Backpackers Hostel San Cristobal de las Casas

Much of today was spent on various shuttle vans. We left Guatemala for Mexico; we thought about taking buses, but decided that with the hassle of the border involved, it would be easier to take one of the shuttles that were on offer. Probably was still easier, but there were some...unadvertised aspects that surprised everybody along for the ride. We hop one van for a short ride out to Cuatro Caminos (4 roads), a major transit junction near Xela. They drop us off there while that van takes off...

Our first full day in San Cristóbal de las Casas had a late and lazy start. Not so much sleep the night before, a comfy bed, a quiet hotel, and good hot water made us laze away the morning. Compound that with the fact, discovered today, that Mexico follows Daylight Savings Time while Guatemala does not (making it an hour later than believed) had us eating breakfast at 1pm. But that's what vacation is about, right? We wandered around the artisan's market and some more churches and then went to...

All my life I have thought of Mexico with this equation. MEX=HOT. This most likely came from spending so much time in my mom´s town, El Centro, CA next to the Mexican border and remember it being hot if nothing else. I further confirmed this in 2004 with my 2 month stint in Oaxaca when I lost 12 lbs. of water weight from sweating so much and the past two weeks in Playa and Puerto when a nap at 3 in the afternoon simply consisted of me laying there for 2 hrs. sweating...not sleeping. BUT appre...

Notes for other backpackers:
Where to stay: I stayed at the Backpacker's Hostal. They have dorms and double rooms. There's a kitchen with a fridge and storage space. There's also a tv and a selection of low-quality pirated movies. The staff is nice and they will hook you up with tours and Spanish lessons. And if you like to burn trash, you'll love the nightly bonfire!
Where to eat: I cooked my own food. Near the hostel is a market and you can buy lots of yummy vegetables.
Other st...

OK friends been a bit slack so am going to give you a snapshot of our travels since Mexico City. We left Mexico City on Friday 13th February 2009 after getting our visa from The Brazilian Embassy the previous afternoon. We took a minivan shuttle to Oaxaca which took about 8 hours . It traversed some very barren land after leaving the huge city and we crossed some very winding and very high mountain passes that left some passengers a little concerned as the cornering took some getting used to....

We decided to go to a beach 2 hours away as it is a stunning quiet and nudist beach. Everything was so peacful and beautiful. In the evening we went for dinner and i heard music in the distance... i followed like the bisto gravy kid and found there was to be a mini rave party. I left my friend at the hostel and went back in the evening..... i arrived back midday the next day. nuff said ! end of quiet day, then we moved on LOL

Well into my second week Ive been travelling with my mate helen for 5 days and in a comfort zone. Still always thinking of things and back home, but have settled well into travelling. San cristobal is a vibrant town higher up in the cooler mountains. With no street signs its harder to get around but on a grid system, plus we all know what my directional skills are like. Its weird there is a street that seems very cosmopolitan with many cofee bars. we went on a tour to two villages just outsid...

Overnight bus journey was OK, not in Southern cone league, but on par with Peru and Brasil.  Bit of a plus that the guide book said it would take 19 hours, but instead it took 13.  Shows how much Mexico is developing its infrastructure.  The bus terminal was pretty extreme as well, we had to check our luggage in at the desk and on embarkation we had to go through a security gate. So we got to San Cris early in the morning and checked in to the Backpackers Hostel (imaginative, huh?)  Bit to hi...

Way up in the hills, some 2000+ m above sea level is the superb little colonial town called San Cristobal de las Casas. After a long and painful bus, (im loosing my tolerance towards buses. I remember way back in the day, when i enjoyed a bus ride. Now, they are pure hell) I walked a few blocks with kiwi Shannon and found a brilliant hostel called ´Backpacker´. For $10 a night, it would be my home - for two nights. Equipped with a TV, Xbox, free internet, Bonfire pit, 2 friendly dogs and free...