Mexico is vastly underestimated as a travel destination — it has the greatest ancient civilisations in the Americas, extraordinary colonial cities, the world's best street food (yes, better than Italy), and coastlines on two oceans. Plus the cenotes: the most magical swimming holes on Earth.
📅 Day-by-Day Itinerary
📅 Mexico City
The world's second-largest city and one of its greatest. The Anthropology Museum (the finest pre-Columbian collection anywhere), Frida Kahlo's Blue House, the Zócalo, Teotihuacan's pyramids at sunrise. Eat tacos al pastor from a street trompo at 11pm in Roma Norte.
📅 Oaxaca
Mexico's food and craft capital. The black mole at a traditional cocina económica. Mezcal tasting at a village palenque. Monte Albán Zapotec ruins at sunset. The incredible markets of Tlacolula and Etla. Guelaguetza dance festival if timing works.
📅 Yucatán — Mérida & Uxmal
The whitest colonial city in Mexico — Mérida's pastel mansions and Sunday night dancing in the Plaza Grande. Uxmal Mayan ruins — more impressive and less crowded than Chichén Itzá, the Puuc architecture extraordinary.
📅 Chichén Itzá & Cenotes
The Equinox at Chichén Itzá (September only) or an early arrival before the tour buses. Then the cenotes — Gran Cenote and Dos Ojos for swimming in underground cave systems of extraordinary turquoise clarity. Tulum cliff-top ruins above the Caribbean.
📅 Bacalar & Palenque
Bacalar's seven-colour lagoon — kayak through shades of turquoise impossible to photograph accurately. Then Palenque — Mayan jungle ruins with howler monkeys in the canopy overhead. The greatest jungle archaeology site in the Americas.
🏨 Where to Stay
Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Mexico City
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Polanco boutique hotel — quiet luxury in Mexico's best neighbourhood
Earn your PADI Open Water certification in the warm Caribbean — your checkout dives take you through MUSA, the world's largest underwater sculpture museum with 500+ submerged artworks slowly being reclaimed by coral.
💡 Key tips: Mexico City is as safe as any major European city in the tourist areas — don't be put off by its reputation. Eat street food everywhere — it's safer than most restaurants. Uber works brilliantly in all major cities. Learn a few words of Spanish — it opens every door. Montezuma's Revenge: drink bottled water, avoid ice in non-tourist restaurants.
