MEXICO REPORT TRAVEL.

  

To reach the Mexican border it is necessary to travel about 2 km with the aforementioned bus. Then you have to fill in and sign the tourist card (to be returned when you leave the country) which will be stamped together with the passport by the Mexican Customs Police. After that your luggage is checked and you can get back on the bus which will take you to the city of Chetumal in a short time (3 km). Keep in mind that the bus does not arrive at Estacio de Autobus but leaves you on request on the state road located about 300 meters from it.

 

Cross the aforementioned state road and cross a park to reach the Estacio de Autobuses where you can withdraw money at the ATM. From here there are frequent buses to Cancun Center and Cancun Airport that stop at various tourist locations including Tulum (174 MXN, 3 hours). The cheapest company is Mayab.

 

The small Tulum Station is located in the center, which is located several kilometers from the sea.

 

There are several budget accommodations in Tulum but perhaps the cheapest of all is the Hostel del Sol located about 300 meters away. west of the bus station, asking for 150 MXN per night for a dorm bed. It has a large kitchen.

 

From Tulum there are several buses to Cancun Centro (the first at 8.30 in the morning), Cancun Airport and Playa del Carmen (the first at 7.00 in the morning, 62 MXN, 1 hour.

 

The EDO Bus Station of Playa del Carmen, is located in the center, adjacent to the pedestrian street Quinta Av, 30 meters away. about from Plaza Mayor and 100 mt. from the sea. Numerous buses leave from the same for Cancun Airport and Cancun Centro (60 MXN, 1 hour 30 ').

 

The Cancun Bus Station is located in the center, which in turn is located several kilometers from the sea. First class EDO buses depart from it approximately every hour to Merida (364 MXN, 4 hours).

 

The Came Bus Terminal Merida is 50 meters from the second class one, in turn located about 1 km from the Plaza Grande.

 

Merida is great on foot.

 

From the second class bus station in Merida, first and second class buses depart every hour from 5.00 to 19.00 to Campeche, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. The fare starts from a minimum of 158 MXN onwards depending on the class and time chosen. The trip takes about 3 hours.

 

This leads to the Main Bus Station of Campeche, usually called ADO or First Class Bus Station, located 2.5 km south of the walled historic center which can be reached by taking one of the many buses that pass from the adjacent state road, at the price of 4 MXN. You pay directly to the driver. The bus drops you off at the bus stop adjacent to the Baluarte de San Francisco, from which the Plaza Principal is approximately 1 km away.

 

The beautiful Campeche, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, is great on foot and is so touristy that it appears safe even in the evening, where the lights of the colonial houses make it enchanting.

 

From Campeche Main Bus Station, keep in mind that only one bus leaves a day for Palenque and precisely at 9.45 pm (384 MXN, 6 hours).

 

The bus arrives at 3.45 am at the small station in the town of Palenque.

 

Numerous minivans pass through it and in about 15 minutes take them to the Archaeological Park of Palenque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for the price of 10 MXN. The clerk passes by to collect the money after departure. The bus stops often and willingly to pick up and drop off passengers.

 

The Archaeological Park of Palenque is open every day from 8.00 to 17.00. The cost of the ticket costs 64 MXN. It is immersed in the forest and you have to walk a lot and climb several stairs to fully visit the site.

 

Back at the bus station of the town of Palenque, several buses leave a day for San Cristobal de las Casas. The last one that leaves in the morning is at 9.30. Then until 2.15pm nothing. However, the one at 9.30 takes 8 hours as it passes through Villahermosa and Tuxtla Gutierrez. The ticket costs 130 MXN, Cristobal Colon company.

 

The OCC Bus Terminal of San Cristobal de las Casas is located about 1 km from Plaza 31 Marzo, the beating heart of this beautiful colonial town nestled in the mountains, which can be easily explored on foot and where tourists are certainly not lacking.

 

To get around the center you can take a minivan for the price of 6 MXN.

 

From the OCC Bus Terminal in San Cristobal de las Casas, 3 buses leave a day for Oaxaca, the last of which leaves at 10.45pm. The journey takes approximately 12 hours and the cost of the ticket is 604 MXN.

 

The 1st class bus terminal of Oaxaca is located about 2 km north - east of the Zocalo but there are several minivans (6 MXN) that pass near the Parque Juàrez, a few hundred meters from the aforementioned station and that take you close to the Zocalo and also at the tourist bus stop for Monte Albàn, at the intersection of Calle Mina and Calle Diaz Ordaz.

 

From here minivans of the San Marino Company depart every hour and reach the Archaeological site of Monte Albàn in about half an hour. Return ticket price: 50 MXN.

 

On the Archaeological site of Monta Albàn, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco (64 MXN), open from 8.00 to 17.00 every day, the sun beats down and the numerous steps that are not obligatory, however, make the visit somewhat tiring. From the top you can enjoy a wonderful view of the city of Oaxaca, also declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco and which can be easily explored on foot.

 

From Oaxaca 1st Class Bus Terminal, there are no direct buses to Guadalajara, Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende but you need to take a direct bus to Mexico City Norte Station and then change.

 

For Puebla, however, there are no buses more or less every hour. The journey through the mountains is very pleasant and takes about 3 hours. The cost of the ticket with the EDO Company is 438 MXN.

 

The Central Autobuses de Puebla is located about 4km north of the Zòcalo and there are numerous minivans that drop you two squares from the Zòcalo. The ride takes about 30 minutes and the ticket price is 6 MXN. You pay the driver when you get on. The taxi instead costs no less than 60 MXN.

 

Puebla, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, is perfect for walking around.

 

From Central Autobuses de Puebla, there are number buses connecting Puebla to Norte Station and TAPO in Mexico City. The cost of the ticket varies depending on the bus company and the time of departure of the same. I paid for the ride 184 MXN, with the EDO company and the trip lasted about 2 hours.

 

The gigantic Norte Station of Mexico City is open all night and inside it, as well as the ATMs, there are also paid internet stations (5 MXN every half hour).

 

If you want to reach Guadalajara keep in mind that there are many companies that offer this service from early morning until late at night with different prices. One of the cheapest companies is Omnibus de Mexico, whose ticket price is around 617 MXN. The ride takes over 6 hours.

 

The gigantic Nueva Central Camionera of Guadalajara composed of 7 modules, is very far from the center, about 9 km southeast of the center and the numerous buses take almost an hour to reach the Giardini de Aranzazù 5 squares south from the Plaza de La Constituciòn , where there is the Cathedral Basilica de La Asuncion de Maria. The ticket price is 6 MXN and is paid directly to the driver before getting off or when getting on.

 

Guadalajara, is the second largest city in Mexico but its historic center can be explored on foot and at least during the day it seems safe.

 

From Guadalajara's gigantic Nueva Central Camionera, only the first-class company ETN offers the service to Guanajuato using the route to San Miguel de Allende. Before boarding the bus, you are even offered a sandwich and a drink. Of course, there is a bathroom on the bus. The cost of the ride is 400 MXN and the journey takes about 4 hours. The bus also stops 10 minutes in Leon.

 

From the small bus station of Guanajuato, located about 5 km south - west of the city, frequent city buses leave for Mercado Hidalgo in the historic center. When the bus passes under a tunnel and everyone gets off you have to get off and take the stairs that lead to Mercado Hidalgo. The ticket price is 6 MXN and is paid directly to the driver when you board.

 

The splendid Guanajuato, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, is nestled in the middle of the mountains and is full of uphill streets. It is great on foot but to see a fantastic view of the city it is advisable to take the Funicular in Calle San Antonio, which operates from Monday to Friday from 08.00 to 21.50, on Saturday from 09.00 to 21.50 and on Sunday from 09.00 to 21.00 and in a few minutes reaches Pablo Bazar and the Monument to El Pipila. The fare is MXN 18 one way, MXN 36 round trip.

 

From the small bus station of Guanajuato, frequent buses leave for San Miguel de Allende. The cost of the ride with the Primero Plus Company is 126 MXN. The ride takes about 1 and a half hours. There is another company for this route at more or less the same price but with different times.

 

From the small bus station of San Miguel de Allende, located about 3 km west of the historic center, frequent city buses leave from 7.00 to 21.00 for the eastern end of Calle Insurgentes, not far from Plaza Civica. The ticket price is 5 MXN and is paid directly to the driver when boarding.

 

San Miguel de Allende, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, is perfect for walking around and looks safe even in the evening.

 

From the small bus station of San Miguel de Allende, frequent buses leave for the Estacio Norte in Mexico City. The last race is at 1 am. The cost of the ride with the Pegasso Company is 293 MXN. The ride takes about 4 hours.

 

From the gigantic Norte Station of Mexico City, buses run by the Autobuses Mèxico - San Juan - Teotihuacan company (penultimate counter to the left of the atrium) depart every hour from 6.00 to 18.00, in the direction of San Martin de Las Pirámides at a price of 80 MXN round trip. Keep in mind that the bus stops at entrance n. 2 and at entrance no. 3 of the Archaeological Site of Teotihuacan. At entrance n. 2, near the Pyramid of the Sun, keep in mind that the gates open every day, including holidays, at 7.00 while at 3, near the Pyramid of the Moon, at 8.00 / 8.30. This bus does not stop at entrance no. 1 open from 7.00 onwards. The closing of the site is at 17.00

 

The cost to enter the Teotihuacan Archaeological site is 64 MXN. Since there is very little shade and there is a lot to walk including many stairs, especially if you want to reach the top of the pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, it is advisable to visit the site early in the morning when the temperatures are ideal and there is it is few people.

 

Back at Mexico City's Norte Station, I take the metro located just outside the main entrance. Keep in mind that it has many stairs and few escalators and elevators. To change lines at La Raza Station, passing from line 5 to line 3, you have to walk for about 10 minutes. The cost of a ride is 5 MXN. You are given a token that is inserted to allow you to pass the turnstile and get off the tracks.

 

To reach Xochimilco, whose system of canals has been declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, can be reached by going to the last stop of line 2 of the metro called Tasquena. From there follow the signs for the ligero train until you reach the station on foot where it is mandatory to make a rechargeable magnetic card to access the platforms. It can be purchased at the automatic machines at a cost of 10 MXN, in addition to the cost of recharging MXN for each ride.

 

From there you have to get to the last stop called Xochimilco after about half an hour and then continue on foot for about 1 km following the signs for the landing stage, not far from the parish church. However, there is no risk of getting lost because the customer finders are already waiting for tourists at the light metro station and accompany you by following you by bike to the landing stage.

 

At the landing stage there are dozens of colorful boats that ask for about 300 MXN, for a 1 hour boat ride in the canals: if there are 20 passengers or 1 passenger on the boat, they still ask for 300 MXN per passenger and it is very difficult to negotiate. I tried but they got really nervous even though in the end I found 2 young guys who allowed me to take a half hour ride for the price of 100 MXN.

 

Back in Mexico City, I walk around the historic center declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. The same looks pretty safe in the daytime.

 

Mexico City City Buses cost 5.5 MXN to put in the box when boarding, bearing in mind that you don't get change.

To go to the Juàrez International Airport, you must take the yellow metro line 5 and get off at the airport stop. This leads to the gigantic Terminal 1, where most of the International and National Flights depart.

 

I sleep at the aforementioned airport, on the ground, because there are no suitable chairs for this purpose. There is an impossible cold.

 

There is no border at the Juàrez International Airport for those leaving the country as with the stamp or entry you can stay in the pass for 90 days and then the tourist card must be shown at check in and then delivered to the flight attendant before embarking. The mandatory exit tax of 210 pesos is usually already included in the air ticket.

 

Punctual as never before my United Company Airplane leaves Mexico City at 09.30 in the direction of the Newark Liberty International Airport (USA), (multi-route ticket price including taxes from Malpensa to Panama City and from Mexico City to Malpensa Newark: Euro 669.75).

 

The plane is almost empty.

 

I therefore arrive at 13.40, with a temperature of -20 ° at the Newark Liberty International Airport (USA). There are 6 hours of time zone, compared to Italy.

 

In the United States, even if you do not leave the airport and continue to the Transit area, you must still undergo Customs control (after completing the appropriate form), the collection of baggage and the subsequent control of the same and therefore there always calculate at least 1 hour and a half between flights.

 

Punctual as never before, my United Company Airplane leaves from Newark Liberty International at 6.30 pm in the direction of Malpensa International Airport (Italy), (multi-route ticket price including taxes from Malpensa to Panama City and from Mexico City to Malpensa with Newark airport: Euro 669.75).

 

 The plane is full.

 

I therefore arrive at Malpensa at 8.00, thus closing the incredible journey.

 

Total cost of the all-inclusive trip (means of transport, food, accommodation, relaxation, ect): 1,400 Euros.

 

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:

http://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2016/04/traversata-del-centro-america-da-panama.htm