L'Heure du Voyage
🇲🇽 Itinerary · Mexico · 14 days

2-week Mexico itinerary 2026: from the centre to the Yucatán

14 days in Mexico: Mexico City, Oaxaca, Chiapas and the Yucatán. From colonial highlands to Caribbean beaches, day by day, with distances, flights and costed budget.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

14 days

Stops

7 places

Average budget

€1,900-2,900

Total distance

~2,200 km

Profile

Versatile

Season

Nov-Apr

Mexico City 3d · Oaxaca 3d · San Cristóbal 2d · Palenque 1d · Mérida 1d · Valladolid 2d · Tulum 2d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

Mexico 2-week itinerary map: Mexico City, Oaxaca, San Cristóbal, Palenque, Mérida, Valladolid, Tulum

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

14 days, day by day

1

~€90

Mexico City · Arrival & Zócalo

  • Morning Arrival at Mexico City airport (CDMX). Transfer to the historic centre.
  • Afternoon Rest off the jet lag then Zócalo, cathedral and Templo Mayor.
  • Evening First tacos al pastor dinner in the Roma district.
🛌 🛌 Centro Histórico · e.g. Hotel Catedral (3 nights)·🚇 Metro and walking in town·Mexico guide →
2

~€70

Mexico City · Teotihuacán & museums

  • 8am Teotihuacán pyramids (1h drive), climb the Pyramid of the Sun early.
  • Afternoon National Museum of Anthropology, one of the world's richest.
  • Evening Coyoacán district and Frida Kahlo's house.
3

~€65

Mexico City · Xochimilco & food

  • Morning Colourful trajineras on the Xochimilco canals.
  • Afternoon Condesa district, Ciudadela market for crafts.
  • Evening Mexican fine-dining dinner (Mexico City is a culinary capital).
4

~€110

Mexico City → Oaxaca · Domestic flight

  • Morning Flight Mexico City → Oaxaca (1h, ~€70) rather than 6h of bus.
  • Afternoon Oaxaca colonial centre, Zócalo, Santo Domingo church.
  • Evening Mezcal and mole tasting, local specialities.
🛌 🛌 Oaxaca centre · e.g. Hotel Casa Antonieta (3 nights)·✈️ Domestic flight
5

~€75

Oaxaca · Monte Albán & Hierve el Agua

  • Morning Zapotec site of Monte Albán, perched above the valley.
  • Afternoon Petrified waterfalls of Hierve el Agua and natural pools.
6

~€60

Oaxaca · Villages & crafts

  • Day Valley villages: Teotitlán (rugs), Tlacolula (Sunday market), Tule tree.
  • Evening Oaxacan cooking class (mole, tlayudas).
7

~€120

Oaxaca → San Cristóbal · Chiapas

  • Morning Flight to Tuxtla Gutiérrez (1h) then drive to San Cristóbal de las Casas (1h).
  • Afternoon Settle into this high colonial town (2,200 m), Maya atmosphere.
🛌 🛌 San Cristóbal · e.g. Hotel Bo (2 nights)·✈️ Flight + 🚗 drive
8

~€70

San Cristóbal · Sumidero Canyon & villages

  • Morning Sumidero Canyon by boat, 1,000 m walls.
  • Afternoon Tzotzil villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán.
9

~€95

San Cristóbal → Palenque · Waterfalls & jungle

  • Morning Drive to Palenque (5h) via the Agua Azul and Misol-Ha waterfalls.
  • Afternoon Arrival in Palenque, rest before the ruins.
🛌 🛌 Palenque · e.g. Hotel Chan-Kah Resort (1 night)·🚗 5h via the waterfalls
10

~€110

Palenque → Mérida · Maya city & road

  • 8am Maya site of Palenque in the jungle, Temple of the Inscriptions.
  • 1pm Drive to Mérida (6h) or flight from Villahermosa depending on time.
🛌 🛌 Mérida · e.g. Hotel Casa Lecanda (1 night)·🚗 long drive or ✈️ flight
11

~€85

Mérida → Valladolid · White cities

  • Morning Mérida centre, Paseo de Montejo. Drive to Valladolid (2h, 160 km).
  • Afternoon Cenote Suytun and Valladolid colonial centre.
🛌 🛌 Valladolid · e.g. Hotel Zentik Project (2 nights)·🚗 160 km
12

~€75

Valladolid · Chichén Itzá & cenotes

  • 7:30am Chichén Itzá at opening, Kukulcán pyramid.
  • Midday Swim at the Ik Kil cenote.
  • Afternoon Valladolid market, cochinita pibil.
13

~€90

Valladolid → Tulum · Ruins & beach

  • 9am Drive to Tulum (1h30, 100 km).
  • 11am Tulum site facing the sea, then Gran Cenote.
  • Sunset Beach and sunset on the Riviera Maya.
🛌 🛌 Tulum · e.g. Hotel Bardo Tulum (2 nights)·🚗 100 km
14

Flight

Tulum → Cancún · Return

  • Morning Last swim or Sian Ka'an reserve.
  • Afternoon Drive to Cancún airport (2h, 130 km). Flight back to Paris.
🚗 130 km

How much

Budget for this itinerary (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€1,900

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €800
  • 🏨 Hostel/posada: €28/night
  • 🚌 Bus + 2 domestic flights: €200
  • 🌮 Local cocina: €15/day
  • 🎫 Sites + cenotes: €150
Recommended

Comfort

€2,400

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €850
  • 🏨 3-4★ hotel: €75/night
  • ✈️ 2 domestic flights: €180
  • 🍽️ Mixed dining: €35/day
  • 🎫 Tours + activities: €300

Premium

€4,400

per person

  • ✈️ Business flight: €1,800
  • 🏨 Boutique hotels: €190/night
  • ✈️ Flexible domestic flights: €250
  • 🍽️ Fine dining: €65/day
  • 🎫 Private tours: €600

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

1 week

1 week

Essential Yucatán: Chichén Itzá, cenotes and beaches.

You're here

2 weeks

2 weeks

Mexico City, Oaxaca, Chiapas and the Yucatán.

1 month

1 month

The grand tour of central and southern Mexico.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

This itinerary combines 2-3 domestic flights (Mexico City-Oaxaca, Oaxaca-Tuxtla), comfortable ADO buses and a rental car in the Yucatán. Flights avoid long road days. Expect ~2,200 km total.

✈️

Flight Mexico City → Oaxaca

€70 · 1h · saves 6h of bus

✈️

Flight Oaxaca → Tuxtla (Chiapas)

€80 · 1h · then drive to San Cristóbal

🚌

ADO bus

Comfortable · ideal for short legs

🚗

Rental car (Yucatán)

€30/day · for cenotes and villages

Adapt by season

Dry season and festivals by month

From November to April, the whole country is dry and pleasant: 22-26°C on the highlands (Mexico City, Oaxaca, San Cristóbal), 28-32°C in the Yucatán. The rainy season (June-October) makes Chiapas roads slippery. Two highlights to aim for if possible: the Day of the Dead in Oaxaca (late October, early November) and avoiding sargassum on the Caribbean coast from April to August.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In late October 2023 I experienced the Day of the Dead in Oaxaca: streets carpeted with cempasúchil petals, altars in every home, night processions. If your dates allow, schedule Oaxaca for 31 October to 2 November.
  • • Take the domestic flights Mexico City-Oaxaca and Oaxaca-Tuxtla, saving 2 full days.
  • • The waterfall road San Cristóbal → Palenque, long but magnificent.
  • • The Oaxacan cooking class, the best introduction to mole.
  • • Sleep in Valladolid to hit Chichén Itzá at opening.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Don't attempt Palenque → Mérida by road in one day if you can fly instead.
  • • Keep an extra night in San Cristóbal, the town and surroundings deserve it.
  • • Book domestic flights early (Aeroméxico, Volaris), prices climb fast.
  • • Check sargassum on the Caribbean coast before booking Tulum.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Should I take domestic flights in Mexico? +
For 2 weeks, yes: Mexico City-Oaxaca and Oaxaca-Tuxtla avoid 12h of cumulative bus time. Expect €70-90 per flight on Volaris or Aeroméxico. The rest is by ADO bus or rental car.
Is this itinerary too packed? +
It's dense but doable thanks to the flights. If you prefer to slow down, drop Chiapas (San Cristóbal, Palenque) and stay longer between Oaxaca and the Yucatán.
When is the best time to go? +
November to April: dry everywhere, 22-26°C in the highlands, 28-32°C in the Yucatán. The Day of the Dead (late October, early November) is a highlight in Oaxaca. Avoid the rainy season in Chiapas (June-October).
Is Chiapas safe? +
The tourist areas (San Cristóbal, Sumidero Canyon, Palenque) are safe with the usual precautions. Avoid driving at night and check locally. The rest of the itinerary is low-risk.
How much do the archaeological sites cost? +
Expect €8-15 entry (Teotihuacán, Monte Albán, Palenque, Chichén Itzá). Chichén Itzá is the most expensive (~€30 with state taxes). Cenotes add €5-15 each.
Do I need a visa for Mexico? +
No for French citizens: no visa for tourist stays up to 180 days. Tourist card (FMM) issued on arrival. Passport valid for the whole stay.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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