March 30, 2026 – April 11, 2026
Welcome to your next great adventure!
Get ready! We’re taking you on the ultimate adventure in one of our all-time favourite countries!
This 13-day trip is all about food, culture, and FUN—and Mexico is the perfect place for it! We’ll dive into the flavours, history, and vibrant traditions that make this country so incredible.
And Rach is leading this one, so you can bet she will find the most delicious local eats!
Tuck into the best tacos of your life, get lost in Oaxaca’s lively markets, and set your eyebrows to WOW as you marvel at the ancient ruins of Palenque and Chichén Itzá. Wander the charming streets of San Cristóbal de las Casas and enjoy a spicy margarita with new friends in Playa del Carmen.
Bring your appetite, curiosity, and sense of fun—this is set to be the most exciting (and delicious) road trip you’ll ever take!
This trip is all about the food—make no mistake, we’re here to eat! With Mexico’s incredible street vendors and local eateries, we didn’t want to limit your choices. That’s why we’ve included fewer set meals in the itinerary, giving you the freedom to indulge in whatever you’re craving along the way.
Your adventure’s itinerary
Put on your walking shoes and prepare your taste buds, you’re about to embark on a trip of a lifetime! Click each day below to see details of what you’ll get the chance to experience, to learn where you’ll be staying, and what delicious adventures you’ll encounter.
Monday, 30th March 2026
Bienvenidos a Mexico City! This is one of the world’s largest urban centres, a bustling metropolis with so many influences, offering a huge variety of museums, galleries and architectural delights, along with pumping nightlife and unparalleled street food.
Your adventure beings with a welcome meeting then join Rach and your leader for an orientation walk around the historic centre of the city.
Mexico City can feel overwhelming due to its sheer size and volume of people, but your leader will know where to go. Walking makes you hungry, so it’s time to head on an included taco crawl and sample a couple of tacos from local street food vendors.
The afternoon is free for you to enjoy – if you like art, the Frida Kahlo Museum is a must-see, and for all museum lovers, there’s also the Museum of Anthropology or the Palace of Fine Art.
Don’t forget to snack your way around the city too, munching on tostadas, tortas, and chicharrones.
Included Activities
Accommodation: Hotel Soy Local
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
Tuesday, 31st March 2026
Today you’ll journey to Oaxaca. Oaxaca (pronounced ‘wuh-haa-ka’) is a beautiful, old colonial town full of graceful arcades and colourful markets. You’ll head out on a leader-led orientation walk to get your bearings when you arrive.
With two full days here, you’ll have heaps of time to explore the narrow, cobbled streets in the city, as well as the culture and natural beauty of the surrounding area.
Indigenous Zapotec and Mixtec selling colourful woven blankets and shawls populate the markets – a great place to shop for textiles, as well as margarita flavours. Here, you’ll also find some tasty regional food specialties – everything from cactus fruit to spicy baked chilli and lime grasshoppers.
Make sure you pick up a tejate (a maize and cinnamon-flavoured chocolate drink served cold).
Included activities:
Accommodation: Hotel Abu
Meals Included: Breakfast
Special information:
Today’s travel time is approximately 7 hours.
Wednesday, 1st April 2026
The city (and state) of Oaxaca is yours to explore on this free day. Perhaps head to the mountaintop temples of Monte Alban just outside the city. Monte Alban was inhabited for 1500 years by the Olmec, Zapotec and Mixtec peoples and is an outstanding example of a pre-Columbian ceremonial centre. The settlement’s terraces, dams,canals and pyramids were carved out of the mountain. You’d better have your camera ready because up here you can get a fantastic view across the three legs of the valley of Oaxaca.
Alternatively, you could take a day tour of the nearby Mitla Ruins. Mitla (the Nahuatl word for ‘underworld’) is an important Zapotec archaeological site and was the main religious centre for the Zapotec people.
For something more relaxing, drop by the springs of Hierve el Agua – a series of mineral pools and calcified waterfalls dotted on top of a mountain, providing sweeping views of the Mexican countryside.
Accommodation: Hotel Abu
Meals Included: Breakfast
Thursday, 2nd April 2026
Bid farewell to Oaxaca this morning, and head to Tehuantepec. On your way out of town you’ll stop in at the Arbol del Tule, or the Tree of Tule, which holds the record for having the stoutest tree trunk in the world.
Further along the road, visit the town of Teotitlan del Valle. Famous for its weaving and textile traditions, you can wander past artisans showing off their incredible handcrafted wares. You’ll also visit a mezcal distillery, getting to sample the smoky liquor to see if it’s to your taste! Later, arrive in Tehuantepec and settle in for the evening.
Included Activities:
Accommodation: Hotel Calli
Special Information:
Today’s travel time is approximately 5 hours
Meals Included: Breakfast
Friday, 3rd April 2026
Head back out on the road this morning to San Cristobal de las Casas. Once you arrive in the early afternoon Leave your luggage at the hotel and begin exploring this highland town, hidden in green Chiapas valley surrounded by pine trees. Your leader will take you on a tour around town and point out all the important places. The evening is then free to enjoy. You might like to ask your leader for a dinner recommendation!
Included Activities:
Accommodation: Hotel Casa Margarita
Special information:
Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Saturday, 4th April 2026
There’s no alarm clock needed this morning as today is yours to explore San Cristobal de las Casas at your own leisure. Maybe take in the cobblestone streets and architecture, soaking up the old-world feel that’s mixed with strong, pre-Hispanic roots.
If you’re in the mood for adventure, maybe take a trip to Sumidero Canyon, where you can take a boat down the mighty Rio Grijalva. Or you might like to get things pumping with further exploration of the villages by mountain bike.
Accommodation: Hotel Casa Margarita
Meals Included: Breakfast
Sunday, 5th April 2026
This morning, drive to Palenque. When you arrive take an Orientation Walk in Palenque is a great way to introduce travelers to this charming town in Chiapas, Mexico, known for its proximity to the famous Palenque archaeological site. You will visit a Central Plaza & Market: Start at the town’s main square, where locals gather, and visit the nearby market to see fresh produce, handicrafts, and regional specialties. Walk through the town’s streets, passing small shops, street food vendors, and colorful murals reflecting indigenous culture and history. A simple but significant landmark, this church offers a glimpse into the town’s colonial past. Learn about the connection between the town and the nearby Palenque ruins, one of Mexico’s most important archaeological sites.
Included Activities:
Accommodation: Hotel Museo Xibalba
Special information:
Your travel time today will be approximately 8 hours.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Monday, 6th April 2026
Today you visit the Palenque archaeological zone. The stunning Mayan temples of Palenque are quite rightly considered a must-see during any trip to Chiapas, or indeed Mexico. Situated on a hilltop, the ruins date back to AD600 and are some of the most impressive Maya relics in Mexico.
As you walk among the temples (closed-toe shoes recommended), listen out for the eerie calls of howler monkeys echoing from the jungle. There are many ruins which are still un-excavated and remain hidden in the forest, and you can opt to take a guided tour of the ruins or through the surrounding jungle on your own Indiana Jones-style adventure.
Return to Palenque this afternoon and enjoy a free rest of your day to relax.
Included activities:
Accommodation: Hotel Museo Xibalba
Meals Included: Breakfast
Tuesday, 7th April 2026
A leisure day in Palenque offers the perfect opportunity to relax and explore at your own pace, whether you prefer immersing yourself in nature, discovering local culture, or simply unwinding.
You may like to go for a Swim in Misol-Ha or Roberto Barrios Waterfalls. Cool off in the crystal-clear waters of nearby waterfalls. Misol-Ha is a towering cascade with a hidden cave behind it, while Roberto Barrios offers multiple turquoise pools perfect for a refreshing dip.
Or Wander through Palenque town to browse handcrafted souvenirs, taste local cuisine, and experience the laid-back atmosphere.
Try regional dishes like cochinita pibil (Rach’s favourite!) or fresh tropical fruits. Unwind in one of the many jungle lodges near Palenque.
Accommodation: Hotel Museo Xibalba
Meals Included: Breakfast
Wednesday, 8th April 2026
This morning, travel to the historic town of Merida, the capital of the Yucatan region. On route you’ll stop at Campeche, a harbour town that retains a few remnants of its colonial past.
Take a leader-led walk through its fortified centre then sit down for an included lunch. Afterward, continue to Merida. Founded in 1542 on the site of Tho (an ancient Maya city), Merida retains much of its old-world charm thanks primarily to its people and architecture.
Take an orientation walk with your leader on arrival, then enjoy free time to get settled in for the rest of the day.
Included activities:
Accommodation: Hotel Maria Jose
Meals Included: Breakfast
Thursday, 9th April 2026
Today you can choose to visit the Maya ruins of Uxmal, a 1-hour drive from Merida, on an optional tour which includes transport and a local guide. It’s thought that the city was constructed around AD700, was home to around 25,000 people and once dominated the region along with Chichen Itza.
Much of the site is decorated with masks of Chac, the rain god, and important buildings include the Pyramid of the Soothsayer, the Quadrangle of the Nuns, the Governor’s Palace, the House of the Tortoises and the Ball Court.
Alternatively, you could choose to take an optional guided tour to Las Coloradas – the incredible pink lagoon that’s home to flocks of flamingos.
Accommodation: Hotel Maria Jose
Meals Included: Breakfast
Friday, 10th April 2026
Travel to Playa del Carmen, stopping en route for an included visit to the Maya ruins of Chichen Itza. Named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza contains both Toltec and Mayan ruins lying alongside each other. The famous El Castillo pyramid dominates the site and there is also a large ball court where games used to be held. Nearby, excavations of the Well of Sacrifice revealed treasures of jade, copper and gold as well as many human and animal bones.
The group will spend a few hours at Chichen Itza before continuing on to Playa del Carmen. After a quick orientation walk around Playa del Carmen with your local guide, pick a place to kick back with a margarita and watch the sun go down.
You might like to get the group together for one last dinner before saying farewell tomorrow!
Included activities:
Accommodation: Hotel Colonial
Special information:
Today’s total travel time is approximately 5 hours.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Saturday, 11th April 2026
Your Mexico adventure comes to an end after breakfast today, and there are no activities planned. For those who have booked an airport transfer, your leader will confirm your departure time to the airport for your onward flight.
If you have time in Playa del Carmen before moving on to your next destination, you may choose to embark on a tour to Dos Ojos Cenote, and take a dip at the incredible turquoise freshwater swimming hole, or jump on a local ferry to explore the nearby island of Cozumel.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Complete the form below to request a spot on the upcoming Best Of Mexico Adventure with Very Hungry Nomads, taking place in Mexico from March 30th to April 11th 2026.
Price: $2,990 USD per person (twin share; Single Supplement available at an additional fee)
This Booking Request Form will submit your application to our booking partner, Intrepid Travel. Intrepid Travel will then contact applicants with a payment form on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please note that your spot is not confirmed until you have paid the deposit ($400 USD) via Intrepid Travel.
Please ensure the accuracy of all of your contact details (e.g. email address, social media accounts, phone number), as these are how our booking partner will contact you to book and confirm your spot.
Group size: Min 6 – Max 15
I had an amazing time on this trip.
I saw so many interesting and unusual things as well as the highlights of India that I expected to see.
Communication was perfect!
The itinerary was the right balance of free time v’s there’s so much to see and do!
I can’t wait to go on another trip with Rach or Marty; they seemed to know instinctively what the correct balance is!
V x
