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luzdeluna · Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Mexico

I'm new to the Mexico forum although I've been following it for some time now. I just moved from Costa Rica to San Juan del Rio, Queretaro two weeks ago.

Several of the teachers here are considering going on a long weekend excursion for 5 del mayo weekend. So my question to all you folk in or close to the Mexico City area is - what are your favorite places to go for long weekends?

One thought was Taxco. Any specific thoughts on that destination?

Also, can anyone give us SIMPLE directions to get from the Mexico Norte bus terminal to Mexico Sur bus terminal? None of us are experienced yet in finding our way around the big city. Maybe an idea of how much time/$ it would be by taxi would be the better question.

Anything you can share is appreciated. Thanks. Eileen

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Taxco is awesome. Puebla might be a good choice as they'll have some events for 5 de Mayo. Not a bad weekend town, especially down in el zapo.

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

MELEE · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:58 pm Post subject:

Taxco is nice, especially if you like jewlery and shopping.

BUT I think Tepoztlan has got it all over Taxco any day!

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

I am only an hour from Tepotzlan so have been many times. The Sunday market is really fun, with lots of different types of crafts on offer. There are some very good restaurants. The hike up the hill is hard to describe but not to be missed. Wear good shoes!

I like Taxco as well. It's a manic, energetic sort of place but great fun if you like good views, shopping and craziness.

There are some other neat places around Cuernavaca, like Xochicalco, Zempoala and Las Estacas.

I've only ever made the transfer from those two stations on the metro. I seem to recall I had to change lines several times, but it was easy enough if you can follow a map.

notamiss · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 5:42 pm Post subject:

Ixtapan de la Sal, and spend all day in the hot mineral baths. For a full weekend, one day at the waterpark in Ixtapan de la Sal, and the other day in Valle de Bravo.

MELEE · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 5:50 pm Post subject:

Taxco is quaint, has a beautiful church, and great shopping.

Tepoztlan is quaint, has a beautiful church, okay shopping, interesting restuarants, ruins (I'm a bit of a ruin buff), hiking (actually hiking to ruins, or hiking with no ruins), horseback riding, a spa or two, AND it's a green city which actively promotes grey water recycling and composting toilets!

dfields3 · Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Posts: 29 Location: Atlanta

Take a bus to Yuatepec from the south bus terminal. There you can take a taxi to Las Estacas from one of the taxi drivers outside the terminal (30 minute taxi ride for about $9. Las Estacas is a natural aquatic park where you can snorkel and float down a crystal clear river all day. EXTREMELY beautiful and cheap. It only takes about an hour and a half to get there once you get on the bus. Here is the website...

http://www.lasestacas.com/

It's one of my favorite places to dissapear to.

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

Tequisquitengo isn't bad. It's not all it's cracked up to be, but I've spent a few good times in a lakeside bar, in intense heat watching the sun go down. Very relaxing for the oldies like me. Not sure how you get there without a car, but I assume there are buses running from Cuernavaca.

thelmadatter · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:08 pm Post subject: other options

For those looking for something off the beaten path, try Malinalco and Teotenango/Tenango del Valle with are located due south of Toluca. Teotenango is the name of the archeological site and the pre-Hispanic settlement. After the Conquest, the town was basically moved to the modern Tenango del Valle but the ruins stand out very plainly. Malinalco is touted as the next Tepotzlan or San Miguel Allende (with land prices rising accordingly) and has a site to climb to which is a LOT more accessible than Tepotzlan's (even this old fat lady was able to do it) with signs to read on the way up in Spanish, English and Nahuatl (dont know about the Nahuatl, but whoever did the English translation did a good job).

Trout is the thing to eat for lunch in Malinalco and there is also the nearby pilgramige site of Chalma as well. Buses to these places leave from Terminal Poniente.

By the way, my students wrote articles about these places in English Wikipedia if you want to check them out.