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Mexico is everything you dreamed of and more, and you'll live out that dream on this trip
Mexico is everything you dreamed of and more. Smash some delicious treats in Mexico City, see some of the bazillion churches in Puebla, taste the best mezcal around in Oaxaca, swing through San Cristobal, Palenque and Merida, then finish up snorkeling, swimming, tanning and eating by the Carribean. Life could be worse
It's time to live out your Mexican food fantasies. Tequila, tacos, grasshoppers... is your mouth watering yet?
- Start
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Finish
- Playa del Carmen, Mexico
- Destination
- Mexico
- Code
- GSRM
- Physical rating
- Traveller’s rating
- 51 reviews
- Ages
- Min 18 , Max 29
- Group size
- Min 1, Max 16
Why you'll love this trip
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You've never seen true colour until you've been to a Mexican market. Practice your bargaining skills, snap some photos and pick up traditional handicrafts at the markets in multiple destinations.
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Eat your way through arty Oaxaca. Mole, mezcal and chocolate for dinner? Delicioso!
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Escape the Mexican heat in San Cristobal de las Casas. This old-world town is surrounded by ancient tribal villages that still have their traditional customs and roots.
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Discover the colonial history of charming Merida. Loaf around in leafy plazas, get cultural at a museum or work your salsa shimmy with a friendly local.
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Chichen Itza is one the New Seven Wonders of the World and it's not hard to see why – strolling around these ancient Mayan ruins feels pretty amazing.
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Splash around, sun-bake and play on Playa del Carmen's white sandy beaches.
Is this trip right for you?
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This trip involves some long days of travel by private and local transport, including one overnight bus. While this can be tiring, it's also a fantastic way to rub shoulders with the locals and get under the skin of a place.
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Mexico's climate is sultry and tropical, so can get really hot and humid. Wear loose clothing and make sure stay hydrated, especially while out on walking tours.
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Itinerary
Let’s kick things off with a Welcome Meeting today at 6pm. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so have all these details for your leader. If you arrive into the city early, head to the Zocalo, the city's huge central square, to see Aztec ruins and colonial architecture, or relax in one of the many parks, plazas or gardens. After the meeting tonight, you’re definitely going to want to seek out some tacos for dinner.
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Teotihuacan - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport) - USD50
- Mexico City - National Palace and Diego Rivera murals - Free
- Mexico City - Metropolitan Cathedral - MXN20
- Mexico City - Templo Mayor (Archaeological Site and Museum) (Closed Mondays) - MXN70
- Mexico City - Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) (Closed Mondays) - MXN60
- Mexico City - National Museum of Anthropology (Closed Mondays) - MXN70
- Mexico City - Bosque de Chapultepec & Natural History Museum - USD5
- Mexico City - Frida Kahlo Museum (Cheaper for students, pensioners & on weekdays. Closed Mondays) - MXN220
- Mexico City - Estadio Azteca football match (ticket price depends on the game) - USD30
- Mexico City - Mariachis in Garibaldi Square (Approx. for 2-3 songs) - MXN150
- Mexico City - Boat ride through Floating Gardens of Xochimilco (Approx. per boat per hour) - MXN350
- Mexico City - Torre Latino 360° Lookout - MXN100
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Special Information
This trip can be booked as part of a longer combination trip. As such, some of your fellow travellers may continue travelling to Havana on the A taste of Mexico & Cuba (GSRMC), or to Guatemala on the Central America in Depth (GSRYC), or to Costa Rica on the Epic Central America (GSRZC). Please contact our sales team if you wish to book or know more information on these longer combination trips.Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Puebla - Santo Domingo Church and Rosary Chapel - Free
- Puebla - Visit to Cholula - USD15
- Puebla - Cooking class - USD85
- Puebla - Lucha Libre show (ticket price depends on seating area) - USD15
- Puebla - Museum of Art - USD5
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Oaxaca - Monte Alban Ruins (entrance fee) - USD10
- Oaxaca - Full-day tour inc. Mitla Ruins, Hierve el Agua and mezcal distillery - USD45
- Oaxaca - Santo Domingo Cultural Centre - USD8
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.In the evening, take a first-class overnight bus to San Cristóbal del las Casas (approx 13 hours in total). First-class buses in Mexico are quite comfortable. They are equipped with toilets and reclining seats with plenty of legroom. They are always air-conditioned, so make sure you take a warm layer with you, as it may get cold on board.
While the bus is very comfortable, the road from Oaxaca to San Cristobal has some very winding sections. If you suffer from motion sickness, this will be a good time to have your medication ready.
Accommodation
- Overnight bus (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Oaxaca - Cooking class - USD80
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Special Information
Petty thefts happen from time to time during overnight bus journeys. These opportunistic individuals are not only an annoyance, they are also unfortunately extremely talented. They wait for passengers to be asleep to skilfully search through carry-on luggage in search of cameras, money and credit cards. During overnight bus journeys, it is safest to carry all your valuable belongings in the main luggage compartment which remains locked and out of the reach of anyone throughout the journey.Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
- San Cristobal de las Casas - Maya villages tour including San Juan Chamula - USD20
- San Cristobal de las Casas - Mountain bike tour - USD40
- San Cristobal de las Casas - Amber (Jade) Museum - MXN20
- San Cristobal de las Casas - Jade Museum - USD5
- San Cristobal de las Casas - Museum of Typical Costumes - USD4
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
- San Cristobal de las Casas - El Chorreadero canyoning - MXN1250
- San Cristobal de las Casas - Sumidero Canyon (inc. transport) - USD30
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Notes: The local Zapatista movement in the region around Palenque has been quite active in recent months, occasionally holding protests or blocking roads. Our local operations team is constantly monitoring this situation to ensure the safety of our passengers and leaders. In some cases, we might need to use an alternative route from San Cristobal to Palenque to avoid this activity – more so to bypass long traffic delays than any real danger.
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Palenque - Archaeological site (Entrance fee & Transport) - USD5
- Palenque - Jungle Trail tour - USD15
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Merida - Uxmal Ruins tour (inc. shared transport and guide) - MXN800
- Merida - Cuzama cenotes tour (inc. transport and guide) - USD45
- Merida - Celestun Bird Sanctuary (entrance and transport) - USD50
- Merida - Guided city tour - USD15
- Merida - Dzibilchaltun Ruins tour - USD70
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
- Chichen Itza Ruins - Entrance Fee
Optional Activities
- Chichen Itza Ruins - Entrance - USD80
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Optional Activities
- Dos Ojos Cenote - Entrance fee (snorkelling gear included) - MXN300
- Playa del Carmen - Bicycle rental (per day) - MXN185
- Playa del Carmen - Ferry to Cozumel (Round-trip) - MXN300
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Meals
No meals are included on this tourTransport
Local bus, Overnight bus, Private vehicleAccommodation
Hotel (11 nights), Overnight bus (1 night)Included Activities
- Chichen Itza Ruins - Entrance Fee
Reviews
Our Mexico Highlights trips score an average of 4.78 out of 5 based on 51 reviews in the last year.
Mexico Highlights, February 2018
Catherine Vincent
Loved it, had the time of my life. An experience I will never forget. Thanks Valeria!
Review submitted 17 Mar 2018
Mexico Highlights, February 2018
Adriana Russo
This trip is a great way to get an in depth experience of the real Mexico, visiting some amazing towns along the way and having at least 2 nights in most destinations to have time to really see each town! Our tour leader was very knowledgeable and gave us a great insight into the local culture.
Review submitted 13 Mar 2018
Dates & availability
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There are currently no scheduled departures on our Mexico Highlights trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.
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Important notes
1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1. There are no activities planned for the final day so you may depart at any time.
2. A single supplement is available for purchase on this trip, except for nights 7 (Overnight bus) where you will be in shared accommodation. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. Hurricane season in this region is June to November, when landslides, mudslides, flooding and disruptions to essential services can occur. Geckos Adventures monitors any situations that arise, and may need to change itineraries or activities in response to these natural weather occurrences.