Can anyone tell me where is a good place to go in Mexico which is not so commercial?

Question

I am thinking of going to Mexico for my honeymoon. I want to see the Mayan pyramids and have some leisurely time on the beach with my husband. Can anyone help educate me on the best places to visit at a moderate price?

Answer 1

My husband and I went to the Mayan sites for our honeymoon last October. We stayed in Cancun, but if we went back we would stay in Playa del Carmen on the "Riviera Maya" instead which is south of Cancun. It isn't as commercial as Cancun, but it does have amenities that Americans like. It has a bohemian feel and it is relatively close to many of the Mayan sites (day trips). It has gotten more commercial over the years, but it still has a quaint, charming side too and it has international flair. There are great small restaurants and cafes and lots of artsy stuff and cobblestone streets. If you do go to this area definitely visit Tulum, it is stunning. The other site we went to was Uxmal (outside Merida in the state of Yucatan). This is more than a day trip, but it was amazing. Hope this helps you a bit.

Answer 2

ensenata. past Tijuana a ways...but not a place  that   rip off an american...they respected the tourists..and the $ they broought in to the town

Answer 3

I would look around Tulum in the Maya Riviera. The beaches are very nice with the clear Caribbean water and the further you can get from Cancun the less commercial things become. From Tulum you would only be a day trip away from the Maya sites of Tulum (obviously) Coba, Ek Balam, Muyil & Chichen Itza and several other smaller sites. I believe this is the best balance of Beach/Ruins/Less Commercial.

The other option that may be cheaper depending on the time of year would be something in the area of Progreso on the gulf coast. There is only one resort in the area (Reef Yucatan in Telchac Puerto) but house rentals are an option. If your honeymoon is planed for the 2 weeks at Christmas, the 2 weeks at Easter or June, July and August then rentals/acomidations in this area are hard to come by and very pricey. Other times of the year beach houses can be very reasonable to rent. The beaches here are not nearly as nice as the ones on the Caribbean coast. From here the Ruins within a days drive would be X'Cambo, Dzibilchaltun, Uxmal, Kabah, Sayil, Labna, Chichen Itza and many others.

You would also be close the colonia cities of Merida and Izamal. Both very beautiful and Izamal has some Mayan ruins there too. This area would be much less touristy than Tulum, but also may be more difficult to get to as there are less flights to Merida (closest international airport to Progreso) than to Cancun (closest international airport to Tulum).

Good luck

Answer 4

San Cristobal De Las Casas is a beautiful and enchanting small town in Chipas.  I would highly recommend visiting there because it is not full of annoying tourists.

Answer 5

I posted this answer to a similar question a few weeks ago but it seems like it may really help you too... Our best vacation in Mexico was a long road trip in 2006 from southern California all the way down to Puerto Vallarta. We broke the trip into several days, went through Arizona, and crossed into Mexico through Nogales. That first day driving in Mexico we stopped in a little town called San Carlos, which is on the Gulf of California coast just before you hit Guaymas. It is a great little town, especially if you like fishing. There are also restaurants and other water activities like kayaking and snorkeling - and I'm pretty sure, some fun bars in the central part of town. San Carlos is mainly an American ex-pat town so a lot of signs are in English and there is an internet cafe, etc. However, it isn't touristy at all - the people who live there are residents not tourists... and you can find a lot of places right on the water.

There are a ton of hotels and motels but if you go all the way out to where the old ClubMed used to be, you will find a series of pretty elegant places for reasonable prices. We stayed in a place called Club Sport (I think) and it was right on the water. There was a jacuzzi and swimming pool right out our sliding door which overlooked the ocean. The room we stayed in had a full kitchen with refrigerator and stove, a beautiful bathroom with shower and bath, two beds and a nice color TV. It was really spacious and quiet - and private. I could have stayed for weeks lounging on their deck overlooking the beach, it was so relaxing.  I'll bet that would be a romantic place for your honeymoon.  (We had a toddler with us, so romance wasn't really an option...)

We stayed at other more expensive places later in our trip, like the famous Fiesta Americana in Puerto Vallarta. They were okay - but lacked the peace and quiet of our little hideaway in San Carlos. A little too "Hooters"-ish for us. So if you like road trips, maybe San Carlos is an idea for you? Old Mazatlan is really nice too - and not nearly as frat party touristy as the Zona Dorada. Just remember if you are driving to get the mexican insurance because it is mandatory and if you get into a little fender bender (like we did) you will be SO glad you have it.

Best of luck! Mexico is an amazing place to vacation - we can't wait to go back! The further south you go on the mainland, the more luscious the countryside gets.

Answer 6

ok if u want to visit Mayan pyramids and go to the beach u must go to the south, I suggest Chiapas that isn't as expensive as Can Cun, but has  all the necesary infrestructure for u to have a comfortable holiday.

Mayan sites in Chiapas: Palenque, Bonampak, Yaxchilan and Tonina. I highly recomend to visit Palenque.

Chipas is full of interesting places to visit u can have all what u want u can make ecoturism or have a really relaxing vactions u can find places to camp or really good and fancy resorts.

To have more info check here:

http://www.travelchiapas.com/