Mexico Lindo -The Ultimate Itinerary & Guide

Foodie Alert!! Visiting Mexico is going to be foodie heaven, you’ve been warned bring your stretchy pants.

Mexico Lindo, meaning Beautiful Mexico! From the landscapes to the people and let’s not forget the cuisine. Mexico is a gem.

Traveling to the known Tulum or Playa del Carmen is nice, any vacation is usually a good vacation but if you want to discover the true Mexico, do yourself a favor and follow this itinerary.

This itinerary will have you exploring beautiful beaches, wandering through romantic cities, eating extraordinary cuisine and learning and living first handedly all about the beautiful Mexican culture.

This one of a kind itinerary and guide will have you planning a second trip to Mexico in no time.

This post is all about Mexico Lindo-The Ultimate Itinerary & Guide.

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MEXICO FUN FACTS

Official Language: Mexico has no official language but Spanish is the most popular.
Currency: Mexican Peso
Population: 127.5 Million
Capital City: Mexico City
Major International Airport: With over 100 airports, depends where you’re flying to.
Best Time to Visit: December-April
69 different languages are spoken in Mexico.
Mexico is home to the world’s largest pyramid called The pyramid of Cholula.
Mexico is home to Chichen Itza, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Cinco de Mayo IS NOT Mexico’s Independence Day. The official Independence date is September 16.
Mexico is the 4th most biodiverse country.
Chocolate originated in Mexico.
Mexico is the world’s largest beer exporter.
Mexican Food is UNESCO approved and declared an “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mankind”.

Exploring Mexico Itinerary & Guide

Merida: DAY 1-4

Fly into Mérida International Airport.

From the airport take the bus into town which should run you about $2.50 per person. This will drop you off at the historical center of Merida.

Mérida International Airport to Mérida Center Duration: 20 mins.

Mérida is the state capital of Yucatan and is considered one of the safest cities in all of Mexico.

Centered around the Yucatan Culture allows for some of the most unique and delicious Yucatan meals you’ll ever have.

This colorful capital is the perfect first stop and ideal location for exploring the surrounding sites, including mystical cenotes and famous archeological sites.

THINGS TO DO IN MERIDA

Take a free walking tour of Merida
People watch at Plaza Grande
Vist Palacio del Gobierno “The Government Palace”
Take a look inside Casa de los Montejo
Snap a photo of the beautiful Catedral de Mérida – San Ildefonso (considered the oldest cathedral built in Latin America )
Enjoy Traditional Music Performance at ‘Serenatas En Santa Lucia ( usually held every Thursday at 9pm )
Hang at the lively La Negrita Cantina
Sunset Stroll along Paseo de Montejo
Visit the Local Market Lucas Galvez
Explore Homun and The Ring of Cenotes
Go back in Time and Wander Through Cenotes Hacienda Mucuyché
Birdwatch at Celestun Wildlife Refuge
Explore The Beautiful Mayan City Of Uxmal
Walk the Sacred Grounds of Chichén Itzá

Mérida is very walkable and we rarely used a taxi. Taxi’s are easily available and affordable if needed. For day trips I recommend booking a tour or private driver.

WHERE TO EAT IN MERIDA

La Chaya Maya
Museo de la Gastronomia Yucateca
SOCO Mérida
Los Trompos on Calle 59 #502, Centro Merida
Nuevo San Fernando Cochinita Y Lechon
Taqueria La Lupita
Cheen Cocina Yucateca
Manjar Blanco
Catrín
Micaela Mar & Leña
Trattoria La Pasta Montejo
Pizza E Core
Picheta (Rooftop Drinks)
Dulcería y Sorbetería Colón
Paleteria las Rellenas de la 60

Holbox: day 5-8

Isla Holbox ( pronounced hole-bosh ) is an island approximately 26 miles long and 1 mile wide, located in Quintana Roo State.

This rustic tropical island is the perfect stop for relaxation and slow paced living. Crystal blue waters, pristine beaches and no car policy is one of the few reason why we fell in love with Holbox.

While in Merida purchase a bus ticket from ADO Bus Terminal. Purchase a ticket to Chilquila, the closet town to Holbox. When you arrive in Chilquila purchase a round-trip ferry ticket to the Island of Holbox.

Bus Duration: 5 hours, Bus Cost: ~$25 USD

Ferry Duration: 30mins, Ferry Cost: ~$11 USD-one way

You can buy your ferry ticket at the ticket window located right in front of the dock from one of the two Holbox ferry companies — 9 Hermanos and Holbox Express.

Holbox express ferry schedule

9 hermanos ferry schedule

Once you get off the ferry, depending on where your hotel is located and luggage amount, you’ll want to grab one of the golf cart taxis. (CASH ONLY)

Golf carts, motor bikes, and bicycles make up all the transportation in Holbox.

THINGS TO DO IN HOLBOX

Ride a Cruiser Bike Along the Beach
Take a night walk and swim in Bioluminescence water
Take a Three Islands Tour
Book a Cabo Catoche Tour
Swim with Whale Sharks (mid-May to mid-September)
Lounge in a Sea Hammock
Watch sunset at the Whaleshark Pier
Visit Punta Cocos
Walk to Mosquito Point
Try Kitesurfing
Hit the Beach
Chill at a Beach Club

WHERE TO EAT IN HOLBOX

Roots Pizza a Leña (try the Lobster Pizza)
Painapol (for breakfast)
Ceviches La Chingada
Las Panchas
Taco Queto
Los Tacos De Barbacoa Stand (only available after sunset)
Taqueria Mateo
Sunset Holbox Official
The Hot Corner (drinks and live music)
Order a Marquesita from one of the Many Street Vendors.

TIP: Rent a cruiser bike for the duration of your stay, this is how you’ll get around the island.

Bacalar: day 9-12

Catch the first ferry back to Chilquila and proceed to Bacalar.

Ferry Duration: 30mins, Ferry Cost: ~$11 USD

I highly recommend booking a private driver to take you to Bacalar. The shared transportation involved too many stops along the way and several more hours added to travel time. If budget doesn’t allow for this, shared transpiration can be booked at one the several tour agency in the main square in Holbox.

We booked our transportation with our hotel.

Chilquila to Bacalar Duration via Private Driver: 5 hours, Private Driver Cost: ~$200 USD

Bacalar is known as The Maldives of Mexico, it’s a stunning freshwater lake offering visitors seven shades of blue water. It’s truly stunning.

Mexico’s Department of Tourism named Bacalar a Pueblo Mágico in 2006.

You will find more locals than foreign tourists here, but like with everything magical that is quickly changing.

THINGS TO DO IN BACALAR

Take a sailboat tour of the Bacalar Lagoon
Go For A Sunrise Kayak Or Paddleboard Adventure
Head To Xul-Ha instead of Los Rapidos
Visit Fort San Felipe and the Pirate Museum
Visit Cenote Cocalitos
Stroll around Bacalar Town
Check out the shipwreck on the Canal de los Piratas
Visit Kohunlich & Dzibanche Ruins

We mostly walked in Bacalar but we saw many tourist renting bikes which is also a great alternative. Taxi’s are easily available and affordable if needed. For day trips book through one of the few tour operators available near the docks.

WHERE TO EAT IN BACALAR

Damajuana Bacalar
Pizzeria Bertilla
Barbanegra Bacalar
Mi Burrito Bacalar
La Playita
Pollos Chingones Asados a la Leña

TIP: Keep the Lagoon in mind and book a SAILBOAT tour instead of a Catamaran or Boat tour. One, it’s so much more enjoyable and two, it helps reduce pollution. Preserve the gorgeous and sensitive environment of Bacalar Lagoon.

TIP: Please don’t touch, sit or walk on the stromatolites. They are living organisms similar to ocean coral and like coral, they can die from being touched.

Mexico city: day 13-17

Grab a taxi and take the 30 minute drive to Chetumal International Airport.

Bacalar to Chetumal International Airport Taxi Cost: ~$15 USD

Flight Time: 2hrs 20mins

CDMX Airport to Centro Historico or nearby neighborhoods Duration: 25mins, Taxi Cost: ~$20 USD

This sinking beauty of a city is one of my favorite stops, there is just so much to do and so many restaurants to try!

The oldest city in the Americas has evolved from an Aztec city on a lake into one of the wealthiest, most populated and most important metropolises in the world.

With over 150 museums, an abundance of parks and taco stands every 400 meters, this city is one of a kind.

THINGS TO DO IN MEXICO CITY

Take a walk through the main square “Zócalo” and stop by Templo Mayor Museum, Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral & National Palace
Snap a picture of the gorgeous Palacio Postal
Take a Food Tour
Watch Ballet Folklórico de México at Palacio de Bellas Artes
Stroll through the Trendy neighborhoods of Condesa, Roma, Polanco and Zola Rosa
Book a Frida Kahlo Museum & Coyoacan Bike Tour
Watch a Lucha Libre Show with a Local
Head to the top of the Torre Latinoamericana for a View of the City
Visit Mexico National Museum of Anthropology
Visit Soumaya Museum
Spend the afternoon wandering around Bosque de Chapultepec, Latin Americas biggest park
Cruise through the canals of Xochimilco
Take Hot Air Ballon Ride over Teotihuacan

We like to walk and I believe CDMX is very walkable but some sites are a bit far from each other. For those instances we used Uber which we found to be extremely affordable. We used Get Your Guide or Viator for a lot of our activities in Mexico City.

WHERE TO EAT IN MEXICO CITY

Eat Tostadas at Mercado Coyoacan
Enjoy the most delicious breakfast at one of the stalls in Mercado Coyoacan ( don’t forget to order a cafe de olla )
Churrería El Moro ( grab your churros at the Centro Histórico location )
Taquería Orinoco
Taquería los Cocuyos
El Patriarca Taquería Centro
Tacos Don Juan
Contramar
Panadería Rosetta
Lardo
Azul Historico
Pujol
Restaurante Cafe de Tacuba
Cafe Nin
Lalo!
Licorería Limantour
La Clandestina

TIP: Please do not be afraid to order food from the street vendors. They offer some of the most amazing food, if you see locals in line you know it’s going to be delicious!

Guanajuato: day 18-21

Take an early bus with Primera Plus to Guanajuato.

CDMX to Guanajuato Duration: 5 hours, Bus Ticket Cost: ~$33 USD

bus ticket booking

The bus final stop is at the Guanajuato Bus Station which is about a 15-20min drive from the city center. I recommend pre-booking your taxi with your hotel. When we arrived there was a surprisingly low number of taxis available and took us a good 20 minutes to finally flag one down.

Guanajuato is located in the center of Mexico and was once a well-known, silver mining city.

This beautiful city of Guanajuato is one of only 1,052 properties that have been given the distinction of being on the Unesco World Heritage List.

THINGS TO DO IN GUANAJUATO

Take a Guanajuato Historic Tour
Admire all the Beautiful Architecture
Wander The Colourful Streets
Visit Callejón del Beso
Have a Coffe at Plaza San Fernando
Visit Museo de las Momias de Guanajuato
Ride the Funicular Panorámico, walk to Monumento Al Pipila and Enjoy the Scenic City Views
Explore Cerro de La Bufa with a Local
Take a Tour of La Valenciana Mine
Join a Callejoneada
Visit Museo Casa Diego Rivera
Enjoy a Cantarito Cocktail
Take a Day Trip to San Miguel de Allende

Once you’re in the Guanajuato City Center you will never really need a Taxi or Uber. The only time we used a taxi was to take us back to the bus terminal for our self guided tour of San Miguel de Allende.

San Miguel de Allende BUs Ticket Booking

WHERE TO EAT IN GUANAJUATO

Mercado Hidalgo ( Must Try: Guacamayas, Shrimp Cocktail, Seafood Tostadas )
Enchiladas de Lupe
An’ca Carmen
Los Huacales
Taqueria el Sazón Oaxaqueño
Tacos “El Paisa II”
Empanadas MiBu ( Try the arroz con leche empanada *chefs kiss )
Café Conquistador
La Clave Azul ( Cocktails and Tapas between from 2-5:30PM Tuesdays to Saturdays )
Nigromante Rooftop
Black Mamba 61
Nieves Aguilar

TIP: The street vendors like to come out at night, don’t forget to give these small business owners a chance. You won’t regret it.

Oaxaca: day 22-25

Grab a taxi and take the 30 minute drive to Guanajuato International Airport.

Guanajuato City Center to Guanajuato International Airport Taxi Cost: ~$25 USD

Flight Duration to Oaxaca: 2hrs 20 mins

Take a shared collectivo “shared shuttle” from Oaxaca International Airport to your Oaxaca City Center Hotel. Collectivo Duration: 30+ mins, Collectivo Cost: ~$5

Oaxaca is the culinary and culture capital of Mexico and is best known for it’s one-of-a-kind local gastronomy, such as the very famous seven classic varieties of mole.

Oaxaca offers authentic mercados, amazing street food, colorful colonial architecture, ancient culture, petrified waterfalls, unique Oaxacan artisan handicrafts and is home to the very delicious Mezcal.

THINGS TO DO IN OAXACA CITY

Take a Free Walking Tour
Visit the Templo de Santo Domingo
Visit Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca
Take a tour of The Botanical Gardens ( English Tours available only at 11am Mon-Sat for $5 USD )
Explore the Zocalo
Wander the Mercados ( Mercado 20 de Noviembre, Mercado Benito Juárez & Mercado de Abastos )
Taste the 7 moles at Restaurante Coronita
Visit Monte Alban
Tour Mitla
Visit Hierve el Agua
Book a Mezcal Tasting Tour (In Centro: Cortijo La Mezcaleria, Outside of Centro: Gracias a Dios Mezcal )
Immerse yourself in all the Local Gastronomy
Take a Cooking Class

Oaxaca City Center like all the previous stops is walking friendly. For day trips outside the city center you will need to book a tour or a private driver.

WHERE TO EAT IN OAXACA CITY

Mercado 20 de Noviembre ( Must Try: Tlayudas & Pasillo de Carnes Asada )
Mercado Benito Juárez ( Must Try: Tejate from La Flor de Huayapam, Chapulines, Horchata with Tuna from Aguas Frescas Susi )
Tacos de Carmen
Empanadas del Carmen
Chefinita (tostada’s, pozole y tacos) and/or Taqueria Amigo Sorroza Food Stands
Memelas San Agustín
Nieves Manolo Jr
Teocintle-Tika’aya
Los Danzantes
Casa Oaxaca el Restaurante
Boulenc
Fonda Rosita
Café Brújula Alcalá
La Mezcalerita
MEZCALOGIA
Sabina Sabe ( for cocktails )

TIP: If you have more time, I highly recommend heading to Oaxaca’s Coast and exploring some of the beach towns like Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, Zipolite or Zihuatanejo.

This post covered Mexico Lindo-The Ultimate Itinerary & Guide.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE:

travel resources

Here you can find all the travel site links that we personally use and recommend.

ACCOMMODATION: We find the best deals with BOOKING.COM. The more you book the better the perks like free breakfast with your stay, room upgrades and even higher discounted room rates.

CAR RENTALS: We have always used RentalCars.com and find them to have the best deals, customer service and selection of locations.

FLIGHTS: Our go too for booking flights has always been SKYSCANNER. We always find the best prices on this site.

TOURS/EXCURSIONS: GET YOUR GUIDE and VIATOR are two very reputable sites with easy and hassle free bookings.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: It’s so important to travel with insurance and for this we use World Nomads or Safety Wing.