Cancun as a base to see Mexico?

[Scam]

My partner and I have a real first world problem in that we have a nice amount of Virgin Atlantic points, including one of their reward vouchers each to use before the middle of this year. Problem is, the VA routes are not great unless you want to go to the USA. Which we don't. We're also not really beachy, all-inclusive/sit-around-for-a-week people so the Caribbean has also never really appealed.

One place we've always wanted to explore is Mexico. But the only place VA fly to is Cancun which by all accounts is fairly awful, and not the Mexico we want to see.

Does anyone know of any tour operators (like Intrepid) that may start/finish in Cancun? Otherwise we'll look at connecting in Cancun into Mexico City or wherever, but if we do that there might be a cheaper way to do it such as connecting in the US. Or are there places near to Cancun that can give a good flavour of Mexico?

/need to research where you can fly internally from Cancun

 

[weringo]

There are lots of historical sites to see on the Cancun side of the country including Chichen Itza and Tulum, which sounds like what you're looking for

I'd also recommend spending a few days in Oaxaca - it's a beautiful and very walkable town with fantastic food, and has lots to see nearby including Hierve el Agua and Monte Albán. There are direct flights from Cancun.

Mexico City is also worth 2-3 days, especially to visit Monte Albán.

Not sure how these tour operators work but generally found Mexico quite easy to get around yourself

 

[Scam]

Not sure how these tour operators work but generally found Mexico quite easy to get around yourself

My girlfriend is a little nervous, particularly about Mexico City as well just regarding safety etc. Might be able to persuade her to do an internal flight.. Oaxaca has been top of my list for sure hence why flying into Cancun is a bit of a bummer. But I guess it's a big country! Certainly not going to be able to see it all in one trip.

 

[weringo]

My girlfriend is a little nervous, particularly about Mexico City as well just regarding safety etc. Might be able to persuade her to do an internal flight.. Oaxaca has been top of my list for sure hence why flying into Cancun is a bit of a bummer. But I guess it's a big country! Certainly not going to be able to see it all in one trip.

Walking around the touristy areas of Mexico City (i.e. the historic centre, the park, Polanco) felt very safe to me, much safer than a lot of US cities I have visited including New York. Ubers are very cheap so an option if you don't want to use public transport to get places.

 

[Ahleckz]

My girlfriend is a little nervous, particularly about Mexico City as well just regarding safety etc. Might be able to persuade her to do an internal flight.. Oaxaca has been top of my list for sure hence why flying into Cancun is a bit of a bummer. But I guess it's a big country! Certainly not going to be able to see it all in one trip.

Oaxaca has an airport. Internal flights are cheap. Why not use your voucher/miles for the international flights and buy cheap intervals?

I flew an open jaw into Mexico City and out of Cancun. Got internal flight from Mexico City to Oaxaca and then flew Oxaca to Merida. Bud/ferry to Holbox. Ferry/bus to Cancun.

Cancun was utterly awful. Actually felt more unsafe in Cancun than anywhere else. Didn’t feel unsafe in Mexico City once. Oxaca is phenomenal.

 

[Scam]

(snip) Cancun was utterly awful. Actually felt more unsafe in Cancun than anywhere else. Didn’t feel unsafe in Mexico City once. Oxaca is phenomenal.

Thanks. Funnily enough an old friend (of a friend) of my girlfriend’s is a bit of a digital nomad and has recently moved to Merida. I hear internal flights are fine (Aeromexico) and even long distance buses (coaches) are very good too?

I love the idea of maybe flying to/from Cancun, and essentially splitting the time between Merida (and surrounding Yucatan?) and flying to Oxahaca. Perhaps doing that first is a good intro to the country, and something I can pursuade my other half to do.

My colleague is actually half Mexican, she says all the narcos send their families off to live in the Yucatan, that’s why it’s so safe as there’s an unwritten agreement to not “do” anything there?

 

[Dunks]

We just did two weeks in Mexico, but flew from LHR to Mexico City and spent 3 nights there, then flew to Oaxaca for 4 nights, then flew to Cancun and headed an hour or so south for 6 nights all inclusive (more than enough for us, got boring! Definitely recommend a day trip to Tulum) and then back to Mexico City for 1 night before flying out following evening.

Don’t see why you couldn’t do something similar flying into Cancun instead!

We had a great time, Mexico City was amazing and obviously it varies depending where you are in the city but where we stayed, Roma Norte, was super chilled.

 

[Scam]

Thanks @Dunks. Who did you fly with internally and how was that experience? You didn't opt for any of the plush coaches instead?

Silly question on Mexico City but did it feel just like any other big city or did it feel a little more 'sketchy' in places? I've read very differing opinions.

And how is your Spanish?

 

[Ayahuasca]

Mexico is pretty straightforward, don't travel by road between states and stay out of those controlled by the cartels.

Mexico city should be absolutely fine if you're used to London and have some street smarts.

 

[Dunks]

Thanks @Dunks. Who did you fly with internally and how was that experience? You didn't opt for any of the plush coaches instead?

Silly question on Mexico City but did it feel just like any other big city or did it feel a little more 'sketchy' in places? I've read very differing opinions.

And how is your Spanish?

Internally we flew with Viva Aerobus and Volaris with no issues. No different to to flying with EasyJet, maybe a little nicer due to newer aircraft.

Didn’t feel unsafe at all in Mexico City, not even a little bit at night. It does have its sketchy areas for sure but I don’t see why you need to visit them, we didn’t. We walked between most places during the day and often at night (or used Uber) and didn’t have the slightest hint of trouble or uneasiness.

I’ve heard mixed things about Centro at night but we didn’t go there, I’m sure it’s fine if you stay to the main streets.

Our Spanish is very very basic. Majority of people we spoke to spoke English at a good enough level to get by, or they would get someone who did to speak to us instead. Was never an issue

Edit: Forgot to mention we didn’t travel by bus but we did get chatting to someone on a tour in Oaxaca who had used some of the long distance buses and he seemed to only have positive things to say