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Highlights of Mexico:...
 

Highlights of Mexico: Oaxaca to Mexico City

9 days |  12 days with Yucatán extension
9 days |  12 days with Yucatán extension
Group size1222 travelers
Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars

51
Physical activity
travelers walking in front of the metropolitan cathedral in mexico city
Colorful facades on the streets of Oaxaca Mexico
The Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza on the Yucatan Peninsula Mexico
A mariachi band member playing the trumpet in Mexico
OverviewItineraryDates & pricesReviewsTraveler photosHotels, flights & FAQ
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See the best of Mexico, from historic civilizations to modern cities.

Start in mountainside Oaxaca, making your way through vibrant cities and picturesque countryside to Mexico City, the bustling capital. As you go, you’ll see the impact of ancient empires, immerse yourself in the local culture, and taste mouthwatering regional dishes. On this small group Adventure Tour through Mexico, discover a country of strong traditions, rich history, and memorable flavors.

Your tour package includes

  • 8 nights in handpicked hotels
  • 8 breakfasts
  • 1 lunch
  • 2 dinners with beer or wine
  • 1 cooking demonstration
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Included highlights

  • Tasting chocolate & mole
  • Benito Juárez Market
  • San Bartolo cooking demonstration
  • Teotitlan del Valle textile workshop
  • Organic mezcal distillery
Read more
Start planning today

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Day-by-day itinerary

Print itinerary
Oaxaca3 nights
Day 1: Arrival in Oaxaca

Welcome to Mexico! Arrive in Oaxaca late this evening and transfer to your hotel.

Day 2: Sightseeing tour of Oaxaca & San Bartolo cooking demonstration
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting, Welcome lunch

Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Madre, Oaxaca is one of Mexico’s most beautiful cities. Today, discover this UNESCO-recognized urban center on a sightseeing tour.

  • Make your way around Plaza de la Constitución, viewing the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption as you go
  • See the Church of Santo Domingo, a former Dominican monastery
  • Stroll along Calle Macedonio Alcalá, a pedestrian street named for the talented Mexican musician
  • Learn how chocolate is made at a local factory and enjoy a tasting
  • Browse the stalls of Benito Juárez Market and 20 de Noviembre Market

Travel to the town of San Bartolo for a cooking demonstration and welcome lunch at a local family’s home.

  • Meet the family, learn about the dishes you’ll be eating, and opt to help cook
  • Enjoy a welcome drink of mezcal, tequila, or beer with some antojitos, light snacks from Oaxaca
  • Sit down to enjoy multi-course welcome lunch

Later, head to a pottery workshop to learn about the town’s famous black clay pottery and watch a demonstration to see how it’s made.

Day 3: Teotitlan del Valle textile workshop & mezcal tasting
Included meals: Breakfast, Liquor tasting

Spend a free morning in Oaxaca or add an excursion.

This afternoon, visit a textile workshop in Teotitlan del Valle, a village famous for producing traditional Zapotec wares.

  • Learn how the artisans use natural dyes and wool to create rugs, sarape shawls, and clothing
  • Watch the family members demonstrate how to use a loom and learn different weaving techniques

Then, continue on to an organic mezcal distillery.

  • Join a local guide on a tour of the agave farm
  • Hear how artisanal Mezcal is produced, from cooking and crushing the agave piñas to distilling the liquor
  • Discover the smoky flavor mezcal is known for as you sample three different varieties

Spend a free evening in Oaxaca or add an excursion.

Oaxacan Cooking Class & Dinner

From $139 per person

Ancient Mexico: Monte Albán

From $65 per person

Puebla2 nights
Day 4: Transfer to Puebla & walking tour
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Travel to Puebla and explore the city on a short walk with your Tour Director.

  • Pass through the Main Square, which reflects the Old Spanish style
  • Walk through tree-filled plazas and past fountains
  • See the Municipal Hall of Puebla and the city’s cathedral
  • Arrive at a local restaurant where you’ll try the chocolatey mole poblano, a regional specialty, during an included dinner
Day 5: Sightseeing tour of Puebla
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting

Get to know the UNESCO-protected City of Angels on a food-themed walking tour led by a local guide.

  • Enter Mercado Carmen Serdán, one of Puebla's traditional food markets
  • Step inside several local eateries to try local food like chalupas, quesadillas, tacos, enmoladas, and sopes
  • Learn about the region's culinary traditions along the way

Spend free time in Puebla or add an excursion.

Historic Cholula

From $59 per person

Mexico City3 nights
Day 6: Transfer to Mexico City & Lake Xochimilco boat ride
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting

Travel to Mexico City and explore the waterways in the Xochimilco neighborhood.

  • Board a vividly-colored, open-air boat known as a trajinera
  • Float through the canals along Lake Xochimilco, which are the last remaining remnants of the water network built and used by the ancient Aztecs
  • Enjoy Mexican street snacks, as well a beer or glass of wine, aboard the ship
  • Listen to mariachi bands play songs as they pass by on their own boat

Spend a free evening in Mexico City or add an excursion.

Mexico City Home-Hosted Dinner

From $109 per person

Day 7: Sightseeing tour of Mexico City
Included meal: Breakfast

This morning, set out to explore Mexico City’s UNESCO-protected city center on a guided tour.

  • Pass by Alameda Central park and the Art Nouveau Palacio de Bellas Artes, the city’s cultural hub
  • Walk through Plaza de la Constitución, colloquially known as "El Zócalo"
  • Enter Palacio Nacional, home to the Federal Treasury and National Archives, to view Diego Rivera’s famous murals depicting events from Mexican history
  • Pay visits to the Metropolitan Cathedral and Templo Mayor, an archaeological site and museum

Spend free time in the Mexican capital or add an excursion.

Coyoacán & Frida Kahlo Museum

From $69 per person

Day 8: Free day in Mexico City
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner

Enjoy a free day in Mexico City or add an excursion.

Later this evening, join your group to raise a toast to your trip at a farewell dinner.

Teotihuacán Archaeological Site & Guadalupe Shrine

From $95 per person

Flight Home
Day 9: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Extension to Yucatán
Fly to the Yucatán Peninsula, famous for its Mayan ruins and fabulous beaches, to continue your adventure. You’ll take a sightseeing tour of Merida, then dip your toes in ancient history (and some sparkling Gulf waters) in Playa del Carmen.
Playa del Carmen3 nights
Day 9: Flight to Cancún & transfer to Playa del Carmen
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Fly to Cancún and continue on to your hotel in beachside Playa del Carmen, which is located on Riviera Maya. Sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Day 10: Sightseeing tour of Coba Mayan ruins & Punta Laguna Nature Reserve
Included meal: Breakfast

Discover the Coba Mayan ruins with a local guide this morning.

  • Learn about the ancient Mayan city and civilization as you explore the archaeological site
  • Walk along a network of stone causeways through the jungled ruins to Nohoch Mul pyramid, the tallest Mayan pyramid on the Yucatán Peninsula
  • Opt to hike up a steep set of stairs to the top of the pyramid for views overlooking the jungle and Yucatán Peninsula
  • Enjoy free time for lunch in the town of Coba

This afternoon, join a local Mayan guide for a walk through the Punta Laguna Nature Reserve.

  • Learn about the flora and fauna, as well as the local efforts to maintain native species
  • Walk along the jungle paths and try to spot spider monkeys, howler monkeys, lizards, birds, and grasshoppers
  • Hop aboard a canoe and paddle across the lagoon
  • Enjoy an opportunity to swim in a cenote, or flooded cave
Day 11: Free day in Playa del Carmen
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner

Enjoy a free day in Playa del Carmen or add an excursion.

Celebrate your trip at a farewell dinner this evening.

Cenotes Sac Actún & Akumal Bay Snorkeling

From $159 per person

Flight Home
Day 12: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the Cancún airport for your flight home.

Show full itinerary
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Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars

Overall rating 4.5 out of 5

Based on 51 authentic traveler reviews
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    5 out of 5 stars

    2/10/24 by 1st-time traveler Susan

    5 out of 5 stars

    Wonderful
    1/21/23 by 2nd-time traveler Robert

    Informative

    5 out of 5 stars

    Highlights of Mexico
    1/20/24 by 3rd-time traveler Anonymous

    This was a very good tour. The food was good. Our guide was great. Our fellow travelers were very nice.We saw a lot, and it was fun. It was a bit strenuous for some travelers in our group. As a suggestion, I feel like EF should indicate the difficulty level of an excursion or tour

    EF Go Ahead Tours replied on 1/31/24

    Hello, We're delighted to hear that you had a ver...

    Read more +
    Show more reviews

    Traveler photos

    Hotels, flights & FAQ

    Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

    Hotels

    We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
    Hotel Casa Conzatti
    Hotel Casa Conzatti

    This colonial style hotel is located in the heart of Oaxaca's city centre. Guests enjoy the on-site restaurant, bar, and convenient location. Nearby y...

    Read more +
    Hotel Colonial de Puebla
    Hotel Colonial de Puebla

    This colonial styled hotel is located in the heart of Puebla. Guests enjoy the on-site restaurant, rooftop terrace, and comfortable rooms. Nearby you’...

    Read more +
    Hotel Galería Plaza Reforma
    Hotel Galería Plaza Reforma

    This contemporary hotel is located in Juárez. Guests enjoy a fitness center, gift shop, and rooftop pool. Nearby, you'll find the Monument to the Revo...

    Read more +
    Hacienda Paradise Boutique Hotel
    Hacienda Paradise Boutique Hotel

    This colonial-style hotel is located in La Antigua. Guests enjoy Wi-Fi, laundry service, and a nightly Marimba show. Nearby, you'll find Antigua Guate...

    Read more +

    Flights

    Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
    Add our airfare package and you'll get:
    • Round-trip flight for your tour
    • Airport transfers at your destination
    • A great price locked in today
    • 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
    • Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
    • Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
    • Find out more about flights

    FAQ

    Print FAQ

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