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jacpowell

May 11, 2005, 6:27 PM

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Oaxaca to San Cristobal de las Casas &/or Palenque

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We will be spending a couple of months in Oaxaca in early 2006 and would like to "hop over" to San Cristobal de las Casas and Palenque. Looking at usual travel websites it seems difficult. We like riding Mexican de lujo buses, but we would also consider flying. How to get to SCdlC, then to Palenque and back without spending incredible amounts of time and money? (I like to plan WAY ahead! It's especially fun when I can't travel soon.)

Carron

May 12, 2005, 7:06 AM

Post #2 of 9 (1439 views)

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Re: [jacpowell] Oaxaca to San Cristobal de las Casas &/or Palenque

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These places are incredibly far apart, as are most places of interest in Mexico. There is no "hop over" option that is cheap, although then again I don't know your personal threshold for cheap. Maps do nothing to indicate the true size of this country nor the random events that can make even an overnight trip into a long (but probably very interesting) weekend.

I suspect you will have to choose between fast and expensive or slow and affordable. And with fast and expensive you will miss out on a lot of what Mexico is all about.

Bubba

May 12, 2005, 11:54 AM

Post #3 of 9 (1422 views)

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Re: [jacpowell] Oaxaca to San Cristobal de las Casas &/or Palenque

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Take the bus from Oaxaca to Santo Domingo Tehuantepec along Route 190 - a beautiful if winding ride that takes about eight hours if memory serves me. Plan to spend the night near the plaza in Tehuantepec, a fascinating tropical town with an interesting matriarchal Zapoteco culture where the women are in charge. Do not go on to Salina Cruz and the beach. Salina Cruz is about the single most butt ugly town on the planet. From Tehuantepec you can take the bus on to San Cristobal and the trip takes about six hours. This is another beautiful ride at first in tropical green not to be believed and then in a hair raising ride from Tuxtla Gutierrez at about 2,000 feet to San Cristobal at about 7,000 feet. Spectacular. Chiapas may be the most beautiful state in Mexico.

You will have no problem arranging transportation to Palenque from San Cristobal. I also suggest you visit Bonampak which can be reached overland now.

(This post was edited by Bubba on May 12, 2005, 11:56 AM)

jacpowell

May 12, 2005, 1:17 PM

Post #4 of 9 (1415 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Oaxaca to San Cristobal de las Casas &/or Palenque

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Good tips on the bus rides. Are these de lujo buses, or primero? I guess we would just take what we get.

Any idea when the rainy season starts in that neck of the woods? We could go before we settle down in Oaxaca or after our time there. Or, we could go for a "side" trip (yes, it's a LONG side trip!) from Oaxaca. So, if you could go on this odyssey any time between late January and after Semana Santa, when would be best?

Jackie in Colorado

Bubba

May 12, 2005, 1:58 PM

Post #5 of 9 (1410 views)

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Re: [jacpowell] Oaxaca to San Cristobal de las Casas &/or Palenque

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All of this is dry season. The wet season starts about mid-June and lasts until October. San Cristobal is quite cold until about the middle of March. Palenque, Bonampak and Tehuantepec will be hot and humid in March. Everything is a trade off. If it were me, I would take the San Cristobal trip in March or later rather than February.

By the way, I find Oaxaca to be the least interesting of these places so I might not be the right person to ask.

Don't worry about the buses between Oaxaca and Chiapas. These will be nice, I promise you.

(This post was edited by Bubba on May 12, 2005, 2:02 PM)

Carron

May 13, 2005, 9:42 AM

Post #6 of 9 (1364 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Oaxaca to San Cristobal de las Casas &/or Palenque

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Chiapas IS the most beautiful state in Mexico!

sfmacaws

May 14, 2005, 1:32 AM

Post #7 of 9 (1329 views)

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Re: [Carron] Oaxaca to San Cristobal de las Casas &/or Palenque

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Yes, it truly is spectacular. The Sumidero canyon is beautiful and must have been just incredible before it was flooded. Even now it is well worth it to take the boat trip through it.

The mountains around San Cristóbal are like a fantasy, pointed green peaks with wisps of cloud around them. They remind me of a Dr Seuss book. Palenque is also a fantasy, the green peaks and the mist and the palaces. I particularly liked the living quarters with latrines and sleeping couches and inner courtyards, it made the city seem more real. March is a good compromise, I've been to both in March and while Palenque is hot, it is hot there most of the time. San Cristóbal will be more comfortable in March, chilly at night but nice in the day.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Bubba

May 14, 2005, 12:05 PM

Post #8 of 9 (1313 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Oaxaca to San Cristobal de las Casas &/or Palenque

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Jonna and all:

Also, the new toll road from Tuxtla toward Veracruz is a dream, especially in the rainy season. I don't think I have ever seen a fantasy more beautiful. About half way to the Veracruz toll road the highway crosses a reservoir and it is so gorgeous that you expect Godzilla to rise from the depths. Don't miss this drive which passes through no towns. Incredible.

What the hell are you doing still in Cathedral City? In another month you can boil your dinner in the swimming pool.

That's it. Brigitte and I are moving to San Cristobal.

sfmacaws

May 14, 2005, 12:54 PM

Post #9 of 9 (1306 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Oaxaca to San Cristobal de las Casas &/or Palenque

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Thanks for the info about the toll road across the isthmus, we've never gone that way and it is on my list now.

We're still in Cat City building a pond next door to a close friends house. She put in an RV pad for us to use when we are here and we're adding some water and shade. She'll be able to rent it in the winter when the snowbirds are here and we're on a beach in Mexico. We're out of here the second week in June though, heading north up the coast. This weekend hit triple digits for the first time this season and I've got the AC on for the first time too. We're not sticking around for the real heat to kick in.

Here's a couple pics of the pond we're building. This is about a month ago, big hole and no shade.

I just took this picture, we're pretty close to done for this year. Got to make the waterfall and put in some more plants but there are already 5 Wakin goldfish enjoying it.

I also think about moving to San Cris, it's a perfect sized town but it is soo far from a real city with intl airports and stuff. It's also much too cold for me in the winter. Ahhh, I'll have to keep living in the RV cuz there are too many places that are wonderful sometimes and not so great others.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán