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Map of Best of Mexico including Mexico

A chilli-spiced, sun-soaked, culture-filled adventure through Mexico

Raise a margarita glass to the beauty and culture of Mexico on this in-depth 15-day adventure. Discover Maya history at the incredible Chichen Itza ruins and visit indigenous communities near the charming San Cristobal de las Casas. Indulge in a traditional Pibil feast with a Maya family and learn about Zapotec culture over lunch in a local home. Stroll the charming streets of Merida, browse the colourful markets of Oaxaca and chill out on the beaches of Playa del Carmen. From museums and ruins to canyons and waterfalls, this journey will give you a taste of Mexico’s best.

Start
Mexico City, Mexico
Finish
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Destination
Mexico
Style
Comfort
Theme
Explorer
Code
QVKD
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • This is one of our most comprehensive adventures in Mexico, covering historical and cultural highlights from Mexico City through to the Caribbean coast.

  • Take a step way way back during enlightening guided tours through the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza, Teotihuacan, Palenque and Mitla.

  • Get a taste of Maya culture during a homecooked Pibil lunch with a local family, sampling this traditional method of cooking which involves barbecuing food underground.

  • Explore the Maya communities surrounding San Cristobal de las Casas and learn about local culture, religion and the traditional way of life retained in the highlands.

  • Discover the mighty Sumidero Canyon on board a guided boat tour, cruising below the canyon’s towering walls and spotting wildlife along the way.

Is this trip right for you?

  • Some included activities, such as guided tours of archaeological sites can involve a lot of walking. Please ensure you bring sturdy walking shoes and comfortable clothes. To make the most of the trip, it's best if you have at least a moderate level of fitness.

  • This trip includes time spent travelling in a private vehicle with your group. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. It's all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. There are a few long days of travel, as you'll be covering a lot of ground. You will, however, make stops at interesting locations to break up the longer drives. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.

  • The tropical climate of Central America means conditions can be hot and humid. Always carry plenty of water with you and stay hydrated, especially on walking tours.

The cactus fields in Ooxaca in Mexico
Eat ALL of the tacos on a Mexican Food Adventure with Intrepid Travel
San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico
QVZA Mexico_City_Taco_Crawl
Start your journey in amazing Mexico City
Dance to the rhythm of a local Mariarchi band in Mexio
Mexico Teotihuacan
QBPN - View of Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins

Itinerary
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Bienvenidos, welcome to Mexico City! On arrival, take a complimentary transfer from the airport to your hotel. If you have time, perhaps take a stroll to get a feel for this vibrant and rapidly growing capital where the ancient and modern collide. You'll meet your leader and other members of your group this evening for a welcome meeting at 6pm – until then, the day is yours. After the welcome meeting you may like to head out with your leader for an optional group dinner, an opportunity to get stuck straight into the many local culinary delights!
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
Optional Activities
  • Mexico City - Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) (entrance fee) (Closed Mondays) - MXN80
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.

Get to know Mexico City during a guided tour with your leader. Visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, the largest and one of the oldest cathedrals in Latin America. You’ll also explore Zocalo, the city’s main square, and the sprawling National Palace, where you can check out murals by famous Mexican painter Diego Rivera. Your tour also includes a visit to the Museum of Anthropology, home to an impressive collection of 600,000 pieces of Mexican art and artifacts. After the tour, the day is yours to spend as you please. The Leon Trotsky and Frida Kahlo (La Casa Azul) museums are two popular sights worth checking out as an optional activity. Trotsky, having come off second-best to Stalin in the race to the helm during the Soviet era, was expelled and found refuge in Mexico City where he was eventually murdered, while Frida Kahlo is perhaps the most renowned Mexican artist in history. Otherwise, just outside of the city, a visit to the colourful floating gardens of Xochimilco makes for an enjoyable afternoon.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mexico City - National Museum of Anthropology (entrance fee) (Closed Mondays)
  • Mexico City - Diego Rivera Murals in the Mural Museum (Entrance Fee)
  • Mexico City - Metropolitan Cathedral (entrance fee)
  • Mexico City - Leader-led orientation walk
Optional Activities
  • Mexico City - Frida Kahlo Museum (entrance fee) - MXN250
  • Mexico City - Leon Trotsky Museum (entrance fee) - MXN70
  • Mexico City - Boat ride through Floating Gardens of Xochimilco (Approx. per boat per hour) - MXN350
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
If you are interested in visiting the Frida Kahlo Museum, we recommend booking tickets online no later than two weeks prior to your visit.

Depart Mexico City this morning and visit the ancient Teotihuacan ruins, once one of the biggest cities in the world. Meet with a local guide and discover the amazing ruins known as the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon which dominate the skyline. Stroll down ‘The Avenue of the Dead’ and see the clues to what life was like here nearly 2000 years ago. Continue to the city of Puebla, learning some useful Spanish phrases from your leader on the way. On arrival to Puebla, join your leader for an orientation walk to get your bearings and explore the beautifully preserved city centre. Puebla is known for its delicious food scene and your leader will have tips on the best places to dine on local specialties this evening.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Teotihuacan - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
  • Puebla - Leader-led orientation walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total travel time is approximately 3.5 hours.

Say adios to Puebla and carry on to Oaxaca. This beautiful city is known for its colonial architecture, cuisine and lively art scene, but it's also a great place to browse for traditional Mexican handicrafts, with descendants of the Zapotec and Mixtec selling an array of bright woven blankets and shawls. Upon arrival, your leader will take you on a short walk to help orientate you, and to point out useful services such as bus stops or ATMs.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Oaxaca - Leader-led orientation walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total travel time is approximately 4.5 hours.

Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Oaxaca has so much to offer travellers, and you’ll spend the whole day exploring the city and its surrounds. Set off with your leader this morning, first stopping at the Mitla archaeological ruins, once the religious centre for the Zapotec people. Next up is a visit to the famous Tule Tree, a 1500-year-old Montezuma cypress with a 36-metre circumference, making it one of the widest in the world. Lunch today will be at the home of a local Zapotecan family where you’ll have the chance to try traditional dishes and learn about the culture of the indigenous Zapotec people. Returning to the hotel this evening – you may like to head out to enjoy Oaxaca’s nightlife.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mitla - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
  • Oaxaca - Zapotecan home-cooked lunch
  • Oaxaca - Tule Tree
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s total travel time is approximately 4 hours.

Today is a free day to explore Oaxaca at your own pace, with a range of optional activities to consider. You may like to dig into Oaxaca’s celebrated cuisine during a hands-on cooking class. Or perhaps pay a visit to the archaeological site of Monte Alban. The Zapotec civilisation began construction of this city around 200 BC, and Olmecs and Mixtecs have inhabited it at different times. Have your camera ready to go, because up here you can get an amazing view across the three legs of the valley of Oaxaca. Otherwise, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the streets and take the opportunity to feast on some regional delicacies. Season depending, a folkloric ballet performance is also a great optional activity. The Santo Domingo Cultural Centre is also well worth a visit.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Oaxaca - Santo Domingo Cultural Centre (entrance fee) - MXN85
  • Oaxaca - Folkloric ballet (seasonal) - MXN130
  • Oaxaca - Cooking class - MXN1300
  • Oaxaca - Monte Alban archaeological site (entrance fee) - MXN90
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today is a travel day, so buckle up and enjoy the ever-changing scenery of the Oaxaca region. Your destination is Salina Cruz, a city on the Pacific coast. Your journey will be broken up with stops so you can pick up local fruit and snacks along the way. On arrival to Salina Cruz, you may like to stretch your legs with a walk along the beach.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total travel time is approximately 5 hours.

Your journey continues as you drive to the Sumidero Canyon, a gigantic natural canyon with walls reaching as high as 1,000 metres. Here you’ll hop aboard a boat for an up close and personal tour of this remarkable landscape. Be sure to keep an eye (or an ear) out for howler monkeys along the way! After your boat tour, drive to the charming city of San Cristobal de las Casas. Once in 'San Cris', as it's known, take a walk and soak up the strong old-world atmosphere of this town, which is due in no small part to the grand Spanish colonial architecture, prominent indigenous cultures and winding cobblestone streets. Your leader will help orientate you with a walk around the hotel, then you are free to venture further into the city.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sumidero Canyon - Boat Excursion (entrance and transport)
  • San Cristobal de las Casas - Leader-led orientation walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total travel time is approximately 7 hours.

This morning, your leader will take you on a walking tour of the city, passing impressive cathedrals, green plazas and countless museums. Next, head to the nearby Maya village of San Juan Chamula. Nestled in the highlands, this village serves as a marketplace and religious ceremonial centre for the indigenous communities who live in the surrounding hills. The local people have retained their traditional way of life and can often be seen wearing their own distinctive, colourful clothes. Make the short drive to the next town of Zincantan. As you explore with your leader, you'll learn more about these mostly Maya communities. Later, during free time back in San Cris, perhaps rent a bike to explore the town further.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Zinacantan - Maya Church (entrance fee)
  • San Juan Chamula - Maya Church (entrance fee)
Optional Activities
  • San Cristobal de Las Casas - Bicycle rental (per hour) - MXN400
  • San Cristobal de las Casas - Na Bolom Museum - MXN70
  • San Cristobal de las Casas - Jade Museum - MXN65
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total travel time is approximately 1.5 hours.

Say goodbye to San Cristobal de Las Casas as you head for Palenque and its surrounding jungle. It will be an early start to minimise the chance of hitting road closures common in the area. There will be a stop or two to stretch your legs, before arriving at the low and wide Agua Azul Waterfalls, which flow slowly over limestone rocks. There's time for lunch and a quick dip, so remember to pack your swimsuit! Otherwise, enjoy a scenic stroll around the beautiful surroundings, before continuing to Palenque. A group dinner is included tonight.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Agua Azul - Waterfall Visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total travel time is approximately 6.5 hours.

The local Zapatista movement in the region around Palenque has been quite active in recent months, occasionally holding protests or blocking roads. Our local operations team is constantly monitoring this situation to ensure the safety of our travellers and leaders. In some cases, we might need to use a longer alternative route from San Cristobal to Palenque to avoid extensive traffic delays. It's also possible that the Agua Azul waterfall will not be accessible at the time we are scheduled to visit.

Set out this morning to the archaeological site of Palenque. Located on a hilltop in an area of hot jungle, these are some of the most astounding Maya ruins in the region, dating back as far as AD600. Some of the ruins remain unexcavated and are hidden in the surrounding forest. Enjoy a guided tour of the site and listen out for the calls of howler monkeys as you explore this lost city. After your tour, head back to your hotel in the more modern city of Palenque and perhaps spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Palenque - Archaeological site (Guide, Transport & Entrance fee)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Settle in for another driving day as you travel from Palenque to the historic city of Merida. Founded in 1542, Merida is the capital of the Yucatan state and has retained much of its old-world charm. After the drive, stretch your legs with an orientation walk with your leader where you’ll have the chance to check out the city’s colonial buildings and learn about its Maya heritage.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Merida - Leader-led orientation walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total travel time is approximately 7 hours.

Today is a free day to explore the many sights of Merida. Perhaps visit some of the museums, including the impressive Regional Anthropology Museum of the Yucatan, and stroll the city streets which are alive with art and culture. Hang out in the green and shady Plaza Grande, with the 16th-century cathedral on one side and City Hall, State Government Palace and Casa Mantejo on the other. The outdoor market is another essential visit, with an array of hammocks and Mayan replicas for sale, plus a selection of enticing local cuisine, including the dish cochinita pibil ('little pig') or the incredibly spicy El Yucateco hot sauce. If you can't visit enough Maya sites, you may want to head for the ancient ruins of Uxmal. Here you'll visit the amazing Palace of the Governors, considered by many to be the best example of classic Maya architecture. You may choose to travel west out to the coast to take a boat ride and visit the Celestun Bird Sanctuary and Biosphere Reserve. Here, near extensive beaches lined with coconut trees, you'll see a variety of coastal birds. Depending on the season (usually November to March), you may be able to witness the magnificent sight of thousands of flamingos painting a pink streak across the landscape.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Merida - Celestun Bird Sanctuary (entrance and transport) - MXN1035
  • Merida - Uxmal Ruins tour (inc. shared transport and guide) - MXN1400
  • Merida - Fernando Garcia Ponce-Macay Contemporary Art Museum (entrance fee) - Free
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Your first stop today is Chichen Itza, possibly the most famous Maya site in Mexico. You'll see the marvellous Temple of Kukulkan standing over the ruins and not far from the temple is the ‘ball court’, where many disputes are known to have been settled by way of a ball game that employed only the elbows, hips and wrists. Stone carvings depicting violence suggest it was not such a casual sport. Following a guided tour of the site, enjoy a special lunch with a local family in the town of Piste. Tuck into a traditional Pibil feast, a Maya style of cooking that involves barbecuing underground, which the family have perfected over generations. Finally, continue to the popular seaside town of Playa del Carmen, where you may like to join your group for a final dinner together.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Chichen Itza - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
  • Chichen Itza - Home-cooked pibil lunch
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s total travel time is approximately 4.5 hours.

With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave the accommodation at any time. If you wish to spend more time in Playa del Carmen, we'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).
Optional Activities
  • Playa del Carmen - Ferry to Cozumel (Round-trip Ticket) - MXN500
  • Tulum - Archaeological Site (entrance fee, no guide) - MXN90
  • Dos Ojos Cenote - Fresh Water Rock Pool (entrance fee with snorkelling gear & life jacket included) - MXN550
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

14 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Comfortable Hotel (14 nights)

Included activities

  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Mexico City - National Museum of Anthropology (entrance fee) (Closed Mondays)
  • Mexico City - Diego Rivera Murals in the Mural Museum (Entrance Fee)
  • Mexico City - Metropolitan Cathedral (entrance fee)
  • Mexico City - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Teotihuacan - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
  • Puebla - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Oaxaca - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Mitla - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
  • Oaxaca - Zapotecan home-cooked lunch
  • Oaxaca - Tule Tree
  • Sumidero Canyon - Boat Excursion (entrance and transport)
  • San Cristobal de las Casas - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Zinacantan - Maya Church (entrance fee)
  • San Juan Chamula - Maya Church (entrance fee)
  • Agua Azul - Waterfall Visit
  • Palenque - Archaeological site (Guide, Transport & Entrance fee)
  • Merida - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Chichen Itza - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
  • Chichen Itza - Home-cooked pibil lunch

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Best of Mexico trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
3. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for entrance tickets. Fees may apply for adding or amending details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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