Wowsers. I had not realised how much I was missing the beach until we arrived in Tulum, and immediately wished we were able to stay longer than our planned three nights!
Mexico
Mexican folk art, light shows and cenotes in Valladolid, Mexico
After having such a great, chilled-out time in Merida, Valladolid – our next stop after Merida – had big shoes to fill. We had three nights at another really well-reviewed hostel called “La Candalaria”, and were staying in a private double room … with shared communal toilets and showers., the first shared facilities of our trip (I get the feeling it certainly won’t be the last)!
Exploring Merida and the Yucatán
To me, Merida is the sparkling jewel of Mexico’s Yucatán region – vibrant, colourful, choc-full of culture and yet still maintaining the friendly, small town vibe that made it a worthwhile destination to visit in the first place.
Palenque, Yaxchilan and Bonampak – Chiapas Ruins
The Chiapas Region in Mexico is particularly renowned for the ancient Mayan civilisations (or ruins) of Palenque, Yaxchilan, Bonampa and Chinkultik; as well as one of the highest proportions of indigenous populations in Mexico. We were fortunate enough to be able to visit three of these ruins in our four days in the region.
Teotihuacan and Late Night Tacos, Mexico City
Alongside our two days spent exploring Mexico City, we also spent a day venturing to Teotihuacan about an hour outside of the city, as well as hitting the town on a Late Night Tacos and Mezcal Tour with Eat Mexico (our second tour with them, read about the first, our Street Food tour here).
A glimpse into Mexico City
With more than approximately 25 million residents, Mexico City has more people living in it than the WHOLE of Australia… just let that sink in for a minute. Surprisingly, Mexico City, or Distrito Federal (DF to the locals) as it is called, doesn’t feel like it is crazily overpopulated, nor does it feel like the concrete jungle with ghettos overrun by murderers and gangsters that we half expected.
Street Food Walking Tour, Mexico City
Mexico, and particularly Mexico City, prides itself on being a foodie destination, full of fresh flavours and regionally diverse dishes. But the country that brought tacos, salsa and enchiladas to mainstream diners around the world has a lot more to offer than these well known dishes.