Ultimate Mexico trip: from city to coast

Welcome to Mexico! Upon landing at Mexico City International Airport, a shared transfer will be waiting in the arrivals hall to take you to your downtown hotel.

Spend your first afternoon settling in, exploring the nearby plazas, or sampling street food at your own pace. Take this time to relax, get your bearings, and ease into the rhythm of your Mexico travel adventure.

Begin your day with a guided tour through the historic heart of Mexico City. Stroll across the Zócalo, take in Diego Rivera’s murals at the National Palace, and explore both the Metropolitan Cathedral and the ancient Templo Mayor ruins. Continue along Paseo de la Reforma to Chapultepec Park, where you’ll visit the National Museum of History and the iconic Palacio de Bellas Artes, a UNESCO-recognized masterpiece.

In the afternoon, travel to Teotihuacan to climb the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon and to explore the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. Enjoy sweeping views and an immersive experience that connects Mexico’s ancient civilizations with the vibrant culture of today.

Begin your morning in Coyoacán with a visit to the famed Casa Azul, the Frida Kahlo Museum. Explore Frida’s life and art, and learn more about her relationship with Diego Rivera as you move through the vibrant rooms she once called home. Afterwards, wander the colonial streets, browse the local market, and unwind in the Plaza of the Coyotes for a tailor-made cultural immersion.

In the afternoon, glide along the canals of Xochimilco aboard a colorful trajinera. Enjoy live music, sample local snacks, and take in the sight of chinampas, floating gardens, bursting with flowers.

Your shared transfer will collect you from your Mexico City hotel and take you to the airport for a short domestic flight to Puerto Escondido. Upon arrival, a transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel.

Spend the afternoon discovering the town’s surf-friendly beaches, exploring lively coastal markets, or unwinding at one of its beautiful sunset lookout points.

Relax on Puerto Escondido’s beaches and soak in the vivid shades of blue and the warm local hospitality. Spend the day however you like: play beach games with fellow travelers, dive into a favorite book, or simply unwind to the rhythm of the waves.

As part of your Mexico itinerary, you can personalize this day with surf lessons, a snorkeling excursion, a wander through local markets, or seaside mezcal tastings. Enjoy an authentic, tailor-made experience that matches your pace and interests.

Enjoy another free day in Puerto Escondido, soaking up the Pacific’s wide beaches, salty ocean breeze, and dramatic sunsets. Shape the day your way with tailor-made activities: take surf lessons, join local fishers at dawn, practice beach yoga, or follow a guide to hidden coves. You can also explore vibrant markets and street food stalls at your own pace.

For something truly special, our local team can arrange authentic experiences such as mezcal tastings or an evening tour of a bioluminescent lagoon.

A shared transfer will take you to Puerto Escondido Airport for your flight to Cancún, typically with a stopover in Mexico City. Upon arrival, pick up your rental car and begin the scenic drive to Valladolid. Perfectly positioned between Mérida and Cancún, Valladolid makes an ideal tailor-made base for exploring Chichén Itzá, Tulum, Ek Balam, and Cobá.

Spend your time wandering its colonial streets, sampling Yucatecan cuisine, and shaping flexible experiences that suit your interests and pace.

Spend a leisurely day in charming Valladolid, wandering its colonial streets, browsing local markets, and relaxing in its shaded cafés. If you’re in the mood for exploration, take your rental car on a short half-hour drive to Ek Balam, the “Bright Star Jaguar.”

Here, you can explore recently restored temples, admire the dramatic jaguar-mouth façade, and study the intricate high-relief sculptures and ancient ball court. Climb the main pyramid for sweeping jungle views and unforgettable photo moments.

Drive from Valladolid to Mérida, stopping at Chichén Itzá to explore El Castillo, the Great Ball Court, and the Observatory, while a private guide brings Mayan history and astronomical knowledge to life.

Cool off with a swim in a nearby cenote and enjoy some time to relax before continuing on to Mérida. Once there, tailor your stay with options such as gastronomy tours, colonial walks, and bespoke cultural experiences.

Spend a relaxed day in Mérida, the White City and capital of Yucatán, one of the best places to visit in Mexico for culture and colonial charm. Begin in the Main Square and step inside the 16th-century Cathedral, its fortress-like façade offering a striking photo opportunity. Continue to the Government Palace to admire Fernando Pacheco’s murals, which powerfully narrate Maya history.

Tailor your Mexico trip with a stroll down Paseo Montejo, lined with elegant Spanish and French–inspired residences from the early 1900s, and finish at the impressive Monument to the Flag.

Spend another leisurely day in Mérida, exploring its lively markets, colonial streets, handicraft workshops, and the rich flavors of authentic Yucatecan cuisine.

If you prefer an adventure, join a shared day tour to the Celestún Biosphere Reserve. Here you’ll glide through peaceful mangroves and observe pink flamingos, turtles, crocodiles, and more than 300 bird species in their natural habitat. When conditions allow, you can also enjoy a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear waters of Baldiosera Spring.

Drive from Mérida to Campeche, with an optional and fully customizable stop at Uxmal, a jewel of classic Maya architecture and an exceptional site for photography and guided discovery.

At Uxmal, explore the towering Pyramid of the Magician, the elegant Nunnery Quadrangle, and the Governor’s Palace, famed for its 20,000 intricately carved stones and detailed Puuc-style friezes. A local guide can help illuminate ancient myths and Maya cosmovision, and if time allows, stay for the evening light-and-sound show that brings the city’s history vividly to life.

Spend the day in Campeche, the fortified port city whose colonial walls, baroque churches, and stately Spanish mansions have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. Wander along its colorful boulevards, admire beautifully restored façades, and discover the city’s influential role in trade between New Spain and the wider world.

Shape the day to your interests. Take a private walking tour, cycle along the malecón at sunset, visit the coastal forts and intimate local museums, and savor Campeche’s seafood specialties in a family-run restaurant for an authentic, deeply local experience.

Prepare for a long but rewarding drive to Xpujil, located within the vast Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, a tropical forest corridor linking the dry northern jungles to Guatemala’s rainy Petén region. Along the way, keep an eye out for wildlife such as jaguars, pumas, toucans, parrots, and wild turkeys during guided nature walks and photo stops.

Hidden deep within dense vegetation, Xpujil sits at a crossroads of Maya history and exploration. From here, you can join private archaeological tours to Becán, Chicanná, Hormiguero, Río Bec, Balamkú, and Balankán, uncovering lesser-known sites that offer an authentic, tailor-made journey into the ancient world.

Visit the Becán Archaeological Site today and explore its plazas, pyramids, and the remarkable 1.9-kilometer moat that uniquely encircles the main complex. The name Becán means “ravine or canyon formed by water” in Maya, reflecting the site’s distinctive defensive design.

Stroll the pathways with a private guide to delve into its history, photograph the impressive vaulted causeways, and enjoy a pace tailored entirely to your interests.

Self-drive from Xpujil to Bacalar, and upon arrival, visit the stunning Bacalar Lagoon, often called the Lake of Seven Colors. Enjoy swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, or a boat ride through the serene waters of Uchben Kah Ecotourism Park. Along the way, discover ancient stromatolites and traces of the region’s pirate history while taking in the lagoon’s unmatched natural beauty.

Cool off at the Blue Cenote, an impressive sinkhole roughly 200 meters across and 90 meters deep. For a relaxing finale, float along the Bacalar Rapids through crystalline channels, just remember to avoid stepping on the fragile stromatolites to help protect these ancient formations.

Enjoy a free day in Bacalar, using your rental car to shape an authentic, tailor-made experience. Explore the rapids, paddle across the shimmering lagoon, swim in crystal-clear cenotes, or visit the historic fort overlooking the water. Or simply unwind in a hammock and savor local flavors at your own relaxed pace.

The self-drive from Bacalar to Playa del Carmen takes about three hours, giving you time to plan tailored stops along the turquoise lagoon, hidden cenotes, and vibrant local towns, ideal for anyone planning a trip to Mexico and looking for flexible, authentic experiences.

Once in Playa del Carmen, unwind on white-sand beaches, wander along Quinta Avenida, sample Yucatecan flavors, or book a private snorkeling or cenote tour to round out your journey.

Spend the day relaxing on white-sand beaches or visit the Tulum Archaeological Site, the dramatic cliffside city in the Riviera Maya once known as Zamá, “place of the dawn.” Explore the Walled City, the Great Palace, the Castle, the Temple of the Frescoes with its preserved murals, and the Temple of the Descending God.

Finish your visit with a refreshing swim in the turquoise Caribbean and some time on one of the world’s most celebrated beaches, an unforgettable coastal Maya experience.

Relax in Playa del Carmen, where white-sand beaches, snorkeling along the Mesoamerican Reef, and leisurely strolls down Quinta Avenida offer the perfect blend of coastal beauty and local charm.

Elevate your stay with tailored experiences such as private cenote swims, traditional cooking classes, rejuvenating spa treatments, or a personalized boat trip to Cozumel.

Drive from Playa del Carmen to Cancún Airport, taking a personalized coastal route with time to linger at a favorite beach, stop for a final cenote swim, or enjoy one last café break. Return your rental car at the airport, then board your flight home.