Art & Archeology: Mexico City to Oaxaca - 9 Days

Highlights

• Experience the art and history of Mexico City
• Visit the giant pyramids at Teotihuacán
• Hike the cactus trails of the Oaxaca Valley
• Tour Monte Albán, the ancient capital of the Zapotec people

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Mexico City, Explore

Welcome to Mexico! This culturally rich and beautiful Latin American nation is full of history, art, music, and some of the most delicious food in the world. Upon arrival at the airport in Mexico City, a driver will be waiting for the transfer to your hotel. After check-in, you can spend the remainder of the day however you wish. Feel free to head out and explore—just know it's one of the largest cities in the world. This metropolis is home to around 10 million people spread over 350 colonias (neighborhoods). It's also a high-altitude city (7,349 ft/2,240 m), so you'll want to acclimate before exerting yourself on any long walks.

Day 2: City Tour & Mural Museum, Lucha Libre & Mezcal Tasting

Today you'll explore the city on a 3.5-hour art and architecture tour. It begins with a guided tour of the Diego Rivera Mural Museum, where you'll see firsthand the characters and stages of Mexican history that the celebrated artist portrayed in his work. Then take a walk through Alameda Central Park, which dates to 1592 and is the oldest public park in the Americas. Continue on to the Palacio de Bellas Artes concert hall. Constructed on the orders of President Porfirio Díaz, this stunning Art Nouveau masterpiece was built to commemorate Mexico's independence in 1910 and was completed in 1934.

Next, stroll down pedestrian-only Madero Street to the Plaza de la Constitución, also known as Zócalo. Around this massive public square sits the Metropolitan Cathedral (which dates to 1573), the 16th-century National Palace, and the ruins of the 14th-century Templo Mayor, a main temple of the Aztec Empire. You'll also see more murals from three great Mexican artists: Rivera, Orozco, and Siqueiros. Muralism is an integral part of Mexico's culture, as it defined the country's identity from the 1920s to the 1950s, paving the way for the emergence of new art and artists. 

Day 3: Visit Coyoacán & Xochimilco

Today you'll head to the south of Mexico City and two historic barrios. First up is Coyoacán, a neighborhood famous for its cobbled streets, shady plazas, and colorful homes. The area has retained its colonial charm, as it was its own municipality from the early 16th century through the 19th century. Here you'll visit the 16th-century San Juan Bautista Church, plus stop at a local craft fair. Then continue to La Casa Azul, the house where Frida Kahlo spent much of her life and is now a museum displaying works by Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

Next, travel farther south to the outskirts of the city and Xochimilco. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has been settled since pre-colonial times. It's known for its tranquil canals—remnants of the rivers that once crossed Mexico's valley floor and were used by the Aztecs for transport. A popular activity you'll enjoy is traveling down the canals on a trajinera (painted, gondola-like boat). As you float down the half-natural, half-artificial channels, you'll nibble on antojitos (Mexican snacks) and learn about Mexican history as boats filled with mariachi musicians float past and serenade you.

Day 4: Day Trip to Teotihuacán, Transfer to Cholula

After breakfast, your driver will meet you for an approximately one-hour drive northeast of Mexico City to Teotihuacán, one of the most incredible archaeological sites in the country (which is saying something). Over five hours, you'll explore this ancient city that dates to 400 BCE and covers a sprawling 8 sq miles (20 sq km). Known as the "City of the Gods," during Teotihuacán's heyday (around 500 CE), it was home to about 200,000 people and boasted over 2,000 structures, the ruins of which remain today. And many of the great pyramids here have been restored to near-total glory.

The tour starts with a walk along the Calzada de Los Muertos (Avenue of the Dead), Teotihuacán's main path, which runs just over a mile (2 km). Then hike up the 248 steps of the Pyramid of the Sun, the most prominent structure at 215 feet (66 m), before continuing to the Pyramid of the Moon, which towers 140 feet (43 m). Afterward, visit the Temple of Quetzalcoatl (Temple of the Feathered Serpent), which features representations of the feathered serpent deity carved into its sides. Discovered under the temple are the remains of 100 bodies that date to around 200 CE and were possibly sacrificial victims.

After Teotihuacán, you'll hop in the car for the two-hour drive southeast to Cholula, a historic district located a couple of miles outside the city of Puebla.

Day 5: Day Trip to Tehuacán-Cuicuitlan Reserve, Transfer to Oaxaca

After breakfast, your local guide will pick you up for the 2.5-hour drive south to the Tehuacán-Cuicatlan Reserve. This protected area's unique position in a valley bordered by three mountain ranges has resulted in incredible biodiversity, one example being its forests of columnar cacti endemic to the area. This has led to the reserve being recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the Indigenous Nahuatl language, Tehuacán means "Place of God," and you'll see why once you arrive. On a walking tour of the area, your guide will point out the unique cacti that thrive here and the other flora and fauna that characterize this ecosystem, home to 85 reptile species and 338 bird species. After the nature walks, continue driving another 2.5 hours to Oaxaca City, the capital of the state of the same name. Getting there is half the fun, as this scenic drive through Mexico's fertile Oaxaca Valley boasts some of the country's most beautiful landscapes. 

Day 6: Visit Monte Albán, Mezcal Tour

In the morning, head to the ruins of the great Zapotec city of Monte Albán for a three-hour tour. This pre-Columbian site is one of the most important ancient cities in Mesoamerica. Not only is it one of the largest (it covers 4 sq mi/10 sq km), but it was founded in the sixth century BCE and was the capital city of the Zapotec people for a staggering 13 centuries (500 BCE to 800 CE). Situated atop a hill in the Oaxaca Valley, you'll tour landmarks like the North Platform, the Great Plaza, Los Danzantes (bas-relief stone sculptures depicting dancers), ball courts, and more.

After Monte Albán, continue on a three-hour tour highlighting mezcal, a spirit that originated in Oaxaca and is made from the agave plant. First, tour the agave fields in Matatlán, a small village and the "world capital of mezcal." Here you'll learn the different varieties of this plant used to make the drink as well as the harvesting methods. You'll even enjoy a traditional cantarito—a mezcal cocktail with orange and grapefruit juice. Continue to Chichicapam for a traditional lunch with a local family, then end in the town of Ocotlán, where you will visit a cantina specializing in artisanal mezcal.

Day 7: Oaxaca City Tour

After breakfast, you'll head out on a 3.5-hour city tour to discover Oaxaca's history and culture, including a visit to the 18th-century stone Aqueduct, colorful Garcia Vigil Street, and the Seminary of the Holy Cross. The latter is where Benito Juárez studied as a teenager. A member of the Zapotec Nation and Mexico's first Indigenous president, Juárez was considered the father of modern Mexico, as he guided the country through revolutions and invasions.

Further on, you'll find El Templo del Carmen Bajo, a charming 16th-century church. Another historic church from the same period is Santo Domingo de Guzmán, an impressive example of Baroque architecture. The area where the monastery was located has been converted into a museum and cultural center. Here you'll find pre-Columbian artifacts, including the tomb contents from nearby Monte Albán. You'll also stroll the cobbled walkway of Alcalá Street and visit the 16th-century Metropolitan Cathedral, which overlooks the Zócalo, the busy main square surrounded by cafés and restaurants.

Day 8: Free Day in Oaxaca

Enjoy the day to take in more of this singularly wonderful city's rich culture and history. It's home to fascinating museums like the Textile Museum of Oaxaca, which celebrates tradition and craftsmanship while giving urban and rural artisans a venue to display their artistic creations. You could also stop by the Ethnobotanical Garden (entrance only with a local guide), home to a diverse flora, including many cacti. If you have a sweet tooth, sample traditional Oaxacan spiced hot chocolate. Then grab a cup of esquite banquetero (Mexican street corn) on your return to the hotel.

Oaxaca boasts some of the best food in the country, and you'd be remiss if you didn't indulge. Traditional dishes include tlayudas (a kind of giant grilled quesadilla), tetelas (stuffed corn tortillas folded into triangles), tamales Oaxaqueños (tamales wrapped in banana leaves ) chapulines (fried crickets often served with guacamole), and of course mole. Oaxaca isn't the birthplace of this spicy/savory cacao (cocoa) sauce—that honor goes to Puebla. However, the region has developed seven signature styles of the dish utilizing various chilies that result in different colors, from negro (black) to verde (green). 

Day 9: Depart Oaxaca

In the morning, your driver will pick you up for the ride to the airport in Oaxaca, where you'll catch your flight home. ¡Buen viaje!

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