Travel Mexico

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January 17, 2012

On December 21, 2012, the Mayan calendar will come to the end of its current cycle, thus the countdown of the last year in that culture’s long-term solar calendar is underway.

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Over 2 Million Americans Retire in Mexico

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Mexico City, Mexico - More than 2 million retired Americans have chosen Mexico as their new home, a figure that continues to increase thanks to the pleasant climate and favorable economic conditions, Tourism Secretary Gloria Guevara said.

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Dutch Press and Travel Agents To Tour Riviera Nayarit

Riviera Nayarit CVB

Riviera Nayarit, Mexico - The Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) of Riviera Nayarit has prepared a Fam Trip for 220 Dutch travel agents and journalist that will be touring all of the destination.

CVB President, Fernando González Ortega, announced the arrival on November 10th of this group that includes those who will be promoting the new Amsterdam-Puerto Vallarta flight and will offer activities in San Blas, representing a great opportunity for increasing tourism in Nayarit.

"European tourists have an average stay of 15 days, which is ideal to promote activities that will allow them not only to enjoy Riviera Nayarit, from Nuevo Vallarta to San Blas or even further north in Novillero, but also the opportunity to visit major cultural centers and traditional towns like Los Toriles, Jala, Aguamilpa, etc. This is a market segment that has other interests besides beach and sun, and this is why the CVB wants to bring them here," said González Ortega.

The weekly flight from Amsterdam, a product of joint efforts with Puerto Vallarta, will use the new Boeing 767 air crafts from Arkefly with a capacity for 280 passengers. TUI Nederland has said they are expecting to sell 14,560 seats a year, estimating an economic windfall for our region of $43,680,000 USD.

"One of the main objectives planned by the Riviera Nayarit CVB in 2011 is to diversify the origin of visitors coming to Riviera Nayarit, and the arrival of Dutch tourists will benefit all the people of Nayarit," stated the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Tourism Board President, Fernando González Ortega.

IN NUMBERS

76 Economy class seats
84 Comfort class seats
94 Premium comfort class seats
15-day stay per passenger (on average)

About Riviera Nayarit: Mexico’s newest destination, Riviera Nayarit, stretches along 192 miles of pristine Pacific coast framed by the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains just ten minutes north of accessible Puerto Vallarta International Airport. The region extends along the entire coast of the Pacific state of Nayarit including the resorts of Nuevo Vallarta, the historic colonial town of San Blas, exclusive Punta Mita, picturesque fishing villages, miles of serene beaches and spectacular Banderas Bay. Riviera Nayarit offers countless activities, all pleasantly affordable, such as: PGA golf courses, luxury spas, whale watching, turtle release, zip lining, surfing, record deep sea fishing, bird watching, international cuisine, and shopping for local artwork and traditional Huichol handicrafts. The region attracts and satisfies vacationers of all tastes and budgets with its wide range of accommodations including chic luxury resorts, eco-tourism boutique hotels and quaint B&B inns. Visit the website at RivieraNayarit.com

Melaque and Barra de Navidad

Photographs by Bill Bell

Road Reports

We are pleased to announce Road Reports. The information is directly from our followers on facebook. They are arranged according to border crossing.

Want to know the road conditions? Anything untoward? Detours? Read the road reposts before you leave home.

Laredo to PV

Bill Hegelund

Crossed at Laredo Jan 29th. Got the red light, 31 seconds for inspection later we were on our way. Got to the visa/tourist card and there was a line. Seems they were out of cards and sent someone to get more. 15 minutes later, they arrived, we got our tourist cards, vehicle permit and we still got out in 45 minutes. No issues at the next checkpoint, spent the night in Aguascalientes and arrived in PV the next day. No construction, the road from Nuevo Laredo to the Monterrey cuota was rougher than what we remembered but better than most Michigan roads.

Your guide was almost perfect. You didn't have that pothole at kilometer marker 51.

Eagle Pass

Susan Yadon

Crossed at Eagle Pass this morning - DEFINITELY go to bridge 2 if you are bigger than a small car! We got the red light & they came onboard to check things out. Got our tourist card & vehicle permits at Allende (Hwy 57 south about 35 km). That took about 2 hours ... then got the SECOND inspection - really thorough this time! Opened every drawer, cabinet, looked under the mattress, in the bathroom,... under the sinks! Glad we had NOTHING to hide. They were very courteous, just thorough. Made it to Saltillo tonight - staying at La Fuente Hotel & RV park - $150 pesos - and VERY FRIENDLY FOLKS. They have electric but you have to come up to the reception for internet. We are ready to crash for the night then on our way. Looking forward to a less stressful day tomorrow.

Lukeville

Wilma Webb

We crossed today at Lukeville and had no problems. Only took us 1/2 an hour to get our vehicle permit and tourist card. We then got the red light and had to open the back of the truck. The guy didn't spend much time looking though, so no problems. Outside of Caborca there is a new customs check and you have to show your vehicle permit and passports etc. We had gotten a green light so they didn't search our vehicle, but it was just funny that they had another customs point when we had gone through one an hour before

Other Road Reports

El Tigre  Mayan Archeological Site Campeche Mexico

El Tigre is beautiful archaeological site located in midst of the jungle at 140 km west of Calakmul, on the banks of the Candelaria River in the southwest of the state of Campeche in the Yucatan Peninsula.
 

Be careful when trying to find this site on a Guia Roji map. The map is incorrect! Ask local in Palenque instead.

Photography by Bill Bell

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Buy your travel medical insurance on line new! For a free quote click here 

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Green Angels of Mexico....The Highways that they cover

If you have an emergency while driving, call the Ministry of Tourism's hotline or (55) 5250-8221, extension 130/297, to obtain help from the “Green Angels,” a fleet of radio dispatched trucks with bilingual crews. Services include protection, medical first aid, mechanical aid for your car, and basic supplies. You will not be charged for services, only for parts, gas, and oil. The Green Angels patrol daily, from dawn until sunset. If you are unable to call them, pull off the road and lift the hood of your car; chances are good they will find you.

 

Driving In Mexico

By David Simmonds

I have driven tens-of-thousands of miles in Mexico and the worse thing I can remember happening was having a mango jump off the flatbed of an oncoming produce truck near Mazatlán, smashing out the left headlight in my old VW van and spraying mango pieces and juice from head to huarache, where I sat in the driver’s seat. I thought I’d been shot by a deranged sniper until I figured it all out. And another time I blew an engine (another VW van, naturally) in the Sonoran desert on my return trip on a 100 degree summer day when few cars were on the road (this was years ago, before toll roads), only to be rescued by a pickup truck full of missionaries who rope-towed me to the Arizona border, almost making a believer of me.

Click here to read the entire story

Maya 2012: A Guide To Celebrations
 

Susie Albin-Najera - Mexico Report
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Travel Writer Joshua Berman, a.k.a. The Tranquilo Traveler, has just announced the release of one of his new books, MAYA 2012: A Guide To Celebrations In Mexico, Guatemala, Belize & Honduras (in addition to Moon Belize!)

Berman is a travel writer, Moon guidebook author, Spanish teacher (Waldorf, TPR Storytelling), returned Peace Corps volunteer, trip leader, and father.

Click here to read more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camping on the Bay of Conception

Note: This article was written in 2003. Since then prices have gone up and you are NOT allowed to snorkel for scallops and clams

A beaching paradise – Bay of Conception

By Dorothy Bell

Photographs by Bill Bell

“We’ve only got 10 scallops snorkeling,” moaned my daughter Dylan. “And two clams.” Give kids an opportunity to complain and they will.

 

Here we are in Paradise found on the calm coast of the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. This is the place that I dream of when I am home and try to sooth my mind to sleep. This is the place where the bold Pacific waves are tamed by a number of peninsulas into meek wisps of lulling waves. This is where the desert with all its dry furry meets the bright blue waters of the Bay of Conception along a peaceful strip of hard-pack sand.

 

The Bay of Conception is indeed a beach lover’s paradise. Highway One just south of the little oasis town of Mulege, meanders in semi-circles, following cove after cove of the 30 KM stretch of the Bay. Campsites, some with facilities, but mostly not, beckon travelers as they pass the gorgeous waters to the east. Maybe a dozen or so camps offer travelers and snowbirds their place in the sun.

Requeson from Highway One

 

I take another sip of my Corona and pretend I didn’t hear her. I shift my camp chair in the fine white sand and jiggle it as if it was a clam digging in to avoid capture. “Mom. You’re not listening,” she says. Just then her brother lures her away with the inflatable boats that we stowed in the compartment up top. They weigh very little and are easy enough to blow up with the electric pump and a converter we attach to the cigarette lighter.

 

Our campsite has only three other vehicles, all parked on the water’s edge. We have been here two nights and Tom from Calgary has been here for two weeks. The other license plates read British Columbia and one from Washington State. They pulled in an hour or so ago and haven’t introduced themselves yet. We’ll give them some space.

 

Calm waters of the Bay of Conception is perfect for Kayaking

 

My favorite camp along this stretch is called Requeson. During low tide, this beach has a thin spit of sand that acts as a walkway to a minute island. The walkway is drowned every high tide by a foot or so of water. The camp has a pit toilet, no municipal water or electricity. It is about $6 a night to camp and probably less for longer periods of time. It surrounded by a desert of cacti and jagged desert landscape.

 

The kids argue and topple in and out of the boats. Adam (15) playfully teases his sister constantly. Their voice carries over the flat salt water. “Leave me alone or I’ll tell Mom.” I wiggle my chair in a little deeper.

 

Bill, my husband, comes back to the RV after visiting Tom for awhile. Tom tells us that we should walk down the beach for a five minute stroll and see if the fishermen have anything to sell. “But I’ve got work to do, “says Bill as he cracks his own Corona. “I’m going to read the newspaper and then take a siesta.” The English Mexican Newspaper, The Mexico City News, is over a week old. It is a joke between us. Bill is going to snooze right after his cervezas.

 

Dylan returns without her brother and together we make the short jaunt down to the fishermen. In rugged clothes, jeans and t-shirts, Sweaty brown work faces; round with eyes almost embarrassed to meet yours. I ask for a fish. Preferably dead I say. The fish, while captured, are still alive in large containers of water. They pull out a large one and club him over the head. A voice says “Ten Dollars,” the only English of the conversation.

 

I hold the Snapper thru the gills with my wrist upright to the sun. It is a large fish and the tail comes close to the sand.

 

Dylan and I laugh as we begin to walk back to the rig. The fish kicks its tail up – the nerves remembering life. “I know you are doing it Mom. CUT IT OUT!”

 

“Dylan,” I explain, “It’s the fish. The nerves or something. It’s NOT ME.”

 

“Sure Mom.” She says giggling as the fish gives another kick. “CUT IT OUT!”

 

I slip her hand into the gills. “It’s not me Dill,” I explain.

 

The fish shook again and went flying onto the sand. “YUCK! DOUBLE YUCK!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Snapper was fantastic – almost better than the scallops and clams that were caught in the waters not 10 ft from our door. The family enjoys it coated with flour and fried quickly in hot oil. Sometimes I make a stir fry with it or smother it in a Veracruz sauce.

The $10 investment will make 4 large dinners for 4. My teenagers can eat until they can’t think and there will be enough for every meal.

I toss bags of fillets into the freezer for another time. It is nearing sunset and hurry to get a front row seat for the sunset that approaches.

Location:

Requeson Beach

Bay of Conception

Baja Sur, Mexico

Cost:

$6 per night

Approximately 14 hours slow drive south of the border.

Local attractions: Perfect beach, sun, snorkeling, kayaking,

Non-commercial area.

Food and Services: The oasis town of Mulege is approximately 40 kilometers away and you can purchase light groceries, water etc. Vendors often sell fish and vegetables from coolers on the back of a pick-up truck.

Best times to visit:

October to Early December

February to May

 

Seattle Times readers speak out on Mexico travel security, saying it's safe to visit as long as you use common sense.

Carol Pucci

Seattle Times staff columnist

You're thinking of taking a vacation in Mexico, but you're concerned about reports of violence. Who do you trust to tell you whether it's safe to go?

Tourism promoters with a stake in filling resorts and restaurants?

The U.S. government, which hasn't updated its travel warning info at http://travel.state.gov since April?

Americans who have been there, or who live in Mexico?

I guessed the third option, and recently asked those of you who have been to Mexico to share your experiences. Nearly 100 people responded by email, with online comments at seattletimes.com/travel or by mailing handwritten notes.

This is for sure: There's no making light of the violence caused by the warring drug cartels and the Mexican government crackdown on them. Several of you pointed out a noticeable police presence, even in tourist areas.

Most of you, however, agreed with the owner of a small beach hotel in Troncones, near Zihuatanejo.

"Not going to Mexico because of violence in some areas is like saying you won't go to Ephrata because there was a shooting in Tacoma. Or Seattle, or Spokane, or Walla Walla," he said in comments posted at seattletimes.com.

It's true. And while he has a stake in having tourists come to Mexico, he offers good advice:

"Travel smart. Don't think you can get away with something illegal just because you are an American. Avoid shady neighborhoods just like you would here. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't."

Well said. Here's more:

"Fearful of visiting Mexico, not us. We visited Loreto (in June). Walked the entire town without any fears. The people were very gracious ... Bottom line, we have no concerns about traveling to Mexico. On the other hand, there are two things I wouldn't do ... (go to) border towns, and (take) long driving trips to the interior."

— Bob, Camano Island

"We own a house in Puerto Vallarta, and travel throughout Mexico on the national bus lines. In all the years we have been going, I can count on less than one hand the number of violent crimes of which I am personally aware. No one makes light of the drug violence there, but when was the last time the U.S. government issued travel warnings to various American cities including the nation's capital?"

— Doug, Seattle

"I am 17, and this summer I traveled with my parents to Mexico City. I had been wanting to visit the Mexican capital for over a year, but nearly everyone seemed highly skeptical and concerned for the terrible things that might happen ... In truth, those 10 days were some of the best days of my life. I can say nothing but positive things about Mexico City, its people, and its culture, and hope that the stories about crimes will not discourage people from exploring the truly amazing country."

— Megan, Seattle

"I go to San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas at least twice a year. I not only have walked many times around the city at night by myself, I take public transportation to communities in the mountains. Never have I felt unsafe or even uncomfortable ... U.S. travelers do tend to go to resort areas and thus never get to see the real Mexico. I equate it to people from Europe who come to Orlando and Disney World and think they know the United States."

— Judith, Sequim

"My husband and I have been going to Mexico for three months in the winter for the past 14 years. We stay in San Miguel de Allende and often travel around Mexico. We actually feel safer there than we do here in our hometown."

— Pat, Edmonton, Alberta

"My sister and I recently bicycled through much of Mexico. There is a huge difference between the common Mexican person living off their ranch and the drug-trafficking problems that have led to so much violence. The common Mexican person is a hospitable and friendly, genuine kindhearted person."

— Jones.lee, Seattle

"I have been going to Puerto Vallarta for 15 years and feel very safe ... I bring my 10-year-old grandson every summer. Do you think I would bring him if there was any question for his safety?"

— Judy, Santa Rosa, Calif.

 

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Best Surfing Vacation Spots in Mexico

Christine Delsol - SFGate.com
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Fishermen might have gotten there first, but decades before Cancún put Mexico at the top of the heap for sun-and-sand vacations, peripatetic surfers discovered the sublime beaches that fringe Mexico's west coast. In the 1950s, Matanchen Bay in northern Nayarit, appears to have been the lodestar for surfers with a case of wanderlust — about as far as they could go in a creaky woody without sacrificing home, job and family for the sake of an exotic wave.

Hundreds of surf spots dotting more than 2,000 miles of tropical coastline have been conquered since then, some of them many miles from nowhere, some near small fishing villages and others the centerpiece of major cities. Lured by year-round long points, reefs and hollow beach breaks, die-hard surfers know them all and think nothing of rattling their bones on long rutted roads and dropping a sleeping bag on any horizontal surface to surf their favored spots or try out a new one.

For the rest of us — casual surfers who enjoy traveling or travelers who think they might like to give surfing a whirl — a place with comfortable rooms, a few good restaurants and some cultural options is preferable. Though this is by no means an exhaustive list, here are some places proven to fit the bill.

Puerto Escondido

Nicknamed the Mexican Pipeline because the shape and power of the wave resembles Oahu's Banzai Pipeline, Puerto Escondido has become the country's gold standard of surfing. The world's most famous surfers, along with plenty of up-and-comers, show up for the Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido competition each year to test their mettle on some unpredictable waves that get funneled through the offshore canyon.

At Playa Zicatela, the stomping ground of Mexico's most renowned surfer, Carlos "Coco" Nogales?, prime surfing season is April through November, when ground swells up to 20 feet break into hollow tubes. A surfing friend describes the Mexican Pipeline in summer as "a full-barreled racing tube that will smack you down." These waves are best left to the experts.

"When I was younger I would have paddled right out and gotten smashed up, but when you get older you get wiser," says Craig Zabransky, a travel writer who seeks out surf spots everywhere he goes but counts himself as no more than an intermediate. Yet he counts Puerto among his favorite surf spots even if he doesn't ride the waves. "Sometimes I have just as much fun watching the really great surfers. It's inspiring."

For those with more gumption than expertise, Huatulco to the south has a few good breaks, including local favorite Rio Copalita. For a more rustic experience, head north to San Agustinillo, about 8 miles past Puerto Angel.

Troncones

This once-drowsy fishing village, about a half-hour drive north of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, has mushroomed into a winter resort for U.S. and Canadian residents fleeing the cold. Besides a pristine coral-sand beach curling toward a picture perfect little bay, it offers small beachside accommodations, basic groceries and water, and ecotourism galore. If you need more excitement, Ixta and Zihua are close at hand.

Troncones Point, jutting out into Manzanillo Bay, is famous for its consistent left point break and suitability for novices and veterans alike. Waves have been reported over 15 feet in peak season, May through October, so it's not for beginners during those months.

A dozen other surf spots, many within walking distance, lie no more than an hour away. Suitable for all experience levels, La Saladita is an exposed reef and surfing point break ideal for longboarders. It's seemingly never-ending lefts earn it the moniker, "The Wave Machine."

Riviera Nayarit

The best-known surfing destination on the stretch of coastline that marketers have dubbed Riviera Nayarit is the fishing village of Sayulita, just 25 miles northwest of Puerto Vallarta but still a simple, tranquil beach town (for now — it's growing fast).

The most popular of its two main surf spots is the right break fronting the main beach in the village, which is consistent and ideal for beginners. The faster and less consistent left break on the north side of the river mouth draws mostly locals and expert surfers.

"There's more of a local surfing scene in Sayulita than in other places because other breaks are generally reef breaks outside of town with no people living there," said Geordie Wardman, a Bermudan who relocated to Sayulita for the culture and the good school for his two now-bilingual children as well as for the surfing.

The mix of locals to tourists is about half and half on the right break but mostly locals on the less consistent left break, only about 200 yards away. Generally the locals and the tourists get along well, avoiding the territorial attitude the surf scene is notorious for.

"When the swell is bigger, better surfers expect people there to know what they're doing — there's not a lot of tolerance of tourists going out and cutting people off," he says. "But the town is made by its surf breaks, and it's generally very tolerant. Giving lessons is very much a part of the culture."

Wardman, who writes a Mexico travel blog, also recommends Punta Mita, the Riviera Nayarit's luxury destination, for beginners. The Anclotes break in front of the uber-upscale St. Regis and Four Seasons hotels is a favorite for novices, while Punta Burros on the northern side of Bahía Banderas, which gives a good ride even when waves are small, become a challenge when the swell gets big.

Even Puerto Vallarta itself has some viable surf spots. Other Riviera Nayarit locations with respectable waves are Lo de Marcos and Destiladeras, where waves are reported up to 6 feet.

Matachen Bay

The place where it all began is still going strong, with the legendary break known as Las Islitas, once known as the longest wave in the world. It still has its moments, but it's highly inconsistent and diminished by jetties along the shore.

Zabransky favors San Blas, a peaceful tropical fishing village on the bay that has modest shore and jetty breaks year round. The beach is uncrowded and friendly.

"San Blas is a community, a little town where everyone goes down to the water. There's more of a concentration of people in the water, but then you get to talk about it and sit on the beach and have a beer," he says. He describes some of his experiences there, as well as surfing and traveling in other areas, in his blog.

Mazatlan

A time-honored surf spot, Mazatlán offers swells any time of year but its renowned "sick long lefts" (according to Transworld Surf magazine) are most consistent between May and September. The 400-year-old seaport city is hosting the first-ever Quiksilver Clásico Mazatlán, the first event of this size in Mexico, June 1-5 in the Zona Dorada at Playa Camaron, "a reeling left point (reef) break in the heart of Mazatlán's beach and hotel 'Golden Zone'."

Playa Norte, Playa Bruja and Playa Olas Altas (naturally — it translates to "High Waves Beach") are three spots to catch the best waves in Mazatlan. Playa Olas Altas has the added lure of being smack in the middle of Old Mazatlán, the beautifully restored colonial center of the city. Cerritos beach, north of the Marina El Cid, is a little-visited area whose northern tip, called Playa Bruja, is manna for surfers (but be on the lookout for jellyfish during spring and summer months). Another very good spot is on Isla de las Piedras, an ejido (cooperative)-owned ecological playground about 15 miles south of town.

Baja California Sur

The Baja peninsula's proximity has made it hugely popular with U.S. West Coast surfers. For those spooked by the drug-related violence near the border, Baja California Sur is a safe haven endowed with world-class surf breaks. If you're the all-inclusive, margarita-in-a-beach-chair type, head for Los Cabos, where being at the tip of the peninsula means epic swells from one direction or another virtually any time of year. Even backpacker types have to admire the prodigious waves barreling in from May to November at Sippers and Old Mans, side-by-side breaks about 20 minutes outside of Cabo proper but equipped with the same amenities.

To tone down the tourist clamor, head for quieter, palpably Mexican San Jose del Cabo, home of the Estuary — a right and left beachbreak that gets even more waves. But for a whole other level of relaxation, try subued artist/expat/surfer enclave of Todos Santos, about 90 minutes up the Cape's west coast. It's dotted with consistent surf breaks, including Playa Cerritos, San Pedrito, in the community of Pescadero and Playa La Pastora, about 5 miles north of town. These, too, can become gargantuan when storms come through.

Former Chronicle travel editor Christine Delsol is the author of "Pauline Frommer's Cancún & the Yucatán" and contributor to "Frommer's Mexico 2011" and "Frommer's Cancún & the Yucatán 2011.

Popocatepetl

(Nahuatl: Smoking Mountain)

As we traveled this summer from Cuernevaca to Oaxaca and then later from Oaxcaca to Puebla and Puebla to Mexico City, Popocatepetl was in his glory. He stood clearly in the landscapes, smoking slowly and methodically, like an old man blowing smoke rings.

The landscapes were dramatic and from every angle he rose from the ground and dominated the space between the clouds and the soil; snow crowning the top and mingling with a rouge cloud and the smoke rising from the depth of the earth.

One of the easiest locations for a good view is Puebla and Cholula; only 25 miles or 40 kms away to the east, but you can often see him as far away as Mexico City. The snow white glacier at the top is amazing.

Popocatepetl is the second tallest peak in Mexico and certainly one of the most active with over 15 major eruptions since the Spanish arrived in 1519.

Guanajuato, Guanajuato
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Photography by Bill Bell

Guanajuato is a city and municipality in central Mexico and the capital of the state of the same name. It is located in a narrow valley, which makes the streets of the city narrow and winding. Most are alleys that cars cannot pass through, and some are long sets of stairs up the mountainsides. Many of the city’s thoroughfares are partially or fully underground. The historic center of the city is filled with colonial area mansions, churches and civil constructions built with pink or green sandstone and small plazas. The city was the result of the discovery of mines in the mountains that surround it.

These mines were so rich that the city was one of the most influential during the colonial period. One of the mines, La Valenciana, accounted for two-thirds of the world’s silver production at its height. The city is home to the Mummy Museum, which contains naturally mummified bodies that were found in the municipal cemetery between the mid 19th and 20th centuries. It is also home to the Festival Internacional Cervantino, which invites artists and performers from all over the world as well as Mexico. The city was also the site of the first battle of the Mexican War of Independence between insurgent and royalist troops at the Alhóndiga de Granaditas. The city was named a World Heritage Site in 1988.

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Mexico Apartment-Hopping

by Dorothy and Bill Bell

We have discovered a new way to travel! We have either RV'ed or hotel stopped throughout this country half a dozen times or more and both have their up and down sides.

RV’s are a great deal of fun; you can sleep in your own bed, have all your own stuff, cook your own meals and be somewhat economical to boot. By the day RV parks can cost $200 to $300 pesos on average for full hookups. $5000 to $7000 pesos per month.

I am being brave here because pricing is relative to preference and there are those out there that will prefer to boon dock or stay in a Wal-Mart rather than an RV Park. On the flip side, there are those that will not stay in many of the parks that we think are just fine…they are too “rustic” for them. I am trying to generalize here so bear with me.

Hotels are a matter of personal preference too. For a clean motel/ motel 6 type room in a city you are likely to spend $500 to 750 pesos. If you stay a week, it calculates to $3500 to $5250 pesos a week. The sky is the limit on the upper side. You can spend as much as you want for the high end stuff.

So this trip Bill said why don’t we try booking apartments in the places we want to stay for more than a few days. We went on line and Googled apartments for rent in Oaxaca. Sure enough there were many to choose from. We decided to take a “lower-end” apartment – not just because we are CODO (cheap) but because we wanted to be able to walk out of the deal in case it didn’t work out.

Our criteria were that it was clean, had sleeping quarters, was close to Centro (walking distance) and of course had internet. We selected one that we found on Craig’s list priced at $1000 pesos for 1 person = $1200 for two people per week. We thought we would give it a try.

Oaxaca

We arrived and were met by the caretaker, Ines. She led us up the very steep driveway past a line of casitas to our unit at the top level. The place was tiny but managed to have all the criteria we needed; cleanliness, bed, kitchen, bathroom, internet etc. The place was just fine; it also had a table and chair outside in a wide open area.

Ines didn’t speak a word of English (we dealt with the owners over the internet who did) but she was extremely helpful throughout our stay. Unlike hotels, we found that conversations naturally developed with our neighbors. We would chat about our days of exploration with other fellow travelers.

The downside was that it was all mismatched. (BIG DEAL) The casita layout for the kitchen was odd and allowed only one person at a time. It was awkward maneuvering around chairs etc. The bathroom was poorly laid out and extremely small – but everything worked well. The place had only one pillow and the towels were a bit worn and skimpy. The plates were small. We fixed that with our next trip to Bodega for just over $400 pesos.

Overall rating? Would we go back? YES! It was close to downtown, in a safe neighborhood and the people were very friendly at an extremely reasonable price. And where else would the caretaker give you a big hug and a kiss on the cheek to say goodbye.

Email: oaxacapartments@gmail.com

http://www.oaxacapartments.com/

Mexico City

We also found the next place on Craig’s List.

(I would like to mention that we found a scam artist who wanted the following:

Your full name
Your Sex
Your nationality
Your date of birth
Your passport ID number
Your phone number
Your move in and move out date
Your current address that i can send the keys

A $700 USD deposit…and rent in advance.

We determined that we will pay cash when we get there when we go apartment –hopping.)

We made arrangements with a couple called Tanya and Diego over the internet. The price was $2200 pesos per week and was in a very good neighborhood – Condesa and La Roma.

The View from our Mexico City apartment

We liked the pictures and made the arrangements.

We drove into the City on Sunday – which is an excellent strategy for those wanting to explore this metropolis! The traffic was bearable and we found street parking. We hit the intercom and were buzzed up by Diego.

We went up the elevator to the 5^th floor and were met by Diego who led us into the apartment.

Fully stocked kitchen including fridge, stove/oven,

microwave, toaster, coffee maker.

We were surprised to see how lovely it was. Very modern, clean, light and airy. The kitchen is fully furnished, plates, cutlery all match. Granite countertops – table and chairs with a welcome bottle of red wine. The spacious bathroom with glass enclosed shower had two terry robes waiting for us.

The bedroom with floor to ceiling storage, TV, DVD player, desk, internet, view, balcony and BBQ outside.

The bed/sitting room is large with tons of storage space, a large work desk and sliding glass doors. The view is over garden apartments. The whole place has plenty of light and is immaculate. We love it! We think we have found our Mexico City home!

Email: frijolfrijol@gmail.com

Conclusion:

We love RV travel in Mexico for the beach areas. It is fun, economical and you can cook if you want. The major problem is if you like to visit many of the interior colonial cities. Many cities do not have camping and if they do it is generally far away from the center of town which is often the best area to explore the city. Too, large RV’s are difficult to maneuver in cities that were meant for horse and carriage. We won't even talk about axels and cost of tolls.

We also love traveling and using hotels. The downside is that it can be quite expensive and you can’t cook even the simplest meal. This makes long term travel prohibitive.

Apartment hopping seems like a great alternative. It is certainly more economical than hotels and you can cook 24/7 if you prefer – saving even more money. The hitch here is that you have to know where you want to stay a week and whish area of town fits your needs. We are fortunate to have explored most of this country and know which cities and towns we can lose ourselves in for weeks and weeks….well years.

For us what works is a combination of all three modes of travel/accommodation, and in the future we are going to explore apartment-hopping even more.

Mexico City is a Touch Away with New Travel App

Guide to the Ancient City Offers Contemporary Insight for First-Time and Frequent Visitors

MEXICO CITY, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the world's largest metropolitan spaces is now easier to maneuver with the launch of the StyleMap Mexico City application, now available to download for free at the iTunes store. The newly released app invites travelers to get a feel for Mexico City before boarding the plane and be fully prepared to live like a local upon arriving to the dynamic city.

Click here to read entire story

Prepare Your House for an Extended Absence

YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry go to original

Things to do before leaving your home unoccupied in the Tropics:

This advice is geared to a typical NOB (North of the Border) owner who has a pool and pressurized water system (hydro-pneumatico)
1. Definitely drain the pool or treat it with a permanent larvicide like Copper.
Standing water is the main preventable cause of Dengue virus transmission here in Yucatan. Consider treating the residual water with extra doses of copper salts, to kill any larvae that grow in future rain accumulations. Adding extra copper also keeps your pool from becoming an algae swamp. (NOB snow bird untreated swimming pools in unoccupied homes are a major cause of Dengue transmission.)**

Note: If you add extra copper to your pool, then drain enough water out of the pool water when you return to give a final safe copper-algicide concentration. (The copper treatment works very well at treating the residual rain-water that accumulates in supposedly “drained” pools.)

2. Shut off the gas valves and lock/chain the cylinder or tank so something secure. (These are just too tempting: easy to carry, easy to convert to cash, etc.)

3. Definitely turn off your hydro-pneumatico, and open the water system’s air vent valve on the techo/roof. Use simple gravity feed to supply plumbing for watering plants etc…

4. If there are no plants etc to water, then give the water system a final chlorine treatment: 1/4 cup of normal un-scented NORMAL bleach per 275 gal/1000 liter tinaco – assuming your tinaco has only clean water. Turbid water or water with organic matter in it requires more bleach.

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The Durango-Mazatlán highway in Mexico should open in 2012
In Durango recently, Dionisio Pérez Jácome, Mexico’s Communications and Transportation Secretary, stated that the new Durango-Mazatlán highway is “80% completed” and “on schedule to be opened in the second half of next year” (2012) (Milenio online, 15 July 2011)
•New highway in Mexico joins Durango and Mazatlán

The new highway, first proposed more than a decade ago, will have cost about 1.2 billion dollars to complete. The new highway has more than 60 tunnels and 115 bridges, including the amazing Baluarte Bicentennial Bridge which will be Latin America’s longest cable-stayed bridge when opened. Some sections of the new highway have had their first annual maintenance to repair potholes and ensure that the road surface is in perfect condition for next year’s formal inauguration.

The highway will speed up overland transport from the Pacific Ocean port of Mazatlán to the northern border towns of Reynosa and Matamoros, bringing numerous economic benefits to many parts of northern Mexico.

Reader Recomendations

Mazatlan Sinaloa – Type Notel

Jeff Obser

The Motel Paris, on the big road into town (but long before you get to the traffic circle that directs you toward PV), is a hookup place with commodious garages attached to each room. As long as you stay less than 12 hours, it's like 350 or 400 pesos. And you get to enjoy a stripper pole and jacuzzi.

And if I made it sound cheap and tawdry, not! Clean, safe, and very convenient.