Mexico

~ marks an estimate. Budgets are per day in US dollars. Check services and fares before setting out.

1. 01

   

   Mexico City

   Mexico · Daily budget ~$70

   Mexico City layers the remains of Tenochtitlan with the heritage of New Spain. Its mountain-ringed valley setting frames a capital rich in cultural landmarks.

   Mexico City →to Oaxaca

   Transport details are not recorded.

2. 02

   

   Oaxaca

   Mexico · Daily budget ~$57

   Oaxaca is a colorful southern Mexican capital with deep indigenous heritage. Mole sauces and mezcal are central to its culinary appeal.

   Oaxaca →to Puerto Escondido

   Bus~3 h 30 min~$23

3. 03

   

   Puerto Escondido

   Mexico · Daily budget ~$67

   Puerto Escondido draws surfers to the Mexican Pipeline at Playa Zicatela. Beach life and a lively backpacker scene sit beside the everyday bustle of an Oaxacan coastal town.

   Puerto Escondido →to Mazunte

   Drive~$15

4. 04

   Mazunte

   Mexico · Daily budget ~$61

   Mazunte is a small beach village on Oaxaca's Pacific coast with a generally quiet pace. Simple places to stay sit alongside the National Mexican Turtle Centre and a natural cosmetics center.

   Mazunte →to Zipolite

   Bus~30 min~$3

5. 05

   

   Zipolite

   Mexico · Daily budget ~$70

   Zipolite is a backpacker beach town on Oaxaca's Pacific coast. Seafood, a relaxed atmosphere and sunsets over Roca Blanca shape its appeal.

   Zipolite →to San Cristóbal de las Casas

   Transport details are not recorded.

6. 06

   

   San Cristóbal de las Casas

   Mexico · Daily budget ~$46

   San Cristóbal de las Casas pairs a former capital's history with a thriving craft community. Workshops produce pottery, embroidery, woodcarving and amber jewelry.

   San Cristóbal de las Casas →to Palenque

   Bus~9 h~$35

7. 07

   

   Palenque

   Mexico · Daily budget ~$65

   Palenque's Maya ruins combine carved reliefs and preserved architecture with a rainforest setting. The surrounding jungle is integral to the experience of exploring the site.

   Palenque →to Mérida

   Transport details are not recorded.

8. 08

   Mérida

   Mexico · Daily budget ~$54

   Mérida brings colonial architecture and museums together around the Plaza de la Independencia. The central square anchors a lively street scene.

   Mérida →to Valladolid

   Transport details are not recorded.

9. 09

   

   Valladolid

   Mexico · Daily budget ~$56

   Valladolid pairs a central cenote with colonial architecture. Visit Cenote Zací, the Convent de San Bernardino de Siena and the folk art collection at Casa de Los Venados.

   Valladolid →to Tulum

   Bus~2 h~$18

10. 10

    

    Tulum

    Mexico · Daily budget ~$84

    Tulum's inland town holds many budget hostels, restaurants and supermarkets. The beach is a separate outing from this practical base.

    Tulum →to Playa del Carmen

    Bus~1 h 15 min~$9

11. 11

    

    Playa del Carmen

    Mexico · Daily budget ~$75

    Playa del Carmen draws visitors to the shops, restaurants and bars of Quinta Avenida. The oceanfront Portal Maya adds a sculptural landmark nearby.

    Playa del Carmen →to Cancún

    Bus~1 h 15 min~$8.50

12. 12

    Cancún

    Mexico · Daily budget ~$64

    Cancún's Hotel Zone stretches between the Caribbean Sea and Nichupté Lagoon. This waterside setting shapes the layout of its resort district.

    Cancún →to Isla Mujeres

    Ferry~30 min~$18

13. 13

    

    Isla Mujeres

    Mexico · Daily budget ~$83

    Isla Mujeres is a Caribbean island near Cancún. This Pueblo Mágico sits off the Yucatán Peninsula.

    Isla Mujeres →to Holbox

    Transport details are not recorded.

14. 14

    

    Holbox

    Mexico · Daily budget ~$87

    Holbox has a compact town with sandy, unpaved streets. Walking and cycling connect its center with beaches farther afield.

    Holbox →to Bacalar

    Transport details are not recorded.

15. 15

    

    Bacalar

    Mexico · Daily budget ~$77

    Bacalar is a lakeside community in Quintana Roo. Its azure lake is often called the Lagoon of Seven Colors.

    Bacalar →to Campeche

    Transport details are not recorded.

16. 16

    Campeche

    Mexico · Daily budget ~$59

    Campeche is a Gulf of Mexico port with a relaxed atmosphere and a colonial old town. Its historic center has UNESCO World Heritage recognition.

    Campeche →to Guanajuato

    Transport details are not recorded.

17. 17

    

    Guanajuato

    Mexico · Daily budget ~$55

    Guanajuato is a hilly silver-mining city with colonial architecture. Underground road tunnels provide a distinctive counterpart to its steep streets.

    Guanajuato →to San Miguel de Allende

    Bus~1 h 45 min~$14

18. 18

    

    San Miguel de Allende

    Mexico · Daily budget ~$69

    San Miguel de Allende is a colonial city in the Bajio mountains with deep ties to Mexico's independence movement. Its historic setting has UNESCO World Heritage recognition.

    San Miguel de Allende →to Guadalajara

    Transport details are not recorded.

19. 19

    

    Guadalajara

    Mexico · Daily budget ~$61

    Guadalajara pairs independence-era architecture with a relaxed urban atmosphere. Its walkable center makes exploring the historic streets straightforward.

    Guadalajara →to Tequila

    Bus~1 h 30 min~$9

20. 20

    

    Tequila

    Mexico · Daily budget ~$80

    Blue agave fields surround Tequila, where historic distilleries welcome visitors. Tours and tastings introduce styles ranging from mixto to aged añejo.

    Tequila →to Sayulita

    Transport details are not recorded.

21. 21

    

    Sayulita

    Mexico · Daily budget ~$80

    Sayulita is a Pacific surf town with wide sandy beaches. Beginner and intermediate surf breaks sit alongside street tacos and a relaxed town atmosphere.

    Sayulita →to San Francisco

    Bus~$2.22

22. 22

    San Francisco

    Mexico · Daily budget ~$80

    San Francisco, also known as San Pancho, is a Pacific seaside village in Nayarit. Its quiet beach setting offers a base away from the larger resort areas to the south.

    San Francisco →to Puerto Vallarta

    Bus~1 h 30 min~$4.50

23. 23

    

    Puerto Vallarta

    Mexico · Daily budget ~$69

    Puerto Vallarta combines a Pacific beach setting with historic charm. Its appeal balances resort time with the character of an established town.

    Puerto Vallarta →to Morelia

    Transport details are not recorded.

24. 24

    

    Morelia

    Mexico · Daily budget ~$58

    Morelia's preserved colonial center is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its walkable streets suit an unhurried exploration of the historic core.

    Morelia →to Patzcuaro

    Bus~1 h 15 min~$7

25. 25

    

    Patzcuaro

    Mexico · Daily budget ~$54

    Patzcuaro's compact center is arranged around plazas linked by a pedestrian street. Local transport connects the town with lakeside villages and the boat docks for Janitzio.