Tour overview

This 15-day small-group journey crosses Mexico from the capital to the Caribbean, linking colonial cities, Indigenous highlands and the great Maya ruins. Groups have up to 12 travellers aged 15 and over, with a leader throughout and an arrival transfer in Mexico City. You stay fourteen nights in comfortable hotels and travel by private vehicle. Breakfast is included daily, with a few lunches and a dinner in Oaxaca, leaving plenty of freedom to try tacos, mole and Yucatecan specialities.

In Mexico City your leader shows you the Metropolitan Cathedral and the historic centre. On the way to Puebla you explore the vast pyramids of Teotihuacán, once one of the biggest cities in the ancient world, and from Puebla you visit nearby Cholula, with its great pyramid crowned by a church. In Oaxaca, famous for mole and mezcal, you learn about the craft of making alebrijes, the brightly coloured carved folk art figures.

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Heading south, you stop at the Tule Tree, a 1,500-year-old giant with one of the widest trunks in the world, before reaching the coast at Salina Cruz. A boat ride through the towering walls of the Sumidero Canyon leads to San Cristóbal de las Casas, high in the Chiapas mountains, with an orientation walk past its colonial churches and markets.

After a long drive to the jungle, you visit the hilltop ruins of Palenque, surrounded by thick forest. In Mérida, the elegant capital of the Yucatán, you have a free day for museums and markets, before visiting Chichén Itzá, perhaps the most famous Maya site in Mexico and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, on the way to Playa del Carmen.

The physical rating is low, with some long travel days. This trip suits travellers who want a comprehensive, good-value introduction to Mexico with a small group. Two nights in most places give time to settle in, and your leader handles every detail of the journey. Mexico's food is a highlight in itself, from street tacos and tamales to regional moles, and the country's warm hospitality makes it easy to feel at home. The dry season, from November to April, is the most comfortable time to travel.

Trip highlights

  • Mexico City's historic centre (Day 2)
  • Teotihuacán and Cholula (Days 3–4)
  • Oaxaca's alebrije folk art (Day 6)
  • The Sumidero Canyon (Day 8)
  • Palenque's jungle ruins (Day 11)
  • Chichén Itzá (Day 14)

Your route

16 stops from Mexico City to Playa del Carmen

15-day route: Mexico City – Puebla – Oaxaca – San Cristóbal – Palenque – Mérida – Chichén Itzá – Playa del Carmen
  1. Mexico City Days 1–2
  2. Teotihuacán Day 3
  3. Puebla Days 3–4
  4. Cholula Day 4
  5. Oaxaca Days 5–6
  6. San Martín Tilcajete Day 6
  7. Monte Albán Day 6
  8. Mitla Day 7
  9. Salina Cruz Day 7
  10. Sumidero Canyon Day 8
  11. San Cristobal de las Casas Days 8–9
  12. San Juan Chamula Day 9
  13. Palenque Days 10–11
  14. Merida Days 12–13
  15. Chichén Itzá Day 14
  16. Playa del Carmen Days 14–15

Why choose this tour

Mexico's great sights from the capital to the Caribbean. A small group with an arrival transfer included.

Best suited to

  • First-time visitors to Mexico
  • Solo travellers looking for a small group
  • History and culture lovers
  • Travellers who want to end on the beach
A colourful alebrije owl

Day-by-day itinerary

15 days from Mexico City, Mexico to Playa del Carmen, Mexico

  1. Day 1 · Mexico City Arrive in Mexico City

    An airport transfer to your hotel.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Metropolitan Cathedral, Mexico City Mexico City

    A guided tour of the historic centre.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Teotihuacán, Puebla Teotihuacán to Puebla

    Explore the pyramids, then Puebla.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Cholula, Puebla Cholula

    An orientation walk in Cholula.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · Oaxaca Oaxaca

    Travel to Oaxaca for dinner.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Oaxaca Alebrijes

    Learn the craft of alebrijes.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Tule Tree, Salina Cruz Tule to Salina Cruz

    See the ancient Tule Tree on the way south.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  8. Day 8 · Sumidero Canyon, San Cristóbal Sumidero Canyon

    A boat ride through the canyon.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. Day 9 · San Cristóbal de las Casas San Cristóbal

    An orientation walk of the city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Palenque To Palenque

    A long drive to the jungle.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  11. Day 11 · Palenque ruins Palenque

    Visit the ruins of Palenque.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  12. Day 12 · Mérida Mérida

    Drive to the capital of the Yucatán.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  13. Day 13 · Mérida Free day in Mérida

    Explore museums and markets.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  14. Day 14 · Chichén Itzá, Playa del Carmen Chichén Itzá

    Visit Chichén Itzá on the way to the coast.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  15. Day 15 · Playa del Carmen Trip ends

    The trip ends after breakfast.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Puebla Cathedral

Where you stay

  • Mexico City (2 nights) Hotel
  • Puebla (2 nights) Hotel
  • Oaxaca (2 nights) Hotel
  • Salina Cruz (1 night) Hotel
  • San Cristóbal (2 nights) Hotel
  • Palenque (2 nights) Hotel
  • Mérida (2 nights) Hotel
  • Playa del Carmen (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 14 nights in hotels
  • Meals 14 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 1 dinner, including selected lunches and a dinner
  • Private vehicle travel and an arrival transfer
  • Mexico City tour, Teotihuacán and Cholula
  • Alebrije workshop and the Tule Tree
  • Sumidero Canyon boat ride and San Cristóbal walk
  • Palenque and Chichén Itzá
  • Leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights to Mexico City and from Cancún
  • Meals not included 10 lunches and 13 dinners
  • Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
Playa del Carmen from above

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You dislike long drives — some days are long
  • You want many meals included — mostly breakfasts
  • You want luxury — hotels are comfortable but simple
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–15 · Lunch: Days 7, 12 and 14 · Dinner: Day 5
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Mexico
The Temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £2,627 per person, twin share, tour only. 90 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Is an airport transfer included?

Yes, on arrival in Mexico City.

How long are the drives?

Some days involve several hours on the road, broken up with stops.

Which airport should I fly home from?

Cancún is the nearest international airport to Playa del Carmen.

Do I need a visa?

UK visitors do not need a visa for Mexico for a holiday stay.

Which meals are included?

Breakfast daily, with a few lunches and a dinner.

How many people travel together?

Up to 12 travellers aged 15 and over, with a leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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