Mexico
 

Anyone ever been to Chichén-Itzá or Palenque?

I wanna go check out some of the Mexican pyramids anyone ever checked them out? If so where is the best place to fly in? I'm looking at the map and Cancun looks like a good starting point and flights there are pretty damn cheap.

I really don't wanna do the tourist thing, I'd rather go exploring myself anyone ever do there there? Is it safe to go checking things out yourself or is it better to stay with a tourist group?

so no one ever goes to Mexico?

bring lots of money for bribes and if you ever get thrown in a mexican jail, I will say a prayer for you.

No need for bribes if you go by the books.
Besides, if you offer a bribe you're subject to prosecution.

I've never been but I have a space cadet friend that goes to Palenque and eats mushrooms a lot. Stay here if you like weed.

I wouldn't worry about safety or bribes. Especially if with other people. I never had any cops want bribes, but I never got pulled over either... Just one cop harassing me to move our car at the airport. But everyone else in Mexico wants a "bribe" in Mexico... they see your white skin and want a handout for everything.

Chichen Itza is great, if you're going to Cancun. Make sure to take some comfortable walking/climbing shoes. There are tons of tours that will take you over, but I prefer renting a car and driving over. It's not expensive and you're not at the mercy of the tour all day. If you wanna stay later, you can. If you get hot and tired and want to leave, you can head back and not have to wait on all the wankers to make it back to the bus.

yea see that's what I'm after.. how far of a trip is it from Cancun? Is there other woth while ruins close to that area?

a close friend of mine had to use that technique. lets just say...." thank goodness he had a bunch of cash stuffed in his pants." :Oh crap

A close friend of mine tried to use that technique when he got busted with a gun. He ended up doing four years. :(

Fly into Cancun. If you rent a car, you'd better be a damn good driver, it is crazy here! There is also Tulum, which is spectacular. Right now is low season here until December around Christmas, so it's a good time to be here without so many tourists. Just check the weather before you come, it is hurricane season and the weather is a bit tempermental right now :)

There are alot of ruins within a couple hours drive from Cancun...

I think Chichén-Itzá is about 2 1/2 - 3 hours from here...

hmm think ill skip cancun, its damn cheap now and tempting but the last thing I want is to see a jail from the inside in Mexico

yeah i went to cancun in june. was going to visit chichen-itza but the tour left at 7am and i didn't get home until 4am from the clubs.. so i didn't go but some friends did. also id think its safter to go with a tourist group but who knows you would probably be alright going by yourself.

My wife just got back from an 8 day trip to cancun with her mom and aunt, she had a blast, swam with dolphins, rode horses on the beach, parasailing, boat trip to Isla Mujeres, the whole tourist experience. The mayan ruins that surround cancun (there are 3) are all available as tour packages from the mall inside the hotel zone and unless your doing something you shouldnt be, or spending alot of time in the actual city of cancun (seperate area from the tourist area) then you should be fine. The hotel zone is all inclusive and very safe they protect it above all other areas because any incident means bad press and would hurt their tourism, which is their MAIN income for the entire area. You dont need a passport to visit, just a birth certificate and picture ID. I would say if your looking to visit mexico and see mayan ruins, then cancun is probably your safest and best bet.

cool!! i can´t help much causé i´ve never been there, but have fun!!

I don't undestand why so many people think they would get in torouble in Cancun. I live here and have never had a problem with the police at all. For the most part, the cops don't mess with tourists, especially in the hotel zone....and I have friends here who have been busted with weed and only paid something like 200 pesos and that was it.

Also, the cops are not allowed into your place unless invited...if you run from the police and get back to your house here, they can't just run in after you and usually they are too lazy to hang out and wait for you to come out.

You would have to be a complete ass and do something pretty bad to get into trouble in Cancun....