Day 1 – Arrival in Mexico
We’ll arrange for a driver to meet you at the airport in Mexico City, from where it’s about a 45 minute drive to your hotel in the historic centre of the city. After settling into your hotel, you can head out for a stroll to see the lights of the Catedral Metropolitana, visit one of the nearby restaurants for a cold cerveza and get your first taste of real Mexican food.
Day 2 – Explore Mexico City
Take some time to get to know Mexico City’s fascinating history, a capital built on the ruins of Tenochtitlán, where you can still see the remains of the Templo Mayor in the centre, just steps away from Spanish colonial churches. This contrast of ancient Aztec ruins alongside colonial architecture is what makes Mexico City unique. As possibly one of the best food cities on the planet, Mexico City is bursting with flavours from street tacos cooked on a spit, tamales wrapped in corn husks, and fresh churros dusted with sugar.
It’s well worth visiting the world-famous Anthropological Museum, the Castillo de Chapultepec and Frida Kahlo’s old house, but what you do with your time is up to you. After exploring Mexico City’s heritage, you can head to Bosque de Chapultepec park, which is twice the size of New York’s Central Park and a great place to slow down the pace and take a stroll beneath the trees.
Day 3 – Drive to San Miguel de Allende
After breakfast, you will collect your hire car and leave the city behind, as you journey into the hills, passing colourful villages and roadside stalls selling fresh fruit. Today, you are heading to San Miguel de Allende, where cobbled streets wind around vibrant colonial buildings and the pink towers of Parroquia rise above the city. For the next two nights you’ll stay in a charming hotel within walking distance of the central plaza where you’ll find local cafes, restaurants and museums.
Day 4 – Taste San Miguel with a local
Today, you’ll uncover the flavours of San Miguel on a walking tour through the city. You’ll wander the colourful streets, lined with baroque facades and stopping at family-run restaurants and street kitchens serving up the city’s specialities, from crispy churros to savory enchiladas mineras and fresh agua fresca. In between bites, your friendly local guide shares the stories behind the dishes and explains how they connect to the city’s colonial past.
Day 5 – San Miguel – Sierra Gorda
Set off in your rental car and head into the hills, following the picturesque road into the mountainous landscape of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, which takes around two and a half hours. This region is one of Mexico’s most biodiverse, known for its lush canyons, cascading waterfalls and scenic hiking trails. You’ll be spending the next two nights at a small-scale hotel nestled within the trees in Jalpan de Serra, where you can settle into the peaceful environment and take a dip in the swimming pool. Take a stroll to the village square, and soak up the atmosphere of this traditional Mexican plaza, before enjoying a delicious dinner at one of the local restaurants.
Day 6 – Kayaking on Santa Maria River
Today you’ll be exploring the region from the water with a kayaking experience on Santa Maria River. After a short safety briefing, you’ll get into your kayak and paddle downstream, drifting through a scenic gorge and navigating the gentle rapids.
Back on dry land, continue discovering the Sierra Gorda area on foot, taking in the peaceful natural surroundings. Following rural paths through lush vegetation, along riverbanks and passing small farms and villages gives you a glimpse into everyday life in rural central Mexico. There are various viewpoints and waterfalls you can visit including El Chuveje, where you can take a refreshing dip in the pool below as water plunges nearly thirty-metres from above.
Day 7 – Sierra Gorda – Tolantongo
Today, you’ll drive along the winding mountain roads and rural highways for around three hours, until you reach Ixmiquilpan, the gateway to Tolantongo hot springs. You’ll pass small towns and rural communities, with goats grazing along the roadside and fruit sellers waiting in the shade of makeshift stands. As you get closer to Ixmiquilpan, you’ll start to see more trees, colour and sound, as the landscape becomes greener and you’ll soon arrive at your charming hotel. Just a short drive from the town centre and only an hour and a half from the natural swimming area of La Gloria, it’s the perfect base for your hot springs experience tomorrow.
Day 8 – Tolantongo hot springs
This morning, it’s best to set off early for La Gloria, which is the quieter and more natural side of the Tolantongo canyon. Most visitors head to Grutas Tolantongo, a well-known hot spring complex tucked into the gorge, however it can get extremely busy here, so La Gloria is a great alternative. At La Gloria, warm mineral waters flow through open riverside pools, with grassy banks and wild mountain views creating a relaxed, scenic setting. Soak in the natural hot springs, wander along the river and enjoy the peaceful surroundings, away from the main crowds. If you would like to combine your visit with Grutas Tolantongo, the entrance fee is around 200 pesos (£9).
Day 9 – Tolantongo – Puebla
Today, you’ll hit the road for a scenic drive to Puebla (around three and a half hours away). When you arrive you’ll make your way to your hotel near the central square, which is the perfect base to explore the highlights of the city. The historic centre alone is home to around 70 ancient churches, so you’ll be spoilt for choice. Wander the colourful streets lined with local restaurants and sizzling street food stalls, then find a spot for tacos and a cold drink, and watch life unfold.
Day 10 – Puebla on your plate
After a relaxing morning, you’ll meet up with a local ‘Poblano’ guide for a taste tour of the city. Puebla is famous for its ‘mole’, a sauce based on chocolate that is often eaten with chicken and rice, and you’ll also sample plenty of other Mexican delicacies from tacos to nachos, and go behind the scenes of small restaurants and bakeries. Pick your guide’s brains for some real local knowledge and find out all the best places to eat and drink this evening.
Day 11 – From Puebla to Oaxaca
After returning your rental car in Puebla, we will arrange bus tickets for you to travel to Oaxaca, passing small rural towns and rolling hills along the way. As you get closer to Oaxaca, the landscape shifts and the roads wind through the increasingly dramatic mountains which rise up and circle the valley that Oaxaca sits in.
When you arrive in the city you’ll make your way to your base for the next couple of nights, a charming hotel with a central courtyard, conveniently located in the historic old centre of town. Aside from the architecture which earned this place its UNESCO listing, you’ll also find a whole host of local bars, restaurants and artisan stores. This is a city with a very distinct personality.
Day 12 – Free time in Oaxaca
Start off this morning from a hot cup of coffee and pan dulce in a shady square, then stroll through the historic centre, soaking up the colourful streets with artisan shops selling textiles, ceramics and alebrijes (brightly painted wooden carvings). Food is a big part of the scene here, so make a lunch stop at Mercado 20 de Noviembre, a market offering tlayudas (giant crisp tortillas), mole sauces, and hot chocolate whisked the traditional way. This afternoon, visit a local mezcalería for some mezcal tasting, or find a cosy courtyard spot where you can relax and watch as musicians and people pass by.
Day 13 – Journey to Puerto Angel
Today, you’ll hop on a bus to the Pacific coast, winding along mountain roads, passing small villages, until you reach Puerto Angel. You’ll instantly feel the laid-back charm of Puerto Ángel as you check into your beachside accommodation, relax by the swimming pool and take in the views of unspoilt beaches. Relax, soak up the calm atmosphere and get a glimpse into authentic local life.
Day 14 – La Ventanilla mangroves boat tour
Step aboard a small boat tour, for a journey among the mangroves of La Ventanilla. As you glide peacefully along the winding channels of this protected lagoon, you’ll likely spot local wildlife, from wading birds and sunbathing iguanas to crocodiles resting along the water’s edge.
Mangroves are a vital part of the ecosystem here, as they protect the coastline from erosion and storms, provide a home for marine life, and help filter the water. The lagoon is run by the local community who originally relied on fishing and hunting but had to make changes in order to preserve the environment, so instead of exploiting the lagoon, they chose to protect it. By joining this tour you are directly supporting the important conservation work and environmental education that is at the heart of La Ventanilla, as well as contributing to the livliehoods of local families and the wider community. If you are travelling between November and March you may even be invited to watch or help release baby turtles as they make their first journey into the ocean.
Day 15 – Free time in Puerto Angel
Make the most of your last full day in Mexico and take a dip in the calm waters of Playa Principal, where local fishing boats bob just offshore. Grab a bite to eat at one of the beachfront cafes and spend the rest of the day wandering along the cliffs, taking in the ocean views, or simply enjoy reading a good book under the shade of a palm tree.
Day 16 – Departure from Mexico
Today, you bid farewell to the Pacific Coast and make your own way to the airport to catch a domestic flight to Mexico City. Depending on the time of your flight, you can enjoy one final meal at the airport before catching your international flight back to the UK.
Accommodation
