Mexico City to the Riviera Maya: Culture, Ruins & Cenotes - 8 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Mexico City, Walking Tour

Welcome to Mexico! This beautiful Latin American nation is full of history, art, music, and some of the most delicious food in the world. The adventure begins in the capital of Mexico City. Upon arrival at the airport, a personal driver will pick you up for the transfer to your hotel. After settling in, you'll head out and stretch your legs on a three-hour walking tour of "DF" (Distrito Federal), as the locals call this city. 

It begins in the Centro Histórico (historic center), a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to many colonial and Aztec landmarks. You'll visit the Palacio de Bellas Artes (a white-marble cultural center and concert hall built in 1905), the pedestrian-only Madero Street, and the Plaza de la Constitución, better known as Zócalo. This massive public square is home to historic buildings like the Metropolitan Cathedral (built over 250 years beginning in 1573), the 16th-century National Palace, and the ruins of the 14th-century Templo Mayor, once a principal temple of the Aztec Empire.

After the tour, you can continue exploring on your own. Famous landmarks you won't want to miss include the Angel of Independence, a towering victory column on a roundabout in the center of the Paseo de la Reforma thoroughfare. There are also museums and art galleries in the trendy neighborhoods of Roma and San Miguel Chapultepec. There's also Chapultepec Park. At 1,695 acres, this is one of the largest urban green spaces in the world. After taking a stroll, maybe relax at a café in the bohemian enclave of La Condesa and admire the Art Nouveau architecture.

Day 2: Visit Xochimilco & Coyoacán

Today you'll visit two of Mexico City's most colorful neighborhoods. First, travel to the city's south for a two-hour Xochimilco tour. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has been settled since pre-colonial times and is known for its tranquil canals—remnants of the rivers that crossed the valley floor of Mexico and were used by the Aztecs for transport. The visit includes riding down these canals on a trajinera (a brightly painted, gondola-like boat). As you float down these waterways, you'll nibble on antojitos (Mexican snacks) while boats filled with mariachis float past and serenade you.

After Xochimilco, you'll head north to the historic (and colorful) neighborhood of Coyoacán. You'll visit its most famous landmarks on a two-hour guided tour of this bohemian enclave with its leafy plazas and brightly painted homes. Walk along the Callejón del Aguacate, a narrow street lined with colonial houses famous for their myths and legends. You'll also stop at old churches built in the viceregal era on orders by Hernán Cortés himself. And no trip here is complete without visiting the main square and Centennial Garden, where you can take a break and enjoy traditional desserts like churros and ice cream.

Day 3: Bike Tour of Teotihuacán

In the morning, your guide will pick you up at the hotel for the 1-hour drive outside the city to one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Mexico: Teotihuacán. Known as the "City of the Gods," this 8-sq-mile (20-sq-km) site was founded as early as 400 BCE, meaning it long pre-dates the Aztecs. During its heyday (around 500 CE), it was home to 200,000 people and over 2,000 buildings, making it the largest city in the western hemisphere. Rather than taking a walking tour of its wide pathways, you'll experience Teotihuacán a bit differently—on a bicycle.

Upon arrival, you'll hop on a bike and cycle around the archaeological site, first passing the many murals that decorate the structures and depict cultural and religious motifs and natural landscapes. Then travel down the Avenue of the Dead, Teotihuacán's main path that runs for a mile (2 km). You'll also visit the Pyramid of the Sun, the most prominent structure at 215 feet (66 m), and the Pyramid of the Moon, which towers 140 feet (43 m). Then stop at the Temple of Quetzalcoatl (Temple of the Feathered Serpent), which has bas-reliefs of the feathered serpent deity carved into its sides.

After the tour, you'll enjoy a pulque tasting. Known to the Aztecs as "the blood of the gods," this traditional Mexican spirit is made from the maguey plant's fermented aguamiel (sap), a type of agave. You'll also visit a workshop specializing in the pre-Hispanic flavors of the Teotihuacán region, which makes products from local flora like the fruits of the nopal and xoconostle plants.

Day 5: Río Secreto Guided Tour

There are thousands of cenotes (limestone sinkholes) in the Yucatán Peninsula. These freshwater lagoons make great swimming holes, but there are also plenty of underground cenote caves and waterways worth exploring. One of the most incredible is Río Secreto. This natural wonder is one of the largest underground river systems in the world. The best part is it's located only about 45 minutes north of Tulum in the heart of the Riviera Maya.

On a 3.5-hour tour, you'll strap on a helmet and head into the river to explore its wonderland of geological formations, massive caverns, hanging stalactites, and crystalline waterways. This is a guided tour, and as you make your way through the cave network, your guide will explain the history of Río Secreto and offer insight into its geology. 

Day 6:  Day Trip to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve

In the morning, head out on a full-day tour of nearby Sian Ka'an, a Biosphere Reserve and Unesco World Heritage Site. It's Mexico's largest protected area, covering an area of over 2,000 sq miles (5,180 sq km). The site has natural wonders like tropical forests, palm savannas, wetlands, mangroves, lagoons, and unspoiled coastline. The region's sheer beauty is represented in its name—in the Mayan language, Sian Ka'an means "origin of the sky." Today's activity is part of a community-based ecotourism cooperative focusing on conservation and a commitment to responsible tourism.

You'll arrive at a community center where you'll join your tour group and start the excursion. After hiking for a while on a jungle trail, you'll arrive at the temple ruins at Muyil, an ancient Maya site settled in 300 BCE. Continue hiking until you reach the edge of the turquoise Chunyaxche Lagoon, where you'll ride a boat through a mangrove channel and arrive at a small dock. Once there, you can take a refreshing dip in the water. The absolute joy here is floating slowly along the channels amid the peaceful surroundings and listening to the calls of howler monkeys and exotic birds in the trees.

After the swim, you'll head back to the community center, where you'll find a hearty meal. Then it will be time to return to your hotel in Tulum.

Day 8: Transfer to Cancún, Depart

At the appropriate time today, your driver will transfer you from Tulum to the airport in Cancún, where you'll catch your flight home. Safe travels!

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