Mexico Trip

Tulum Ruins, cenote azul or any other cenote in the area, Aktu Chen, Coba Ruins.
All except Coba are on the road heading south from the airport. Coba can be reached out of Tulum. Sorry I don’t have the route numbers but you can’t miss the turn off to it in Tulum. Plenty of signs.
If you don’t know, watch the gas attendant very carefully because they will pump your gas and quickly reset the pump and charge you for more than they pump. If they give you a receipt, check the time on it. It might be hours old. Also, don’t let them take your credit card if they say the card reader isn’t working. They will say they will get another and off they go only to hand you back someone else’s card that is the same bank as yours.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Aktun%20Chen&ludocid=4435946844772302229&ibp=gwp;0,7&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwil_amZl7iAAxXzPUQIHddNCKIQ_coHegQIGhAB&biw=428&bih=728&dpr=3

I don't want to face such scam in unknown land. Thanks for the heads-up, Diane. I will put those place in my bucket list. Btw, is it better to go there in December. I came across an article saying it is https://gowithguide.com/blog/mexico-tourism-statistics-2023-5248. Taking a second opinion to be on the safer side, because I don't want to miss out on anything just because I was there at the wrong time. Also, I heard it's hurricane season till November there. Are there any chances at December?

Tell me more about your plans.

How are you traveling to and within Mexico? Are you going alone? How much do you know about Mexico? It can be a very dangerous place. You have to be very careful where you go. Do you speak Spanish?

It is also a very beautiful and interesting place. It should be incredible and beautiful around Xmas and New Years.

I am very aware of when a hurricane hits Mexico because I live in Texas but do not recall what the weather might be like in December.

Years ago, I went to San Miguel de Allende with a group for Day of The Dead . I took a side trip to Guanajuato which is really beautiful. But a few persons in my group took a side excursion to the pyramids and they were held up when they got there.

I have been to Mexican ports twice while on a cruise. Once I went to Majahual - Quintana Roo, October 6, 2016. I took an excursion to the pyramids. There are many excursions to different pyramids from different cities. Pyramids are not to be missed. I can not remember which pyramids I went to but it was early October and I thought that I was going to pass out from the heat and humidity, We walked through the jungle to get to the pyramids. We had a very knowledgeable tour guide who was an anthropologist or archeologist and I learned so much from her.

Then we went to a beach resort which had a wonderful buffet with all you could drink alcohol for one price. It was lovely. There are many beautiful beaches and beach resorts.

I also took a submarine ride at one port.

I live in Texas so I have many friends who are well traveled and knowledgeable when it comes to Mexico. A friend went to Tulum a few years back and it was very beautiful. I saw pictures and she told me about it.

If I use the word beautiful a lot, it is because it is very beautiful.

Always be certain to hire only authorized guides and take only authorized cabs. I have a friend who was very well traveled when it came to Mexico. He went to Mexico for a boxing match and partied too hard. He got into an unauthorized cab which was run by a criminal gang. He was shot and spent a lot of time recovering in a Houston hospital but had a lame leg for the rest of his life.

I encourage you to do a lot of research and find out which areas are controlled by The Cartels so that you do not make bad mistakes and wander into the wrong areas.

You should check with your government before traveling to Mexico.

Apart from safety related issues, My main concern is language barrier. I am an English-speaking fella, I don't have any idea about Spanish. That's also one reason for me to thinking about a guide. What I have in my mind is, First I will visit Cancun and then from there will explore Mexico City. Specially those museums. If I have any more time left, I won't mind visiting some off beat places. And one more thing, I will be visiting with my family of 3.

There is time to learn some Spanish if you want to.. it helps to know a few words or phrases

In the big cities like Mexico City, many Americans live there and many English speaking people. I think English is spoken by many Mexicans in the bigger cities. but possibly not so much in the smaller cites or the villages.

Wonderful museums in Mexico City and elsewhere. Lots of markets also.

In San Miguel, English is widely spoken but not in Guanajuato. San Miguel is small (and walkable) but because so many American live, visit and study there, English is widely spoken. When I was walking around, a group of Mexican men drove up and in perfect English asked me "are you American" to which i answered "yes" and they drove off. Have no idea what or why but I must have stood out as an American.

Guanajuato I believe is larger than San Miguel but less Americans live there and English is not widely spoken.

Persons in my group bought some beautiful and interesting masks in Mexico. Silver is sold everywhere.

I went to Cozumel for one of my ports which is close to Cancun. They are on the Peninsula which attracts many English speaking tourists and expats. English should be widely spoken.

I have not been to Mexico City but it is HUGE. and there is very bad air pollution. You might know all this.

I am going to suggest that you read some guide books but also go to youtube videos.

UPDATE: These are the Pyramids that I went to: Chacchoben Mayan Ruins

December is a good month to visit. If Florida is having a cold snap, as they do every year for a week or so, Cancun can be cooler than normal. A sweater might be needed at night then. I froze there one year in December. I live in California.
I don’t care for Cancun. It’s been ruined. Too many people and traffic jams. I prefer the points south of the airport along the corridor to Tulum. Playa Del Carmen and Playacar are nice but Playa del Carmen has become infested with tourists. It’s not the same as it was years ago.
If you drive, follow all speed signs because you will be stopped if speeding.

Stay in tourist areas and you will be fine.

The tourist areas in Cancun and Mexico City will be as safe as any American city, probably safer. December is a good time to go, with pre-Christmas celebrations everywhere. I suggest that you check out a guidebook or two, like Lonely Planet, from your public library to get a better idea of what you want to see and how to do it. You'll probably want to fly between Cancun and Mexico City. Learn some basic Spanish phrases to help you communicate, but most people in the tourist sector will speak English. Be careful with your possessions, since pickpocketing can be a real problem in tourist areas. Stick to bottled water, and don't eat uncooked street food or fruit that you didn't peel yourself.

With some preparation and flexibility, you'll have a wonderful time.

Thanks for all the feedback inputs. Will keep these in mind.