Five days is just enough time to enjoy the highlights of one region in Mexico. With a full week or 10 days, you can combine three or four areas to create an eclectic beach/city/culture/food tour. However, if you want to see the most of Mexico without having to rush, aim for two weeks or longer. No matter your timeframe, the below itineraries will help you plan that perfect Mexican getaway.
If you have five days for a luxury trip to Mexico, it's best to focus on one or two regions. Beachgoers can head to the Riviera Maya for a private yacht cruise and a swim in the cenotes, while history and architecture enthusiasts will appreciate a historic tour of Santiago de Querétaro and an elevated stay at the 19th-century Edelmira Hotel. Foodies will enjoy curated experiences such as private tasting tours of Mexico City's markets and a chance to cook alongside chefs in a Zapotec community in Oaxaca.
If you have five days to spend in Mexico, you can get to know one region or major cultural hub. Focus your energy on exploring Mexico City, take a family-oriented vacation to the Riviera Maya, go snorkeling and kayaking in Puerto Vallarta, get off the beaten path in beautiful Chiapas, or trace the footsteps of the Maya on the Yucatán Peninsula. Learn more about what to do and where to go with these five unique itineraries.
With five days in Mexico City, you can enjoy an itinerary catered to your interests. Art enthusiasts will find the city's museums an excellent match, while foodies opt for a trip featuring street vendors, upscale restaurants, and a taco crawl. If you're traveling with your significant other, consider a romantic getaway filled with quality time together. Or, pick up the pace and include excursions to Teotihuacán, Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl National Park, and Cholula to your agenda.
With five days in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, you can choose between a history-focused tour, a nature-filled adventure, or a mix of the two. For a classic tour, use Mérida as your base to explore Chichén Itzá and Mayapan, or include time in Valladolid to see the archaeological site of Ek' Balam. Those looking to enjoy time on the coast can add Tulum to their itinerary, while travelers who prefer keeping on the move will love a tour complete with stays in Puerto Morelos, Tulum, and Valladolid.
With five days in Mexico's southern state of Oaxaca, it's a great idea to base yourself in one location and embark on day trips from there. First-time travelers will find the city of Oaxaca the perfect fit to dive into food tours, explore Monte Albán, and get hands-on at workshops, while those looking for a mix of beach and culture should focus on the Huatulco region. Or, if you're seeking an itinerary filled with adventure, opt for a trip featuring the lagoons and beaches surrounding Puerto Escondido.
Whether your goal is a quick escape from the grind to recharge your batteries, or you'd like to pack in as many adventures as possible in just a few days, Mexico is the ideal country. In even as few as six days, you can experience the major highlights of Mexico's capital as well as historic Puebla and neighboring Cholula. Or travel further south and hit the best beaches on the Yucatán Peninsula while also visiting nature reserves and diving into turquoise cenote lagoons.
Spending a week in Mexico City offers the perfect opportunity to experience its mouthwatering cuisine and vibrant culture. First-time visitors can easily balance visits to museums, ruins, and restaurants, while adventure seekers hike within Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl National Park and cycle around the ancient city of Teotihuacán. Food lovers will be in heaven, with endless options to savor the city's best dishes in bustling markets and cozy eateries, or overnight in Puebla to discover unique regional flavors.
With one week in Mexico, you and your family can base yourself in Playa del Carmen and explore the beaches, underwater world, and ancient ruins of Tulum and Cobá, or opt for a stay in Oaxaca, delighting in the traditional workshops on offer. If you're after a more luxurious trip, spend your evenings in Puerto Aventuras and your days swimming with whale sharks and roaming Chichén Itzá. Or, for the ideal mix of nature and culture, split your time between Oaxaca and Santa María Huatulco.
One week is enough time to visit up to three destinations in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Foodies will want to savor Oaxaca City's culinary scene, while those craving lesser-known locales should see the turtle hatchlings in Mazunte. Adventurous travelers will enjoy boating and snorkeling in the Huatulco Bays, and culture enthusiasts can delve into traditional medicine and walk in an enchanted cloud forest. For an art-focused itinerary, explore nearby Puebla and visit handicraft villages.
With one week in the Yucatán, you can embark on a highlights tour and tick off the must-see sites of Ek' Balam, Chichén Itzá, and Mérida, or experience the region from a local's perspective and include a tortilla-making experience, a cenote diving adventure, and time in Celestun Biosphere Reserve to your itinerary. Those who prefer the freedom of a self-drive tour can rent a car and split their time between Valladolid and the jungles of Tulum or head to El Cuyo for rejuvenating time at the beach.
If you have a week to spend in Mexico, you can do a deep dive into one region like the Riviera Maya, or hop between two cultural hubs like Mexico City and Oaxaca. Explore the Mayan ruins and cenotes of the Riviera Maya, go on a food-focused tour to Oaxaca and Puebla, or visit off-the-beaten-path nature reserves on the Yucatán Peninsula—learn how to structure your time and plan a trip with these five unique itineraries.
In a week and a day, you can plan an action-packed trip to one or even two regions of Mexico. Begin in Mexico City with food, history, and archeology tours before continuing to the cultural hotbed of Oaxaca or the Caribbean beaches and ancient Maya ruins of the Yucatán. Or head northwest for tequila tours around Guadalajara, mountain adventures in Chihuahua, and a bit of relaxation in Puerto Vallarta.
In nine days, you can enjoy Mexico's best food tours, stroll its most historic districts, and tour its most famous archeological sites. Snack on street food in Mexico City, enjoy the Caribbean beaches of the Riviera Maya or venture deep into the jungles of Chiapas for rafting adventures. You can also follow the tequila trail from historic Guadalajara to the beaches of Puerto Vallarta or spend your time in Oaxaca and witness rich indigenous culture thriving alongside monuments to Spanish-colonial rule.
With 10 days in Mexico, you and your family can immerse yourself in the country's vibrant culture and ancient history on a classic Mexico family adventure or opt for an action-packed itinerary exploring the coastlines, ruins, and jungles of Tulum and Playa del Carmen. Foodie families will love attending cooking classes and visiting markets on a "flavors of Mexico" tour. And those looking to discover the fascinating underwater world should opt for an itinerary focused around the Yucatán Peninsula.
If you have 10 days to spend in Mexico, you have time to mix cultural sightseeing with outdoor activities, culinary tours, and relaxing on the beach. Focus your time on Mexico City and the idyllic Riviera Maya, explore the lakes and waterfalls of Chiapas, tour the foodie capital of Oaxaca and relax on the Pacific coast for a few days, or go snorkeling and swimming in the clear sea and cenotes of the Yucatán Peninsula: learn how with these unique itineraries.
Ten days in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula is an excellent amount of time to hop between the region's lush jungles, impressive Maya ruins, and idyllic beaches. Opt for a self-drive discovery tour if you're a first-time visitor eager to see it all, or focus on the numerous outdoor activities on offer in Valladolid and Holbox. Travelers looking to delve into the region's history and cuisine should include Mérida and Yaxunah in their itinerary, while Puerto Morelos and Tulum are ideal destinations for water lovers.
With 10 days, you can visit 2-3 regions of Oaxaca or add a stop in Mexico City. Beach lovers will enjoy snorkeling and surfing in Puerto Escondido, while history buffs will appreciate the Teotihuacán and Monte Albán archaeological sites. There's hiking in the Sierra Madre del Sur for active travelers and sea turtle conservation in Huatulco for wildlife enthusiasts. Foodies will enjoy cantina-hopping in Mexico City, amaranth cultivation in San Pablo Etla, and a community-based agave experience in Latuvi.
With 10 days, you can experience Mexico City and 2-3 surrounding areas. Foodies will enjoy a Narvarte street food tour and a mole-making lesson in Cholula, while history buffs will appreciate touring Guanajuato's mines and biking around the Teotihuacán ruins. Culture enthusiasts can try a purification ritual in Amanalco or attend a wrestling match in Mexico City. Active travelers should consider a volcano hike in Iztaccihuatl-Popocatepetl National Park and a two-day trek in Parque Nacional Nevado de Toluca.
Eleven days is enough time to experience the highlights of two regions in southern Mexico. Enjoy the food and Aztec ruins of Mexico City before heading to Oaxaca to experience indigenous culture and participate in cultural workshops. Or focus the bulk of your time on the Yucatán Peninsula, where you can walk in the footsteps of the ancient Maya, dive into cenote lagoons, enjoy Caribbean beaches, and relax on remote islands.
Twelve Days in Mexico is just enough time to have a well-rounded, unforgettable experience in one or two regions. Get to the heart of the culture as you visit Aztec ruins, enjoy the highlights of the capital, and tour the historic cobbled streets of Guanajuato, Puebla, and Oaxaca. Or focus on the beautiful Yucatán Peninsula as you road-trip along the Riviera Maya, explore Maya archeological sites, and discover the wild beauty of underground rivers and remote islands.
In 13 days, you can enjoy a packed itinerary that includes in-depth explorations of two or even three regions in Mexico. Enjoy the history, food, and Aztec ruins of Mexico City, then discover the wonders of Chiapas, like its cascading waterfalls, majestic river canyons, and highland colonial towns. Even after all that, you'll still have time to explore the length and breadth of the mythical Yucatán Peninsula, as rich in ancient Maya ruins as it is abundant in postcard Caribbean beaches.
With two weeks in Mexico, you and your family can explore ancient Maya ruins in Chiapas and the Yucatán Peninsula or dive into the sparkling waters of Costa Maya, where sailing and snorkeling await. Alternatively, experience the "magic" of Mexico's cities on a wide-ranging tour that takes you from the nation's capital to the Pacific Coast. Nature-loving families will discover Mexico's stunning biodiversity on an excursion of Baja California Sur, showcasing the country's beaches, waterfalls, and deserts.
With two weeks in the Yucatán, you can hop between the peninsula's lush landscapes and ancient ruins on a fast-paced highlights tour or hire a rental car and zip between cenotes, colonial cities, and white-sand beaches on an ultimate road trip. Travelers looking to discover a bit of mainland Mexico can include San Cristóbal and Palenque in their itinerary. At the same time, beach lovers can dedicate half their trip to the pristine shorelines and waters of Cozumel and Playa del Carmen.
With two weeks in Mexico, you can experience Mexico City, Valladolid's ancient ruins, and the resort town of Tulum on a highlights tour. Or, narrow your focus to the Yucatán Peninsula if you're eager to pack in outdoor excursions and time at the beach. Other two-week trip options include a briskly-paced tour featuring Chiapas and the Riviera Maya, an active adventure through Oaxaca, and a flavor-packed journey centered around southern Mexico's cuisine.
With 15 free days, you can travel from Mexico City to the Yucatán Peninsula and everywhere in between. That means you can visit ancient Aztec cities near the capital and immerse yourself in the indigenous culture, food, and natural beauty of Oaxaca, Puebla, and Chiapas. Beyond those highlights, you can venture deep into the Yucatán region to explore Spanish-colonial cities, incredible Maya ruins, and the most beautiful white-sand beaches in the country.
