Mexico 10-Day Travel Itinerary
Tacos, Temples & Turquoise Cenotes
November to April for dry weather and comfortable temperatures
$49-445 per day — incredible value, especially food
Teotihuacán, Oaxaca food, Chichén Itzá, Cenotes, Tulum
Your 10-Day Mexico Adventure
Arrive at MEX Airport, transfer to Condesa/Roma Norte neighborhood
Mexico City
Zócalo (main square), Metropolitan Cathedral, Templo Mayor ruins
Centro Histórico
Rooftop mezcal bar overlooking the Zócalo, tacos al pastor at El Huequito
Mexico City
💡 Pro Tip:
Stay in Roma Norte or Condesa — the trendiest neighborhoods with incredible restaurants. Mexico City is at 2,240m altitude — drink lots of water on Day 1.
Frida Kahlo Museum (Casa Azul) in Coyoacán — book tickets online!
Coyoacán
Chapultepec Castle & National Museum of Anthropology (best in Latin America)
Chapultepec
Roma Norte food crawl — tlacoyos, quesadillas, churros at El Moro
Roma Norte
💡 Pro Tip:
Frida Kahlo Museum sells out WEEKS in advance — book online immediately. The Anthropology Museum needs minimum 3 hours — the Aztec Sun Stone alone is worth the visit.
Day trip to Teotihuacán — Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon, Avenue of the Dead
Teotihuacán
Return to CDMX, explore Condesa neighborhood parks and cafes
Condesa
Lucha Libre wrestling at Arena México — the Ultimate Mexican experience!
Mexico City
💡 Pro Tip:
Arrive at Teotihuacán at 8 AM opening for empty pyramids. Bring sunscreen and water — no shade! Lucha Libre on Fridays is the best atmosphere ($10-20 tickets).
Flight to Oaxaca (1 hour), check into Centro hotel near the Zócalo
Oaxaca
Explore Oaxaca Centro — Santo Domingo Temple, textile museum, art galleries
Oaxaca Centro
Mole tasting dinner (7 types of mole!) at Casa Oaxaca, mezcal bar crawl
Oaxaca
💡 Pro Tip:
Oaxaca has arguably the best food in all of Mexico — mole negro, tlayudas, chapulines (grasshoppers!). Try a mezcal tasting with sal de gusano (worm salt).
Monte Albán — ancient Zapotec mountain-top city with valley views
Monte Albán
Mezcal distillery tour in Santiago Matatlán — artisanal mezcal tastings
Matatlán
20 de Noviembre Market — grilled meats, fresh juices, Oaxacan chocolate
Oaxaca
💡 Pro Tip:
Monte Albán opens at 8 AM — go early before tour buses arrive. The market's grilled meat section (pasillo de carnes) is the best lunch in Oaxaca for $3-5.
Hierve el Agua — petrified waterfalls and natural infinity pools in the mountains
Hierve el Agua
Flight from Oaxaca to Cancún (2 hours)
Cancún
Check into Riviera Maya resort or Playa del Carmen hotel, beach sunset
Riviera Maya
💡 Pro Tip:
Base yourself in Playa del Carmen over Cancún — it's more charming, affordable, and central for day trips to cenotes and ruins.
Drive to Chichén Itzá (2.5h) — one of the New Seven Wonders of the World
Chichén Itzá
Swim in Cenote Ik Kil — a stunning underground cave pool near the ruins
Cenote Ik Kil
Return to Playa del Carmen, Quinta Avenida shopping and dining
Playa del Carmen
💡 Pro Tip:
Arrive at Chichén Itzá at 8 AM opening — tours buses arrive at 10 and it gets unbearably crowded and hot. Entry: $35. Cenote Ik Kil: $8.
Tulum archaeological site — Mayan ruins on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean
Tulum
Cenote hopping — Gran Cenote (crystal clear swimming), Cenote Calavera (cliff jumping)
Tulum
Tulum Beach Road sunset — jungle-chic restaurants and beach clubs
Tulum
💡 Pro Tip:
Tulum ruins open at 8 AM — the cliff-top ocean view is incredible. Gran Cenote ($10 entry) has turtles and crystal-clear water — bring a waterproof camera.
Ferry to Cozumel island — world-class coral reef snorkeling/diving
Cozumel
Xcaret eco-archaeological park — underground rivers, snorkeling, Mexican culture show
Xcaret
Farewell Mexican dinner — cochinita pibil, fresh ceviche, margaritas
Playa del Carmen
💡 Pro Tip:
Cozumel ferry from Playa del Carmen takes 45 min ($15 round trip). Xcaret is $$$ ($100+) but a full day of activities. Palancar Reef in Cozumel is world-class diving.
Last swim at the Caribbean, fresh fruit from beach vendors, pack souvenirs
Riviera Maya
Last tacos, last margarita, souvenir shopping for vanilla and hot sauce
Playa del Carmen
Transfer to Cancún Airport for departure
Cancún
💡 Pro Tip:
Buy authentic Mexican vanilla and hot sauces as souvenirs — much cheaper here than anywhere else. Cancún airport can be slow — arrive 3 hours early for international flights.
Mexico Weather Guide
✓ Pros:
Perfect weather, no hurricanes, great beach conditions, clear cenote water
✗ Cons:
Peak tourist prices (Dec-Jan), crowded at major sites
✓ Pros:
Warm weather, fewer tourists, good hotel deals, whale sharks (June)
✗ Cons:
Starting to get humid, occasional afternoon rain
✓ Pros:
Lowest prices, fewer crowds, lush green landscapes, sea turtle nesting
✗ Cons:
Afternoon storms daily, hurricane risk (Sep), humid
Mexico Travel Budget Estimates
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (9 nights) | $180-350 | $500-1200 | $2500+ |
| Internal Flights (2) | $80-150 | $100-200 | $250+ |
| Meals & Drinks | $100-200 | $250-500 | $800+ |
| Activities & Entry Fees | $80-150 | $200-400 | $600+ |
| Local Transport | $50-100 | $100-200 | $300+ |
| TOTAL (per person) | $490-950 | $1150-2500 | $4450+ |
Getting Around Mexico
ADO buses connect cities comfortably — first class has AC, reclining seats, and movies ($15-40)
Collectivos (shared vans) are the cheapest transport on the Riviera Maya ($1-3 per ride)
Uber works in Mexico City, Cancún, and Playa del Carmen — cheaper than taxis
Internal flights (Volaris, VivaAerobus) are cheap if booked early ($30-80)
Rent a car only if you're comfortable driving in Mexico — roads are good but driving culture is aggressive
Cancún Airport to Playa del Carmen: ADO bus ($10) is much cheaper than taxis ($60+)
Avoid These Mexico Mistakes
Only staying in the Cancún hotel zone (you'll miss the real Mexico — venture out!)
Drinking tap water or ice from street vendors (stick to bottled/purified water)
Skipping Oaxaca (it has the BEST food in Mexico — better than Mexico City)
Not swimming in cenotes (they're one of Earth's most unique natural wonders)
Going to Chichén Itzá at 10 AM with the tour bus crowds (go at 8 AM opening!)
Accepting 'free' timeshare presentations at airports/hotels (they take 4+ hours)