Ciudad de Mexico was the beginning of what became almost a six-month journey of adventure through Central and South America. A five-hour flight from New York City and similar or less for the rest of the US, it’s a convenient short vacation getaway to a land that is rich in history and culture. The Benito Juarez International Airport is in the city itself with a number of transportation options to all parts of the city. The cheapest is public transport, followed by bus/shuttle, and the more expensive taxis. Uber1 is also available, however, the driver will ask you to sit in front as it appears it hasn’t been completely legalized yet. There are several cash ATMs in the airport and they charge between 18 and 30 MXN2 to make a withdrawal. The airport also has a 15 minute free WiFi session which I took advantage of to order my Uber to my hostel in the Historic City Center in Zocalo.
A 30 minute Uber ride later and I was at my hostel two blocks from Zocalo plaza. Other than the plaza and Metropolitan Cathedral, there are several sites and attractions that are walking distances from the Zocalo area. Around the corner from the cathedral lie the Aztec ruins of Templo Mayor. The ruins are visible from a balcony like structure but there is also a museum and guided tours of the excavation work done on the site.
From the Zocalo plaza, there is a nice walk down Av. Francisco I. Madero which is a pedestrian-only zone. There are several high street shops, restaurants, and bars on this road which leads to the Alameda Park. In here we can find the El Palacio de Bellas Artes and La Torre Latinoamericana. From here, it is also a short 10-minute walk to Plaza Garibaldi also known to the locals as the “Plaza de los Mariachis”. However, you should probably take an Uber to this place as the walk was through an area which is very run down, deserted, and didn’t feel safe.
