Mexico trip: Mexico City to Cancun via Chiapas

Welcome to Mexico! On arrival at Mexico City International Airport, a private driver will meet you in the arrival hall and transfer you to your downtown hotel, where your tailor-made Mexico travel begins.

Depending on your flight time, enjoy a relaxed afternoon exploring neighborhood cafés, a colorful market, or the museum scene; your travel designer will tailor suggestions to your interests.

Spend the morning on a tour of Mexico City’s historic center, visiting the Zocalo, National Palace with Diego Rivera murals, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and a panoramic view of Templo Mayor that reveals Aztec roots.

Continue along Paseo de la Reforma to Chapultepec Park and pause at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, declared by UNESCO as a cultural jewel. In the afternoon, explore the National Museum of Anthropology and History.

Marvel at the Sun Stone, pyramid fragments, and original Mesoamerican masterpieces in this superbly designed museum. A focused one-hour visit delivers an exceptional cultural overview.

Begin your morning at the Frida Kahlo Museum, Casa Azul, in Coyoacán, exploring Frida’s intimate living spaces, iconic artworks, and the charming colonial Plaza of the Coyotes. Wander through the local market and historic streets to soak up authentic neighborhood life.

In the afternoon, continue your Mexico itinerary aboard Xochimilco’s colorful trajineras, gliding through ancient canals lined with chinampas. Enjoy vibrant live music, lush gardens, and traditional food as you experience one of Mexico City’s most festive cultural traditions.

Take a shared full-day tour from Mexico City to the Basilica of Guadalupe. Witness the devotion of pilgrims as they approach the shrine and visit the 17th-century basilica, which still slowly sinks into the old marshland. Your local guide will explain the story of the Dark Virgin of Guadalupe and the living traditions of popular faith in Mexico.

Then, continue to Teotihuacan, where you can climb the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, walk along the Avenue of the Dead, and visit the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, offering an unforgettable glimpse into one of the most powerful civilizations of ancient Mesoamerica.

Enjoy a private transfer from your hotel in Mexico City to the airport for your flight to Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas. After landing, you’ll be taken straight to Sumidero Canyon, where the Grijalva River flows between towering vertical cliffs. Take a boat ride through the canyon and keep an eye out for wildlife, including crocodiles, spider monkeys, and white or grey herons.

When your visit to the canyon is complete, continue by road to San Cristóbal de las Casas and settle in for the evening in this atmospheric colonial town.

Join a shared tour from San Cristobal de las Casas to San Juan Chamula for an intimate look at living Maya culture. Home to over 40,000 Tzotzil speakers, the town blends Catholic and Maya rituals, and the Church of St. John the Baptist hosts distinctive local ceremonies.

Continue to San Lorenzo Zinacantán to meet skilled Tzotzil weavers in vivid pink and purple dresses, and watch as backstrap looms create huipiles, tablecloths, and bedspreads.

Take a shared tour from San Cristobal de las Casas to El Chiflon, an eco park with turquoise rivers and cascades. Walk a scenic 60-minute trail to the 'Velo de Novia', a 120 meter waterfall framed by lush jungle, with opportunities to swim, photograph and relax.

Continue to Montebello lakes, a network of over 50 interconnected lagoons wrapped in forest. Stroll the shores, capture vivid colors, and enjoy personalized, authentic moments.

Enjoy a shared excursion from San Cristóbal de las Casas to the vibrant turquoise cascades of Agua Azul, one of the best places to visit in Mexico for nature lovers. Travel through scenic mountain landscapes, photograph a chain of cataracts reaching up to six meters high, and, weather permitting, take a refreshing swim, so be sure to bring your swimsuit.

Continue to the impressive Misol-Ha waterfall, where a 35-meter sheet of water plunges into a tranquil jungle pool, creating an unforgettable setting for photos and a close encounter with Chiapas’ raw natural beauty. In the afternoon, transfer to your hotel in Palenque to unwind.

Take a shared full-day tour to Yaxchilán and Bonampak, beginning with a jungle river journey through the Lacandon Forest to reach Yaxchilán, dramatically set above a horseshoe bend in the Río Usumacinta. Wander among its ornamented façades, towering roof combs, and intricately carved stone lintels that recount stories of warfare, alliances, and long-distance trade. Bring a flashlight to explore the site’s shadowy interior chambers.

Continue to Bonampak to see the remarkable Temple of the Murals, where vivid paintings depict scenes of ancient Maya court life in extraordinary detail. Return to your hotel in Palenque in the early evening.

Begin your day with a shared morning tour of the Palenque Archaeological Site, set deep within lush jungle. With a local expert, explore major Classic-period monuments such as the Temple of the Inscriptions, resting place of Pakal the Great, the Palace, and the Temple of the Foliated Cross. Your guide brings the site’s history and architecture to life for an engaging, culturally rich experience.

After the visit, a private transfer takes you to Villahermosa Airport for your domestic flight to Mérida. Upon arrival, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel to settle in for the evening.

Glide by boat through Celestún’s winding mangrove channels to encounter flocks of pink flamingos, elegant herons, and more than 300 bird species. Along the way, watch for shoreline turtle nests and observe crocodiles from a safe distance. When conditions permit, cool off in crystal-clear freshwater springs hidden among lush vegetation.

Located 109 km from Mérida within the Yucatán Biosphere Reserve, this shared day tour is a standout experience of your Mexico trip, ideal for wildlife viewing, photography, and immersing yourself in the serene beauty of the coastal ecosystem.

Enjoy a full-day shared tour from Mérida to Chichén Itzá, where a local guide leads you through El Castillo, the Great Ball Court, the observatory, and the Temple of the Warriors. Learn how Mayan astronomy, mathematics, and ritual life shaped this extraordinary city, making the visit an enriching cultural experience for travelers seeking authentic, tailor-made travel.

Your day concludes with a transfer to your hotel in Playa del Carmen on the shores of the Caribbean Sea.

Spend a free day along the Caribbean coast near Cancun, shaping the experience to match your interests. Browse local markets, snorkel in turquoise waters, or unwind with a beachfront massage.

For something more immersive, we can arrange authentic activities such as a hands-on cooking class or a private boat trip to nearby islands, transforming your Mexico trip into a personalized coastal retreat.

Enjoy a tailor-made free day along Cancun’s shoreline, with plenty of time for sunbathing, swimming, or snorkeling in the clear turquoise sea.

Add authentic experiences such as a private market tour, a local cooking workshop, a spa session, or curated shopping in town, perfect touches to round off your trip exactly the way you want.

Your tailor-made Mexico trip concludes today. A private transfer will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Cancun Airport in time for your departure. Enjoy a final morning on the white-sand beaches or linger over breakfast with ocean views, savoring the coastal flavors that beautifully end your journey from Mexico City through Chiapas to Cancun.

If your schedule allows, we can also arrange last-minute luggage storage, airport lounge access, or a brief cultural stop along the way.