Welcome to Mexico—a land of ancient cities, modern design, and a culinary tapestry that runs from street-side tacos al pastor to refined tasting menus. Over 14 days, you’ll explore Mexico City’s museums and murals, Oaxaca’s mezcal country and markets, and the Riviera Nayarit’s golden beaches around Sayulita, San Pancho, and boat-only Yelapa.

Mexico City sits atop the former Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, ringed by volcanoes and alive with neighborhoods like Roma, Condesa, and Coyoacán. Oaxaca is the cradle of mole, tlayudas, and alebrijes, with Zapotec sites like Monte Albán nearby. On the Pacific, palm-fringed coves and mellow surf towns frame sunsets that feel like a ritual.

Practical notes: carry some pesos for markets and beach towns, use Uber or authorized taxis, and drink purified water. Whale season in Bahía de Banderas runs roughly November–April. For domestic hops, flying saves time; buses are comfortable on longer routes if you prefer scenic over speed.

Mexico City

Days 1–4: Capital classics, tacos, breweries, and ancient skies

Start in CDMX for culture, cuisine, and a few delightful oddities. Stroll the Zócalo and Templo Mayor, then wander Roma and Condesa’s leafy streets for cafés, galleries, and craft beer. Early one morning, float over Teotihuacan’s pyramids in a hot-air balloon—the valley glows at sunrise and the view is pure myth.

• Arrival flight options: Search flexible fares to Mexico City on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. From the airport, Uber/taxi to Roma/Condesa runs ~30–60 minutes depending on traffic.
• Top neighborhoods: Centro Histórico (murals, Palacio de Bellas Artes), Roma/Condesa (coffee, boutiques), Coyoacán (Frida’s Casa Azul, plazas), and Polanco (Museo Soumaya, Pujol if you want a splurge).
• Coffee & breakfast: Panadería Rosetta (cardamom bun magic), Buna café bars for meticulously sourced beans, and Quentin or Almanegra for third-wave espresso.
• Lunch & tacos: El Vilsito for late-night al pastor, Taquería Orinoco for norteño-style trompo, and Contramar for midday seafood and the famed tuna tostadas.
• Dinner & drinks: Máximo (seasonal, bistro energy), Meroma (wood-fired), and Makan (creative, casual). For craft beer, try Falling Piano Brewing in Roma and Cervecería Escollo’s pours in tasting bars around the city.

Featured activities (pick 2–3 based on your style):

• Sunrise ballooning over Teotihuacan: Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Flight from Mexico City / Volare

  

  – beat the crowds and see the “City of the Gods” from above.
• Mexico’s rowdiest night out: Lucha Libre Tickets & Tacos & Beer & Mezcal = BEST NIGHT EVER!

  

  – masked wrestling, taco stops, and mezcal with local hosts.
• Art and floating gardens day: PREMIUM Frida Kahlo Museum and Xochimilco (Small Groups)

  

  – Casa Azul, Coyoacán plazas, and a trajinera cruise.
• Eat-and-ride through Roma/Condesa: Michelin Taco Bike Tour: Roma Norte & Condesa /All-Inclusive.

  

  – sample top-rated tacos while cruising the city’s prettiest barrios.

• Stay in Mexico City: Browse boutique stays and apartments on VRBO Mexico City or check hotels on Hotels.com Mexico City. Roma/Condesa are ideal for cafés and nightlife; Centro suits history lovers.

Oaxaca

Days 5–8: Markets, mezcal, ruins, and a hands-on cooking class

Fly down to Oaxaca City, where cobblestone streets, brightly painted facades, and church plazas set the stage for Mexico’s most storied cuisine. Your days orbit markets and mezcal, with forays to petrified waterfalls and Zapotec ruins.

• Getting there (morning flight): Mexico City to Oaxaca is ~1h15 nonstop; typical fares run ~$50–120. Compare options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. (Overnight bus is ~6.5–7.5 hours if you prefer to roll by road.)
• Don’t miss: Monte Albán’s hilltop vistas, the “pasillo de humo” grill stalls inside Mercado 20 de Noviembre, and a proper mezcal tasting in the nearby valleys.
• Coffee & breakfast: Boulenc for bread and shakshuka, Café Brújula for Oaxacan beans, and A.M. Siempre for slow mornings near the aqueduct.
• Lunch & dinner: Casa Oaxaca (elegant takes on regional classics), Levadura de Olla (heirloom corn and seasonal produce), and Los Danzantes (moles in a beautiful courtyard). Markets serve top tlayudas; ask for asiento (pork fat) if you’re adventurous.
• Brews & sips: Visit the Oaxaca Brewing Co. taproom for local craft, then sample small-batch agave spirits—tobalá, tepeztate, and espadín—at reputable mezcal bars.

Featured activities (choose your favorites):

• All-day valley highlights: Hierve el Agua, Tule Tree, Mitla and Mezcal Distillery Tour

  

  – soak the view at the “petrified waterfalls” and learn mezcal from source.
• Hands-on culinary deep-dive: The Real Traditional Oaxaca culinary Cooking experience

  

  – shop a market, grind by hand, and cook moles the old-school way.
• Classic ruins with context: Monte Alban Guided Half Day Tour

  

  – ascend to the Zapotec capital for sweeping valleys and glyphs.
• City, markets, and textiles: Oaxaca City Walking Tour - Markets, Textile museum & Lunch

  

  – a delicious primer on Oaxaca’s craft and culinary heritage.

• Stay in Oaxaca: Check curated places on VRBO Oaxaca or Hotels.com Oaxaca. Or book directly via: Hotel Quinta Real Oaxaca, budget-friendly Casa de Don Pablo Hostel, or tranquil Hotel Hacienda Los Laureles.

Sayulita (Riviera Nayarit) + San Pancho & Yelapa

Days 9–14: Beach time, boat days, jungle trails, and taco crawls

Trade highlands for the Pacific. Base in Sayulita for surfy energy, then day-trip to San Pancho for sunsets and to Yelapa—reachable only by boat—for a throwback beach day. Expect warm water, soft sand, and fresh seafood under palapas.

• Getting there (morning flight): Oaxaca to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) is typically 3.5–5.5 hours with a quick connection via Mexico City; fares ~$100–220. Compare routes on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. It’s ~1 hour by road from PVR to Sayulita.
• Beaches to love: Sayulita Main Beach (lively), Playa de los Muertos (quieter cove south of town), San Pancho’s broad beach for sunset, and Yelapa’s sandy bay by boat.
• Coffee & breakfast: ChocoBanana (old-school plaza staple), Yah-Yah Café & Bagels (fuel before beach days), and Anchor Café (smoothies and espresso).
• Lunch & dinner: Naty’s Cocina (tacos de guisado—line moves fast), El Itacate (arrachera burritos), La Rustica (wood-fired pizza after surf), Don Pedro’s (beachfront seafood). In San Pancho, try Maria’s Restaurant or Barracuda for fish tacos.
• Brews & nightlife: Yambak for craft taps and music in Sayulita; Cervecería Artesanal San Pancho for a mellow pint in the neighboring town.

Featured activities (mix beach, boats, and bites):

• Snorkel and sail the reserve: Marietas Islands National Park: Full Day ALL INCLUSIVE Tour

  

  – turquoise coves, wildlife, and open bar at sea.
• Jungle-to-beach on horseback: Horseback Riding in Sayulita Through Jungle Trails to the Beach

  

  – shaded paths, ocean breezes, and a gentle pace.
• Eat like a local: Sayulita Taco Tour

  

  – a curated crawl through top stands and family-run spots.
• Boat day to Yelapa’s sands: Mega Catamarans ALL INCLUSIVE Remote Paradise Beach Adventure

  

  – swim, snorkel, and relax at a boat-access beach near Yelapa.

• San Pancho side trip: 15–20 minutes north by taxi or local bus. Browse galleries, sip a cold craft beer, then watch the sun dissolve into the Pacific.
• Whale season (Nov–Apr): Consider adding a dedicated whale-watching outing if you’re visiting in season; sightings are common in Bahía de Banderas.
• Where to stay: Find villas and apartments via VRBO Sayulita or check hotels on Hotels.com Sayulita. Look near the south end for quick access to Playa de los Muertos.

Getting between cities (built into your mornings)

• CDMX → Oaxaca: Fly ~1h15; ~$50–120. Book on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Bus option ~6.5–7.5 hours overnight if you want to save a hotel night.
• Oaxaca → Puerto Vallarta (for Sayulita): Typically 1 stop via MEX; ~3.5–5.5 hours total; ~$100–220. Search Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Then 1 hour by road to Sayulita.

Suggested pacing by blocks

• Days 1–4 (Mexico City): Centro sights, Chapultepec museums, taco bike tour, brewery-hopping, and either a sunrise balloon or early Teotihuacan visit. One big night for Lucha Libre, tacos, and mezcal.
• Days 5–8 (Oaxaca): Cooking class, Monte Albán half-day, Hierve el Agua + mezcal day, and a market crawl. Evenings are for moles, mezcal flights, and plaza people-watching.
• Days 9–14 (Sayulita region): Alternate beach days with boat trips: Marietas Islands, a Yelapa excursion, and a San Pancho sunset. Add a jungle horseback ride and a taco tour; keep the last day open for a long beach lunch before your flight home.

Budget notes (65/100): Mix mid-range eats with a couple of splurges, lean on great street food and markets, and choose stylish boutique stays or VRBO apartments in walkable areas. Reserve bucket-list tours and restaurants in advance, then leave space for serendipity—sunsets, plazas, and another round of tacos.