[MEXICO CITY] Budget and Itinerary (3)

ESTIMATES

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Spanish Course) - 7,910.00

Airbnb (x7 Weeks) - 6,190.00

Food Allowance (x7 Weeks) - 8,400.00

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (CELA) - 970.00

MXN23,470.00

[PUEBLA] Budget and Itinerary

SATURDAY: 3 December 2016

Estrella Roja (Mexico City - Cholula) - 126.00

Airbnb (1 Night) - 240.00

Toilet (Zona Arqueológica) - 5.00

Water (Zona Arqueológica) - 10.00

Chicken Town (Chicken Tender w/Fries + Water) - 69.00

Uber (Cholula - Puebla) - 95.96

MXN545.96

[CHOLULA] The World's Biggest Pyramid

15 KM west of Puebla, Cholula is one of Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos. A small university town with a young population, tourists mostly just skip it in favor of its bigger neighbor, which happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even then, a lot of people who have several days to spare in Puebla make it a point to go to Cholula on a daytrip. The reason? Well, it houses the world’s largest pyramid. Okay, I see some raised eyebrows there. The disclaimer is that it is the biggest in terms of volume, whatever that means.

[QUERETARO] Budget and Itinerary

SUNDAY: 27 November 2016

Pegasso (San Miguel de Allende - Queretaro) - 69.00

Uber (Bus Terminal - Centro) - 46.41

VIPS (Parillada w/ Fries & Coke) - 187.00

Querebus (Tranvia 6) - 80.00

Taxi (Centro - Calzada los Arcos) - 40.00

Starbucks (Choco Cream Chip Venti) - 70.00

Uber (Calzada los Arcos - Bus Terminal) - 46.80

Primera Plus (Queretaro - Mexico City) - 286.00

MXN825.21

[QUERETARO] UNESCO World Heritage Daytrip

Querétaro was not really in the itinerary. In my head, I was thinking that I should just spend two days in San Miguel de Allende. But I knew that small towns easily bore me regardless how magical they are. Given how Querétaro was on the way anyway, I decided that it merited at least a daytrip. Fine then, we will stop by on our way back to Mexico City, and that’s exactly what I did. I thought the city would be just like SMA, but it surprised me. It happens to be a good mix of the old and the new.

[GUANAJUATO] Budget and Itinerary

SATURDAY: 26 November 2016

Primera Plus (Mexico City - San Miguel de Allende) - 410.00

Airbnb (1 Night) - 190.00

Toilet (Central Terminal) - 5.00

Pesero (Central Terminal - Centro) - 5.00

La Finestra (Alfredo + Cold Choco) - 187.00

Comida China (Beef w/Broccoli & Rice + Prawns) - 62.00

MXN859.00

[SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE] A Town of Magic

When I saw La vida inmoral de la pareja ideal, I was really impressed with the setting of the adult Lucio and Martina storyline. The vibe felt uniquely European but with a Mexican twist. When the credits started rolling, I found out that the town is called San Miguel de Allende in the state of Guanajuato not far from Querétaro. Without thinking twice, I added it to my priority list before leaving Latin America this December. Well, now that I’ve visited the place, I’m really glad that I did!

[TLAXCALA] Budget and Itinerary

SATURDAY: 19 November 2016

Sierra Atah (Mexico City - Tlaxcala) - 140.00

Toilet (Tlaxcala) - 3.00

Colectivo (Tlaxcala - San Miguel Del Milagro) - 9.00

Store (Snacks) - 21.00

Colectivo (San Miguel Del Milagro - Tlaxcala) - 9.00

Toilet (Tlaxcala) - 3.00

Sierra Atah (Tlaxcala - Mexico City) - 140.00

MXN325.00

[NATIVITAS] 50 Shades of Maya Blue

I was supposed to go to Taxco but some last-minute schedule changes meant I had to come up with a backup plan. Puebla is closer but I need at least two days to explore both the city center and Cholula. And so one alternative candidate came to mind. Why not Tlaxcala? The journey time is almost similar to that of Puebla and the itinerary can fit in an easy daytrip from the capital. There was a problem, though. What is there to see in Tlaxcala? It doesn’t really figure that much in the tourist circuit, now does it?

[HIDALGO] Budget and Itinerary

SATURDAY: 12 November 2016

Ovnibus (Autobuses del Norte - Tula) - 126.00

Ovnibus (Tula - Autobuses del Norte) - 126.00

MXN252.00

Estimate of MXN1 = PhP2.60

TOTAL – PhP655.20

[TULA DE ALLENDE] Toltec 1000's

I think Tula is just fine and doable as a day trip from Mexico City. The trip takes an hour and forty minutes on a really comfy Ovnibus departing from the capital’s North Bus Terminal (Autobuses del Norte). Getting there depends on where you are in DF. It took me another 50 minutes on the MRT coming all the way from the south. Once you get to the terminal, head to platform number 7 and look for the Ovnibus counter. Ask for the direct trip to Tula and pay MXN 126 (~PHP 325) one-way. Enjoy!

[XOCHIMILCO] Ready for the Canal Party

I thought Xochimilco was in Mexico State. I always hear about it from other foreigners but I didn’t know that it’s just here in CDMX, albeit a little bit farther to the south. It even has its own light rail line linking it to Taxqueña! What that means is it’s easy to go here, if you know Taxqueña well, that is. That place is a freaking maze. Once you find the light rail station BESIDE the Metro station, NOT inside, then you’re on your way. The trip takes less than an hour from one end of the line to the other.

[MIGUEL HIDALGO] Castillo de Chapultepec

I forgot to say that you have to get your ticket in the mini castle right upfront before the locker area. It was only there where they checked the ticket, although I don’t know if that is always the case given how it’s free admission today. Back on topic, a part of the castle houses the Museum of National History. I went upstairs first and was immediately impressed by the wall to wall murals that I saw. The painting on the ceiling depicts the suicide jump of one of the Niños Héroes, with the Mexican flag still wrapped around him.

[MIGUEL HIDALGO] Bosque de Chapultepec

Sometimes you don’t have to get out of town to find something interesting, especially when you’re broke AF and you’re not in the mood for a movie marathon. It’s a good thing that Mexico City has a lot to offer thanks to its sheer size and abundance of culture. And so I turned to Wikitravel and was presented with a variety of options. I ended up with Chapultepec. I’ve exited that very Metro station many times to go somewhere since I moved here in May but never really explored the park despite knowing that it’s just there.

[YUCATAN] Budget and Itinerary

THURSDAY: 13 August 2016

ADO (Cancun - Valladolid) - 194.00

Airbnb Valladolid (2 Nights) - 380.00

Burger King (Bacon Cheeseburger w/Fries & Pepsi) - 55.00

Treintona, Soltera y Fantastica (Cinemex) - 40.00

Cinemex (Hotdog + Water + Slushee) - 107.00

MXN776.00

[SANTA ELENA] The Ruins of Uxmal

Travel fatigue hit me hard in Valladolid, meaning Ek Balam got dropped off my list just like that, which was too bad because it was so close. There was also a cenote five minutes away from my Airbnb place where you can actually swim, but I just decided to chill, lest I ruin my entire Yucatán itinerary. Valladolid is okay but too much of a small town feel for a city boy like me. Maybe that’s the reason why I immediately liked Mérida right after I arrived. It looks like a small town but the party atmosphere was a good bonus.

[TINUM] The Tianguis of Chichén Itzá

Yucatán is the place to be if you are a big fan of Mayan ruins. Just Google “Yucatan”, “Maya”, “Map” and you will see how the place is full of pyramids everywhere you look. Of course, the most famous one is Chichén Itzá, but there are dozens more that are less popular yet evoke the same mysterious feel, and less tourists to boot! If you plan to go pyramid-hopping, there is this itinerary called the Ruta Maya but I don’t recommend it unless you have a lot of time to spare. You’ll be fine with just a pyramid or two.

[QUINTANA ROO] Budget and Itinerary

MONDAY: 10 October 2016

Interjet (New York - Cancún) - 2,900.00

AirBNB (3 Nights) - 1,005.00

ADO (Airport - Downtown) - 66.00

Taxi (Downtown - Calle Playa Larga) - 60.00

La Parrilla (Carne Asada + Pepsi + Cake) - 285.00

MXN4,316.00

[CANCÚN] Travel Brochure Ready Shots

It was raining when I went to Cancún, so imagine my bitch face while I was there. By Cancún, I mean the hotel zone. Okay, fine, let’s clear things up a bit, shall we? Cancún is a resort city in Quintana Roo. It used to be THE ultimate beach getaway in all of Mexico, except that along with the white sand and turquoise waters of the Caribbean, its enviable location also lies along the hurricane belt. There was a time in its history when it was ravaged by a hurricane so badly, tourist traffic redirected to Los Cabos at the Pacific Coast for a while.

[TULUM] Mayans of the Caribbean

Tulum stands out from other Mayan ruins thanks to its strategic location facing the Caribbean. Here you can enjoy both beach and ancient archaeological wonders at the same time. There should be several other sites benefiting from the same coastal setting but Tulum is the prohibitive favorite as a day trip option for many who are based in Cancún. The trip was long at two hours and a half but ADO buses are really comfortable so I can’t really complain. Once you get off at the station, there are several food options across the street.