Nine days gives you enough time to mix city streets, colonial towns, ruins, and beach time without racing from place to place. This route starts in Mexico City, moves through Oaxaca, then finishes on the Yucatán coast. Flights save time on the long stretches. Buses work well for shorter hops. Build in slow meals, early starts for major sights, and one light evening after each travel day. Mexico rewards pacing.
Day 1: Arrive in Mexico City
Start in the capital and keep the first day easy. You will likely land tired, and Mexico City is best enjoyed with a little energy in reserve.
- Zócalo and the Metropolitan Cathedral
- Templo Mayor ruins beside the main square
- Late lunch of tacos al pastor or sopa de tortilla
- Sunset walk through Alameda Central
Stay in Roma, Condesa, or Centro if you want short taxi rides and plenty of food options. If you arrive early, add the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Keep dinner nearby, sleep early, and let the altitude adjustment happen on its own.
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Day 2: Museums and neighborhoods
Give this day to the city itself. Mexico City can swallow a week, so pick a lane instead of trying to cover everything.
Chapultepec Park is the easiest anchor. Visit the National Museum of Anthropology in the morning, when your attention span is still sharp. It is large, so focus on the Aztec and Maya halls if time is tight.
In the afternoon, wander Roma and Condesa for cafés, bookstores, and leafy streets. If you want a heavier dinner, book a table in Polanco. If you want something casual, stick to a taquería and call it a win.
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This is where Fodor's Mexico City (Full-color Travel Guide) really came through for me, helping me prioritize my must-see spots without feeling overwhelmed.
Day 3: Teotihuacán, then fly to Oaxaca
- Leave early for Teotihuacán
- Walk the Avenue of the Dead before the heat builds
- See the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon
- Return to the city, collect bags, head to the airport
This is a packed day, so timing matters. A guided half-day trip works well if you do not want to deal with buses. Try to book an evening flight to Oaxaca and stay near the historic center once you arrive. Dinner can be simple: tlayudas, memelas, or hot chocolate if you want something lighter. Save the bigger Oaxaca meals for tomorrow.
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Day 4: Oaxaca center, markets, and mezcal
Oaxaca moves at a friendlier pace. Good. Use that to your advantage.
- Santo Domingo church in the morning
- Textile Museum or the cultural center
- Lunch at Mercado 20 de Noviembre
- Pasillo de humo for grilled meats
- Evening mezcal tasting, small pours
The center is easy to explore on foot, and the streets feel lively without being overwhelming. Buy mole paste, chocolate, or alebrijes if you want souvenirs that do not feel generic. Keep some room in your schedule for sitting in a plaza and doing very little. Oaxaca is good for that.
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Day 5: Monte Albán and a village stop
Head out after breakfast for Monte Albán, the Zapotec site on a hill above the city. The views are wide, the platforms are striking, and the setting gives the ruins a quieter feel than the bigger sites around the country.
| Morning | Monte Albán, 2 to 3 hours |
| Afternoon | San Bartolo Coyotepec or Teotitlán del Valle |
| Evening | Back to Oaxaca for dinner |
Choose one village, not both, unless you have a driver and a full day. Black pottery in San Bartolo is memorable. Teotitlán is better for woven rugs and studio visits. End with mole negro or estofado back in town.
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Day 6: Hierve el Agua, Mitla, then head to the coast
Make this your big day out from Oaxaca. Start early for Hierve el Agua, where mineral springs sit above a dramatic valley. Go first thing for cooler air and fewer crowds.
- Hierve el Agua for the viewpoint and short walk
- Mitla for geometric stonework and a smaller, calmer site
- Quick lunch on the road, tlayudas or memelas
- Pick up mezcal or textiles if you skipped them earlier
By late afternoon, travel to Puerto Escondido. Flights save time; the mountain drive is long and winding. Once you arrive, keep the evening easy: seafood, a beach stroll, early night.
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Day 7: Puerto Escondido beach day
Puerto Escondido shifts the pace. After Mexico City and Oaxaca, this is the reset day.
Choose your beach by mood. Playa Carrizalillo is good for swimming and beginner surf lessons. Zicatela is broad, lively, and better for watching serious surfers than getting in the water. La Punta draws sunset crowds, barefoot bars, and slow dinners that turn into late nights.
Keep plans loose. Swim, nap, read, order grilled fish, repeat. If you want one scheduled activity, book a morning surf class when the water is calmer. Save sunset for La Punta and stay for tacos after dark.
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Day 8: Mazunte, San Agustinillo, and Ventanilla
If you want a change of scene, spend the day exploring the smaller beach towns west of Puerto Escondido. They feel slower, a little scruffier, and very easy to like.
- Mazunte for cafes, boutiques, and the Punta Cometa lookout
- San Agustinillo for a relaxed swim and lunch by the water
- Ventanilla for a lagoon boat trip with mangroves, birds, and crocodiles
You can do this by taxi, rental car, or organized tour. Don’t cram in every stop. Two beaches and one activity is plenty. Back in Puerto Escondido, keep dinner simple and pack for departure.
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Day 9: Final swim, brunch, and fly out
Your last day depends on flight time, but try to keep a few hours free in the morning. The coast is best early, before the heat builds and before everyone else is up.
- Sunrise coffee near the beach
- One last swim at Carrizalillo
- Brunch, chilaquiles or fresh fruit and pan dulce
- Flight from Puerto Escondido, often via Mexico City
If you have extra time, shop for small souvenirs instead of anything bulky. Beachwear, local chocolate, or mezcal travel better than fragile crafts. This itinerary ends on a lighter note, which feels right after several packed days inland.
Credit to @p
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This route gives you two sides of Mexico in one trip: city and history first, then food, highland culture, and a few slow days by the Pacific. Book the Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido leg early, leave some room for long lunches, and don’t try to see every beach. A little space improves this trip.
