Mexico City, Oaxaca, Yucatan: 14-day Mexico itinerary

Mexico is reduced to one word on most travel plans: Cancún. However, the Caribbean coast is the youngest and most touristic corner of the country; The cultural center of gravity is much further inland. When the museums in the capital, the cuisine of Oaxaca and the Mayan ruins of Yucatán are visited together, you get the feeling of visiting three different countries, not a single holiday.

This route is based on 14 days and goes one way: you land in the capital, go south to Oaxaca, from there fly to the Yucatán peninsula and return from Cancún. Since you're not returning to the same city, you're not taking a long domestic flight on the last day.

Day distribution: how many nights where?

Four days in Mexico City

The capital is at an altitude of 2,250 meters and is huge. If you don't arrange the days according to the district, most of the time will be spent in traffic. Roma and Condesa neighborhoods are the most balanced areas for eating, drinking and accommodation; The metro is cheap and fast but overwhelming during rush hour.

• Zócalo: one of the largest city squares in the world, located right on the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. The Templo Mayor excavation site in the northern corner of the square shows the Aztec temple emerging from beneath the colonial cathedral; It is one of the rare places where you can see two civilizations standing on top of each other at a single glance. Allow three hours for the square and the excavation site together.
• Teotihuacán: a huge ancient city, 50 kilometers from the capital, founded about a thousand years before the Aztecs; The Pyramid of the Sun is 65 meters high. The area is completely unshaded and you walk along the two-kilometer Road of the Dead, so being at the gates opening at eight in the morning is the only way to escape the midday heat. Take a full day, not half a day.
• Frida Kahlo Museum: The Blue House, where the artist was born and died; His workshop, wheelchair and personal belongings remain intact. Tickets are sold only online and on time, and sell out days in advance on weekends. The house is small, the visit lasts an hour; On the same day, visit the Coyoacán neighborhood and market.
• Guadalajara: if you have time to extend the route, the birthplace of mariachi music and tequila; The historical center consists of four squares gathered around the cathedral. 1 hour 15 minutes by flight from the capital.

Oaxaca: the stop of the route that should not be missed

Oaxaca is excluded from most routes because it has neither a coast nor a famous pyramid. On the other hand, this is the city where Mexican cuisine is strongest and the center is walkable from end to end; You will hardly need a taxi for three days.

• Oaxaca historical center: The entire city is on the UNESCO list, with colonial buildings made of green volcanic stone, the gold-plated interior of the Santo Domingo Church and live music in the square in the evenings. The cultural museum in the same structure houses the golden artifacts from the Monte Albán excavations and is the right place to read about the history of the region before visiting it.
• Monte Albán: Zapotec capital built on the hill above the city; It is known for its square and observatory structure perched on a leveled mountain peak. 20 minutes to the center, two hours to visit. Afternoon light makes the stone reliefs more readable.
• Tlacolula market: the liveliest local market of the region, held on Sundays; It's not a tourist attraction, it's a shopping area for the surrounding villages. The Zapotec language is still spoken and the textile, mezcal and bread departments are separate sections.
• Hierve el Agua: stone formations that look like waterfalls from afar, where calcium-laden water flows down the rock and freezes it; You can swim in the natural pools next to it. The road is rough and the last part is dirt; Taking a tour is both easier and safer than driving on your own.

Yucatán: ruins, cenotes and coast

The cultural center of the peninsula is Mérida; It is much quieter, much cheaper and closer to the ruins than Cancún. It makes sense to rent a car in this part: the roads are good, distances are short and most of the cenotes cannot be reached by public transport.

• Chichén Itzá: The most well-known site of the Mayan world; The number of steps of the Kukulkan Pyramid corresponds to the number of days in the Mayan calendar, and the shadow falling on the stairs at the spring equinox creates a snake shape. It is 1 hour and 45 minutes from Mérida, and it is a must to enter when the gates open: after 11 o'clock, tour buses from Cancún completely fill the area, and there is no shade.
• Tulum ruins: the only walled Mayan city by the sea; You look out over the Caribbean from the temple on top of the cliff. The area is small and can be visited in an hour; in its original value position. The small beach below is accessible during your visit, so bring a swimsuit.
• Cancun and Riviera Maya: rest section of the route and departure point of the return flight. The hotel area is a completely planned tourism strip; If you're looking for a more local feel, stay on the Puerto Morelos or Akumal side.
• Cenotes: thousands of underground water wells dug into the limestone floor of the peninsula; They were considered sacred to the Mayans. Those close to the main roads are crowded and expensive, while those in the villages are cheaper and almost empty. Sunscreen is prohibited in most cenotes, and you are asked to shower before entering the water.
• Uxmal: Much quieter alternative to Chichén Itzá; The best examples of Puuc architecture are here and there are more structures that can be climbed. 1 hour from Mérida, uncrowded at any time of the day.

When to go?

November to April is the dry season and the most suitable period for this route: Humidity decreases in Yucatán, the weather is clear in the capital. Beach prices peak during the holiday weeks of late December and March. June to October is the rainy and hurricane season; The rain is usually short-lived in the afternoon, but on the Caribbean coast, September-October are the riskiest months. If you're going for the Day of the Dead, aim for the end of October and book Oaxaca accommodation months in advance, as the city is fully booked that week.