Mexico 8-Day Tours & Itineraries

Explore 14 trips designed by local kimkim specialists to get ideas for your trip to Mexico.

Check out our various itineraries for eight days in Mexico so you can plan your ideal vacation. If you'd like to learn about Mexico's rich history and visit the capital, consider a trip like this journey from Mexico City to the Riviera Maya, which will give you the chance to explore urban areas and ancient ruins. For those interested in visiting Mexico's northwest, opt for something similar to this nature and history itinerary, where you can ride on the El Chepe Express and visit the Copper Canyon. If you'd prefer a more relaxing pace, a laid-back option like this Yucatán Peninsula vacation will have you sunbathing on white sand beaches, enjoying leisurely bike rides around ancient ruins, and wading in limestone cenotes. 

See our itineraries below or read our guide to the best 8-day trips in Mexico.

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Bacalar Lagoon
Mayan Culture & Beaches of the Riviera Maya - 8 Days

Enjoy this getaway to the Riviera Maya with a mix of cultural experiences and relaxing on the beach. Base yourself in lively Playa del Carmen as you explore Mayan ruins, swim in picturesque cenotes, and enjoy the sun, sand, and sea along the white sandy coastline of the Yucatán Peninsula.

View over Guadalajara's Plaza de Armas and Cathedral
Map of Discover Guadalajara - 8 Days
Discover Guadalajara - 8 Days

This week-long cultural adventure covers the highlights of Western Mexico's vibrant Guadalajara and nearby popular attractions. Wander the state capital, the birthplace of mariachi music, and visit impressive historic sites, eat delicious local food, and enjoy the exciting nightlife. Break up the urban exploration with day trips to nearby ancient ruins, a tequila distillery, quaint lakeside communities, and secluded waterfalls.

Women made up as the iconic La Calavera Catrina
Map of Celebrate Day of the Dead in Oaxaca - 8 Days
Celebrate Day of the Dead in Oaxaca - 8 Days

This festive eight-day itinerary offers visitors an intimate look into one of Mexico's biggest holidays, the Day of the Dead. You'll begin your tour at the end of October in Mexico City, discovering the history behind the tradition before exploring the canals of Xochimilco and the ruins of Teotihuacán. You'll end your stay in Oaxaca, where you will celebrate like a local: join in processions, visit cemeteries, and marvel at elaborately decorated altars in honor of the deceased.

Mexico City's Zócalo (plaza)
Map of Mexico City to the Riviera Maya: Culture, Ruins & Cenotes - 8 Days
Mexico City to the Riviera Maya: Culture, Ruins & Cenotes - 8 Days

This eight-day journey combines Mexico City's famous landmarks with a quick flight to the Riviera Maya for beach time on the Caribbean coast. Visit the capital's Spanish-colonial cathedrals and Aztec archeological sites before riding down ancient canals on a gondola. There are even more aquatic activities in store in the Yucatán region, where you'll dive into cenote lagoons and swim in underground rivers.

Take a refreshing dip in a cenote in the Yucután jungle
Map of Relaxed Vacation on the Yucatán Peninsula - 8 days
Relaxed Vacation on the Yucatán Peninsula - 8 days

The 100-mile (160 km) stretch of coast along the Yucutan Peninsula, known as the Riviera Maya, includes some of Mexico's most incredible ruins, idyllic Caribbean beaches, and awe-inspiring natural wonders. And this escape to the Riviera is so packed with memorable adventures you'll be surprised you can do it all in eight days.

Puerto Vallarta is famous for its selection of beaches, like Conchas Chinas
Map of Guadalajara & Puerto Vallarta: Cacao, Tequila, Ruins & Beaches - 8 Days
Guadalajara & Puerto Vallarta: Cacao, Tequila, Ruins & Beaches - 8 Days

Spend eight days discovering gorgeous Guadalajara, the "pearl of the west." This city and its state of Jalisco is a cultural hotbed, famous for originating two of Mexico's most famous exports: mariachi music and tequila. You'll experience both on cultural tours plus visit ancient indigenous ruins and charming lakeside villages before finishing the trip on the golden beaches of Puerto Vallarta.

Tulum beach, Yucatán
Map of Relaxation on the Yucatán Peninsula - 8 Days
Relaxation on the Yucatán Peninsula - 8 Days

There are few better places for a quick recharge than Mexico's stunning Yucatán Peninsula. Over eight days, you'll travel down the famous Riviera Maya, hike around fortress ruins in Tulum, visit indigenous Maya communities, swim in exotic lagoons, and stroll around historic cities. However, you'll really kick back and relax during a couple of free days on the remote beaches of tranquil Holbox Island.

Riviera Maya
Map of Mexico Culture, Food & Beaches: Mexico City & Playa del Carmen - 8 Days
Mexico Culture, Food & Beaches: Mexico City & Playa del Carmen - 8 Days

This eight-day adventure in Mexico City & the Yucatan is the perfect mix of history, culture, and delicious food. It begins in the capital with various food tours and visits to historic neighborhoods like Coyoacan. Then you'll jet off to Mexico's famous Riviera Maya for fun in the sun on the beaches of Playa del Carmen, plus tours of awe-inspiring Maya ruins and visits to Indigenous communities to explore underground lagoons.

Peaceful Oasis in the City
Map of Discover Central Mexico: Mexico City, Cholula & Oaxaca - 8 Days
Discover Central Mexico: Mexico City, Cholula & Oaxaca - 8 Days

Visit anthropology museums in Mexico City, explore archaeological sites in Teotihuacán, and experience local cultures on this eight-day immersive trip to Mexico's central region. Start in Mexico City, where you'll explore the bustling capital, then head to Cholula for ancient ruins and a tour of the local staple crop: corn. End in Oaxaca, one of the culinary capitals of Mexico.

Locals dressed in traditional clothes in Oaxaca
Map of Mexico Grand Tour: Mexico City, Cholula & Oaxaca - 8 Days
Mexico Grand Tour: Mexico City, Cholula & Oaxaca - 8 Days

Get to the heart of historic Mexico on walking tours of the nation's capital, Cholula, and Oaxaca. In Mexico City, you'll visit the most artistic and colorful neighborhoods, like Coyoacán and Xochimilco, plus take a bike tour of the ruins at Teotihuacán. Then head south to Cholula and Oaxaca, two cities whose awe-inspiring Spanish-colonial landmarks are matched only by their rich indigenous heritage.

Maya ruins near Tulum
Map of Explore the Real Riviera Maya – 8 Days
Explore the Real Riviera Maya – 8 Days

Discover authentic Mexican life on this sustainable tour of the Riviera Maya. Take a road trip from Valladolid to Tulum, stopping at sparkling forest cenotes, biosphere reserves, and ancient Maya ruins like the UNESCO-listed Chichén Itzá. Along the way, you'll meet corn farmers, rap groups, and the founder of a wildlife conservation project. Soak up some Mexican culture with a traditional steam bath and mariachi evening, then finish up on the white-sand beaches of Playa del Carmen.

Ride the Chepe Express to best experience Copper Canyon
Map of Nature & History Adventure in Mexico's Northwest: Chihuahua, Sinaloa & Copper Canyon - 8 Days
Nature & History Adventure in Mexico's Northwest: Chihuahua, Sinaloa & Copper Canyon - 8 Days

Discover the untamed nature, revolutionary history, and majestic canyons of Mexico's Chihuahua region. Over eight days, you'll embark on just about every kind of outdoor adventure, from hiking around mountain waterfalls and secluded caves to rafting the Fuerte River in neighboring Sinaloa state. The real highlight, however, is marveling at the views over the deepest gorges in the Copper Canyon, four times bigger than the Grand Canyon.

Visit the villages, meet the locals, and marvel at the beauty of Mexico's Copper Canyon
Map of Culture, Nature & Adventure in Mexico: Topolobampo, El Fuerte, Copper Canyon & Chihuahua - 8 Days
Culture, Nature & Adventure in Mexico: Topolobampo, El Fuerte, Copper Canyon & Chihuahua - 8 Days

Discover the best of Mexico's Sinaloa and Copper Canyon regions in just over a week. Start with dolphin spotting in Topolobampo Bay before continuing to El Fuerte for a walking tour of its historic center. Then, hop on the "El Chepe" scenic train to Cerocahui and marvel at the enormity and depth of the copper-green canyon ravines. Other highlights include extreme ziplining in Parque Barrancas, exploring the Valley of the Mushrooms, and visiting a Mennonite farm for lunch on your way to Chihuahua.

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