I am taking a short break in Cancun end of April and would
be interested in hiring a car for some of the time to get
to Palenque. Does anyone have experience/tips for car hire
in this area, I have been quoted UK ú230 for the return
flight by travel agent in UK, which was almost as much as
the Cancun London flight!
Also would appreciate suggestions for quiet and reasonable
beach accomodation near Cancun.
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I think that is how you spell it....but anyways it is the
island of women just of the coast of Cancun, it has
beautiful beaches and is probably the one third the price of
Cancun, we stayed a week and loved it, it only takes 40
minutes by ferry. Don┤t take a cab when leaving the Cancun
airport, get a collectivo it is still expensive but cheaper
than a cab.
You say you are in Cancun for a short break ? Palenque is a
long way by car. By bus it's about 5 hours to Merida and
another 10-11 from Merida to Palenque. A car would be faster
but not by much. Have you considered Chichen Itza and Uxmal
as closer alternatives ?
I have hired a taxi from Merida to Uxmal for a family of 4.
It was about twice what the bus would have cost. For a
single person the cost would have been the same since you
hire the vehicle irregardless of the number of passengers.
We took buses. They helped teach my kids patience.
I highly recommend a visit to Tulum, a Mayan site an hour or
so south by bus from Cancun. For a reasonable fee you can
stay at the campsite in a tent or in a hut,just along the
road from the ruins, on one of the best beaches i've seen in
the world.Get up early in the morning to visit the site
first thing before the tour buses arrive.
Whlist at Palenque make sure you go inside the Temple of
Inscriptions to see the tomb. Totally amazing.
As Joe already mentioned it is a long way to go if you are
on a short break. Car hire is very expensive and driving
over there is not like in England. People drive quite
aggressively and roads are often bad slowing you down
immensely.
Why don't you consider Chichen Itza instead. It is 3 hrs one
way from Cancun and can be achieved in a day. Buses (ADO)
leave the Cancun bus terminal at 9.00 am and return from
Chichen Itza at 4.30 pm. Cost Pesos $90/ return (ú6).
I also wanted to go to Palenque originally, simply to see
the "Ancient Astronaut" - Lid of Palenque, but soon realized
this would not be possible (lack of time!) during a one week
stay. I must say I was very impressed with Chichen Itza!
Tip: Take US$ travellers cheques rather than ú. The rate is
better. If you do wish to change ús to Pesos, do it in
England where the rate is ú1 = Pesos $15. In Cancun you only
get Pesos $13.5
Have fun!