How to go from Yaxchilan (or palenque) to Playa Del Carmen

[vhoog20]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me how to go from Yaxchilan to Playa Del carmen?
DO I first have to go back to Palenque? I looked at ticketbus.com.mx but it seems that there are only night buses going from palenque to playa, and I heard they are not very safe to travel with...

Please help

[Anna]

I do believe you have to go via Palenque from Yaxchilan, unless you're adventurous enough to cross the border there into Guatemala and do Tikal and then go via Belize - which is a supercool trip! I would be surprised if there are no day-time buses from Palenque to Playa, but I would not hesitate to take the night bus. They're pretty comfortable and that way you don't lose a day (and you save a night's hotel if you're traveling on a shoestring). Safety is a tricky thing to advise about, but if you're adventuous enough to travel independently to Palenque and Yaxchilan, the night bus nothing you should worry about. Don't miss Bonampak when you're by Yaxchilan.

[Jesus]

Originally posted by "vhoog20"


Can anyone tell me how to go from Yaxchilan to Playa Del carmen?
DO I first have to go back to Palenque? I looked at ticketbus.com.mx but it seems that there are only night buses going from palenque to playa, and I heard they are not very safe to travel with...

Yes you NEED to go trough Palenque, that is the nearest civilized place to take the bus. The companies that travel tha area should be "Omnibus Cristobal Colon" and "ADO", I can't remember the schedules but you will be as safe in the night as during the day. Listen to Ana. While in Yaxchilan, please don't forget to spot the top of the trees, last January I was able to photograph a family of Howler Monkeys close to Temple 33, they were very cool.

You have an alternate way to get to PDC but you have to be really adventourus 8) :lol: . Take a boat and float all along the Usumacinta River (just in front of Yaxchilan) and let it go all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, then start rowing (of if you have a motor boat, use it) around the Yucatán peninsula until you arrive in PDC. While you are in the river, just be careful not to disturb the crocodiles.

If you take the bus (wise thing to do), you can stop in XPUJIL town and take a tour to Calakmul (I did) and is an amazing place. The only way to get to the ruins is via a $600 pesos taxi (round trip, 5 hours waiting at the ruins included), is a 110 kilometers each way but it's worth it. If you depart very early (we left at 06:00 a.m. but 05:00 would be much better) you have a good chance to meet the locals (e.g. oceloted turkeys, howler monkeys, woodpeckers, deers, etc.) Don't forget to pack a couple of large water bottles and some snacks as there is nothing (really, nothing) to buy at the site.

http://playadelcarmeninfo.com/bb2/album_page.php?pic_id=419
http://playadelcarmeninfo.com/bb2/album_page.php?pic_id=420

If you need more info, don't hesitate to ask.