Day Trips in Mexico

Explore the archaeological highlights of Oaxaca without getting lost on this day trip, a great choice for first-time visitors. Take a guided tour of Monte Alban, the largest Zapotec urban center and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visit its satellite city, Atzompa. Then travel to Yagul and Mitla to see other examples of Zapotec architecture. Plus, round-trip transportation from downtown Oaxaca is included.

Visit Hierve el Agua, a mezcal producer, and the Zapotec town of Teotitlán del Valle on a full-day tour from Oaxaca. Have plenty of time to walk down to the swimming area at Hierve el Agua and take a leisurely dip in the warm spring waters. Next, head to Teotitlán del Valle to learn about Zapotec weaving traditions and explore the town. You'll also visit a mezcal producer and sample several varieties of mezcal. Your tour includes guide, mezcal tasting, entrance fees, and round-trip transport from Oaxaca.

See the lakes and waterfalls of southern Chiapas on a full-day trip from San Cristobal to Lagos de Montebello and Cascada el Chiflon, then visit a traditional Tzeltal community that's renowned for handicrafts. You'll explore a landscape dotted with interconnected lakes, then walk past a series of cascades to a 394-foot (120-meter) waterfall surrounded by lush vegetation. In Amatenango del Valle, see traditional garb of embroidered huipiles, and shop for Tzeltal pottery adorned with intricate motifs.

Explore the luscious lakeside villages of Ajijic and Chapala on a half-day tour from Guadalajara. Admire the scenic splendor of Lake Chapala (Lago de Chapala), Mexico's largest natural lake, before enjoying an idyllic boat ride to Scorpion Island (Isla de los Alacranes). Wander the cobblestone streets of picturesque Ajijic as you appreciate the colonial majesty and provincial charm of its architecture. Experience personalized attention from your guide with tour numbers limited to 13 people on this small-group tour.

Immerse yourself in Mexican culture on a day trip to Mixquic's Day of the Dead celebration in late October or early November. With round-trip hotel transport, avoid the stress of taking public transit or navigating from Mexico City on your own. In addition to navigating, your guide offers inside tips, anecdotes, and background information on the holiday's traditions.

Ticking off Yucatan's many highlights can be tricky on limited time. Make the most of your visit with a combination package that includes a speedboat excursion on Nichupt e lagoon, as well as a tour of Mayan ruins at Tulum and Coba. Benefit from regional insights provided by guides on both trips, and enjoy a range of experiences sure to please thrill-seekers and history buffs alike.

The ancient Zapotec city and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Monte Alban sits about 9 miles (6 kilometers) west of Oaxaca. With this tour, explore the hilltop archaeological site with a guide and enjoy views overlooking the Oaxaca Valley. That leaves enough time to visit the artisan towns of Arrazola, Cuilapam de Guerrero, and San Bartolo Coyotepec. Plus, round-trip transportation from your hotel in downtown Oaxaca is included.

Experience the best of the Yucatán's vast cultural and adventure offerings on this day trip from Playa del Carmen. Explore Coba - a huge stretch of Maya ruins tucked within the jungle - and climb its ancient pyramid, interact with locals at a modern-day Maya village, and enjoy a variety of activities such as canoeing, swimming in a natural sinkhole and ziplining through the forest canopy. Along the way you'll learn about native flora and even receive a blessing from a local shaman. The afternoon culminates with a traditional Maya lunch.

Explore all Huatulco has to offer on this 8-hour comprehensive tour by land and sea. Visit the Church of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the town's zocalo, or town square, and La Crucecita. By boat, explore the seashore and stop at the Bay of Maguey for some swimming and snorkeling. Round-trip transportation from Huatulco hotels included.

Visit one of Mexico's most enchanting Maya sites on a full-day tour from Tuxtla Gutierrez to Palenque, then continue to two gorgeous waterfalls in the Chiapas highlands, Misol-Ha and Agua Azul. You'll see mountain scenery, ancient pyramids, and turquoise pools, with 2.5 hours to explore Palenque alongside a local guide. Learn the stories behind the stones as you tour the UNESCO-listed archeological site, whose elegant architecture has a dramatic backdrop of steep jungle.

Explore the highlights of Oaxaca's Tlacolula Valley without getting lost on this day trip with special appeal for first-time visitors. You'll jump from the Zapotec weavers town of Teotitlan del Valle to the Mitla archaeological site, traveling between attractions with ease in an air-conditioned minivan. This leaves time to visit the Tule tree and the petrified waterfalls at Hierve el Agua. A mezcal tasting is also included.

Pyramids, tombs and mosaic murals - embark on an archaeological adventure with this guided full-day tour from Oaxaca featuring Mitla and Monte Alban. Travel by comfortable coach to the ancient religious center of Mitla, and see how the Zapotecs lived before the Spanish conquest in the 1500s. Then, from the mountaintop of Monte Alban, a UNESCO site, marvel at panoramas of the city and Oaxaca Valley. Walk about Monte Alban's vast complex as you hear about the excavations. Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Travel to Chcihen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage site that once served as a center of Mayan culture on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Learn about the important role the complex played in everyday and ceremonial life, and see El Castillo, the massive stone pyramid at its center. After a buffet lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy a refreshing swim in a cenote (natural sinkhole) before heading back to Cancun.

Discover ancient temples, colonial architecture and a cacao plantation on a full-day, private trip to Uxmal and Merida from Cancun. Get a personal introduction to these highlights of the Yucatan Peninsula, with the flexibility to customize the day to your interests. Learn about local history, climb to the top of Maya pyramids, stroll through colorful historic neighborhoods and find out how local cacao goes from bean to chocolate bar.

From the mountaintop pyramids of Monte Alban to the Cuilapam Convent on the valley floor, learn all about the rich history of Oaxaca Valley on this guided full-day trip by coach. Discover the Zapotec pyramids and excavated ruins of UNESCO-listed Monte Alban, admire the mystical woodcarvings of San Antonio Arrazola and meet resident artisans in San Bartolo Coyotepec, a town known for its beautiful black pottery. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Oaxaca included.

Visit all of Huatulco's famous seven bays during a single 9-hour boat trip. Relax on the sandy beaches and swim in the tranquil turquoise waters at each stop. Round-trip transportation from Huatulco hotels included.

Mexico City's vibrancy extends across arts and culture, cuisine, and history. This tour combines six of the area's top sites over a two-day trip, all seen with the expertise of a local guide. Dive into ancient history at Teotihuacan and Tlatelolco, learn explore the Guadalupe Shrine, visit  Xochimilco, learn about art in Coyoacan, and tour the Frida Kahlo museum.

Travel inland from Tulum on a full-day tour of Coba and Punta Laguna Nature Reserve. Go ziplining and take a jungle hike, then ride in a canoe on the clear lagoon during an eco-tour at the Maya community. Then follow your guide on foot past the ruins of Coba and learn about this former Maya settlement of the Yucatán Peninsula, built during the Classic period. Climb up Nohoch Mul and hop on a bike to explore. Lunch and round-trip hotel transport included.

Set sail to Isla Mujeres from Cancun and spend the day relaxing and exploring at Garrafon Natural Reef Park. Your admission ticket includes recreational activities like snorkeling, kayaking, and ziplining; relaxation in hammocks, lounge chairs, infinity pool, and hot tubs; VIP amenities; breakfast and a buffet lunch; and drinks from the open international bar. Round-trip marine transport is provided from the Hotel Zone.

Explore Los Coloradas with a guide on this full-day tour from Cancun and Riviera Maya. Enjoy the scenic drive and focusing on the passing landscape, since this tour provides round-trip transportation and eliminates the hassle of renting your own car. Get access to a 16th-century hacienda, where you will have breakfast before embarking on a tour of the otherworldly landscape of Las Coloradas and a boat trip in Rio Lagartos, both accompanied by insightful guided commentary.