A Remarkable 3 Week Mexico Itinerary
Breathtaking cenotes deep in the jungle, magnificent ancient ruins, quaint cobbled streets lined with vibrant buildings, beautiful fine white sand beaches and dramatic mountain vistas are a few of the things you can experience on your Mexico itinerary. Read on for more!
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Mexico is incredibly vibrant, colourful and varied and has so much to offer every kind of traveller.
From the ancient ruins scattered around the country dating back to Mesoamerican civilisations to the wide opulent plazas and colourful colonial architecture left behind by the Spanish, Mexico is steeped in history and each civilisation has left treasures waiting to be explored and relished.
There are endless adventures and activities in Mexico from hiking in spectacular cloud forests to snorkelling amongst colourful corals and tropical marine life to swimming in cascading waterfalls to diving in natural sinkholes deep in the jungle. These are just some of the things you can experience in this marvellous outdoor playground.
As well as the adventures and activities, one of the best things to do in Mexico is rest, relax and treat yourselves to a bit of luxury. Head to the Riviera Maya where unending picture-perfect white sand beaches sit peacefully nestled amongst lush mangrove forests and turquoise ocean.
This three-week Mexico itinerary is the perfect introduction to Mexico. You’ll start with a few days in Mexico City before continuing to Oaxaca, San Cristobal de las Casas, Campeche, Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen and finally, Bacalar.
For our complete guides on some of these areas, head to the blog posts below.
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Contents
Three Week Mexico Itinerary
Mexico City
The first stop on your Mexico itinerary is 5 days in Mexico City; one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Americas.
Mexico City is diverse and vibrant. Colonial architecture, iconic artwork, gorgeous parks, delicious food, lavish public plazas and a rich cultural heritage await visitors and provide a wonderful introduction to dynamic Mexico.
One of the best things to do in Mexico City is to explore the Historic Centre. Centred around the massive Zocalo Plaza, this is the city’s beating heart and where you’ll see the defining characteristics of the cultures that defined the city. This lively area is home to historic landmarks, iconic buildings, museums, fascinating architecture and street vendors.
Visiting the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco; the Venice of Mexico is one of the top things to do in Mexico City. This UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of miles of waterways you can explore on colourful trajineras (boats).
It’s a pleasant activity for a few hours where you’ll pass other trajineras selling food and drinks and others with mariachi bands. Keep your eyes peeled for Isla de las Munecas (Island of the Dead Dolls), an eerie plot of land where dolls are hung from trees!
Other top things to do in Mexico City include Chapultepec Forest; Latin America’s largest city park, the Anthropology Museum, Parque Mexico, and the ancient ruins of Teotihuacan.
Oaxaca
3 days in Oaxaca is next on your Mexico itinerary; a firm favourite amongst visitors and you’ll quickly see why. The colourful colonial streets ooze charm through their vibrant and fascinating architecture, traditional festivals, art, spectacular diverse scenery and delicious cuisine.
One of the best things to do in Oaxaca, for locals and tourists alike, is people-watch in the Zocalo. Grab a drink in one of the cafes or restaurants that line the bustling plaza and soak up the atmosphere.
Hawker stalls sell everything from handicrafts and textiles to jewellery and knick-knacks. Families are out playing and socialising in the evenings and tourists are visiting the historical buildings in the surrounding streets. There’s always something going on.
One of my favourite things to do in Oaxaca was hiking in the Pueblos Mancomunados. Located in northern Oaxaca’s Sierra Norte, these are eight remote villages protected under a unique ecotourism project. They’re home to the Zapotecs; an indigenous people of Mexico who have recently turned to ecotourism to help with economic hardships.
There are over 100 kilometres of walking trails between the villages rewarding you with incredible landscapes such as caves, waterfalls, canyons and panoramic lookouts. To make the most out of your visit, stay overnight in one of the villages.
For some truly jaw-dropping scenery and one of the best things to do in Mexico, head to Hierve el Agua. This natural phenomenon appears to be frozen water cascading off the cliffs into the valley below. The falls are located amongst stunning panoramic mountain vistas and there are two warm mineral pools at the cliff-edge you can swim in.
Other top things to do in Oaxaca include the Templo de Santo Domingo, the ancient Monte Alban ruins, souvenir shopping in the numerous colourful markets, mezcal tasting, and trying all the delicious Oaxacan cuisine.
San Cristobal de las Casas
Days 8 – 11 on your Mexico itinerary are spent in my favourite city in Mexico; San Cristobal de las Casas. San Cristobal is the cultural heart of Mexico’s southernmost state, Chiapas; home to one of Mexico’s largest indigenous populations and scattered with dozens of traditional Tzotzil and Tzeltal villages.
San Cristobal beautifully fuses modern comforts and ancient traditions. This, combined with quaint colonial architecture, cobbled streets, colourful markets, and delicious food make it a wonderful base to explore the diverse landscapes of Chiapas.
San Cristobal sits in a small valley surrounded by green hills and pine forests. Situated at an altitude of 2,200 metres, it has a cool climate and the air is always clean and fresh.
The city is a must-visit on its own but it’s also surrounded by incredible natural scenery including turquoise waterfalls, endless mountain vistas, imposing canyons, and forested lakes.
One of the top things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas and on this Mexico itinerary is a boat trip on the Sumidero Canyon. This canyon is a geological fault formed millions of years ago and is considered to be one of the most spectacular places in Mexico!
The walls reach incredible heights of 1200 metres in places and have some beautiful features. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for spider monkeys and crocodiles!
For some breathtaking scenery, check out Lagunas de Montebello National Park; an area of almost 60 striking blue and turquoise lakes, a vast pine forest, a variety of wildlife, and impressive Mayan ruins.
Here, you can do some of the best activities in Mexico including swimming in the lakes, hiking in the mountainous forest and even rafting to a cenote!
The ancient ruins of Palenque can be visited from San Cristobal on a day tour combined with the spectacular Agua Azul and Misol-Ha waterfalls. It’s a very long day so I’d recommend a night in Palenque if time allows, but if time is limited, this is an option.
Other top things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas are El Chiflon; five giant waterfalls tucked inside a beautiful valley, ambling the city’s picturesque streets, souvenir shopping in the markets, and for some gorgeous views across the city, climbing the stairs to Templo de Guadalupe.
Campeche
Days 11 – 13 of your Mexico itinerary are spent in another colourful colonial city; Campeche.
Campeche is located in the Yucatan Peninsula, a busy and touristy part of Mexico with places like Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Campeche, however, has remained off the main tourist trail so it’s a lot quieter and feels a world away from these bustling resort towns.
One of the best things to do in Campeche is to explore the historic old town. Uniquely, Campeche’s old town has outer walls and fortifications as a result of the pirate attacks on the Caribbean port in the 17th and 18th centuries. The walls still exist today and you can walk along parts of them for a different perspective of the city’s colourful buildings.
Within the city walls, the narrow cobbled streets are lined with buildings of every possible colour. You’ll find dozens of cafes, eateries and bars with chairs and tables outside where you can sit and soak up the atmosphere. Prices also remain low thanks to the lack of international tourism.
The malecon is a walkway along the waterfront located just outside the city’s walls and one of the top things to do in Campeche is to come here for a stroll. The best time is just before sunset once the temperature has dropped and everyone comes out to watch the sun go down, socialise or go for a run.
You can also rent a bike and explore the coast along the waterfront. Continue after the malecon has ended and you’ll reach Fuerte San Miguel perched on a hill with stunning views across the ocean. Another great place to watch the sunset.
The fort was built as a secondary protection against pirates and consists of a moat, drawbridge, and large stone walls. There’s also an archaeological museum containing many Mayan pieces of art and jewellery.
Other great things to do in Campeche include; the Maya Architecture Museum, the pedestrianised street Calle 59, the light show on the square, and eating delicious seafood in one of the seafront restaurants.
Cancun
The next 2 days on your Mexico itinerary are a couple of days to unwind from the busy past two weeks.
Cancun is the party capital of Mexico, so if you’ve been craving a big night out, now’s your chance. Zona Hotelera is the primary tourist area and where you’ll find most of the resorts and nightlife. There’s one road, Kukulkan Boulevard, which runs from one side of the Hotel Zone to the other.
There’s a lot more to Cancun than just bars and clubs.
Downtown Cancun gives you a taste of local culture with small boutiques, green parks, Mexican wrestling and street food vendors. It’s also very well connected so you can experience the Hotel Zone without having to stay there.
Without a doubt, one of the best activities in Mexico is relaxing on a gorgeous white sand beach and the beaches in Cancun are a huge draw. I expected them to be overcrowded and rather dirty, however, I couldn’t have been more wrong!
Cancun has 21 kilometres of coast with soft white sand and turquoise waters. If you’re after a beach with a lively atmosphere, head to Playa Forum located behind the renowned Coco Bongo and filled with restaurants and bars.
Chac Mool Beach is perfect for something more laidback or for exploring the underwater world with numerous operators renting out water sports equipment. Playa Delfines is one of the largest beaches in Cancun and has no hotels, resorts, or shops lining it so tends to be quieter.
We’d recommend getting out of your resort and exploring further than the beaches as there are many wonderful things to do in Cancun.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chichen Itza, is easily visited in a day. This was one of the greatest Mayan centres of the Yucatan Peninsula and is one of the largest sacred sites in Mexico.
The Yucatan Peninsula is renowned for spectacular cenotes which are natural sinkholes formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock exposing the groundwater underneath.
Mexico is littered with thousands of cenotes and there are over 6000 in the Yucatan Peninsula alone where you can swim, snorkel, and even scuba-dive! Some of the best cenotes near Cancun are located along the Ruta de Cenotes (Cenote Route).
Isla Mujeres
Just off the coast of Cancun is Isla Mujeres, where you’ll spend days 15 – 17 of your Mexico itinerary. This small, picturesque island is home to idyllic beaches, a colourful town centre, yoga classes, and numerous water sports.
The best way to explore the island is by golf cart. There are plenty of places you can rent one from with prices starting from approximately $13 per hour or $40 for the day. There’s one main road that travels the entire way around the island so it’s impossible to get lost.
One of the highlights of Isla Mujeres is Playa Norte; one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico. This long stretch of fine white sand lined with palm trees is on the north side of the island and although it can get quite busy, is still worth a visit.
Temple Ixchel, honouring the Mayan goddess of happiness, fertility, and the moon is also worth a visit. Around the ruins, you’ll find an extensive collection of art and rock sculptures, hidden cliffside beaches, and maybe even spot some iguanas!
One of the best things to do on Isla Mujeres is to visit the Cancun Underwater Museum. This museum is actually located on the seafloor and was installed to primarily promote coral life. There are over 500 statues and other structures that make for incredible diving, snorkelling, and even glass-bottom boat trips!
Other highlights of Isla Mujeres include visiting Isla Contoy; a natural wildlife reserve and bird sanctuary, swimming with whale sharks, admiring the colourful street art and watching the magical sunsets.
Playa del Carmen
Days 17 – 19 will be spent exploring Playa del Carmen; often viewed as Cancun’s little sister. However, although you’ll find shopping malls, bars, and restaurants, it’s nowhere near Cancun’s level of liveliness!
As well as beautiful long white sand beaches perfect for relaxing and soaking up the rays, Playa del Carmen is a great base for exploring more of the Yucatan’s treasures.
One of my favourite things to do on my Mexico itinerary was swim in cenotes. There are different types of cenotes, each of which you can visit from Playa del Carmen; open, semi-open, cavern and ancient.
One of the most spectacular cenotes in the region is Jardin del Eden; a large, open cenote set in a dense lush jungle. The water is so incredibly clean and crystal clear it’s ideal for swimming in. You can rent snorkels or even scuba dive to see the fish and impressive rock formations.
Cenote Chaak Tun is an underground cenote comprising three underground caves through which the Mayans entered their underworld; Xibalba. You can snorkel in the turquoise waters of the underground river surrounded by ancient stalagmites and stalactites. A completely unique experience.
Other top things to do in Playa del Carmen include a day trip to Cozumel; a small island known for spectacular beaches and snorkelling, salsa dancing, watersports, and swimming with sea turtles in Akumal.
Bacalar
Your final two days on your Mexico itinerary are in Bacalar; one of only a few Pueblos Magicos (Magical Towns) in Mexico.
The ‘Magical Towns Programme’ is an initiative to promote rural towns around Mexico that offer visitors special experiences because of their traditions, historical relevance, natural beauty, cuisine, and cultural richness. It intends to increase tourism to more localities.
Bacalar is situated in Southeast Mexico, almost bordering Belize. For this reason, it’s quite tricky to get to with no large hubs nearby and therefore doesn’t see the crowds that other places do. Trust me, you want to make the effort to get here!
The main draw is Bacalar Lagoon which is unlike anywhere you’ve ever seen! It’s also known as the Lagoon of Seven Colours boasting seven different shades of blue and it’s nothing short of spectacular. The colours of the lake also change as the depths and time of the day change!
Bacalar Lagoon is Mexico’s second-largest body of water measuring 43 kilometres in length and 2 kilometres wide at its widest point. The lagoon is actually a series of waterways fed by underground cenotes that lead to the Caribbean Sea and has an incredibly diverse ecosystem.
One of the top things to do in Bacalar and the best way to experience the lagoon is to rent a kayak or paddleboard and paddle out on the water either at sunrise or sunset. Sunrise will be a lot more peaceful with fewer people around. Sunset, however, is still magical!
The beautifully clear, warm waters of Bacalar Lagoon are also an excellent place for a swim. However, to protect the ecosystem, you mustn’t wear any suncream so make sure you’ve got a cover-up you can wear in the water.
Some other great things to do in Bacalar are standup paddleboarding, sailing, snorkelling, swimming in cenotes, relaxing on one of the many docks around the lake, and exploring Fort San Felipe.
Everything You Need to Know For Your Mexico Itinerary
The best time for your Mexico itinerary
In general, the driest months for any Mexico itinerary are December to April. However, although this means the best weather, it also means more crowds and higher prices. I visited in November when it was still a bit cooler and there were fewer crowds and I only experienced a couple of rainy afternoons.
The rainy season runs from June to October but the coast is affected the most. Central Mexico usually experiences heavy afternoon showers.
How to get around Mexico
I travelled this exact Mexico itinerary on buses. Buses in Mexico are very convenient and if you’ve travelled on buses in places like Vietnam and Cambodia, you’ll find them seriously comfortable!
ADO buses are the most popular and offer different levels of luxury. I always travelled on the cheapest option (OCC) and the seats reclined, there’s plenty of legroom and also air-conditioning. If you’re travelling on a higher budget there’s GL class which offers more luxury and plush chairs.
It could also be worth taking some internal flights if your budget allows as travelling between key destinations can take quite a while.
If you want complete freedom and you’re confident enough to drive, renting a car is a fantastic option!
Prices in Mexico
Mexico is extremely affordable; especially outside of the tourist hotspots and sticking to local food and drink. Street food meals can be as low as $1 and domestic beer from $2. Meals in restaurants can start at around $8.
Dorms in hostels start from around $10 a night, private rooms from $18 and guesthouses from $15. 4* and 5* hotels in the cities start from $50 a night. If you’re keen on some all-inclusive luxury on the beach, you can get some fantastic deals starting from around $150 a night for two people.
These prices vary depending on the season and how popular the area is.
Do I need a visa?
As a UK passport holder, you don’t need a visa to visit Mexico as a tourist. You will, however, need to complete an immigration form and have this with you when you enter and leave the country.
What currency do I need?
Mexico uses the peso. At the time of writing, 1 USD is 17.35 MXN
What plug do I need?
You’ll need either plug type A or B. Both have two flat parallel pins and B has a grounding pin.
I hope you’ve found this Mexico itinerary useful in helping you plan your trip. Check out our other Mexico posts for in-depth guides to some of the key destinations on this route.
If your Mexico itinerary is part of a larger Central America trip, make sure you head to our Guatemala and Belize posts.
Feel free to leave a comment or contact us if you have any other questions 🙂