On Sun, Dec 30, 2012 at 4:32 PM, Vinayak Hegde <[email protected]> wrote:
> I am planning to take a break and travel to US and then southwards to > Central America till Panama. The countries I am planning to visit are > the US (1 month - New York and Los Angeles for a week each - rest open > to suggestions), Mexico (about 2 weeks - most of it in Yucatan), > ... > I am planning to do this overland (by bus) going south from Los > Angeles to Mexico and onwards to Panama (flying out from there back > Yucatan is on the other coast. How do you plan to go across Mexico? IIRC, Virgin America and Aero Mexico have non-stop flights from LA to Cancun. Here are some recommendations in Yucatan: * I recommend renting a car for the time you are in the Yucatan. It gives you a lot more mobility and you can travel the back roads and end up experiencing some amazing places. The traffic in the Yucatan is very easy to manage. * Spend at least a couple of nights in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve<http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1200819-d561014-Reviews-Sian_Ka_an_Biosphere_Reserve-Sian_Ka_an_Yucatan_Peninsula.html>. There is a bunch of rustic bungalows on the beach inside the reserve. The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve is about 1-2 hours drive south of Cancun (a very convenient and well connected airport to fly into from LA). * The Maya ruins of Tulum are close to the biosphere reserve * Spend a couple of nights at one of the Haciendas that have been converted into a boutique hotel. There a handful of them and most of them are somewhat expensive. One that is affordable - though, small and a little run down but full of character - is the Hacienda Yaxcopoil<http://www.yaxcopoil.com/> * Definitely visit Merida on the weekends. They have some great free public cultural, music and dance shows in the city center. Merida also has some awesome Yucateca food * Visit the Chicxulub crater and see what killed the dinosaurs * At least a day in Chichen Itza * If you swim, then try swimming in one of the cenotoes Thaths -- Homer: Hey, what does this job pay? Carl: Nuthin'. Homer: D'oh! Carl: Unless you're crooked. Homer: Woo-hoo! Sudhakar Chandra Slacker Without Borders
