Matamoros to Merida Driving - What to see?

Question

I'll be driving from the border town of Matamoros to Merida in mid-August. Are there any sights, ruins, towns, beaches etc. that you'd recommend that are not going to take me too far out of the way?

Answer 1

Well, arpsy covered just about everything.  Only two other things I can think to add.  While in Villahermosa, after you see the La Venta Park Museum, go to the Carlos Pellicer Regional Museum of Anthropology down by the river.

and when you're going between Campeche and Merida, the Maya ruins at Uxmal are worth a stop.

Answer 2

There is all what you are telling to see, begining with Tajin archeological zone in Veracruz, following for the traditional town of Antigua, Veracruz Port, later San Andres Tuxtla reserved rainforest, next you will be driving for one of the best landscapes in mexico, green zones until arrive Tabasco where there is the begining of Mayan Route, you can visit Arqueological zone of Comalcalco, visit cacao rute (including cacao platations and chocolate factories) later you can visit capital Villahermosa wich is a beautiful city with a park museum "La Venta" and also you can visit the ecological park Yum Kaa wich is an open Zoo, following the highway to Merida, you can visit the "Agua blanca waterfalls" the  Mayan arqueological zone of Palenque wich are just 30 minutes far from the main route to Merida, and you also can visit "Agua Azul waterfall" afther that you will be driving 6 hours to city of Campeche wich is another kind of turistic place plenty of ancient spanish fortress and nice beach and the capital city is tipical wich good food, from there to Merida there is 3 hours and then you may find another Arqueological zones and "Cenotes areas" (cenotes are the undergrown lakes tipical of Yucatan peninsula) and finally Merida a wonderfull city plenty of history and traditions. You may be driving for 2 days but i am sure you will enjoy your trip from the beguining to the end cause all the travel has diferent landscapes that even if there were not turistic places you would enjoy just because of the nature. (btw dont forget to buy good coffe when you pass by Jalapa Veracruz area, there is a place called San Juan Coscomatepec wich is famous for good coffe). Have a good Journey.