My 2 Week Mexico City, Beaches and Oaxaca Itinerary 

Anna-in-CDMX-Zocalo

Mexico is a colourful, diverse and vibrant country, full of ancient ruins, colourful towns, stunning beaches and amazing food.

It’s also a huge country and you can’t see it all in 2 weeks or even a month. With so many amazing places to see it’s hard to decide on your Mexico itinerary if you have limited time.

My top tip is to concentrate on one region, trying to travel long distances and see too many places at once will only make for a stressful and tiring trip – better to focus on one region and enjoy that fully.

I decided on the more off beat region of Oaxaca and fell in love with it. So I wanted to share my 2 week Mexico City and Oaxaca itinerary. This trip gave me a fantastic slice of the best of Mexico’s culture, history, beaches, and food without the crowds of Cancun.

How to Spend 2 Weeks in Mexico City and Oaxaca

zocalo mexico city 2021

This 2 week Mexico itinerary takes you to some of the best spots in Mexico City and Oaxaca state. I enjoyed a week’s beach vacation in between exploring some of Mexico’s most interesting cities.

  • Day 1 – 3: Mexico City – Fly in Mexico City and explore the best of this exciting megalopolis and visit Teotihuacan.
  • Day 4 – 9: Puerto Escondido, Mazunte and Zipolite – Chill on the beach, learn to surf or explore the natural beauty of the laid back, less touristy and uncrowded beaches of the Oaxaca Coast
  • Day 10 – 14: Oaxaca City – Explore the colourful, historic city of Oaxaca and the surrounding countryside, indigenous culture and ancient ruins of the Valles Centrales!

My 2 week Mexico City, Beaches and Oaxaca Itinerary

While the Yucatan region might be the most popular this Oaxaca route is less touristy, better value and more authentic.

My 2 Week Mexico City and Oaxaca Itinerary

CDMX mexico city 2021
Zocalo, Mexico City

Mexico City – 3 Days

Mexico City (or CDMX as it’s known by the locals) is an endlessly, amazing, unique megalopolis that offers everything from mysterious Aztec ruins and enchanting Spanish colonial buildings to elegant, tree lined, art deco neighbourhoods and an exciting dining and nightlife scene.

Did you know that Mexico City also rivals London as the city with the highest concentration of museums in the world! There’s over 150 cultural institutions here.

There’s so many things to do in Mexico City that you could spend a week, or longer, here and not get bored. But if you plan your Mexico itinerary well, you can see the highlights of Mexico City, and take a trip to Teotihuacan, in just 3 days. (Keep reading to find out how)

I didn’t expect to like Mexico City so much! From the, somewhat negative, stereotypes I’d heard I thought it would be a place I’d want to get out of a soon as possible. It was a bit of a culture shock at first but actually I grew to love this exciting, sprawling and diverse city, and I think you will too!

Mexico City Centro Historico
Centro Historico, Mexico City

Best Things to do in Mexico City

  • Strolling around the Centro Historico and taking in the beautiful, Spanish colonial buildings.
  • Admire the mysterious, mighty pyramids at Teothiucan 
  • See the shamans at work in the Zocolo,
  • Visit the massive Cathedral Metropolitana
  • See the Aztec ruins of Tenochititlan at Templo Mayor
  • Ride on colourful boats on the Xochimilco Canals
  • Be inspired visiting artist Frida Khalos House and Museum in Coyoacan
  • Visit the Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Palacio Postal
  • Go up the Torre LatinAmericana for great views over the city
  • Visit some of the museums and galleries. Don’t miss the huge Anthropology Museum and the University Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Stroll around Chapultepec Park and get amazing views from the Castle
  • Learn about and watch Lucha Libre (- a Mexican wrestling match)

More of Mexico’s most colourful and historic cities are easily accessible from Mexico City by taking a day trip tour. You could visit the historic and colourful city of Puebla and see the Great Pyramid of Cholula or take a day to explore Taxco, a unique colonial town famous for its silver works.

Find more things to do in Mexico City and book your tickets and tours here!

Centro Historico, Mexico city 2021

My 3 Day Mexico City Itinerary

Here’s how to spend 3 days in Mexico City and your trip off to an exciting start.

Day 1: Explore the Centro Historico, Chapultepec Park, Condesa and Roma

mexico city metropolitan cathedral

Start your Mexico City itinerary exploring the historic heart of the city – the Centro Historico (or historic center)

I enjoyed this Centro Historico walking tour with an expert local guide. It’s a great way to your bearings and learn about Mexico City’s fascinating history.

We visited the Aztec ruins of Tenochititlan at Templo Mayor, where the city was founded, and many of the key attractions including the Zocalo, Metropolitan Cathedral, Palacia de Bellas Artes and the Palacio Postal.

After the tour, have lunch at the beautiful and very instagrammable Casa de los Azulejos (The House of Tiles) This 18th century Baroque palace is covered with blue and white tiles and is now a popular restaurant serving traditional Mexican dishes.

After lunch head up the Torre Latino Americana nearby for amazing views over the city. Then take the metro, or an Uber, over to Chapultepec Park.

Visit the Chapultepec Castle to take in the views and visit the National Museum of History and stroll around the sprawling park. There are several over world class museums here too including the amazing Museum of Anthropology.

Then head to the leafy, upscale neighbourhood of La Condesa or nearby Roma for dinner. There’s plenty of upscale restaurants and boutique hotels there, or you could try the Mercado Roma – a trendy food court.

I think one of the best ways to explore a city is through it’s food so a fun way to spend the evening is on a guided tacos and mezcal crawl. You’ll learn about Mexico City’s food, culture, and traditions while trying some of the best food and exploring the trendy Roma area.

If you’re looking for more nightlife later on check out the bars and nightclubs in Zona Rosa.

Day 2 : Visit the Frida Khalo Museum, Coyoacan and Xochimilco

coyocan mexico city

On Day 2 head to Coyoacán, one of the most atmospheric parts of the city and home to Frida Khalo’s House and Museum.

Also known as Caza Azul (the Blue House), the Frida Khalo museum is beautiful and inspiring. It’s a small, but well presented, collection explaining the life and struggles of Mexico’s most famous artist in the house that she actually lived in. It’s very popular so you need to get your timed ticket a few days in advance at least. You can buy the tickets here.

After visiting the museum explore the lovely, leafy neighbourhood of Coyoacán, browse the local markets, visit the church, people watch and have lunch in one of the cafes surrounding the park.

You can also visit Leon Trotsky’s House Museum in the same neighbourhood. The famous Russian revolutionary and Frida Khalo were friends.

Xochimilco canal boats mexico city

In the afternoon head further south to the edges of the the city to see the canals and floating gardens of Xochimilco. Taking a ride on a colorful boat along the waterways accompanied by music and drinks is the best way to experience this unique part of Mexico City.

You can visit these places by taxi or public transport, but if you want to see it all in one day then the best and easiest way is with this private guided tour. If you’re on a budget, you can also take this cheaper group tour.

If you’d like a unique Mexico City experience in the evening check out this Lucha Libra Experience. Friendly local guides first take you for tacos, beers and mezcal in a traditional cantina and introduce you to the world of Lucha Libra before accompanying you to watch a professional Mexican wrestling match.

Day 3: Visit Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan pyramids global gallivanting backpacking mexico solo 2021
Teotihuacan, Mexico City

Time to visit one of the most impressive, famous, and mysterious monuments in Mexico! The UNESCO world heritage site of Teotihuacán, is located approximately 1 hour outside Mexico City, so makes an essential day trip from Mexico City.

The sprawling site of Teotihuacán is one of the must visit places in Mexico where you can see the ancient ruins of the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl (the feathered serpent) and climb the massive Sun and Moon Pyramids.

The origins and founders of this awe-inspiring site are still a bit of a mystery, so the best way to visit is with a private guided tour. The expert local guide who will bring the ancient site to life and arrange hassle free transportation.

To make your visit even more unforgettable, or to celebrate a special occasion, you can even take a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the pyramids. You also get to avoid the crowds by getting early access to climb the pyramids after the balloon flight.

One of the best value way to see Teotihuacan is with this full day group tour which also visits two other interesting places and includes some tequila tasting too!

The tour also visits Tlatelolco, the largest archaeological site in Mexico City, and the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It’s one of the most popular Catholica pilgrimage sites in the world and you can learn about the miracle of the Virgin of Guadalupe and its role in Mexican culture.

Where to Stay in Mexico City

where to stay in mexico city

Mexico City is pretty safe if you stick to the safe neighbourhoods and use Uber.

The safest and most pleasant areas in Mexico City include affluent, modern Polanco, the leafy, arty areas of La Condesa and Roma and Frida Khalo’s birthplace of Coyoacan.

The Centro Historico can also be a good, budget friendly place to stay with lots to see but be careful in the North and East areas at night.

This deserves a whole post so check out my guide on the best neighbourhoods to stay in Mexico City too. Here’s some quick recommendations for the best places to stay in Mexico City:

Best Luxury Hotel in Mexico City: Four Seasons Hotel, Reforma 

One of the very best places to stay in Mexico City is undoubtedly the Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City. This 5 star award winning hotel is one of the few in the city with a swimming pool, full service spa and fitness center. It’s set in lush gardens on Paseo de la Reforma in an upmarket, well connected and safe area. Click here to check prices, reviews or to book

Best Boutique Hotel in Mexico City: Hotel Parque Mexico Boutique, Condesa

This colourful hotel is located in my favourite area of La Condesa by the Parque Mexico, the leafy pedestrian Amsterdam Ave, and the art deco buildings and chic cafes. It’s also walking distance to the trendy neighbourhood of Roma too. There’s a lovely terrace with a restaurant and bar with regular live music and the rooms feature handmade furniture, coffee machines and kitchenettes. The staff go the extra mile and it’s great value. Click here for prices and to book.

Ave Amsterdam, La Condesa, Mexico City
Ave Amsterdam, La Condesa, Mexico City

Best Apartment in Mexico City: Flow Suites Polanco

Feel at home in this modern apartment located near the park in Polanco – the swankiest, and safest, area of Mexico City. These slick and comfy apartments have large windows and everything you need including a double bedroom, bathroom, sitting area and kitchen. There’s also helpful and friendly staff available 24 hours at the front desk. Click here for prices and to book.

Best Budget Hotel in Mexico City: Hotel Catedral, Centro Historico 

This great value 4 star hotel is located in a fantastic location just steps from the Zocalo, Cathedral, Templo Mayor and all the historic sights of the Centro Historico. Rooms are comfy, spacious and airy with large windows. The staff are wonderful and there’s an airport shuttle and a good breakfast included too. Click here for prices and to book.

Best Hostel in Mexico City: Casa Pepe, Centro Historico

This colourful, boutique, luxury hostel is located in the heart of all the action in the Centro Historico. The comfy dorm beds have plenty of privacy and all the mod cons and there’s a buffet breakfast available. Another highlight are the daily free walking tours and loads of other events and interesting people to meet from all the over the world on the sociable roof terrace. Click here for prices and to book.

Read More: Where to Stay in Mexico City: Safest Neighbourhoods and Hotels

VW beetle oaxaca mexico

The Oaxaca Coast

Oaxaca is one of Mexico’s most loved, enchanting and colourful regions due to it’s fascinating indigenous culture, festivals, unique cuisine and spectacular landscapes and is a highlight of any Mexico itinerary.

You could end up spending a lot longer here but a week should be enough to get a taste of the best Oaxaca state has to offer.

Start your Oaxaca itinerary with the beaches of the Oaxaca Coast! Oaxaca’s beautiful Pacific Coast is home to some of the best sealife spotting opportunities, surf and yoga in Mexico. Plus, it’s cheaper, more laid back and not half as developed as the Yucatan Peninsula.

There are many Oaxaca beach towns to choose from like Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, Zipolite and Huatulco.

Playa Carrizillio, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico
Playa Carrizillio, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca,

Puerto Escondido – 3 Days

Puerto Escondido is no longer a ‘hidden port’ but remains blissfully laid back. It’s one of the best places to surf in the world due to the consistently massive waves on Zicatela Beach.

The huge waves, known as the Mexican Pipeline, are really only for experienced surfers but there are some fantastic surf camps that will take you to safer waters to teach you the ropes and the beautiful bay of Playa Carrizalillo is a blissful place to hang out.

There’s plenty to do in Puerto Escondido from beach hopping to surfing lessons, yoga classes and boat trips and exploring the nearby natural beauty.

One of the most popular things to do in Puerto Escondido is taking a surf lesson. Don’t worry, you won’t be tackling the massive waves of Zicatela, the professional surf schools will take you another surf spot with much smaller waves safe for beginners.

zicatela, puerto escondido, oaxaca itinerary, mexico
Zicatela surf, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca

A unique experience that you don’t want to miss is seeing the magical bioluminescence at Manialtepec Lagoon. It’s easiest done with a tour like this one. You’ll get taken to the lagoon for a night time boat ride where you can swim under the stars with the phosphoresant plankton. Such a magical and unique experience!

Puerto Escondido is also a treat for wildlife lovers. Depending on the season, you can go on a dolphin and whale watching boat trip or help release a baby turtle into the wild. A horseback riding trip to the hot springs is another amazing way to experience more of the countryside.

At night there’s a hip restaurant, bar and live music scene on the sandy streets of La Punta and lively nightlife in Zicatela beach. Check out my complete Puerto Escondido guide for all my travel tips.

If you want to save time and just stay in Puerto Escondido instead of moving around you could also visit the nearby beaches on a day tour, options include this Mazunte, Zipolite, Ventanilla, and Puerto Angel tour and the 7 Bays of Huatulco tour.

Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca
La Punta, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca

Where to Stay in Puerto Escondido

Villas Carrizalillo

For the best views over the best beach stay at Villa Carrizalillo. These luxurious, fully equipped rooms, suites and villas with a beautiful swimming pool and tropical gardens offer spectacular views over the turquoise bay and private access to the beach. See prices and book here.

Selina Zicatela

A trendy coworking, coliving and luxury hostel concept just steps from Zicatela beach that also offers surf lessons, tropical gardens, a shady swimming pool and plenty of hammocks and interesting people to meet. Stay in a dorm, thatched tepee or quirky private room. See more details here

Oasis Surf School

If you have more time you could take surfing, Spanish and yoga classes at Oasis Surf School. The experienced instructors make learning to surf fun and easy, plus knowing some Spanish will really make your travels around Mexico and interactions with locals so much better.

There are a couple of surf houses to chose from but I personally liked the apartments, pool and cafe at El Nopal which is located near Carrizalillo Beach, my favourite beach in Puerto Escondido. See more details here. 

How to get from Mexico City to Puerto Escondido

Puerto Escondido and Huatulco both have airports so are the best starting place for your Oaxaca itinerary if you want to explore the stunning Oaxaca coastline.

To make the most out of your time avoid the long 19 hour bus ride, take a 1 hour flight from Mexico City straight down to Puerto Escondido. I flew with Viva Aerobus for about 1,000 MXN (£35 / USD$50 ) Check Skyscanner to find the best deals.

Also See: 

Mazunte, Oaxaca, Mexico
Mazunte, Oaxaca,

Mazunte and Zipolite – 4 days

Head along the coast to the laid-back beach towns of Mazunte and Zipolite – the highlight of my Oaxaca itinerary.

Mazunte is the yoga hotspot and turtle capital of Mexico – it’s kind of like the Arambol (Goa) of Mexico with so many yoga retreats and classes on offer along with all sorts of meditation, tantra, breathwork, ecstatic dance, cacao ceremonies and alternative therapies and healing to try.

Hridaya Yoga is the most famous yoga retreat in Mazunte, they offer many yoga workshops as well as popular 3 or 10 day silent mediation retreats.

Don’t miss trekking to Punta Cometa for an amazing sunset. There’s also some great health food and vegan cafes here but not much nightlife.

Zipoliute sunset, Oaxaca, Mexico
Zipoliute sunset

Zipolite is Mexico’s only official nudist beach! It’s not obligatory to be naked, I’d say probably only 1/4 of people where nude. Zipolite is fun and open minded and very LGBTQ friendly but Mexican families, backpackers and hippies also love Zipolite.

It’s a lovely long stretch of sand with crashing azure waters and low key development where the best thing to do is to eat fish tacos and drink pina coladas and simply relax! Just be really careful swimming in the ocean on the Oaxaca Coast as the seas can be pretty rough

Most nights there were low key parties in the beach shacks and you can also find some yoga and healing activities to do here without having to go to Mazunte.

You could also check out San Agustinillo beach and the fishing village of Puerto Angel nearby.

If hippie hangouts aren’t your thing you could explore the beautiful beaches in Huatulco and relax in one of the resorts there instead. Or if you have more time for your Oaxaca itinerary you could see it all!

Where to Stay in Mazunte and Zipolite

Hotel Rinconcito, Mazunte

This new hotel is in the best location as it’s pretty much is the middle of everything. It’s beautifully rustic chic, clean and comfortable with a restaurant that faces the main street and rooms all facing the swimming pool. All the rooms have air conditioning (very important as Mazunte is super hot) and patio doors opening out onto a balcony with hammock. Click here for prices and to book.

Naked Hotel, Zipolite

Zipolite is famous as Mexico’s only nudist beach and, despite the name, I never actually saw any naked people here. But whether you choose to wear clothes or not, Hotel Naked is still the best hotel in Zipolite. It’s right on the beach and the ocean facing rooms are stylishly rustic and super comfortable with AC and balconies to soak up the amazing views. There’s a lovely swimming pool for when the ocean is too rough, a great beach bar and restaurant and plenty of quirky, Instagrammable features. Click here for prices and to book.

Be warned – I came to the Oaxaca Coast for a few days which turned into a few weeks and I nearly got stuck here – it’s easy to get too relaxed, make friends and then it’s hard to leave!

Read More: My Guide to Mazunte – Mexico’s Yoga Hotspot!

hammock mexico beaches

How to get from Puerto Escondido to Mazunte and Zipolite

Mazunte and Zipolite are only about 1 hour from Puerto Escondido although getting there can be a little tricky.

There are local buses that leave from Puerto Escondido heading towards Pochutla and Huatulco but you’ll need to get off at Crucero de San Antonio and take a collectivo or taxi from there the rest of the way. This will probably take about 2 – 3 hours in total.

The easiest and most convenient way to get there is to book a transfer that will take you from Puerto Escondido straight to your hotel in Mazunte or Zipolite.

You could also make a day out of it and book a tour bundle with GuateGo that will pick you up from your hotel in Puerto Escondido and visit the Ventalina ecological zone, Mexican turtle Centre, Mazunte, Zipolite and Puerto Angel before dropping you at your hotel in Zipolite. See more details here and book your trip.

Mazunte and Zipolite are only 15 minutes apart and collectivos run between them, stopping at San Agustinillo for 10 MXN so you can choose one to stay in one town and easily explore them all.

See all the options for getting from Puerto Escondido to Mazunte and Zipolite and book online here

Read More: My Guide to Zipolite – Mexico’s hippie, nudist beach!

Templo Santa De Domingo, Oaxaca, Mexico
Templo Santa De Domingo, Oaxaca, Mexico

Oaxaca City – 4 Days

Oaxaca City, also known as Oaxaca de Juárez, offers enough cultural delights and colour to rival most other places in Latin America, without the overwhelming size of some cities.

The UNESCO world heritage listed Centro Historico is packed with historic, colourful, colonial buildings and churches, art galleries, street art and museums, chic cafes and boutiques all within walking distance of each other.

Oaxaca is also a great base for day trips in the Valles Centrales to explore ancient ruins, stunning countryside and natural wonders, indigenous Zapotec villages and artisan villages and fields of mezcal.

You’ll need to plan your Oaxaca itinerary to spend at least 4 days in Oaxaca City to see all the highlights of the city and it’s surroundings.

Oaxaca is also known for it’s vibrant festivals and is one of the best places in Mexico to celebrate Dia de Muertos (The Day of the Dead) so time your trip around the end of October and start of November if you can.

colourful flags Oaxaca mexico
Colourful Oaxaca

Things to do in Oaxaca

  • Join a walking tour to get to know the history of this unique city.
  • Stroll along the pedestrianised Calle Alcala taking in the colourful buildings, shops, cafes and galleries
  • Visit the Templo Santo de Domingo – Oaxaca’s famous church
  • Visit the Museo de las Culturas (Museum of Cultures) to learn about the fascinating history and culture of the region.
  • See huge cactuses at the Jardin Etnobotanico (just behind the church)
  • Discover Oaxaca’s most photogenic and instagrammable sights with a professional photographer on the Oaxaca instagram tour.
  • Join the crowds in the buzzing Zocalo. Visit the Cathedral, browse the stalls, eat street food and soak up the carnival atmosphere.
  • Visit the local markets to get a taste of local culture and life and sample the street food stalls outside
  • Oaxaca has it’s own unique cuisine – if you love mole then take an authentic Oaxacan cooking class here to learn how to make it at home
  • Learn about and sample the local spirit by visiting a Mezcal distillery
  • Visit the art galleries and look out for the street art
  • Visit the ancient Zapotec ruins at Monte Alban
  • Soak in the springs at Hierve el Agua – amazing rock formations with hot springs that look like cascading waterfalls.
  • Explore the stunning countryside on a horseback riding tour
  • Go trekking to an indigenous village or visit an artisan village with an NGO like Fundacion En Via the money from your tour helps them to provide financial aid to help village women start business

Check out more tickets, tours and things to do in Oaxaca

4 Day Oaxaca City Itinerary

Here’s how to spend 4 days in Oaxaca City:

Day 1: Explore Oaxaca’s Centro Historico

oaxaca cathedral mexico 2021
Oaxaca zocalo and cathedral

The best way to start your exploration of Oaxaca City is on a walking tour of the centro historico.

I took this tour which not only took us around the sights and famous churches like the Templo de Santo Domingo and Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Soledad.

The best part was that the tour also delved into the myths and legends that are part of Oaxaca’s rich history. It was a really fascinating insight and introduction to the city.

There’s also a free group walking tour that runs three times a day. Don’t forget to leave a tip to thank your tour guide!

Now you’ve got your bearings explore the local markets and try some authentic, affordable Oaxacan food for lunch.

Head to Mercado 20 de Noviembre where you’ll find a large food hall with plenty of stalls selling traditional dishes at super affordable prices.

Then check out Mercado Benito Juarez, just over the road, where you’ll find a large variety of clothing, arts and crafts and souvenirs.

In the afternoon visit some of Oaxaca’s museums and galleries. The Museum of Cultures and Botanical Gardens are located inside Oaxaca’s most famous church – Templo de Santo Domingo.

Then stroll down the pedestrianised Calle Macedonia del Alcalca to the Zocalo and Cathedral. On the way you can browse the galleries and Museum of Contempoary Art (Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Oaxaca).

Also check out The La Casa de las Artesanías de Oaxaca. The large store houses a cooperative of artisans and is a great place to shop for all sorts of handicrafts and souviers without having to haggle over the price. You could also visit the Handicraft Museum (Museo Textil de Oaxaca) nearby.

Then spend some time relaxing and people watching in the buzzing Zocalo. Visit the Cathedral, browse the stalls, eat street food or have a drink in one of the cafes and soak up the carnival atmosphere. Then head to Los Danzantes for dinner.

Calla Acala, Oaxaca itinerary, Mexico
Calla Acala, Oaxaca

Day 2: Oaxacan Foodie Experiences

Oaxaca is known as the culinary heart of Mexico and the home of mezcal! Tasting your way through Oaxacan cuisine is definitely one of the highlights of visiting Oaxaca City.

There are many unique dishes that you should try, including 7 varieties of mole, tlayudas and tamales and Oaxacan chocolate con leche. You can sample Oaxacan food everywhere from experimental gourmet restaurants to the cheap street food stalls at the lively markets.

If you want to learn more taking a cooking class or food tour is a popular activity which is perfect for your 2nd day in Oaxaca – it’s a delicious and fun way to learn more about Oaxacan culture through it’s food and drink.

Start your day with a cooking class where you’ll learn how to cook traditional dishes yourself and enjoy eating your creations. This Oaxacan cooking class includes a visit to the market in the morning to get the ingredients and we could choose which dishes we wanted to make

Or, if you prefer to just eat and let someone else do the cooking don’t miss this Oaxacan food tour where you’ll visit the markets, sample loads of local dishes and learn a lot about Oaxacan culture through this tasty food tour.

Another fun foodie experience is the Mezcal Journey. On this guided trip you’ll head just outside the city, visit some traditional villages and agave farms and Mezcal distilleries. You learn about this uniquely Oaxacan spirit and of course have a lot of fun tasting it too. The tour includes a Oaxacan meal too.

There’s also many Mezcalerias in Oaxaca City that you can visit where you can do a tasting.

In the late afternoon hike up (or take a taxi) to Auditorio Guelaguetza for sunset views and have dinner at El Mirador.

Day 3: Visit Monte Alban and artisan villages

Monte Alban ruins, Oaxaca itinerary, Mexico
Monte Alban ruins, Oaxaca

Monte Alban is one of the most important archaeological sites in Mesoamerica, located on a mountain top just outside Oaxaca City. It was the capital of the Zapotecs and you can explore the pyramids and terraces of the ruined ancient city and soak up the amazing views.

Monte Alban is one of the must see sights in Oaxaca if you’re interested in exploring the rich history of the area. There’s also some interesting artisan villages in the area so you can make a full day trip from Oaxaca City out of it.

You can get there by bus or taxi but I do recommend hiring a guide to bring the site to life. The Monte Alban tour I took included transport and a knowledgeable guide which made it a super easy and interesting experience.

As part of the tour we also visited three artisan villages and saw the workshops where traditional crafts including textiles, unique black clay figures and alebrijes (cute carved and painted wooden figures.) It was interesting to see the traditional techniques still being used and there was no pressure to buy anything, although you can if you want.

Day 4: Visit Hierve el Aqua and explore the countryside

hierve el agua oaxaca mexico

One of highlights of Oaxaca, and one of the most unique natural wonders of Mexico, is Hierve el Agua. These petrified waterfalls perched on a mountain top offer amazing views from the natural infinity pools (which you can swim in) and some great hiking trails.

Hierve el Aqua is located about 1 and a half hours from the city, it’s a bit tricky to get here on public transport so it’s best to either rent a car or take a day tour.

The Hierve el Aqua day tour I took also visited some other interesting places on the way. It was a packed but awesome day.

One the way we visited the Tule tree, a two thousand year old tree which is the widest tree in the world. Then we visited a traditional rug workshop in Teotitlán del Valle, and Mitla Archeological site. This is a scared place for the Zapotecs as they believed it was the gateway to the afterlife.

After enjoying Hierve el Aqua we also stopped and had a tasting at a a traditional mezcal distillery on the way back.

If it’s a Sunday and you rented a car make sure to stop at the Tlacolua Sunday market on the way too.

Where to Stay in Oaxaca City

oaxaca church

Best Boutique Hotel in Oaxaca: Casa De Sierra Azul

A wonderful colonial mansion in the heart of the Centro Historico. Rooms are spacious, staff are super helpful and friendly. A highlight is luscious, magical courtyard complete with fountain and restaurant. Enjoy the authentic atmosphere and Mexican hospitality as its best. Great value for a heritage hotel in such a good location. Click here for prices and to book. 

Best Budget Stay in Oaxaca: Azul Cielo Hostel

Oaxaca’s best hostel is located in a colourful colonial style house with a beautiful garden and plenty of private rooms making it perfect for anyone on a budget. It’s located in a quite zone of the Centro Historico just a few minutes walk from all the sights, shops and eateries.

A Oaxacan breakfast is included and there’s also a terrace, bar and shared kitchen you can use. The staff are super friendly and can help you arrange bicycle hire, transportation, tours, and yoga and salsa classes. Click here for prices and to book.

Check out more of the best hotels in Oaxaca here.

colourful houses centro historico oaxaca mexico

Getting from the Oaxaca Coast to Oaxaca City

There are a few options to get from the Oaxaca Coast and over the mountains to Oaxaca City.

The quickest, most scenic and most expensive option is to take a 30 minute scenic flight from Puerto Escondido airport in a small plane which offers fantastic views but is expensive and gets booked in way in advance. See prices, availability and book here.

The other option is to take a bus to Oaxaca City from either Puerto Escondido or Pochutla

If you suffer from motion sickness opt for the longer, less windy route with the more comfortable and more expensive ADO or OCC bus from Puerto Escondido which takes about 11 hours. It’s a popular route so you should book your bus online in advance.

If you can handle mountain roads and want a quicker route then take a taxi to Pochutla and hop on one of the mini buses which takes the most direct but also most windy route. It’s the cheapest and quickest option at only 7 hours and I didn’t find it that bad. I went with Lineas Unidas for 250 MXN.

The bus was clean and comfortable and the pharmacy across the road sold 1 Diamox (motion sickness pill) over the counter very cheaply. The journey wasn’t as bad as some people said it would be but then I don’t normally suffer much from motion sickness anyway.

You can make life easier by booking this combined transfer and bus ticket which will pick up you in Zipolite and take you to Pochutla and get you on the Lineas Unidas minibus to Oaxaca. You can book it here.

You could also break up the journey after about 3 hours stop off at San Jose del Pacifico for great mountain views, hikes and magic mushrooms! If you want to book the transfer and bus to San Jose click here.

See all the transport options for getting to Oaxaca City from Mazunte and Zipolite and book online here

Palacio Des Bellas Artes Mexico City
Palacio Des Bellas Artes Mexico City

Back to Mexico City – 1 Day

My Mexico and Oaxaca itinerary ends by returning to Mexico City for my flight home.

I wanted to travel on from Oaxaca into Chiapas to San Cristobal de las Casas and Palenque which is totally do-able if you have more time but not really possible for a 2 week trip.

I was excited to return to CDMX and enjoyed doing all the things I hadn’t got round to on my 1st visit. I revisited some of my favourite cafes and parks and did some last minute shopping before heading to the airport.

I enjoyed staying in a different Mexico City neighbourhood to the one I stayed in at first as I got a whole different experience of this fascinating metropolis!

You could also do some day trips from Mexico City like to the nearby towns of Puebla and Cholula which are full of colour and history if you want to see more places.

coyocan mexico city
Coyocan, Mexico City

Getting from Oaxaca City to Mexico City

It’s quite straightforward to get from Oaxaca City to Mexico City via a 7 hour bus journey or a 1 hour flight if you need to save time. If you flew you could just connect to your international flight home and not spend another night in Mexico City.

I took the AU bus back to Mexico City which was comfortable, air conditioned and the 7 hour journey offered great views of the countryside. It was only 476 MXN  whereas the ADO bus is 600 MXN.

The AU bus doesn’t have a toilet (but it stops many times along the way) or WIFI or entertainment but I had a local sim card and the loud movies they play on buses are kinda annoying anyway.

This is a popular route so it’s worth booking your bus in advance. You can book it here.

See all the transport options for getting from Oaxaca City to Mexcio City and book online here.

So there it is, I hope my Mexico City, Beaches and Oaxaca Itinerary is useful and helps you to see the best of what Mexico has to offer in a short time!

(P.S. I actually ended up spending 1 month doing this route as I made so many friends and loved Mazunte and Zipolite too much so I stayed for 2 weeks there. But you could easily do it in 2 weeks.)

VW Beetle, Oaxaca, Mexico

Tips for Planning your Mexico City and Oaxaca Itinerary

My Top Tip – If you don’t speak any Spanish you may find following this Oaxaca itinerary independently a little difficult, especially if you want to get off the beaten track. I’d recommend making life easier by using GuateGo to book your transport online in advance for smooth and stress free journeys.

With GuateGo you can book bus and flight tickets in Mexico and Latin America as well as private transfers and bundle tours so you can make a day out of the journey by stopping off at some interesting places along the way to your destination. Check them out here.

Tours of Mexico

Even though it was quite safe and easy to travel between the major cities in Mexico, I kinda wished I’d joined a group tour of like minded people who could organise getting off the beaten track in a less stressful and more enjoyable way.

If you’d rather have someone else do all the planning and travel in a fun group then G Adventures, one of the top tour companies in the world, also have an 8 day tour from Mexico City to Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido.

Vibe Adventures have some amazing interactive, diverse, authentic and fun small group tours that take you off the beaten track to see loads of cool places. This 15 day Hidden Gems of Oaxaca Tour is the most similar group tour to my route with many added extras and off beat places that I, as a solo female independent traveller with no Spanish skills, was unable to get to.

I kinda wish I’d taken this tour now! You can see everything in this itinerary and so much more. Starting and ending in Mexico City, you’ll explore so much of the rich cultural and natural diversity of Oaxaca. The tour visits all the popular destinations like Mexico City, Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, San Jose del Pacifico, Oaxaca City and Pueblo.

Plus, you’ll also visit so many interesting off beat gems including historic and picturesque towns, colonial cities, magical temple towns, ex haciendas and indigenous villages, fascinating archaeological sites, national parks and nature reserves, hot springs, hidden caves and beautiful beaches.

You can also find and check reviews for hundreds of Mexico tours on Tour Radar.

Other Places to Consider for your Mexico Itinerary

I also wish I’d had time to make it to San Cristobal de las Casas and Palenque in Chiapas. I heard so many good things about this part of Mexico so it’s on my bucket list for my next trip. Maybe I’ll do this 15 day Unplugged Mexico trip with Intrepid Travel.

As well as visiting Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca it also visits which visits San Cristobal de las Casas, Palenque, Merida, Chichen Itza and ends on the beaches of Playa del Carmen. It’s the perfect introduction to Mexico but probably a bit too much for 15 days if you were traveling solo and independently.

As you can see, there’s so much to see in Mexico. I hope this post helped you to plan your Mexico City and Oaxaca itinerary and that you have an amazing trip to Mexico!

Read More of my Mexico Travel Blogs:

 

 

 

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2 comments

tom g. July 28, 2021 at 5:40 pm

nice review but would enjoy restaurant suggestions and more hotel choices. i live in puerto and there are many beaches to visit here

Reply
Anna July 29, 2021 at 2:50 pm

Hi Tom, thanks for your feedback. It was turning out quite a long post but I’ll try and add a few restaurant recommendations in. I’m also writing a full guide on Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, Zipolite etc for separate posts.

Reply

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