Home > Tours > Latin America Tours > Central America Tours > Central Mexico & Yucatan: Mexico City, Oaxaca, Oh Yeah

Central Mexico & Yucatan: Mexico City, Oaxaca, Oh Yeah

13 Days Mexico City to Tulum

New Release Adventure Small Group 18-30's

Overview

Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on G Adventures 13 Day Central Mexico & Yucatan: Mexico City, Oaxaca, Oh Yeah. They said it wasn’t possible, but we went and did it anyway: we combined the best of Central Mexico and the Yucatan into an incredible 13-day adventure that'll have you staying in awesome hostels at every stop. Discover hidden (and delicious!) corners of Mexico City before visiting the always-buzzing cities of Puebla and Oaxaca for even more culture and cuisine. Spend a couple of days at the beach, then fly up to Mérida for jungle bikes and cenote swims. After that, check out the read more

Sold Out

There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either the season has ended and new dates will be released soon, or the itinerary has been updated and isn’t operating this season.

13 Day Central Mexico & Yucatan: Mexico City, Oaxaca, Oh Yeah Itinerary (G Adventures)

Trip Length

13 Days

Trip Starts

Mexico City

Trip Ends

Tulum

Countries Visited:

Mexico

Operator

G Adventures

Trip Style

Roamies

Accommodation

Hostels

Budget

Affordable

Age Range

18-35 Years

Max. Group Size

Pace

Leisurely

Guide Style

Fully Guided

Tour Code

CMMTHW

Itinerary

Arrive at any time, and kick back at the hostel or head out to explore the city before meeting up with fellow Roamies in the evening. Grab a drink on the hostel rooftop terrace or check out the nearby main plaza, which is always buzzing at night.

Included Experiences

Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Mexico City is so huge that it's hard to know where or how to start exploring, but stick with us, we've got your back! Set off in a private ride with a local expert and head to the Monument to the Revolution to get great views from the top and learn a thing or two about Mexico's history. Continue to the iconic "El Angel" statue for the obligatory photos and then head to the trendy area of Colonia Roma Norte to visit a local market and find some mouth-watering tacos al pastor to devour for lunch. The rest of the afternoon is yours to continue exploring the city or maybe take a trip out to visit the ruins of Teotihuacán. Lucha libre in the evening, anyone?

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Optional Experiences

Museum of Frida Kahlo (Casa Azul): Visit the famed "Blue House" where Frida Kahlo was born, lived and died. Her lifelong home is open to those looking to learn more about or see what life was like for the celebrated artist. The museum consists of ten rooms throughout the home, each filled with original furniture from when she lived there with her husband Diego Rivera, and personal items of Frida's from letters, art materials, original works of art, to handcrafted kitchenwares. Tickets can be limited so we recommend booking in advance online: https://www.museofridakahlo.org.mx/?lang=en
Teotihuacán Guided Tour: Visit the ruins of Teotihuacán (meaning ‘the place where gods were born’), northeast of Mexico City. This ruin site dates back to 100AD and has the impressive Avenue of the Dead, Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon. Excavations are still underway at these ruins in the present day. These structures are so massive that the inside of the Pyramid of the Sun for example – has never been entirely explored. Bring water, wear a hat and solid walking shoes, and climb the pyramids to learn all about this pre-Columbian Mesoamerican city. Don't forget to stop by the museum too!
Lucha Libre Match: Combatants don colourful masks and catapult themselves towards their opponents off of the ring’s ropes, employing a variety of different moves and holds to pin them to the mat for a three-count. The largely Mexican crowds are usually rowdy, making “lucha libre” an entertaining way to throw yourself head-first into the local culture. Please be aware that prices for tickets will vary depending on seat location. (350-500 MXN per person)
National Museum of Anthropology: The National Museum of Anthropology houses the largest collection of Mexican art in the world. It's a must see if you're interested in the past or present-day history of Mexico. On the top of the highlights, see the Sun Stone (also known as the Aztec Calendar) an important piece in Aztec culture and mythology that illustrates the history of the universe. With over 20 exhibit halls, you may not be able to see the whole museum in just one day so grab a map and pick and choose what you're most interested in.

You’re not done with Mexico City quite yet! Head out to the colourful neighborhood of Xochimilco where you'll float along in a typical "trajinera" boat along the canals of this ancient water system built by the Aztecs. Browse the floating markets for souvenirs and snacks and maybe hear some mariachis along the way before hopping back on the bus. Arrive in the colonial city of Puebla in the early afternoon and brush up on your Spanish with the CEO before having some time to explore a bit or to relax at the hostel.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Included Experiences

Xochimilco Boat Tour: Take on the famous canals of Xochimilco in a vibrant coloured gondola boat past vendors, mariachi bands and local artisans. Feel the vibes of the music around you as locals shop in the floating markets and hopefully you'll find something to bring back home too.
Puebla Orientation Walk: Puebla is known for many things, such as pottery, colonial architecture and great food. Let your CEO guide you on a short walk through the city to point out the essentials like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs.

Head south today on a bus to Oaxaca, (pronounced "Wah-ha-cah" in case you were wondering), a city packed full of culture and incredible food. You'll dive straight into the regional cuisine in the evening with a big spread of delicious local dishes like tamales, tlayudas or some of the ridiculously delicious mole. Throw in some local tequila and you’ve got yourself a party in your mouth.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Included Experiences

Local Bus: Keep the snacks handy and stretch out on this comfy public bus.
Oaxaca Orientation Walk: Go on a CEO led walk through the colonial city of Oaxaca. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs.
Oaxaca Food and Drink Extravaganza: Prepare your taste buds as we dive into a culinary experience of Oaxaca's incredible food and drink specialties. Learn about the regional delicacies as we eat our way through a spread of dishes like mole, tamales and tlayudas with the ever-present fresh handmade tortillas. Wash it down with some local tequila and mezcal to round things off, which just seem to be natural fit with all of the flavours on the table.

Explore Experiences

Monte Alban

Freedom! Enjoy a full day in Oaxaca where you can choose from a heap of fun things to do. Want to see some ancient ruins? Visit the nearby site of Monte Albán. Want to stay local? Take a city tour or channel your inner chef with a cooking class. Ultimately the day is yours so if that means having a few more sips of mezcal at a local tavern or chilling at the hostel then that is a-ok by us too.

You can pre-book the Hierve el Agua Day Trip during check-out and pay a visit to a petrified waterfall outside of Oaxaca.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Included Experiences

Free Time: Spend a full free day partaking in the many optionals activities in and around Oaxaca like, a day trip to Hierve el Agua.

Optional Experiences

Monte Albán Tour: The Zapotec site of Monte Albán dates back to 500 BC and features platforms, pyramids, plazas, and a ball court sitting on a leveled mountaintop some 10km (5 mi) from Oaxaca. Enjoy the 360-degree views, see Olmec carvings, and be sure to visit the museum to see artifacts and stele excavated in the early 20th century.
Hierve el Agua Day Trip: Begin this activity in the morning with included transport to Hierve el Agua. This stunning natural formation consists of a series of mineral pools near the edge of a cliff. Over thousands of years, the heavily calcified water has flowed over the cliff, leaving mineral deposits as it goes. The result is known as a "petrified waterfall" – nearly white rock formations that resemble a cascading fall. Upon arrival, enjoy a few hours of free time to explore the area and perhaps go for a swim in one of the mineral pools. Then, travel to a Mezcalería for a tour of the distillery which includes an explanation of the production process of mezcal and a tasting. The group will return to Oaxaca in the late afternoon. Please note these approximate travel times below: Oaxaca to Hierve el Agua - Between 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours Hierve el Agua to Mezcalería- 1 hour Mezcalería to Oaxaca - 45 minutes.
Valley of Mitla Ruins Visit: The UNESCO World Heritage site of Mitla is 38km (24 mi) from Oaxaca. Its name derives from the Nahuatl language, meaning “Place of the Dead”. Occupied from 900 BC by the Zapotecs and then the Mixtecs, the ruin features five groups of structures on either side of the Mitla River. Look for ancient cut-stone mosaics and intricate stone carvings throughout. The region is also famous for its hand-dyed, foot-loomed woven rugs.
Mole Cooking Class: Take a cooking class and learn that there's more to mole than meets the eye (and mouth). In fact, in Oaxaca, there are at least seven different versions of this popular made-in-Mexico sauce cooked with ground chili, chocolate, and sesame seeds. Black, red, yellow, green – the list is endless. Take a guided trip to the local market and let your senses get lost in the spices, colours, and smells. Following your cooking class, sample your tasty creation.
Mezcal Factory Tour: The Valley of Oaxaca is renowned as the birthplace of mezcal. Not to be confused with tequila, this distilled liquor is made in small batches from a variety of species of agave (spiky green plants that look like the tops of pineapples). Sample different types, including white unaged mezcal (often sold with an agave larva inside), along with “reposado” and “añejo” (aged) batches. Grab a slice of orange that's coated in salt and mixed with chili and ground worms. Now, it’s time to sip and enjoy.

Road trip to the beach! Head out on a windy road up through the mountains, bound for the Pacific coast and the relaxed beach town of Puerto Escondido. Enjoy a CEO-led orientation walk upon arrival. The remainder of the afternoon is all yours; find somewhere for lunch on your own and settle in for some serious R&R or beach time, you deserve it.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Included Experiences

Puerto Escondido CEO-led Orientation Walk: Get the lay of the land on a CEO-led orientation walk in the port town on Mexico's Pacific coast. Known especially for its impressive nightlife and surfing beaches, there's much to do in Puerto Escondido. Think golden sands, crashing waves, and palm trees swaying over the thatched-roof bars lining the main street. Choose between one of the beaches and watch the sun dip towards the horizon.

Take a day to do as much or as little as you want, there's no judgement here. Maybe it's the beach or a surf class that's calling your name or possibly it's a 'hang-around'-the-hostel' kind of day with the crew. Your CEO is always on hand to make recommendations or to pull up a seat at the bar with, the choice is yours. Did someone say fish tacos?

Included Meals: Breakfast

Optional Experiences

Laguna de Manialtepec Visit: Visit the nearby Laguna de Manialtepec in the evening to witness a natural phenomenon. Bioluminescent plankton appear for a few nights each year and are activated when touched. Go for an evening boat ride and jump in the lagoon to watch the water illuminate around you. This phenomenon only happens a few times each year, so don't miss out if you're lucky enough to be there in season.
Surfing: Spend some time riding the waves on one of the many beaches in Puerto Escondido, famous for its surfing opportunities. Depending on your skill level some beaches will be better than others, Carizalillo is great for beginners while Zicatela is only safe for experts. Talk to your CEO to figure out where to go for rentals or lessons.
Stand Up Paddle Boarding: Grab a board and a paddle and start exploring!

Peel yourself off the beach and catch a flight north to Mérida via Mexico City. Head to the hostel and relax with a cold drink or explore the surroundings before meeting some newly-joining Roamies in the evening for the next leg of the adventure.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Included Experiences

Plane: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Ok, so every day on this trip is amazing but we'll venture to say that this one is ridiculous. You'll explore some of the many cenotes in the area, giant sinkholes in the earth formed by underground freshwater rivers. Hop on a bike to cycle between a few of them and swim in the crystal-clear waters to take a break from the heat. After a yummy lunch, return to Mérida and spend the rest of the day wandering the city or relaxing in a hammock at the hostel. Sound about right?

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Included Experiences

Santa Barbara Cenotes Visit: Head out in the morning from Mérida into the jungle to a state reserve that is chock-full of cenotes, natural sinkholes in the earth that were sacred to the ancient Maya. Cycle between 3 of them and swim in the crystal clear water to cool off from the heat before a delicious lunch, then return to Mérida in the afternoon.

Ready for another epic day? Keep your sunscreen and the camera handy today as you'll be checking a major bucket item off of your list. Head into the jungle to the massive Mayan ruins of Chichen Itzá for a guided tour and time to walk around on your own. Then continue to Valladolid to drop off your stuff at the hostel and chill for a bit before heading out for dinner, where you’ll learn about the Mayas and have a chance to devour a spread of delicious Yucatan dishes cooked over the fire, like pollo pibil and tamales with fresh handmade tortillas.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Included Experiences

Transport: Settle in and scan the scenery as you journey to your next destination.
Chichen Itzá Guided Tour: Join up with a local expert and learn about the history of Chichén Itzá and the beliefs and rituals that defined this ancient Mayan civilization. This dramatic site includes a 30m (98 ft) high temple, known as the Pyramid of Kukulcan, famous for its balustrade of 91 stairs up each of the four sides, a ball court with a grandstand, and towering walls. Visit the highlights of the site including the famous Castillo, the ball court, the cenote, and the Nunnery.

Explore Experiences

Chichén Itzá

Pile into the bus and head to the white sand and turquoise waters of the Mayan Riviera. But before you hit the beach we have more ruins to see - Tulum! The only of the Mayan temples to be built right next to the ocean, you will be filling your feed with jaw-dropping photos in no time. Spend the rest of the day on the beach, hanging out at the hostel or at one of the many bars and cafes in town.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Included Experiences

Tulum Ruins Visit: The Maya built the ancient seaport of Tulúm in the late 13th century. Located some 130 km (80 mi) south of Cancun, this picturesque site features a number of limestone structures protected on three sides by a 7m (23 ft) thick wall. Visit “El Castillo” (the castle), overlooking the Caribbean coast, and the Temple of Frescoes, then head down to the beach. Dive into the warm aquamarine waters and imagine spotting ancient vessels laden with turquoise and jade.
Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Explore Experiences

Tulum

The beach at Tulum is pretty stellar that's for sure, and today is yours to do with it what you want. Feeling active and want to explore more? Go snorkelling at the natural waterpark of Xel-Há or visit some more cenotes. Feeling the ocean vibes instead? Stay local and hit the beach before shoring up at the hostel bar for a cold beverage. After dinner head to one of the beach clubs to dance the night away under the stars.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Optional Experiences

Cenote Visit: Pack your swimsuit, hail a shared van (colectivo) and ask for directions to one of Yucatan’s many cenotes. These natural swimming holes were formed thousands of years ago, when the peninsula's porous limestone collapsed to reveal fresh water pools fed by underground systems of canals and rivers. Dive into the turquoise waters surrounded by cave walls or tropical foliage, watch fish dart in and out of the shafts of sunlight and realize why the Maya called cenotes “sacred wells”. (40-60 USD per person)

Say goodbye to your Roamies and depart at any time, or keep the adventure going by continuing to Cancún on the next leg of this epic journey.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Trip Inclusions

Tuck into the culinary scenes of Mexico City and Oaxaca.
Chill at the beach in Puerto Escondido and Tulum.
Bike and swim your way through cenotes in the jungle.
Take a guided tour of the massive Mayan site of Chichen Itzá.

Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
Your Discover Moment: Oaxaca
Insiders tour of Mexico City with included street food lunch
Boat ride along the ancient canals of Xochimilco
Typical food experience meal in Oaxaca with tequila and mezcal tastings
CEO-led orientation walk in Puerto Escondido
Beach time at Puerto Escondido
Excursion from Mérida to cycle between and swim in cenotes
Guided tour of Chichen Itzá and Tulum ruins
Dinner inside a cenote near Valladolid
Beach time at Tulum
All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Private vehicle, public air-conditioned bus, taxi, plane
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides

Hostels (11 Nights), Hotel (1 Night)
Accommodation will be primarily in multi-share hostels (typically 6-8 people per room), with a choice of mixed gender and female-only dorms as well as available upgrades to twin-share rooms (same gender).
Some rooming exceptions may apply due to the unique nature of the itineraries and of the hostels themselves, which have been specifically chosen to give local flavour to your trip. Please see the full itinerary description and the Rooming Exception section below for any specific exceptions to the rooming that may apply to this tour.

12 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included.

Operator

G Adventures

(142) Reviews

Total No. of Trips934

G Adventures came from a desire to deliver authentic and responsible small group travel adventures that were equally life-changing for travellers and the communities they visit. And we’re been doing just that for almost 30 years. Our award-winning trips span seven continents and over 100 countries, giving you meaningful more

Trip Style: Roamies

Roamies trips combine the freedom of backpacking with the ease of group travel, built for curious, social travellers aged 18 to 35. You will explore must-see destinations and stay in top-rated hostels that are central, comfortable, and packed with character.

With a small group of like-minded adventurers and a Chief Experience Officer to guide the way, expect a mix of iconic highlights, offbeat discoveries, and plenty of unforgettable moments.

Prices & Dates

There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and is not operating this season. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view general release dates for all destinations.