Mexico: City, Oaxaca & the Riviera Maya in 10 Days
Mexico
Overview
This route pairs Mexico's two strongest inland food-and-culture cities — the capital's museums and endless street food, then Oaxaca's markets, mezcal palenques and nearby ruins — with a flight east to the Riviera Maya for Tulum's cliffside Mayan ruins and a few final days on Caribbean beaches around Cancún.
- Duration
- 10 days
- Pace
- Balanced
- Transport
- Mixed
- Estimated budget (comfortable)
- €1,250–€1,650
Route
1. Mexico City2. Oaxaca3. Tulum4. Cancún
Highlights
- Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul and the Anthropology Museum in Mexico City
- A mezcal tasting in Oaxaca, plus the Monte Albán ruins nearby
- Tulum's cliffside Mayan ruins above the Caribbean
- Swimming in a cenote (freshwater sinkhole) near Tulum
Worth knowing
- Mexico City's altitude (2,240m) can cause mild altitude adjustment for a day or two
- Cancún's hotel zone is heavily built-up — Tulum is the better base for a quieter feel
- Book cenote tours ahead in peak winter season (Dec-Mar)
Day by day
Day 1
Mexico CityMain activities
- Arrive, settle in
- Zócalo and the Metropolitan Cathedral
Overnight: Mexico City
Day 2
Mexico CityMain activities
- National Museum of Anthropology
- Casa Azul (Frida Kahlo Museum)
Overnight: Mexico City
Day 3
Mexico CityMain activities
- Teotihuacan pyramids day trip
Optional additions
- Xochimilco canal boats
Overnight: Mexico City
Day 4
Mexico City → OaxacaMain activities
- Flight (~1.5h)
- Zócalo and Santo Domingo church
~1.5 hours flightOvernight: Oaxaca
Day 5
OaxacaMain activities
- Monte Albán ruins
- Mezcal palenque tasting
Overnight: Oaxaca
Day 6
OaxacaMain activities
- Local market crawl
- Hierve el Agua petrified waterfalls
Overnight: Oaxaca
Day 7
Oaxaca → TulumMain activities
- Flight via Mexico City or Cancún (~3h total)
- Beach evening
~3 hours totalOvernight: Tulum
Day 8
TulumMain activities
- Tulum Mayan ruins
- Cenote swim
Overnight: Tulum
Day 9
Tulum → CancúnMain activities
- Transfer (~2h)
- Beach day
Optional additions
- Isla Mujeres day trip
~2 hoursOvernight: Cancún
Day 10
CancúnMain activities
- Departure
Overnight: Cancún
Alternatives
Shorter version · 7 days
Drop Oaxaca and fly directly Mexico City → Tulum/Cancún.
Longer extension · 14 days
Add Chichén Itzá and Valladolid between Tulum and Cancún.