Top Day Trips in Mexico

Chocholá (Ixi'im) ★ 4.8 · Mérida

Ixi'im at Chablé Yucatán in Chocholá is Yucatán's other Michelin one-star (with a Green Star), Luis Ronzón cooks from 100-plus traditional Mayan gardens.

Puebla ★ 4.8 · Mexico City

Puebla is the colonial capital 2 hours east of Mexico City, the birthplace of mole poblano and chiles en nogada, with the 1531 city centre and the cemita.

Teotitlan del Valle ★ 4.8 · Oaxaca

Teotitlan del Valle is the Zapotec weaving village 30 km east of Oaxaca, home to Tlamanalli (Abigail Mendoza) and El Sabor Zapoteco cooking school with Reyna.

Tequila (UNESCO Town) ★ 4.7 · Guadalajara

Tequila town in Jalisco is the UNESCO agave landscape 45 min west of Guadalajara, with Casa Sauza, Mundo Cuervo tours and the canonical tequila tasting trail.

Mitla and Santiago Matatlan (mezcal capital) ★ 4.7 · Oaxaca

Mitla and Santiago Matatlan are the World Capital of Mezcal: the Zapotec ruins at Mitla and 200-plus palenques in Matatlan running tours and guided tastings.

Izamal (Kinich) ★ 4.6 · Mérida

Calle 27 299 x 28 y 30, Centro, 97540 Izamal, Yucatán

Izamal is the Yucatán yellow town 75 km east of Mérida; Restaurante Kinich on Calle 27 has run regional Yucatecan poc chuc and queso relleno from 1993.

Monte Alban (archaeological) ★ 4.6 · Oaxaca

Monte Alban is the Zapotec capital ruins 10 km west of Oaxaca, with a museum and on-site restaurant for buffet lunch and a long valley view from the plaza.

Tlacolula Sunday Tianguis ★ 4.6 · Oaxaca

Tlacolula's Sunday tianguis fills the plaza around the Cathedral of Tlacolula every week with Zapotec valley farmers, barbacoa de chivo and mezcal producers.

Tlaquepaque ★ 4.5 · Guadalajara

Tlaquepaque in Guadalajara metro is the 20-minute east artisan town, with the El Parian arches, Casa Fuerte courtyard and Tapatio plates served.

Tixkokob (Pueblo Pibil) ★ 4.5 · Mérida

Pueblo Pibil in Tixkokob 20 km east of Mérida is chef Silvio Campos's Bib Gourmand pib-cooking kitchen, slow-roasted pork and Yucatán al pib techniques.

Teotihuacan (Sunday barbacoa) ★ 4.5 · Mexico City

Teotihuacan is the pre-Hispanic pyramids site 1 hour north of Mexico City, with Sunday morning barbacoa pits scattered along the highway and the village.

Hierve el Agua (petrified waterfalls) ★ 4.5 · Oaxaca

Hierve el Agua is the petrified-waterfall site east of Mitla, with mineral pools to swim in and Comedor Citlaly nearby for tlayudas before the drive home.

Valladolid ★ 4.4 · Mérida

Valladolid 160 km east of Mérida is the Yucatán colonial midpoint, cochinita stalls in Mercado Municipal and Lomitos de Valladolid at Plaza Principal.

Xochimilco trajineras ★ 4.4 · Mexico City

Xochimilco is the city's southern lake-and-canal district with floating trajineras since the Aztec era, where mariachi boats serve tamales, esquites.

San Andres Huayapam (tejate) ★ 4.4 · Oaxaca

San Andres Huayapam 10 km north of Oaxaca is the tejate village, hosting the Feria del Tejate every Palm Sunday with 88-plus producers of the recipe.

San Pablo and Reyes Etla (quesillo and tianguis) ★ 4.4 · Oaxaca

Reyes Etla is the village 30 km north of Oaxaca that put quesillo on the map; the Wednesday tianguis at Mercado Reyes Etla draws the valley producers weekly.

Tonala (Thursday and Sunday tianguis) ★ 4.3 · Guadalajara

Tonala in Guadalajara metro is the 25-minute east pottery town, with the Thursday and Sunday tianguis, the largest open-air market in Jalisco for comedores.

Puerto Vallarta (overnight) ★ 4.3 · Guadalajara

Puerto Vallarta from Guadalajara is the 4-hour west Pacific overnight, with mariscos, agave-spirit beach bars and Vallarta-style ceviche on the malecon.

Celestún (flamingos and pescado frito) ★ 4.3 · Mérida

Celestún 95 km west of Mérida is the Yucatán flamingo lagoon; La Palapa de Don Beto on the beach runs pescado frito and ceviche after the lagoon boat tour.

Ajijic and Lake Chapala ★ 4.2 · Guadalajara

Ajijic and Lake Chapala is the lakeside town 1 hour south of Guadalajara, with La Bodega lunch, pescado blanco from the lake and mezcal pours on the malecon.

Progreso (Crabster Seafood) ★ 4.2 · Mérida

Malecón de Progreso, Calle 19 150B, Progreso 97320, Yucatán

Crabster Seafood and Grill on the Progreso malecón runs Gulf seafood, ceviche, lobster and grilled catch directly opposite the beach 40 km north of Mérida.

Cuzamá (cenote circuit + lunch) ★ 4.2 · Mérida

The Cuzamá cenote circuit 50 km south of Mérida pairs a horse-cart tour of three cenotes with a Yucatecan lunch at a Cuzamá lonchería, cochinita and poc chuc.

Cuilapan de Guerrero (mole village) ★ 4.2 · Oaxaca

Cuilapan de Guerrero is the mole village south of Oaxaca, with mole-paste vendors selling negro, coloradito and amarillo by the kilo for home cooks.

Amatitan (Tequila valley) ★ 4.1 · Guadalajara

Amatitan is the tequila-valley town 55 minutes west of Guadalajara, with Hacienda San Jose del Refugio for Herradura tours and Jalisco lunch plates.

San Juan de los Lagos ★ 4.0 · Guadalajara

San Juan de los Lagos in Jalisco is the Los Altos pilgrimage town 2 hours northeast of Guadalajara, with traditional goat birria and Los Altos cantinas.

Chichén Itzá (Mayaland Hotel) ★ 4.0 · Mérida

Hotel Mayaland next to Chichén Itzá runs a Yucatecan buffet, cochinita, poc chuc, salbutes and Hanal Pixán mucbipollo during October-November dates.