Highlights
- Sample local cuisine on a foodie tour of Mexico City's Centro Histórico
- Stroll through the many chapels of the 16th-century Puebla Cathedral
- Visit the Maya community of Yalcobá to learn about farming techniques
- Snorkel with colorful tropical fish at Puerto Morelos Reef National Park
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Mexico City, Explore | Mexico City |
| Day 2 | Guided Food Tour in the Historic Center | Mexico City |
| Day 3 | Visit the National Museum of Anthropology & Paseo de la Reforma | Mexico City |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Puebla, Historic Walking Tour, Talavera Workshop | Puebla |
| Day 5 | Day Trip to Orizaba & Cerro del Borrego Ecopark | Puebla |
| Day 6 | Fly to Cancún, Transfer to Valladolid, Free Afternoon | Valladolid |
| Day 7 | Discover the Wonders of Chichén Itzá, Cultural Excursion to Yalcobá | Valladolid |
| Day 8 | Transfer to Puerto Morelos, Snorkeling Excursion | Puerto Morelos |
| Day 9 | Visit the Botanical Gardens, Beach Time | Puerto Morelos |
| Day 10 | Transfer to Cancún, Depart |
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Mexico City, Explore
Welcome to Mexico! Upon arrival at the airport in Mexico City, you'll be met by your private driver and transferred to your hotel. Once you've had a chance to relax and regroup, you can step out and see some of what Mexico's capital city has to offer. Founded in the 16th century under Spanish rule, Mexico City is now the largest metropolis in Latin America and has become a popular destination known for its art, food, and rich cultural history.
Start with an immersion into local life with a stroll through neighborhoods like Roma, where you'll find Art Deco architecture and excellent restaurants, or San Ángel, with its cobblestone streets, art galleries, and sidewalk cafés. You can also head to La Ciudadela market for artisan goods, crafts, and colorful souvenirs.
If you're looking for green spaces to relax in, take a walk through Chapultepec Park, a 1,700-acre (686 ha) park that has shaded walking paths, as well as a castle and large zoo. The castle houses the National Museum of History, where you can learn about the history of Mexico and its people. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Guided Food Tour in the Historic Center
Dive into Mexico City's gastronomy with a guided foodie tour through Centro Histórico. Your expert guide will take you on a journey of some of the best foods in the neighborhood while you learn about Mexican culture from a culinary perspective. Visit San Juan Market, where you'll walk between aisles of fresh produce, seafood, and vendors selling regional fare. Sample seafood tostadas, tortas—even crunchy cooked crickets! Your guide will share insight into the history of various dishes, and you can chat with the vendors to learn more about the preparation and ingredients.
Afterward, the rest of your day is free. You can take a self-guided walking tour of the downtown area, visiting sites such as the Diego Rivera Mural Museum, which showcases Mexican history as portrayed by the artist. In addition to Rivera's works, you can stop at the Ministry of Education building to better understand the work of other muralists, such as Siqueiros and Orozco, and learn more about how Muralism became an important part of Mexican culture.
End the day with a stroll through Alameda Central Park, one of the oldest public gardens in Mexico, where you'll find shaded pathways and lots of green space. The park also often has live music and performers, as well as food and souvenir vendors.
Day 3: Visit the National Museum of Anthropology & Paseo de la Reforma
Today's tour takes you to the National Museum of Anthropology, one of Latin America's most important museums. Built in the 1960s by architect Pedro Ramirez Vasquez, the museum includes over 20 rooms designed to preserve Mexico's rich Indigenous heritage. Accompanied by your guide, tour the museum's main collections, learn about the history of pre-Hispanic cultures, and view pieces such as the Aztec Calendar, the Olmec Colossal Head, and the famous Mask of Pakal. Discover more about the history of each piece, and come away with a better understanding of Mexico's past and present.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then set out on your own for a walk through Mexico City's main avenue, Paseo de la Reforma, otherwise known as the "Empress Promenade," due to it being built under the orders of Emporer Maximilian to please his consort, Empress Carlota. The avenue boasts some of the city's tallest buildings, as well as the winged Angel of Independence statue, built in 1910 to commemorate the centennial of Mexico's independence.
Day 4: Transfer to Puebla, Historic Walking Tour, Talavera Workshop
Your next destination is Puebla, located southeast of Mexico City, known for its colonial architecture, pottery, and beautifully painted Talavera tiles that adorn various buildings. Meet your private driver in the morning for the scenic 2.5-hour drive, arriving at your hotel in Puebla just in time for a walking tour.
With your local guide, walk to the city's historic center, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Start at Puebla Cathedral, built between the 16th and 17th centuries in the Spanish Herrerian style. Stroll through its many chapels and see some incredible paintings here, then continue to the Palafoxiana Library. Recognized as the first and oldest public library in the Americas, the library has more than 40,000 books and manuscripts, some of which go back to the 15th century.
Later, you can learn about the art of Talavera pottery, a tradition from the Spanish city of Talavera de la Reina. Guided by your experienced instructor, you'll learn more about the history of this painted pottery and the process of creating it, then make your own plate or cup. Connect with the essence of Puebla, creating a unique art piece as a reminder of your time in Puebla.
Day 5: Day Trip to Orizaba & Cerro del Borrego Ecopark
The day starts early as you depart for a day trip to Orizaba, once considered one of the most cultured cities in all of Mexico. Flanked by the spectacular Pico de Orizaba, which sits at a towering 18,490 feet (5,636 m) and is Mexico's highest mountain, the region is a popular destination for mountaineers and other outdoor adventurers.
Your driver will collect you from your hotel in the morning for the 2.5-hour drive, and upon arrival, you'll start at Cerro del Borrego Ecopark, traveling via cable car to their two on-site museums, where you can learn about Mexico's battle against the French, and see cartography exhibits from the year 1700 and up. Take a short walk on the mountain trails and see the beauty of the Orizaba Valley below before descending back to the base.
Walk along the city's riverwalk, Paseo del Río, where paved pathways take you along the river and its hanging bridges. Stop by the Iron Palace, an unusual Art Nouveau castle built by French engineer Gustave Eiffel, designer of Paris' famed Eiffel Tower, then close the tour with a visit to Ojo de Agua Lagoon. This freshwater spring, which flows from the base of nearby Escamela Hill, offers boat rentals for a cruise across the lagoon, or you can cool off at their water park! Return to Puebla in the evening and relax at your hotel.
Day 6: Fly to Cancún, Transfer to Valladolid, Free Afternoon
The adventure continues as you head to Valladolid, located on the Yucatán Peninsula. Your driver will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport, where you'll board a flight to Cancún. Upon arrival, you'll take a private transfer to your hotel in Valladolid, a drive of approximately two hours.
Located just 30 minutes from the ancient Maya city of Chichén Itzá, Valladolid is considered a bit of a hidden gem and has been listed by the Mexican Tourism Board as one of Mexico's most beautiful cities. Here, you'll find sights such as the historic Convent of San Bernardino de Siena, an ex-convent built in Colonial times, vibrant plazas, and cobbled streets. The biggest draw is the town's cenotes, which are underground caves or sinkholes filled with water.
Start your immersion into this charming city with a stroll along La Calzada de Los Frailes, a street built in the 16th century to connect Valladolid with the nearby town of Sisal. Pass by the pastel-colored homes, stop at one of the many boutiques, or take a coffee break at a local café. Tonight, visit Canton Parque Francisco, the city's central plaza, where you can experience a traditional Yucatecan meal at one of the plaza's restaurants.
Day 7: Discover the Wonders of Chichén Itzá, Cultural Excursion to Yalcobá
Today, you'll explore Chichén Itzá, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. This pre-Columbian Maya city was once the most revered center of worship and pilgrimage in the Yucatán Peninsula. You'll be met by a local guide who will escort you around the site while sharing their knowledge of this fascinating ancient world. See structures such as the Pyramid of Kukulcan, the Temple of the Warriors, and the Observatory, admiring the intricate sculptures and reliefs depicting the life and beliefs of the ancient Maya people. Along the way, your guide will regale you with stories and legends of Maya culture.
Next is the Maya community of Yalcobá, where you'll take a guided tour of their farms and learn about the traditional milpa system used to grow maize, squash, and beans. Continue to the nearby forest, where you can explore caves and take a refreshing swim in a cenote, then return to town and end the tour at a handicrafts workshop, watching artisans create jewelry out of bull horns and weave intricate hammocks.
Day 8: Transfer to Puerto Morelos, Snorkeling Excursion
Next, you're off to the charming village of Puerto Morelos, located just a couple hours from Valladolid. Your private driver will collect you from your hotel after checkout and transfer you to your new accommodations. Puerto Morelos is a small town with beautiful white-sand beaches, most known for its proximity to the Mesoamerican Reef System—the second-largest barrier reef in the world. Get introduced to this incredible natural wonder immediately as you meet your guide for a snorkeling excursion in Puerto Morelos Reef National Park.
The reef, which runs parallel to the Yucatán Peninsula and is only outsized by Australia's Great Barrier Reef, is a haven for extensive species of fish and underwater plants. While the reef can be seen from the shores of Puerto Morelos, swimming out to it is prohibited due to its status as a natural protected zone, so a guided snorkel tour is the safest way to view this amazing coral ecosystem.
Your guides will take you out to the reef by boat and will accompany you into the water, sharing their expertise on the types of marine and plant life found here. See the different kinds of coral, including elkhorn coral (an important reef-building species that is on the decline), as well as a wide variety of fish, snails, sea sponges, and shrimp. You might even catch glimpses of curious octopuses or sea turtles! After your tour, you'll be returned to the main harbor and can spend the rest of your day exploring on your own.
Day 9: Visit the Botanical Gardens, Beach Time
Your last day in Mexico is all your own, and you can make the most of it by seeing more of the sights around Puerto Morelos. Start at the Botanical Garden of Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marin, a lush 160-acre (65 ha) reserve dedicated to the endemic flora and fauna of the region. Here, you'll find easy walking trails surrounded by plants and trees, some used in traditional Maya medicine. The gardens are also home to various animals, including lizards, birds, and a large troop of spider monkeys.
Then, head to the Leaning Lighthouse. Built in 1946, the lighthouse was hit by Hurricane Beulah in 1967, leaving it with a degraded foundation and tilted appearance. The lighthouse sits on the main beach area, and this can be a great place to spend the rest of your afternoon soaking up some sun and surf. Later this evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and stroll through the town square, where you'll likely find live music and other entertainment.
Day 10: Transfer to Cancún, Depart
Your time in Mexico ends today. After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to Cancún, where you'll catch your flight home or to your next destination. Safe travels!
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