The perfect 3-week itinerary in Mexico

Itinerary and a short note on prices and expenses

On the top of the page, you can see our route through Mexico. We planned a 3-week trip, and although it's entirely possible to travel for a shorter or longer duration, we considered the above plan to be ideal for us in terms of both economy and allowing ample time to truly experience Mexico.

We spent approximately 3100 euros for the entire trip. Please note that this figure can serve as a guideline for your trip, but there are many variables worth considering: the quality and location of your accommodations, how much you plan to spend on dining out, how many excursions you intend to take, and whether you're traveling during high or low season. There's no doubt that these factors can significantly impact your overall budget for the trip.

Read our tips on Oaxaca City

We have also travelled Oaxaca City and we have come up with important things to know in order to plan the perfect visit to one of Mexicos most authentic and culinary important cities

How much does it cost to travel Mexico?

Our priorities that highly influence the total cost of the trip

We chose to prioritize safety (as safety in Mexico was a major concern for us before our departure - more on this later). Additionally, we allocated about 400 euros per person for excursions (there are plenty of options, but this category can quickly add up and make the trip more expensive).

We ate out an average of twice a day, totaling 41 meals, and either had breakfast included at the hotel or bought groceries for the remaining meals. It's also worth mentioning that we traveled during the low season (September), which certainly influenced the cost.

All in all, we would say it costs at least 2700 euros pr. person to travel Mexico for three weeks or about 900 euros pr week in Mexico if you want to live comfortably, safe and get the best experiences the country has to offer.

Enough about money (although more on this later) - now to the fun part: Planning the trip!

First stop: Mexico City - Ciudad de México - CDMX 5-7 DAYS

Mexico City more than just a metropol - 7th largest city in the world!

We started in Mexico City! Mexico City captivates visitors with its unparalleled cultural diversity, exquisite cuisine, and warm hospitality. The city is celebrated for its vibrant street markets, where locals and tourists alike immerse themselves in a kaleidoscope of colors, aromas, and flavors. Renowned for its culinary delights, the city offers a tantalizing array of street food vendors, upscale restaurants, and traditional eateries, showcasing the authentic taste of Mexican cuisine.

Why start in Mexico City?

We decided to start here because we preferred to end our trip by relaxing on the beach and starting with the urban part. We had heard some people say that Mexico City is 'just a big city,' but if you didn't grow up in Central America or Mexico, we strongly disagree. Mexico City is so much more. It is one of the world's largest cities, which means there's always something new to experience and discover about the city. We met up with an acquaintance who lives and grew up in Mexico City, and some of the things we had been recommended and heard were the best, he had never even heard of! That says a lot about the city's size. Therefore, our recommendation is to plan your time in Mexico City more thoroughly than you normally would, or else you might end up walking 30,000 steps a day (like we did)...

Where to stay in Mexico City (Neighborhood)

We stayed in Roma Norte, and this might be the most important recommendation: the neighborhood you choose! Mexico City is so vast that there can be an hour (by car!) between different central areas. Roma Norte, besides being one of the safest areas, is also centrally located, making it easy to reach the surrounding neighborhoods or take a short taxi/Uber ride. In addition to its prime location, the neighborhood also has the advantage of being incredibly charming with a hipster, artsy, modern (but still respectful of the old) style. There are many cozy shops, fantastic restaurants, and green areas where people walk their dogs, relax, and clearly enjoy living in the area.

Second stop: Oaxaca City - 3-4 DAYS

Oaxaca City the food mekka of Mexico - Agua El Hierve, El Mule Tree, Mezcal and loads of food

Okay, admitted, you can also get by with just 2 days in Oaxaca City, as it is not the largest city in the world (can be explored on foot), but Oaxaca is much more than just the center. Many people come to the city to experience the surrounding attractions e.g. Agua El Hierve, El Tule Tree, Mezcal crafting etc.

People visit Oaxaca City for its rich cultural heritage, historical significance, and vibrant atmosphere. Some of the main sights that attract visitors include the stunning colonial architecture of Santo Domingo Church and the impressive archaeological site of Monte Alban. The city's bustling markets, like Mercado Benito Juarez, are also popular, offering a chance to explore local handicrafts, traditional cuisine, and vibrant produce. Additionally, the Day of the Dead celebrations and the vibrant culinary scene, with famous dishes like mole and mezcal, add to the allure of Oaxaca City.

Oaxaca City is a small city that holds a lot of life and love. The reason we recommend 3-4 days is because a large part of the city is simply being there and wandering around.

Remember, if you need things to do in Oaxaca, read our blog post here!

Third stop: Yucatan and Quintina Roo

Third stop consists of multiple small stops around the Yucatan peninsula

It's time for a beach vacation, but not just any beach vacation! The Yucatan Peninsula has much more to offer. We recommend spending about 10 days on the peninsula, but you can definitely spend more or less time. If you want to experience most of the peninsula at a reasonable pace, 10 days is ideal. On the other hand, if you're a more relaxed traveler who wants plenty of time to relax and do nothing, like reading a book, you can easily spend three weeks in this beautiful part of Mexico that has some of the most beautiful beaches we've ever visited.

If you're considering less than 10 days, you should carefully consider reducing the number of destinations, as transportation can quickly take up a lot of time. It should be noted that we had a rental car for the different destinations and drove an average of 1.5 hours per stop and about 11 hours in total. The trip can also be done by bus, which is significantly cheaper, but of course, less flexible. If you choose to rent a car from Cancun, we recommend doing your homework because there are many cases of car rental companies cheating their customers unfortunately. We used PREMIER CAR RENTAL (not sponsored) in Cancun and even though the car was in slightly worse condition than expected, they were very transparent and we were not cheated in any way, with no additional charges.

Our itinerary on the Yucatan Peninsula looked as follows:

We landed in Cancun but avoided staying there as we had mainly received negative reviews about the place (said to be very touristy).

1st stop: Playa Del Carmen (1 night) - very touristy, but a decent place for an overnight stay if you don't want to drive late at night. We arrived, had dinner, went to bed, and then spent 2-3 hours exploring the town the next day, which was enough.
2nd stop: Tulum (1 night) - hmm, this stop was actually our biggest disappointment. The town is far from the beach and filled with junk and not very charming (except for 4-5 small cozy shops in the side streets to the main street). The beach is completely privatized, which means you either have to pay to access the beach (and lie there) or stay at a resort with beach access. However, the beach is one of the most amazing we've experienced, so it's worth making a stop. Gorgeous turquoise water.
3rd stop: Bacalar (2-3 nights) - depending on whether you visit during the high or low season. Outside the season, the town is very dead and not worth more than an hour or so, but it's clear that the town has potential and opens up in a different way during the high season. The primary reason to visit, however, is the lagoon, so we recommend skipping the city center and instead booking a hotel with direct access to the lagoon. We can recommend AMACA if you want a true jungle experience.
4th stop: Valladolid (2 nights) - back to a more authentic and less touristy Mexico. We stayed at Spanglish Hostel, which despite the good reviews, cannot be recommended. Very noisy and dirty, but the location was good (despite being next to a nightclub that makes it so loud you can't sleep). Find another hotel nearby. Valladolid is great for spending half a day to a full day and is also a good base for visiting Chichen Itza, one of the seven wonders of the world, which is about a 45-minute drive away.
5th stop: Isla Holbox (3 nights) - we had heard a lot about this place, and it partly lived up to our expectations! It's a very small, cozy town with fantastic beaches and a really laid-back island vibe. However, the island is small, and you've already seen everything on the first day, but fortunately, there are plenty of options for dining, and the beaches are so good that you can easily relax and enjoy three days here.

Need specific travel recommendations for Yucatan and Quintana Roo?

Read our recommendations on what to see, what to do and what not to do in our blog on the beautiful peninsula.