We'd planned some kind of trip like this for a few years, but the plan all changed when we were lucky enough to witness the total eclipse in Exmouth, Western Australia, in 2023. After that, we just HAD to see the next one... and that was going to be in the coastal city of Mazatlán in Mexico.
Then, we just had to be in Mexico to witness the next one, the full total eclipse on April 8th, 2024, starting in Mazatlan, a big coastal city that, I have to admit, I'd never even heard of. So, rather than go to Europe first and wind our way to New Zealand last, we switched it around and went to New Zealand first, then to Mexico, USA and then Europe.
So, after Auckland we had a very long flight over the Pacific to Los Angeles, onto Mexico City for three nights (two really, as we arrived after midnight on the first). After that, we'd planed four nights in the Baja California Sud town of La Paz before the actual eclipse in Mazatlan. Originally, I'd planned to fly from there to Leon but that flight got cancelled so we had find a bus route instead. We decided to break that journey up stopping one night in Guadalajara and finishing the Mexican experience with two nights in the picture postcard town of Guanajuato.
Day 24 Sunday, 31st March - Frida Kahlo on Mexico City after the longest night
Leon Trotsky
Back to the City
Day 25 Monday, 1st April - Teotihuacan
Day 26 Tuesday, 2nd April - La Paz
Day 27 Wednesday, 3rd April - La Paz Malecon
Day 28 Thursday, 4th April - La Paz Whale sharks
Day 29 Friday, 5th April - La Paz Sealions
Day 30 Saturday, 6th April - Short flight to Mazatlan
Day 31 Sunday, 7th April - Mazatlan Malecon
Day 32 Monday, 8th April - Total Eclipse in Mazatlan
Day 33 Tuesday, 9th April - Lighthouse Mazatlan
Day 34 Wednesday, 10th April - Bus to Guadalajara Nightmare
Day 35 Thursday, 11th April - Leon to Guanajuto Arrival
Day 36 Friday, 12th April - Guanajuto Bimbling Day
Day 37 Saturday, 13th April - Guanajuto to USA
