car is the best option.

Thanks in advance!

Stéphane

Hi there, we're planning a trip to La Paz, Mexico at the end of December for a family of four. Which airline should we take? Where should we fly from? Are there any "layover countries" that are cheaper than others? Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Hello. We’re a couple with an 11-year-old daughter and we’re looking for a good deal on a bar and/or restaurant in the tourist areas of Playa del Carmen, Tulum, or Mérida. If anyone knows of one or is on the ground and can give us some great tips, we’d really appreciate it. Thanks in advance. Safe travels.

I’m planning to spend 4 months this winter 2026 on this island by the beach, and I’m looking for recently updated info. Thanks

Hello, When’s the best week at the end of the year to go back to Mexico? Cheers, Jean Pierre

I'm heading to MEXICO IN NOVEMBER 2025. Since private guides and drivers are really expensive—over 300 € per day—I'm thinking of exploring the Yucatán by train. CAN YOU SHARE ANY INFO ON THIS? Thanks

Hi everyone! We’re a family of 4: 2 adults and 2 kids aged 3 and 6. I’m looking for a nature-beach-culture destination for May 2026. Right now, I’m torn between Mexico and Malaysia. I’ve read about the Yucatán, for example—it’s easy for a first trip to Mexico, but I’m worried I won’t get that authentic Mexican vibe, especially if we have to rent a car. I don’t want our trip to just be a checklist of beautiful sites. I love Asia for the atmosphere and the ease of traveling independently. Anyway, can you share your thoughts on these two destinations and help me with my research? Thanks! Hélène

I’d like to visit Chiapas this summer with my husband and my son (young adult). After a few days in San Cristobal and the surrounding area, we want to take a bus to Palenque. I’ve heard conflicting things about the danger of being stopped on the road by revolutionaries. We’re planning to take a daytime bus. Is the most direct route safe, or is it wiser to take the long detour via Villahermosa? If you’ve made this trip recently, could you share your thoughts? Thanks

I want to do a circuit of the colonial cities in Mexico

Hi there! Every year, I go on vacation with my family (there are a lot of us), and we used to use Splitwise. With their recent updates, we’re a bit frustrated because we’re limited in adding our expenses. Do you have any other alternatives (preferably free ones)? My son suggested Tricount, but I’ve never heard of it before! PS: If you have any tips for Mexico City this year, we’d love to hear them! Thanks!

TREN MAYA in Yucatán We’re just back from our 7th or 8th trip to the Yucatán since 1971, and it’ll probably be our last (a little tear). We’ve crisscrossed the peninsula many times, but this post isn’t about listing the countless wonders to visit—there are already plenty of articles on that part of Mexico. For this trip, we chose to travel by train to try out this new way of getting around.

The TREN MAYA routes roughly follow the coast in a loop: Cancún – Valladolid – Mérida – Campeche – Escárcega – Chetumal – Tulum – Playa del Carmen – Cancún, with the main stations listed here and usually 2 or 3 stops in between. A branch line runs from Escárcega to Palenque. We only traveled the Cancún – Mérida – Escárcega – Palenque section, as the loop via Chetumal wasn’t open when we planned our trip. Besides, Chetumal itself isn’t very interesting. However, the Escárcega–Chetumal route has lots of Maya sites worth visiting.

The tracks, stations, and rolling stock are all brand new. The Tulum–Mérida section opened in early 2024, and the full loop was inaugurated at the end of 2024. The trains currently consist of 4 tourist-class cars and 2 first-class cars. I imagine this setup might change, since first class was nearly empty while tourist class was between 25% and 70% full, depending on the time and route.

The cars are designed by Alstom and built in Mexico, with the same seating layout as in France: 2+2 in tourist class and 2+1 in first class. The seats are a bit more comfortable than in France for tourist class and slightly firmer in first class.

The track is very well laid on the Cancún–Mérida–Escárcega section we traveled: no jolts at all. However, the Escárcega–Palenque branch is likely built with short rails, so I don’t think it’ll support very high speeds. The line is single-track except for the Cancún–Valladolid–Mérida stretch, which is double-track, and electrification is underway. Signaling is also being installed—the targets are in place but not yet operational. Given the current low traffic, we weren’t too worried.

The trains are diesel-electric hybrids and very quiet in diesel mode. I clocked a speed of 140 km/h, and they say it’ll reach 200 km/h once electrified.

Now, the stations: *grand* is the word that comes to mind. The architects did an amazing job aesthetically—it reminds us of Canfranc, with the same spirit 150 years apart, using marble (?) for the flooring. Technically, though, at least in Valladolid station, it’s a miss—they’ve already added unattractive metal reinforcements to the concrete framework barely a year after the inauguration.

Practical info: Tickets can be bought online on the Tren Maya website.

But contrary to what the *Routard* guide says, you can only book about a week in advance. So, we bought our tickets for the first leg, Cancún–Valladolid, from France, and then got the rest at the station a few days ahead. It seems there’s no ticket sales in travel agencies.

Arrive at the station about 20–30 minutes early, as there are airport-style security checks. Right now, the staff are still getting the hang of the baggage scanners and metal detectors, which can be a bit amusing.

Important note: This is a completely new rail network, so the tracks—and especially the stations—are far from city centers. To get downtown, you’ll need to take a shuttle or a taxi.

Here’s the breakdown for station-to-downtown travel: - **Cancún**: There are shuttles between the airports and the station (35 MXN/person). Taxis are pricier than in NYC: 50 € (1000 MXN) for a 10-minute ride—it’s an organized scam, but at least it’s clean, which is more than you can say for Cancún. If you’re staying at a hotel in Cancún or Playa del Carmen, make sure to arrange the hotel shuttle in advance. - **Valladolid**: 15 minutes from downtown, 150 MXN by taxi, or 36 MXN/person by shuttle, which drops you 3 *cuadras* (a *cuadra* = a block ≈ 100 m) from the center. - **Mérida**: 30 minutes from downtown, 300 MXN by taxi, or 50 MXN/person by shuttle, which drops you 7 or 8 *cuadras* from the center. The ticket agent told us it was just 1 *cuadra* (and we’re perfectly bilingual, so no confusion), but dragging suitcases over broken sidewalks in 33°C heat with no taxis in sight? Not great. So, for Mérida, just take a taxi. - **Campeche**: 10 minutes from downtown, 50 MXN by shuttle, which drops you right in the center (at the *Malecón*, across from the Gamma Hotel). We didn’t see any taxis at the station. - **Palenque**: Most hotels are outside the city center, so a taxi is a must—around 150 to 250 MXN.

Don’t forget to agree on the taxi fare with the driver before getting in.

For Tren Maya fares, there’s a rate for non-Mexican residents and several others for residents based on income. Here are the non-resident fares per person: - Cancún – Valladolid: 472 MXN (539 MXN on the return) - Valladolid – Mérida: 505.50 MXN (553 MXN on the return) - Mérida – Campeche: 574 MXN - Campeche – Palenque: 1300 MXN - Escárcega – Palenque: 789 MXN

The main reason we chose the train over renting a car (our usual go-to) was that on our last trip, just before COVID in 2020, the rental company refused to insure us in Chiapas due to safety concerns. So, we had to skip Palenque—but with the Tren Maya, it became possible again. The big downside of the train is that you need shuttles or taxis to visit all the Maya sites, which adds up in cost and time.

**Conclusion**: If you add up the train fares, taxis, etc., it might be better to rent a car for the whole trip and leave it in a hotel parking lot in Campeche or Escárcega for a couple of days if you want to visit Palenque. Then, take the train for a round trip between Campeche–Palenque or Escárcega–Palenque.

Safe travels! *