Does anyone know Mexico well?

[BrownSuga]

We are planning to go in February to escape the Canadian winter for 1/2 weeks. We would like a relaxing break at a beach, but with the option of a couple of day trips to aztec ruins. Does anyone know which coastal area would be best for doing this?

TIA

Mmmmm Tulum. Wish I was there now.

Do they have to be aztec ruins? Or would you interested in Mayan ruins too?

The Yucatan peninsula has some great Mayan ruins. It is quite touristy (especially the ruins at Chitchen Itza, but they are definitely worth visiting). Try to avoid Cancun, and stay instead in Playa del Carmen or Tulum (Tulum has Mayan ruin right by the beach).

If it is specifically Aztec ruins you want, then you will have to do a two-centre trip to also get a beach break, as the Aztecs were more in the valley of Mexico, near Mexico City. You could stay a couple of days there and visit Teotihuacan, then fly down to Acapulco or Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific Coast.

Great info, thanks.

I've probably mixed the two up, it was definitley chitchen itza I was thinking of.

Tulum looks fantastic, very laid back. Is it very accessible? Where would we fly into?

(As you can tell I know nothing of Mexico, it will be our first foray here)

If you go to Cancun you could do a day trip to Chichen Itza. I would recommend Mexico City because you can do a trip to Teotihuacan, and still see Chapultepec park, el templo mayor, Frida Kahlo's house, the Diego River Murals at the Palacio Nacional, el museo nacional de antropologia (definitely worth a trip), go see the ballet folklorico.

With Mexico City you could also do a day trip to Cuernavaca or Taxco (silver mining town, with tons of jewelry).

Can you tell that I love Mexico?

aztec would only be Mexico city. Mayan - then Tulum or Cancun. You can visit Uxmal and Chichen Itza from there.
The beaches are pretty nice too.
I think you can fly into Cancun, if not, there's a airport in Merida.

Thanks MKG, maybe for the next trip. WE haven't had a proper holiday this year, as moved country and jobs, so we were looking for a more relaxing one. Normally we'd be darting all over the place, making ourselves weary, so your post sounds up our alley. If the Feb trip goes well, we'll def go back and try it.

You want to be on the Yucatan peninsula - lots of beaches and plenty of Mayan ruins (ie Chicken Pizza).

We stayed in Playaa del Carmen ten years ago, flew into Cancun. It was fantastic. Also visited Tulum, Chichen Itza and Xcaret park - all fantastic.

Tulum is an easy drive from Cancun. Get out of Cancun as fast as poss. It is dreadful. Tacky and over developed high-rise package resports.

we went to Tulum last December and it was fab. If you fancy something really lovely and quiet, try Holbox Island. There aren't any ruins there but you can reach Chichen Itza within 1.5 hours drive.