Jerry----
No matter what you do you will have a great trip. But here are my
ideas. I have traveled most of Mexico, Belize and part of Guatamala
with 4 kids in a 23 foot motor home. You can cover a lot of ground in
5-6 weeks but it sounds like you don't want to be driving all the
time or every day. So here are my thoughts.
Save the Yucatan for another trip, but rather than drive there, fly to
Merida or Cancun and rent a vehicle and do a loop of the Yucatan then
into Belize and Guatamala as far as Tikal at least.
For this trip cross the border at Laredo to Nuevo Laredo and go toward
Monterrey with a stop at the archeological site on the way. It is
neither Aztec or Mayan but worth a stop. A couple of days in Monterrey
are all you need, but be sure to make a trip to Garcia Cave (Gruta de
Garcia) not far from Monterrey. The cable car ride alone is worth the
trip. Horsetail falls (Cola de Caballo) is optional.
It will take 2 days probably to get to Tampico then on to the state of
Veracruz. Plan at least a week in the state of Veracruz. North of
Veracruz is Papantla and great ruins of El Tajin and the boledero
dancers. A little further south is a very interesting ruin called
Quiahuistlan. Much different than any others. Also in Veracruz you will
need a day or 2 to visit Xalapa, maybe look at a coffee plantation,
visit the archeological museum. Also, La Venta is an Olmec ruin, off
the beaten path, a must see. Near Alvarado is La Antigua where Hernan
Cortez landed. See the trees that he tied his ships up to and ruins of
his fort. Quiet, picturesque, not touristy. Also spend a couple of days
at Catemaco and be sure to take the launch tour to the island. Then go
south to Tuxtla Gutierrez and San Cristobal de las Casas. From here up
to the ruins of Palenque. These are great!! Loop back to Villahermosa
to the archeological park but watch out for the jaguar. My daughter got
too close and he peed on her.
>From Villahermose head back west and then down highway 185 to cross the
istmas to Tehuantapec. This stretch is tough driving---or at least it
was 15 years ago. From Tehuantapec take highway 190 up to Oaxaca. Plan
on a week in Oaxaca. From here take day trips to Mitla and Teotitlan
del Valle, Monte Alban, Zimatlan where all the unusual carvings of
animals are made and of course a couple of days enjoying Oaxaca itself.
Hotel Monte Alban has a reasonable folkloric show and the food is good.
On Saturday be sure to catch the big Indian market. Most tourists miss
it but it is worth it.
>From Oaxaca take highway 175 through Ocotlan---have lunch there and
look around or continue on over the mountains to Puerto Angel. This is
a narrow, steep, winding highway with spectacular scenery. It is at
least a 7 hour drive but really enjoyable. There are a few small
restaurants along the way to get something to eat. When you hit the
coast turn west and stay at Puerto Escondido.
Spend a few days here. One day go to Huatulco and take the snorkeling
tour of the bays of Huatulco. Also hit the turtle museum in Puerto
Angel at some point. Huatulco isn't all that. It is an artificial
resort like Ixtapa and Cancun. All culture there is imported and
artificial.. People go there for the beach, but snorkeling the bays is
fun and reasonable price.
Puerto La Escondido is a world class surfing place and it is fun to
watch the surfers, visit the market or take a horseback ride up into
the mountains. Then head up the coast to Acapulco with a stop at the
national park on the way. A couple of days in Acapulco is plenty but be
sure to see the cliff divers and log some beach time. From this
direction you will enter the city through the old part of Acapulco. I
am not big on the tourist hotels so I like this part of the city for
exploring. A few miles further on is the part of Acapulco that most
people think of. Most Americans fly there and the airport is carefully
manicured as is the route to the tourist area so most tourists never
see the real Acapulco.
>From Acapulco you can start back toward the states, but I wouldn't go
up the coast. Instead I would head inland toward Mexico City with a
plan to spend a night in Taxco, the silver capital of Mexico and a day
or two in Cuernavaca. Time in Mexico City would be optional. If you
don't want to spend time in Mexico City then either go further west
into the state of Michoacan to visit Morelia, Patzcuaro, Santa Clara
del Cobre, Tzintzuntsan and other places. Patzcuaro has a great Indian
market on Fridays.
Or you could go north to Queretaro. If you choose this route then I
would recommend you visit a very little known region called La Sierra
Gorda (Fat Mountain). You get there from the spa town of Tequisquiapan
and through San Juan del Rio. You go up and up through several
ecological zones and finally end up in a cloud forest. Really cool.
There are also some ruins and old missions in this area but the target
pueblo would be Bernal. Take at least 2 days then back the same route.
A day or two in Queretaro then side trips to San Miguel de Allende and
Guanajuato (mummy museum is great and Diego Rivera house) then you can
pick any route to the border.
I wish I was going with you. Whatever you decide to do you will have a
great time and see some really cool stuff. And if you go every year, if
you miss something this time, it will still be there in the future.
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