Off the Beaten Path in Mexico City, Puebla & Cuetzalan - 10 Days

Highlights

• Try some of Mexico City's best tacos in the hip neighborhood of Navarte
• In Puebla, visit one of the oldest libraries in the Americas, the Palafoxiana Library
• Taste coffee at a local cooperative in Cuetzalan
• Root for your favorite wrestler at a lucha libre match in Mexico City

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Mexico City, Food Tour of Narvarte

Welcome to Mexico! Your driver will be waiting at the Mexico City International Airport gate to transfer you to your hotel in Mexico City. One of the largest urban centers in the world, Mexico's capital traces its roots back to the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, which the Spanish built upon in the 16th century. Today, the sprawling metropolis overflows with lively neighborhoods, historical sites, and culinary delights. 

After you settle in, meet your guide for a food tour of the trendy neighborhood of Navarte, known throughout the city for its tacos. Begin the tour at a family-owned taquería specializing in "volcanoes," a crispy, cheese-and-peppers-topped tortilla cooked over a charcoal flame. From there, you'll sample tacos al pastor and tacos de suadero (slow-cooked beef brisket) from long-established street vendors. Experience Mexico City's lively cantina culture and taste a flight of small-batch artisanal mezcals with the guidance of a local expert.

Day 2: Mural Tour, Float Through Xochimilco, Mexican Cooking Class & Market Tour

Mexican muralism emerged in the 1920s amid the Mexican Revolution. It was controversial at the time and focused on creating public murals depicting Mexico's history, traditions, and social struggles. On this three-hour walking tour, you'll have the opportunity to learn about the work of the greats of Mexican muralism. Visit three different buildings in the Centro Histórico (Historic Center) to appreciate the work of these artists and learn more about their importance in both Mexican and world history.

Next, discover the remnants of the Aztec Empire's vast water transport system at the floating gardens of Xochimilco. Traverse the beautiful, festive canals aboard a traditional trajinera (typical canal boat) with an expert guide. Learn all about the history and culture of the canals as the colorful gondola-esque boats take you past floating food vendors, artisans selling their crafts, mariachi bands, and several different chinampas, small islands built into the canal that make up an agricultural system.

Later in the day, discover the techniques of Mexican cuisine at the traditional culinary school, Aura Cocina Mexicana. As you learn about the history of Mexican cuisine, you'll practice the techniques to make dishes such as various salsas, handmade tortillas, cornbread, mextlapiques (grilled fish tamales), or mole blanco con pollo (white sauce with chicken). Afterward, enjoy the lunch you've prepared with a pairing of artisanal mezcal, Mexican craft beer, or Mexican wine.

Day 3: Biking in Teotihuacán, Transfer to Puebla

Wake up early for a trip outside Mexico City to the archaeological site of Teotihuacán. The ruins of this UNESCO-listed ancient Mesoamerican city, also known as "The City of the Gods," date back to 100 BCE. Explore this once-grand city via bicycle, beginning with a tour along the Calzada de los Muertos (Causeway of the Dead). Cycle between essential buildings such as the Palacio de Quetzalpapálotl, famous for its murals (don't miss the Mural de Puma), as well as the famous Pirámide del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun) and Pirámide de la Luna (Pyramid of the Moon).

After lunch among the pyramids, your driver will transfer you to the lively city of Puebla, located approximately two hours away. Known as Mexico's "City of Angels" due to its symmetrical, beautiful streets, Puebla is beloved for its rich history, intricate architecture, colorful pottery, and regional specialties like mole poblano. Once you arrive at your hotel, take the rest of the day to rest and relax after your adventure.

Day 4: Walk Through the Historic District of Puebla, Tour "Magical" Cholula

Today, enjoy a three-hour, guided walking tour of the historic center of Puebla, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin by admiring the city's impressive cathedral, built between the 16th and 17th centuries, and visit the Palafoxiana Library, one of the first libraries in the Americas. Visit a Talavera factory to learn about this traditional, colorful pottery, and browse more local art at the El Parián Handicrafts Market. End at the Calle de Los Dulces to taste the typical sweets of Puebla, such as jamoncillo de pepita, a confection made of sugar, milk, and pumpkin seeds. 

Day 5: Transfer to Cuetzalan, Tour the Historic Pueblo Mágico

Today, your driver will pick you up to transfer you to another Pueblo Mágico, the charming mountain town of Cuetzalan. Located approximately 3.5 hours away, it's best known for its weekly Indigenous craft market, compact yet lovely historic district, coffee, and the surrounding nature. 

After you settle in, meet your guide in the central square for a tour through the city's most beautiful streets to learn the history of this remarkable place. Pay your respects at the Parroquia de San Francisco de Asis in the central plaza, the 19th-century church, and view the volador pole, where the ancient "Danza de los Voladores" ceremony occurs. Also known as the "Cuetzalan Flying People," this tradition is thought to have originated as a rain dance during a drought. If you're lucky, you can see the ceremony in live-action!

Continue to the Iglesia des Jarritos, a church known for its decorative jars that flank the altar, and the Parque de Celestino Gazca in the main square. Just outside the city, you'll find the ancient Yohualichan, now an archaeological site, complete with five pyramid structures and the remains of a ballpark.

Day 6: Sustainable Cuetzalan: Coffee, Butterflies & Gardens

Countless coffee plantations surround Cuetzalan, thanks to its mild, humid climate. Today, you'll visit an alternative tourism cooperative, part of an organization of local Indigenous farming families working together to improve their quality of life. The local hosts will take you to visit a nearby coffee plantation to learn about the sustainable use of the land and the 100% organic production of coffee with other crops. You'll also have the opportunity to witness cinnamon and honey harvests and taste both, along with plenty of coffee.

Later in the day, visit the beautiful Xoxoctic Botanical Garden, a nursery dedicated to preserving a section of the cloud forest. In these gardens, you'll find hundreds of endemic species, some of them in the recovery process, such as rare orchids, giant ferns, and tropical cherries. You'll also spot many local crops integral to the region's economy, including coffee, pepper, fruit trees, bamboo, and medicinal plants. At the end of the tour, visit the Butterfly Atrium to see many different species in all forms, many of which are released in the region to promote a healthy ecosystem. 

Day 7: Nature Hike Around Cuetzalan

Today, you'll enjoy a day in the pristine nature surrounding Cuetzalan. Your local guide will pick you up at your hotel, and you'll be transferred outside town to explore several trails. Don't forget your swimsuit, as there will be plenty of opportunities to swim! After a short drive, you'll be at the trailhead for a two-hour hike to your first stop: Poza Pata de Perro. Clear turquoise pools along the river you can swim in resemble a giant dog's footprint (hence the name, which translates to "Dog's Paw Pool"). Enjoy a refreshing dip before returning to the trailhead, where you'll eat lunch at a local ecotourism lodge. 

After, you'll have the chance to visit two famous nearby waterfalls: Cascada Las Brisas and Cascada Las Hamacas. Each of these separate hikes on the Río Tecolutla includes a leisurely walk through the jungle and plenty of other smaller waterfalls along the way, most suitable for another swim. Return to Cuetzalan later on to enjoy your last evening in this enchanting town. 

Day 8: Transfer to Mexico City, Dinner at Los Danzantes

Transfer back to Mexico City today, and after you settle in, you'll have time to explore the city independently. Immerse yourself in the local culture in 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. Relax in the green spaces of Chapultepec Park or Alameda Central before digging into the city's famous gastronomy. 

Tonight, you'll enjoy a traditional dinner in the charming Coyoacán neighborhood at the restaurant Los Danzantes. Since 1995, this special spot has combined ancient Mexican culinary traditions with contemporary flavors in every bite, featuring specialties from the country's diverse regions, such as Oaxacan mole sauce. 

Day 9: Coyoacán Tour, Casa Azul Museum, Lucha Libre Experience & Mezcal Tasting

Today, you'll discover the picturesque, bohemian neighborhood of Coyoacán, characterized by its cobblestone streets and colonial architecture. You'll spend four hours with your guide exploring the area's long history, from pre-Hispanic times to the present. Visit the peaceful Jardín Hidalgo, the borough's central plaza, and the Jardín del Centenario, which holds the remains of a former atrium at Arcadas Atrial. 

From here, continue to Casa Azul, also known as the Museo de Frida Kahlo, where the famed Mexican painter was born, spent most of her life, and eventually died. The house, which remains similar to how it was upon her death in 1951, is now dedicated to her life and art. The 10 rooms, including her bedroom and studio, personal mementos, traditional Mexican housewares, Kahlo's personal art collection, works by Diego Rivera (Kahlo's husband), and much of Kahlo's own work. The museum also preserves its beautiful garden courtyard.

In the evening, you'll dive into the colorful world of lucha libre (Mexican wrestling). Meet your tour guide in front of the majestic Palacio de Bellas Artes, a lovely white-marbled concert hall, and head to a traditional Mexican cantina to taste mezcal and homemade guacamole. From here, you'll set out on a walking tour to the Aréna Mexico, or the "Catedral de Lucha Libre." Enjoy a dramatic battle between the técnicos (heroes) and the rudos (villains) as you cheer on your favorite wrestler among beer vendors, snacks, and wrestling masks.

Day 10: Depart Mexico City

It's time to say adiós to Mexico City. Your driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to Mexico City International Airport in plenty of time to catch your departing flight. ¡Buen viaje!

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