Self-Launched Central Mexico: Mezcal & Mineral Pools
9 days · Mexico City to Oaxaca, Mexico
G Adventures charges £1,299
No-markup version: ~£415 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Ditch the group tour price tag and explore central Mexico on your own terms — same ancient pyramids, same mezcal tastings, same stunning mineral pools at Hierve el Agua, but booked independently for a fraction of the cost. This 9-day self-launched route takes you from the electric streets of Mexico City through colonial Puebla and down to the food and culture capital of Oaxaca. Hop public buses between cities, book your own guided excursions via GetYourGuide or direct, and stay in well-rated hostels and budget guesthouses. All costs are approximate estimates per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Mexico City — Taco Crawl Night
Mexico City
Fly into Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) and head to your hostel in the lively Roma or Condesa neighbourhood. Once settled, join a self-organised taco crawl — hit Tacos de Canasta stalls, Al Pastor spots on Calle Obrero Mundial, and finish with a craft beer at a local bar. No need to book anything for tonight; just wander and eat.
🚌Metro Line 1 from airport to city centre (~£0.30), or Metrobús (~£0.50)
🛏Hostel in Roma Norte or Condesa — e.g. Hostal Home or Casa Comtesse (~£15-18/night in a dorm)
- →Self-guided taco crawl through Roma/Condesa neighbourhood
- →Explore local bars and mezcalerias for a first taste of CDMX nightlife
Mexico City Free Day — Museums, Xochimilco & Lucha Libre
Mexico City
A free day to explore one of the world's great cities. Take the metro to Coyoacán to visit the Frida Kahlo Museum (Casa Azul) — book tickets online in advance at museofridakahlo.org.mx (~£12). Swing by the striking Museo Soumaya in Polanco (free entry). In the afternoon, head south to Xochimilco to hop on a colourful trajinera (party boat) through the floating gardens (~£8-12 shared). In the evening, catch a Lucha Libre match at Arena México — tickets bookable via the arena website or GetYourGuide (~£10-18).
🚌Mexico City Metro — day pass ~£1.50
🛏Hostel in Roma Norte or Condesa (~£15-18/night dorm)
- →Frida Kahlo Museum (Casa Azul), Coyoacán — book online in advance (~£12)
- →Museo Soumaya, Polanco — free entry
- →Trajinera boat ride at Xochimilco floating gardens (~£8-12)
- →Lucha Libre match at Arena México (~£10-18) — optional evening activity
Teotihuacán Pyramids Day Trip & Evening Street Food Crawl
Mexico City / Teotihuacán
Rise early and head to Terminal Central del Norte bus station to catch a direct Autobuses del Norte bus to Teotihuacán (~£3 each way, runs every 30 minutes). Spend the morning climbing the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon, and walking the Avenue of the Dead — bring water and sun protection. Return to CDMX by mid-afternoon. In the evening, do another street food crawl, this time focusing on tlayudas, gorditas, and quesadillas at local markets like Mercado de San Juan.
🚌Bus from Terminal del Norte to Teotihuacán (~£3 each way)
🛏Hostel in Roma Norte or Condesa (~£15-18/night dorm)
- →Visit Teotihuacán archaeological site — Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon, Avenue of the Dead (entry ~£4)
- →Direct bus from Terminal del Norte to Teotihuacán (~£3 each way)
- →Evening street food crawl — Mercado de San Juan or Mercado Jamaica
Mexico City to Puebla — Colonial City Arrival
Puebla
Take an early ADO bus from TAPO (Terminal de Autobuses de Pasajeros de Oriente) to Puebla — buses run frequently and the journey takes about 2 hours (~£5-8). Check into your hostel near the historic centre and do a self-guided orientation walk around the Zócalo, the ornate Catedral de Puebla, and the colourful tiled facades of Callejón de los Sapos. Grab a cold Michelada and people-watch in the main square.
🚌ADO bus TAPO → Puebla (~£5-8)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse near Puebla centro histórico — e.g. Hostal Casona de la China Poblana (~£14-20/night dorm or private)
- →ADO bus from TAPO, Mexico City to Puebla (~£5-8, ~2 hours)
- →Self-guided walk around Puebla's Zócalo and historic centre
- →Visit Catedral de Puebla (free exterior, small entry fee inside ~£1)
- →Explore Callejón de los Sapos antique market street
Free Day in Puebla — Art, Architecture & Mole Tasting
Puebla
Spend the day exploring Puebla at your own pace. Visit the Amparo Museum, which holds an impressive collection of pre-Columbian and colonial art (~£3 entry). Walk the Barrio del Artista and browse local painters' studios. Don't leave without trying Puebla's signature dish — mole poblano — at a local comedor (family restaurant) for just a few pounds. In the afternoon, explore the Cholula pyramid and church combo just a short colectivo taxi ride away (~£1.50 each way).
🚌Colectivos (shared taxis) within Puebla ~£0.50-1.50 per ride
🛏Hostel near Puebla centro histórico (~£14-20/night)
- →Amparo Museum — vast pre-Columbian and colonial art collection (~£3)
- →Barrio del Artista walking tour — free
- →Colectivo taxi to Cholula to see the Great Pyramid of Cholula and Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios (~£1.50 each way)
- →Mole poblano tasting lunch at a local comedor (~£4-6)
Puebla to Oaxaca — Overnight Bus or Day Journey
Oaxaca City
Take the ADO GL or OCC bus from Puebla to Oaxaca City — approximately 4.5 to 5 hours and around £10-14. Arrive in Oaxaca and check into your hostel in the city centre, just steps from the Zócalo. Spend the evening exploring the buzzing mercados — Mercado 20 de Noviembre is famous for its tlayudas and Oaxacan string cheese (quesillo). Toast your arrival with a copita of mezcal at one of the city's many mezcalerias.
🚌ADO GL / OCC bus Puebla → Oaxaca (~£10-14)
🛏Hostel in Oaxaca City centre — e.g. Casa Ángel or Hostal Don Mario (~£12-18/night dorm)
- →ADO GL or OCC bus Puebla → Oaxaca City (~£10-14, ~4.5-5 hrs)
- →Self-guided evening walk around Oaxaca's Zócalo and Santo Domingo Church
- →Dinner at Mercado 20 de Noviembre — tlayudas, mole negro (~£4-7)
- →Mezcal tasting at a local mezcaleria (~£3-6 per tasting flight)
Oaxaca — Mezcal Distillery Tour & Monte Albán Ruins
Oaxaca City & surroundings
Start the morning with a colectivo taxi ride out to a local palenque (traditional mezcal distillery) in the Tlacolula Valley — several operators run small-group tours bookable via GetYourGuide or directly through guesthouses (~£15-25 including tastings). Return to Oaxaca City and in the afternoon take a colectivo to Monte Albán, the spectacular Zapotec archaeological site overlooking the valley (~£1.50 each way, site entry ~£4). Watch the sun go down over the ruins.
🚌Colectivos to Tlacolula Valley and Monte Albán (~£3-5 total)
🛏Hostel in Oaxaca City centre (~£12-18/night dorm)
- →Small-group mezcal distillery tour in Tlacolula Valley — bookable via GetYourGuide (~£15-25 including tastings)
- →Colectivo to Monte Albán Zapotec ruins (~£1.50 each way, entry ~£4)
- →Sunset at Monte Albán archaeological site
Hierve el Agua Mineral Pools & Optional Mole Cooking Class
Oaxaca / Hierve el Agua
Today's highlight: the stunning petrified waterfalls and infinity mineral pools of Hierve el Agua. Join a shared day tour from Oaxaca City — these run daily and include transport, a stop at a mezcal palenque, and a weaving cooperative visit (~£15-20 via hostels or GetYourGuide). Swim in the mineral pools with sweeping valley views. Back in the city, those wanting a culinary experience can book an evening mole cooking class with a market visit (~£30-40 via Airbnb Experiences or GetYourGuide) — or simply dine out at a rooftop restaurant for a fraction of that cost.
🚌Shared day trip transport included in tour cost (~£15-20)
🛏Hostel in Oaxaca City centre (~£12-18/night dorm)
- →Shared day trip to Hierve el Agua mineral pools and petrified waterfalls (~£15-20 including transport)
- →Swimming in the natural infinity mineral pools
- →Stop at local mezcal palenque and Teotitlán del Valle weaving cooperative en route
- →Optional: Mole cooking class with market visit in the evening (~£30-40 via GetYourGuide or Airbnb Experiences)
Final Morning in Oaxaca — Depart
Oaxaca City
Your final morning in Oaxaca — grab a last breakfast of tamales and atole from a street market stall, browse the artisan markets for Zapotec textiles and black clay (barro negro) ceramics as souvenirs, then head to Oaxaca International Airport (OAX) or the bus terminal for your onward journey. Oaxaca Airport is small and a taxi costs around £8-12 from the centre.
🚌Taxi to Oaxaca Airport (~£8-12)
🛏Check out of hostel
- →Breakfast of tamales and atole at a street market (~£2-3)
- →Browse Mercado Benito Juárez for artisan souvenirs — Zapotec textiles, barro negro pottery
- →Taxi to Oaxaca Airport or bus terminal for departure (~£8-12)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£415 | £1,299 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £884 per person (68%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£415
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Central Mexico: Mezcal & Mineral Pools cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £415 per person for 9 days in Mexico City to Oaxaca, Mexico. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,299 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £415 — a saving of roughly £884 (68%) per person.
How long is the Mexico City to Oaxaca, Mexico trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Mexico City to Oaxaca, Mexico.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, backpacker trip through Mexico City to Oaxaca, Mexico, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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