Mexico Itinerary: The Perfect 1 Month Backpacking Trip

Last year, I visited more countries than I’d ever visited throughout the rest of my life. After spending a bit of time in Asia, I hit up South Africa, visited some European countries and went on a big trip to Central America. There’s one country in particular that stick out among everything else, though: Mexico. I loved Mexico so much and I think it’s partly to do with the amazing places we visited during our trip. To help you love Mexico just as much as I did, I’ve put together the perfect month long Mexico itinerary.

The great thing about travelling in Mexico (aside from, ya know, the tacos) is that there are so many different places to explore. You could easily spend months in Mexico and not scratch the surface. But, equally, you could spend 2 weeks there, get to know one specific area and have a really fulfilling trip.

I’ve put together this 4 week Mexico Itinerary for backpackers who want to see more of the country than just Cancun and Playa del Carmen- it’ll take you from colonial city to Pacific Coast beaches and mountain towns, so that you can enjoy everything that Mexico has to offer!

This isn’t the exact route that I followed, but my own Mexico itinerary hit up all the same spots. I’ll make notes of how mine was different at the end of the post!  You should also note that this Meixco itinerary reflects my own personal travel style which is not to spend more than 3 days in each place. Fast travellers could do it quicker but, with an itinerary like this that covers a lot of ground, it’s important to take some time to chill out, too. Don’t burn yourself out!

Guadalajara: 4 Days

Guadalajara is Mexico’s 2nd biggest city but it gets nowhere near as much love as it deserves! I actually spent a month here living the digital nomad life and loved everything that it had to offer. I find that most travellers in Mexico are resistant to leaving the Caribbean coast and, if they do, they rarely venture further North than Mexico City.

Because of this, Guadalajara doesn’t get too many guests, which is a true shame!

Guadalajara is part of the State of Jalisco which is the birthplace of so many quintessential Mexican things- sombreros, tequila, mariachi music and Mexican rodeos.

If you’re a bit of a culture vulture, you’ll love this city. Make sure that it’s on your Mexico itinerary.

I recommend spending 3 days in Guadalajara as a base for taking trip to nearby places.

Guadalajara City

Spend one day enjoying the sights of the old city, visiting cathedrals and tasting amazing Mexican food (for absolute pesos) at Mercado Libertad. At night, head to the buzzing Americana neighbourhood where you can check out some of the city’s coolest bars and restaurants, and see for yourself how much Guadalajara’s residents love to party.

Ajijic (Pronounced A-Hee-Heec)

Ajijic is a colourful bohemian lakeside town not far from Guadalajara. It’s filled with cute restaurants, independent shops, and the buildings are all painted with pastel toned facades. I loved it here! It comes to life on a Sunday with cocktail and snack vendors lining the cobbled streets.

Tequila

Tequila is famous for, ya know, being the birthplace of tequila, so it’s a must visit! You can either go independently or through a tour. We decided to pinch our pesos and visit the town of Tequila independently and visit the Jose Cuervo factory. While this was great, I’d actually recommend doing a tour because you’ll get to go to the more boutique distilleries out in the countryside and see the fields of blue agave plants.

Tlaquepaque (Pronounced Tla-Kay-Pa-Kay)

After visiting Tequila, you’ll probably have a bit of a sore head. Stay local and take the day to explore Tlaquepaque: Guadlajara’s adjoining colonial style town. This is a great place to try some Mexican street food, snap some pics of traditional architecture and, ya know, have a curer! We actually found a great bar in Tlaquepaque called Cerveceria Chapultepec where everything is only 18 pesos- beers, cocktails, small plates of food. Everything!

We spent quite a bit of time here, then went to the main pavilion area at night to sip on more tequila and be surrounded by mariachi madness. If you’re on the market to be serenaded by men in sombreros, you won’t be disappointed here!

Where to Stay in Guadalajara

Backpacker Budget: Hostel Hospedarte Chapultepec

Flashpacker Fancy: Quintata Don Jose Boutique Hotel

Top Tip: Digital Nomad Accommodation in Guadalajara: It’s best to stay around the Americana neighbourhood where there are a lot of coffee shops and co-working spaces. Follow this link to get £21 off your next Air BnB!

Getting to Guadalajara

Guadalajara’s home to a huge international airport, meaning it’s generally cheap and reasonable to fly into: particularly if you’re flying in from North America. From Europe, I found it to be much cheaper to fly into Cancun and then take a domestic flight to GDL. Shop around and don’t miss my tips on how to find the cheapest flights on the web!

TL;DR: Kiwi.com‘s got your back!

Guanajuato: 3 Days

The mountainside city of Guanajuato has gained a lot of popularity recently since being featured in various “most beautiful cities in the world” lists and the Disney movie, Coco. Some might think it’s all hype but, I can safely say that it’s one of the most stunning cities I’ve ever been to- and that’s coming from someone who once lived in Edinburgh.

While some people might say you can “just spend a day” in Guanajuato, I recommend spending a few there as part of your Mexico itinerary to take it all in. We spent a day with Mexico Street Food Tours, seeing all the sights while tasting all the delicious food. (Sightseeing done right!) On your 3rd day in the city, take a side trip to San Miguel del Allende- another picture perfect place place. (Check out my amazing friends, Bobo and Chichi’s guide to San Miguel del Allende!)

For everything to do in Guanajuato, check out this post!

Where to Stay in Guanajuato

Backpacker Budget: Hostal Casa de Dante

Flashpacker Fancy: Hotel Boutique 1850

Getting from Guadalajara to Guanajuato

The bus from Guadalajara to Guanajuato takes just 4 or 5 hours- I recommend taking a morning bus and arriving in the afternoon. There are two companies that do the route at the time of writing: Primera Plus and ETN. We went with ETN since that’s what fitted our schedule- the tickets are slightly more expensive but the service was amazing. Krispy Kreme doughnuts, tablets on the seats and a wee drink… Mexico knows how to do a good bus!

Cost of Journey: 570 MXN (£22/$31)

Mexico City: 4 Days

If there’s one thing I can say about Mexico City, it’s that no amount of time there is ever enough. Unlike a lot of capital cities, especially in Latin America, this is a place that you don’t want to rush through!

We spent 4 days in Mexico City and could have spent at least 4 more! There’s honestly so much to do and see- cycling through the amazing parks, losing hours in museums, people watching in the shopping districts and going on great day trips, too, like to the pyramids and Frida Kahlo’s neighbourhood.

Plus, you’ll definitely want to spend some time sampling the food! Food is such a huge part of Mexican culture so, in addition to our Guanajuato street food experience, we spent a day with Eat Mexico while we were in Mexico City. Two very different street food tours that are both well worth doing!

Read my review on Eat Mexico here!

Where to Stay in Mexico City

Backpacker Budget: Stayinn Barefoot Condensa

Flashpacker Fancy: Hippodrome Hotel

Getting from Guanajuato to Mexico City

The journey from Guanajuato to Mexico City is similar to the journey from Guadalajara to Guanajuato: it takes around 5 hours, buses are frequent and are run by the same two companies, Primera Plus and ETN. In this case, we took Primera Plus and the service was, once again, great!

Cost of Journey: 450 MXN (£17/$25)

Oaxaca: 3 Days

After reading this itinerary, it should be no surprise that there was a fair bit more of me to love after our trip to Mexico. Food was a huge part of my Mexico itinerary! Oaxaca’s the kind of place where you don’t need to go on a food tour- there’s literally amazing food on every corner and you’ll want to try all of it! Especially if you head for the mercados. Yum!

That’s not to say Oaxaca’s just about the food, though. If you spend all your time in the mercados, you’re doing it wrong. I recommend spending one day wandering around and enjoying the city and then spending the other two days taking side trips: one to Hierve del Agua, the petrified waterfalls and natural infinity pool, and one to Monte Alban, a Mayan ruin sight which was my favourite in Mexico!

Where to Stay in Oaxaca

Backpacker Budget: Casa Angel Youth Hostel

Flashpacker Fancy: Casa Hotel Oaxaca

Getting from Mexico City to Oaxaca

Buses from Mexico City to Oaxaca leave from the TAPO terminal and are fairly frequent. I’d recommend booking your bus in advance if you can, since this is such a popular journey. The buses are provided by ADO, Mexico’s biggest bus carrier and you can choose from a variety of tiers. The journey takes around 7 hours.

Cost of Journey: Around 450 MXN: £17/$25 (Prices vary depending on tier and time)

Puerto Escondido: 3 Days

I’m not gonna lie, the drive from Oaxaca City to the Oaxacan beach town of Puerto Escondido will make you pretty nautious and have you planning your obituary. It’s well worth it, though, to arrive in the Pacific Coast of Mexico! If you’re interested in surfing, are on the market for a holiday romance with a fit Australian or just enjoy eating ceviche on the beach with a michelada in hand (I’m always the latter!), you’ll love Puerto Escondido.

Where to Stay in Puerto Escondido

Backpacker Budget: Puerto Dreams Hostel

Flashpacker Fancy: Shavana Boutique Hotel

Getting to Puerto Escondido from Oaxaca City

Like I mentioned, the drive from Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca City is no joke so, if you’re partial to car sickness, pack some tablets! Since you’re driving around mountains, there are plenty of twists and turns- I don’t usually get car sick but felt pretty horrendous after it! We opted for an overnight bus since the journey is 11 hours long- I wish I’d packed a few vallies for the ride… but I’d still opt for the night bus over a day bus to save time.

Cost of Journey:  Overnight bus: 480 MXN (£19/$26), Day bus: 250 MXN (£10/$14)

San Cristobal: Forever… (Jokes- 3 Days is Fine!)

Awww San Cristobal. As soon as I arrived to this mountainside city with its cool temperature and colourful houses, I didn’t want to leave. And, I wasn’t the only one. I met so many foreigners in San Cristobal who’d come for a few days and stayed weeks, months and even years. It’s the kind of place that just pulls you in.

Not only does it have gorgeous architecture, a super chilled vibe and its own unique culture, it’s also a great base for day trips around the state of Chiapas.

One of the best things to do is the city’s free walking tour which is run by young volunteers. I’ve done a fair few free walking tours on my travels but this one was unique because it took us to some of the hotspots around the city like coffee shops, boutique liquor stores and modern art galleries. Don’t miss it!

San Cristobal was, unsurprisingly, my favourite spot on our Mexico itinerary.

Where to Stay in San Cristobal

Backpacker Budget: Posada Ganesha (Budget or no budget- this place has amazing yoga classes!)

Flashpacker Fancy: Casa del Alma Boutique Hotel and Spa

Getting from Puerto Escondido to San Cristobal

San Cristobal and Puerto Escondido look like they’re pretty close to each other on the map but it takes the best part of 13 hours to get there. This is because of all the mountains between the two cities so make sure you pack those sickness tablets again! There are only 2 buses from Puerto Escondido to San Cristobal each day so I recommend booking up in advance.

Cost of Journey: 480 MXN (£19/$26)

Bacalar Lagoon: 2 Days

It’s out of nature for me to only suggest spending two days in a place but I think any more time in Bacalar Lagoon would be slight overkill. That’s not to say that Bacalar Lagoon isn’t worth a place on your Mexico itinerary- it definitely is! But, since the next stop on this itinerary, Tulum, isn’t too far away, I think it’s fine to just stop over here for a short time.

Bacalar Lagoon has been referred to numerous times as the “Maldives of Mexico.” While I didn’t quite get this analogy (I rarely understand these weird tourism analogies), it is a beautiful place that’s unlike anywhere else on Mexico’s Caribbean peninsula.

The must-do thing here is stand-up paddle boarding, and you really shouldn’t miss it. We organised our trip through our hostel, Blue Monkey. I loved the tour but didn’t exactly love the hostel accommodation- maybe see if you can book onto their tour while staying elsewhere!

Where to Stay in Bacalar Lagoon

Backpacker Budget: Casa Tortuga

Flashpacker Fancy: Toto Hotel Blue Boutique

Getting from San Cristobal to Bacalar Lagoon

The journey from San Cristobal to Bacalar Lagoon is a long one (around 16 hours) that can’t be done directly. You should take a bus from San Cristobal to Bacalar’s nearest city, Chetumal. From here, you can jump on one of the many frequent buses that’ll take you to Bacalar Lagoon.

Cost of Journey: 850 MXN (£33/$45)

Tulum: 4 Days

I know what you’re thinking… “Tulum’s just a beach town, why should I dedicate 4 days of my Mexico itinerary to it!?” That’s what I thought too but, honestly, there’s so much to see and do around Tulum. If you want to see all those things and enjoy relaxing on the beach (and you definitely want to relax on those beaches), you’ll need a few days on your itinerary.  At least.

Some of the things to do include swimming with turtles, exploring ruins, visiting marine reserves and watching jungle sunsets with a margarita in hand.

Don’t miss my guide on the best things to do in Tulum!

I could go on holiday here for weeks and never get bored!

Where to Stay in Tulum

Backpacker Budget: Chill Inn Hostel

Flashpacker Fancy: Be Tulum Hotel

Getting from Bacalar Lagoon to Lagoon

ADO runs a frequent bus straight from Bacalar Lagoon to Tulum that takes 2.5 hours.

Cost of Journey: 220 MXN (£12/$9)

Isla Holbox: 3 Days

Isla Holbox is just 60 miles away from Cancun but feels like a million miles away. You won’t find mega hotel complexes here. Just cute colourful guesthouses and a few stylish boutique hotels thrown in for good measure. The highlight of any trip to Isla Holbox is swimming with whale sharks, which I did and loved, but make sure you don’t miss out on time to chill out and enjoy some lobster pizza on land, too!

Don’t miss my Isla Holbox Travel Guide!

Where to Stay in Isla Holbox

Backpacker Budget: Tribu Hostel

Flashpacker Fancy: Hotel Casa Las Tortugas

Getting from Tulum to Isla Holbox

Getting to Isla Holbox from Tulum is pretty straight forward. You should first take the 08.10 am bus to Chiquila- just bare in mind that there’s only one bus per day to Chiquila so make sure you book in advance. After arriving in Chiquila, you’ll need to take a short ferry to Isla Holbox. There are 2 companies offering the crossing but the price is almost the same. I just went with the one that was about to leave- the crossing takes about 25 minutes and both companies have regular services.

Cost of Journey

Bus: 220 MXN (£9/$12)

Boat: 100 MXN (£4/$6)

Mexico Itinerary Logistics Notes

Like I mentioned at the start, I visited all the places on this Mexico itinerary on my trip and felt like it offered an amazing experience in the country. I’d recommend anyone travelling to Mexico who wants to get to know the country well in a short period of time to follow this route. However, if you’re travelling onwards, you’ll want to change it up a bit. Here are my tips.

Mexico Itinerary for Onwards Travel to Guatemala

If you’re going to travel from Mexico into Guatemala, it makes the most sense to do your border crossing from San Cristobal. This is actually what I did and it’s a pretty simple switch! Simply, fly into Cancun (very cheap to fly to from both Europe and North America), travel around Isla Holbox, Tulum and Bacalar Lagoon before returning to Cancun, from which you’ll fly to Guadalajara. This part of the country is compact and easy to travel around, and flights up to Guadalajara are super cheap if you buy them in advance!

From Guadalajara, follow this Mexico itinerary right down to San Cristobal.

Mexico Itinerary for Onwards Travel to Belize

If you’re looking to travel to Belize, you have two options. Either:

1. Start your journey by flying into Cancun and explore Tulum and Isla Holbox before flying up to Guadalajara. Work your way through the rest of the itinerary and then do your border crossing into Belize from Bacalar Lagoon. (I crossed from Belize back into Mexico this way and it was a painless journey- take the ADO bus from Bacalar to Belize City.)
2. Fly straight to Guadalajara and follow the full Mexico itinerary. After ending your trip in Isla Holbox, travel to Cancun where you can take an overnight bus to Belize City.

Visa Requirements

Mexico’s visa requirements are pretty nice- citizens of most countries get an easy 6 months on arrival by flight, making Mexico a great place for digital nomads looking to stay a while. If you enter Mexico by land, via Guatemala or Belize, you get 14 days in the country before needing to pay an exit fee of 500 MXN.

Mexico Exit Tax

Exit tax is included in all inbound flights so, if you fly in, you shouldn’t need to pay it when exiting the country by land- I recommend getting a detailed breakdown of your flight fees before doing land border crossings into Belize or Guatemala to avoid paying it twice.

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So, there you have it! I hope this Mexico itinerary will help you have an amazing time on your trip and fall in love with the country as much as I did. If you have any questions or more amazing places in Mexico to recommend, please let me know in the comments!

Don’t miss the rest of my Mexico posts!