Discovering Central Mexico trip

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The Discovering Central Mexico trip invites travelers to explore Mexico’s colors, flavors, and stories through tailor-made experiences. Wander hidden alleyways, meet artisans, share home-cooked meals, and enjoy slow afternoons by the sea: simple, genuine moments that often define the best trips to Mexico.

Choose your dates and interests, and we’ll craft a route with private guides, boutique stays, and activities tailored to you. Reserve your custom journey and turn your vacation into meaningful connections and lasting memories.

Discovering Central Mexico highlights

  • Explore Guanajuato's vibrant alleys: Wander colorful alleyways and plazas with a local guide.
  • Meet artisans and craft traditions: Visit family-run workshops to learn traditional techniques and customize experiences.
  • Taste regional cuisine and mezcal: Savor regional specialties and a guided mezcal tasting.
  • Discover Zapotec history and Monte Albán: Explore Monte Albán with knowledgeable guides and personalize your visit to connect deeply with Zapotec heritage.
  • Tailor-made journeys between towns: Travel in comfort on bespoke transfers, craft your own pace, and unlock off-the-beaten-path villages.
DayLocationActivityOvernight
1Mexico City

• Arrival at Mexico City Airport

• Private transfer to hotel

• Afternoon at leisure

Mexico City
2Mexico City / Teotihuacan

• Visit Basilica de Guadalupe

• Explore Teotihuacan’s Avenue of the Dead

• Climb Pyramids of the Sun and Moon

• Visit Temple of Quetzalcoatl

Mexico City
3Mexico City → San Miguel de Allende

• Private transfer to bus station

• Public bus to San Miguel de Allende

• Transfer to hotel

• Optional rooftop sunset, cooking class or city walk

San Miguel de Allende
4San Miguel de Allende• Free day in San Miguel de AllendeSan Miguel de Allende
5San Miguel de Allende → Guanajuato

• Public bus to Guanajuato

• Transfer to hotel

• Explore alleys, plazas and viewpoints

• Visit Valenciana Mine

Guanajuato
6Guanajuato• Free day to explore GuanajuatoGuanajuato
7Guanajuato → Mexico City

• Scenic public bus to Mexico City

• Shared transfer to hotel

• Evening options: street food, neighborhood stroll, museum visit

Mexico City
8Cuernavaca / Taxco

• Explore Cuernavaca

• Continue to Taxco

• Visit Santa Prisca church

Mexico City
9Mexico City (Coyoacán / Xochimilco / University City)

• Visit Frida Kahlo Museum, Casa Azul

• Explore Coyoacán market 

• Float Xochimilco canals on a trajinera

• Visit University City

Mexico City
10Cholula / Puebla

• Transfer to Cholula

• Continue to Puebla

Puebla
11Puebla → Oaxaca

• Public bus to Oaxaca

• Transfer to hotel

• Afternoon at leisure

Oaxaca
12Oaxaca City• Shared tailor-made city tourOaxaca
13Monte Albán

• Shared day trip to Monte Albán

• Visit Great Plaza, Ball Court, Danzantes and Building J

• Explore Tomb 7 artifacts & panoramic valley views

Oaxaca
14Hierve el Agua / Mitla / Tule Tree

• Shared tour to Hierve el Agua

• Visit Mitla and Great House of Pezelao

• Stop at ancient Tule Tree

Oaxaca
15Oaxaca → Huatulco

• Private transfer to airport

• Short flight to Huatulco

• Transfer to beach hotel

• Afternoon at leisure

Huatulco
16Huatulco• Free day in HuatulcoHuatulco
17Huatulco• Free day in HuatulcoHuatulco
18Huatulco• Free day in HuatulcoHuatulco
19Huatulco• Free day in HuatulcoHuatulco
20Huatulco → Mexico City → Departure

• Private transfer from hotel to Huatulco Airport

• Flight to Mexico City

• Departure

Places you'll visit

Click to activate the map
San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de AllendeThe Bajío
Guanajuato
GuanajuatoThe Bajío
Huatulco
HuatulcoOaxaca
See all Mexico places
Day01

Arrival in Mexico City

Welcome to Mexico! Upon arrival at Mexico City International Airport, your private driver will greet you in the arrivals hall and transfer you to your downtown hotel. Enjoy your first afternoon at leisure and ease into your Central Mexico trip with personalized experiences.

Explore the Zócalo, sample street food, or unwind at a rooftop café as we tailor your Mexico travel itinerary to your interests.

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana de la Asuncion de Maria) is the largest and oldest cathedral in the Americas, built in 1573-1813.
Day02

Basilica de Guadalupe and Teotihuacan Pyramids

Visit the Basilica de Guadalupe, the modern shrine that stands beside the 17th-century basilica. Witness daily devotion to the Dark Virgin of Guadalupe, observe pilgrims in prayer, and feel the presence of a living faith that continues to shape Mexican culture.

Continue to Teotihuacan to explore the Avenue of the Dead, climb the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, and admire the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. Panoramic views from the summits reveal the scale of this ancient metropolis and offer an unforgettable connection to Mexico’s past.

Teotihuacan Pyramids
Day03

Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende

A private transfer will take you to Mexico City’s bus station for your morning public bus to San Miguel de Allende. Upon arrival, you’ll be met and taken directly to your hotel.

Spend the afternoon at your own pace, wandering cobblestone streets, admiring colonial architecture, and browsing artisan workshops. Choose a rooftop sunset, a local cooking class, or a guided walking tour to ease into the city’s artistic charm.

San Miguel de Allende by night
Day04

Free day in San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel de Allende, a protected Spanish colonial town and UNESCO World Heritage Site, is perfect for authentic, tailor-made travel. Visit the Ignacio Ramírez Cultural Center, once a convent and now part of the National Institute of Fine Arts, where painting, sculpture, music, and dance classes are offered, and where you can view an unfinished mural by David Alfaro Siqueiros.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure, wandering cobbled streets, galleries, and markets, or join a shared walking tour to discover local stories, artist studios, and hidden courtyards.

San Miguel de Allende
Day05

San Miguel de Allende to Guanajuato

Take the public bus to Guanajuato. On arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel and have the afternoon free to wander cobbled alleys, lively plazas, and colorful hillside viewpoints, an atmospheric addition to any Mexico itinerary. Visit the Valenciana Mine to experience colonial mining history up close and enjoy sweeping panoramas of the city.

For a deeper dive into Guanajuato’s dramatic past, explore the Legends Museum, the Mummy Museum, and the Santa Inquisition Museum, where haunting stories and striking exhibits are brought to life with sound and light.

Guanjuato
Day06

Guanajuato at leisure

Guanajuato is a UNESCO World Heritage colonial city nestled in a mountain valley, celebrated for its narrow cobblestone callejones, shaded plazas, lively museums, and vibrant cultural scene.

Spend the day exploring at your own pace, or join curated optional tours to see highlights such as the Alley of the Kiss, the magnificent Juárez Theater, and the historic Alhóndiga de Granaditas. In the evening, consider joining a student-led callejoneada to wander the city’s most atmospheric alleys accompanied by music and local legends.

Guanajuato
Day07

Guanajuato to Mexico City

A scenic public bus ride carries you from Guanajuato back to Mexico City, giving you time to relax, enjoy the changing landscapes, and reflect on the discoveries of your Mexico trip. Traveling by public bus offers a genuine glimpse of local life and provides an authentic, tailor-made way to move between cities.

On arrival, a shared transfer will bring you to your hotel. Spend your first evening sampling street food, strolling through a vibrant neighborhood, or visiting a nearby museum.

Mexico City
Day08

Cuernavaca and Taxco

Explore Cuernavaca, the City of Eternal Spring, where bougainvillea and jacaranda fill the air with color. Enjoy the warm climate as you wander the Historic Centre, visit the cathedral and its tranquil atrium, and learn about the town’s centuries-old pastorela tradition.

Continue to Taxco to visit silver workshops, meet skilled artisans, and browse finely crafted jewelry. Admire the baroque Parish of Santa Prisca and stroll the steep cobblestone streets for panoramic views, an ideal experience for travelers who appreciate authentic culture, craftsmanship, and relaxed sightseeing.

Taxco
Day09

Day trip to Frida Kahlo Museum, Xochimilco and University City

Begin your morning with a visit to the Frida Kahlo Museum, Casa Azul, in Coyoacán. Explore Frida’s home and studio, browse the lively local market, and stroll the Plaza of the Coyotes for an authentic, tailor-made Mexico trip experience.

In the afternoon, float through Xochimilco’s colorful canals on a trajinera, gliding past chinampas while local music creates a festive backdrop.

End the day at University City, a UNESCO Cultural Patrimony of Humanity, where you can admire the central library, the Olympic Stadium, and the campus’s iconic murals.

Frida Kahlo mural
Day10

Puebla and Cholula

Enjoy a comfortable transfer to your hotel in Cholula, where you can explore layered pre-Columbian ruins and centuries of Catholic churches. Climb the Great Pyramid for sweeping views and discover hidden chapels tucked throughout the site.

Continue to Puebla, a UNESCO World Heritage City known for its colorful Talavera tiles and finely sculpted freestone. Wander the main square and majestic cathedral, and visit the Chapel of the Rosary and the ornate church in Tonantzintla, beautiful stops for anyone planning a trip to Mexico who wants to experience its deep cultural heritage.

Cholula church
Day11

Puebla to Oaxaca

Travel by comfortable public bus from Puebla to Oaxaca. Upon arrival, a driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.

Spend the afternoon at leisure, exploring Oaxaca’s vibrant markets, sampling authentic mole and mezcal, or booking a tailor-made walking tour to meet local artisans and deepen your connection to the region.

Oaxaca
Day12

Oaxaca City tour

Explore Oaxaca City on a shared, tailor-made tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site set against the Sierra del Sur. Wander the main square, visit the 16th-century cathedral built by Dominican monks, and browse lively markets and artisan ateliers.

Discover the region’s famed black-mud ceramics, colorful woven textiles, and replicas of Mixtec and Zapotec jewelry, guided by local experts who introduce you to authentic makers and their traditions.

Oaxaca
Day13

Monte Albán

Take a shared day trip to Monte Albán, one of the best places to visit in Mexico, and explore Zapotec ruins set high above the Oaxaca Valley. With a local guide, learn the stories behind the Great Plaza, the Ball Court, and the sweeping views that surround the site.

Discover the carved Danzantes, unusual Building J, the Palace, and Tomb Number 7 with its remarkable artifacts.

Oaxaca
Day14

Hierve El Agua, Mitla and the Tule Tree

Take a shared day tour to Hierve el Agua and Mitla, where you’ll encounter striking petrified waterfalls, mineral-rich pools, and sweeping mountain views. Walk along natural terraces, swim in scenic springs, and explore Mitla’s remarkable mosaic architecture, including the Great House of Pezelao, one of the region’s most atmospheric ceremonial sites.

Conclude the day at the ancient Tule Tree, a colossal cypress whose massive trunk would take about 30 people to encircle.

Hierve el Agua
Day15

Oaxaca City to Huatulco

Your private transfer will collect you in Oaxaca City and take you to the airport for the short, stress-free domestic flight to Huatulco. Upon arrival, a driver will transfer you to your beach hotel, where personalized local touches await.

Spend the afternoon relaxing on bayside beaches, join a guided snorkeling trip to secluded coves, or enjoy fresh coastal cuisine as the sun sets.

Huatulco
Day16

Free day in Huatulco

Feel the sea breeze and the warm late-afternoon sun as you explore Huatulco’s nine bays. Part of Bays National Park, this protected reserve offers pristine beaches, hidden coves, and striking coastal scenery.

Choose from tailor-made activities: snorkel or dive vibrant reefs, kayak through calm inlets or light rapids, try your hand at sport fishing, or enjoy a sunset horseback ride along the shore.

Huatulco
Day17

Huatulco at leisure

Enjoy a second free day in Huatulco, shaping the adventure to your pace. Sail to hidden bays, snorkel vibrant reefs, walk scenic coastal trails, or savor fresh seafood at seaside palapas. You can also choose to simply unwind on golden beaches.

Local guides are available to connect you with artisan markets and cultural experiences for an authentic, memorable day.

Huatulco
Day18

Free day in Huatulco

Enjoy another day exploring Huatulco’s pristine bays, hidden beaches, and calm swimming spots. Snorkel coral reefs, kayak along the coast, or simply relax on golden sand with a local coffee in hand.

Tailor-made options include a guided market visit, a sunset coastal boat tour, a regional cooking class, or a nature walk with a local guide, letting you shape the day exactly as you like.

Huatulco
Day19

Free day in Huatulco

Savor your last full day in Huatulco with activities tailored to your tastes. Explore hidden bays by boat, snorkel among coral gardens, or unwind on quiet beaches with personalized service that brings the coastal spirit of this Mexico trip to you.

For an extra special finale, add a private culinary walk to sample Oaxacan specialties, browse artisan markets, or relax at a boutique spa to end the day on a beautifully personal note.

Huatulco
Day20

Goodbye Mexico

Your driver will collect you at your Huatulco hotel for your transfer to the airport and your flight from Huatulco to Mexico City. Enjoy a few final coastal views and reflect on the authentic, tailor-made experiences that shaped this Mexico trip.

Upon arrival in Mexico City, make your way to the international terminal for your onward flight home.

Mexico City