Best Day Trips from Mexico City

One of the best things to see and do in Mexico City is definitely to sign up for an excursion from the city, which is an excellent opportunity to learn more about Mexican culture and history. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy the natural and architectural beauty of the region.

Among the most popular options is a visit to the archaeological ruins of Teotihuacan, an ancient pre-Hispanic city near the capital. I also recommend visiting the Magic Town of Taxco, known for its cobblestone streets, picturesque houses and beautiful church of Santa Prisca. You can also take a trip to the town of Tepoztlán. Read on and see all the options!

One of the best trips to make without a doubt is to the archaeological zone of Teotihuacan during the first hour of the day. An expert guide will answer all your questions and tell you everything you need to know about the site itself.

On the excursion you will tour the City of the Gods and visit the Pyramid of the Sun, the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl, the Road of the Dead, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. This area of archaeological exploration is a little less than 50 kilometers from Mexico City, which equals about 40 minutes.

No doubt this excursion to the Pyramids of Teotihuacan from Mexico City will delight you, also because it will take you to a workshop operated by a Teotihuacan family where you can enjoy different drinks made with cactus, among which tequila, mezcal and pulque stand out.

Details of interest

• Price: you will pay around 37 euros to fully enjoy this experience.
• Duration: the tour lasts approximately 9 hours.
• Means of transportation: the transportation will be completed by air-conditioned bus.
• Advantages of this option: you will have an expert guide who will accompany you throughout your experience. The bus is air-conditioned.
• Disadvantages of this option: lunch and snacks are not included. Drinks are not included either.

If you are passionate about Mexican history and culture, I recommend you to sign up for one of the best excursions from Mexico City. In this case you will go to Puebla, Cholula and Tonanzintla. In this adventure, you will have the opportunity to enter some of the oldest cities in the country and visit two of the most iconic volcanoes in Mexico: Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl, which are located about 20 kilometers from CDMX.

During this experience you will also visit the impressive pyramid of Cholula, considered the largest in the world in terms of volume. After lunch, you will stroll through the historic center of Puebla, where you will discover some of the most impressive monuments of Spanish colonial architecture. You will visit the Plaza de las Armas and the Cathedral, which dates back to 1575.

Details of interest

• Price: you will pay around 65 euros per person to enjoy this experience.
• Duration: it will take you about 11 hours to complete the whole tour.
• Means of transport: the tour is carried out by minibus or bus.
• Advantages of this option: you will have transportation to and from your hotel or accommodation. You will have a guide during the whole trip. Entrance fees to some tourist sites are included.
• Disadvantages of this option: lunch is not included during the tour. Personal expenses are not included.

This is an experience in the heart of Mexico that you can't miss because you will be able to hike La Joya, which is the famous Paso de Cortés that joins the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes. The best thing about this experience is that you will be able to adjust the pace and route according to your physical condition.

You will find a first viewpoint at 3,800 meters above sea level. A little higher, at 4,300 meters above sea level, you will find the second stop, which offers a unique panoramic view. This is a training route that I recommend you choose once you have already done a good Mexico City bike tour, so you can test your physical condition before doing it.

You will climb up the mountain through an intermediate route that allows beginners and professional climbers alike to enjoy the ride. At the top you will be able to contemplate Popocatepetl, the second highest volcano in Mexico. During the excursion, you will have the opportunity to go around this natural wonder and admire the curious smoking figures that constantly rise due to its volcanic activity.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay around 65 euros to enjoy this experience.
• Duration: this experience lasts approximately 10 hours.
• Means of transportation: you will travel aboard a bus.
• Advantages of this option: you will travel in a comfortable air-conditioned bus. You will be accompanied by an expert guide.
• Disadvantages of this option: lunch and drinks are not included. Hiking equipment is not included.

This excursion takes you to Mineral del Chico, a charming town surrounded by lush forests and about two hours from Mexico City, your tour guide will tell you about the town's mining past and the origin of its name. In addition, in the town you can hike outdoors, visit its museums, many of which are among the best museums in Mexico City, and taste local food.

If you follow the steps of your expert guide, you can also admire the impressive neoclassical church of the Immaculate Conception and discover the reason for the names of the most curious places, such as the Casa de las Brujas or the Montaña de las Monjas (House of the Witches). You will visit one of the mines that give the town its name, but you will also be able to walk more than a kilometer inside to learn about the daily life of the miners in the past.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay around 100 euros per person to enjoy this experience.
• Duration: it will take you about 9 hours to explore all the spaces of the mine.
• Means of transport: the trip is completed by minibus.
• Advantages of this option: you will be accompanied by a tour guide. You will not have to wait in line to enjoy the mine.
• Disadvantages of this option: meals, drinks or snacks are not included. Personal expenses are not included either.

With this experience you will visit a spectacular set of caves in the state of Hidalgo. During the tour you will be able to enter the Xoxafi caves where you will have the opportunity to participate in a caving session that lasts about two hours. Xoxafi is about two and a half hours from CDMX.

Later you will have the opportunity to test your bravery with the thrilling circuit of three zip lines, each of a different length. After exploring the Xoxafi caves and finishing the zip line circuit, you will have an hour to rest and have a picnic while enjoying the beautiful view of nature. After this moment of relaxation, your guide will take you back to your hotel or accommodation in Mexico City.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay around 70 euros to enjoy this adventure.
• Duration: the whole trip lasts approximately 9 hours.
• Means of transportation: the whole adventure is completed by minibus or bus.
• Advantages of this option: the transfer from and to your hotel or lodging place is included. The company of a tour guide is also included.
• Disadvantages of this option: meals and drinks are not included. Personal expenses are not included.

Located on the shores of beautiful Lake Avándaro, I recommend a trip to this town where you will find historic streets lined with stores and restaurants to sample the local cuisine. You will also be delighted to see its natural scenery that includes waterfalls, mountains and hiking trails.

The first stop on this excursion will be at the Maranatha House of Prayer, a former convent of the Carmelite Order.

Then you will go to the Velo de Novia natural park, where there is an impressive waterfall, which you can admire from a viewpoint. Afterwards, you will visit Lake Avándaro and then continue on to see the Black Christ. The visit ends back at your hotel or lodging in Mexico City. You should know that Valle de Bravo is about two hours and 40 minutes from Mexico City.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay from 15 euros per person to enjoy this experience.
• Duration: the ride lasts about 10 hours.
• Means of transportation: you will be able to do this tour in a comfortable minibus.
• Advantages of this option: the package includes tickets for all the sites to be visited.
• Disadvantages of this option: lunch and snacks are not included.

If you like zoos, I recommend a trip to Bioparque Estrella, which has 300 hectares of land. It is one of the largest zoos in Mexico and has a wide variety of animals and activities for the whole family that you will surely enjoy.

Besides observing a great variety of exotic species, in Bioparque Estrella you can also enjoy different animal shows, water games, a car safari, not to mention the options you have to eat and buy souvenirs to remember your trip, and the best thing is that the Bioparque Estrella is about 30 minutes from Mexico City.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay around 23 euros per person.
• Duration: you will have 9 hours to enjoy and explore all the attractions of the tour.
• Means of transportation: the activity is completed in an air-conditioned minibus.
• Advantages of this option: transportation by bus or minibus to and from your hotel or accommodation is included. Entrance to the Biopark and all attractions is included. Lunch is included during the experience.
• Disadvantages of this option: personal expenses are not included.

In this excursion from Mexico City you will visit the Tolantongo caves, an ideal natural destination if you love photography and natural beauty. This place is known for its thermal pools and waterfalls surrounded by landscapes that catch the attention of every visitor. During the experience you will be able to immerse yourself in the crystal clear thermal waters while enjoying a relaxing atmosphere.

Once in the Tolantongo caves, you will have more than five hours to enjoy the natural spas that you will find in the place. You can also go through an exciting tunnel nestled in rocks, swim inside a cave or even swim in the Hidden Paradise section. You will cross a suspension bridge and, of course, enjoy the spectacular panoramic views of the place, which is located almost four hours from Mexico City.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay from 115 euros per person.
• Duration: the tour lasts approximately 14 hours.
• Means of transportation: the whole trip is carried out in a minibus.
• Advantages of this option: they offer transportation to and from the hotel or place of accommodation. You will be accompanied by a tour guide. Entrance fees to the Tolantongo caves are included.
• Disadvantages of this option: food and beverage service is not offered during the tour. Personal expenses are not included.

This is undoubtedly a unique experience that you should live at least once in your life. During the trip you will have the opportunity to enjoy one of the best hot air balloon tours in Mexico City, but you will also be able to live the experience inside the Teotihuacan complex, which adds more interest to the tour.

After a flight of approximately 45 minutes over the Teotihuacan area, you will have a good breakfast at La Cueva restaurant, which is a place located in a kind of cavern where you can enjoy a completely natural environment and some of the most special flavors of Mexican cuisine.

After this experience you will learn a little more about Mexican culture and traditions in the midst of an obsidian and maguey course and workshop given by expert guides. Finally, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a good tasting of all kinds of liquors made in Teotihuacan.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay a little more than 215 euros per person to enjoy this tour.
• Duration: this tour lasts approximately 5 to 7 hours.
• Means of transportation: the whole trip will be carried out in a private vehicle with all the comforts and then by hot air balloon.
• Advantages of this option: you will have a tour guide who will accompany you at all times. Coffee and cookies are offered upon arrival. Entrance fees to San Francisco Mazapa and San Juan Teotihuacan are included.
• Disadvantages of this option: The package does not include meals or additional beverages. Transportation to and from the lodging site is not included. Personal expenses are not included. Entrance fees to Teotihuacan are not included and cost approximately 3 euros per person.

This excursion is an exciting way to explore the Piedra Herrada monarch butterfly sanctuary and the magical towns of Mexico. The tour starts at Avenida de la Republica in Mexico City, where you will board a bus along with your guide, which will take you to the Piedra Herrada monarch butterfly sanctuary. It will take you about two and a half hours to get there.

Once at the sanctuary, which is located a little more than 20 minutes from Mexico City, you will enjoy a three and a half hour route on foot or horseback, through valleys full of monarch butterflies. After this tour you will have half an hour free to have a snack before continuing on your way.

You will then reach Valle de Bravo, a town located on the shores of the lake of the same name, to visit the basilica of Santa Maria Ahuacatlan. You will have free time to explore the town, taste local food and enjoy the scenery.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay about 36 euros to enjoy this tour.
• Duration: this tour lasts approximately 15 hours.
• Means of transport: the tour is completed by bus.
• Advantages of this option: you will be accompanied by an expert guide throughout the experience.
• Disadvantages of this option: the entrance fee to the Piedra Herrada Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary is not included. Lunch and hydration are not included.

Tips for a tour from Mexico City

• Wear comfortable shoes and clothes for these excursions.
• Ask your tour guide if there is anything specific you should bring to enjoy the experience.
• Bring enough money in case the tour does not include meals, drinks or snacks.
• If you are traveling with children, be sure to ask if they can attend and what conditions they must meet.