Best Day Trips from Mexico City

One of the best things to see and do in Mexico City is definitely to sign up for an excursion from the city, which is an excellent opportunity to learn more about Mexican culture and history. You'll also have the opportunity to enjoy the natural and architectural beauty of the region.

Among the most popular options is a visit to the archaeological ruins of Teotihuacan, an ancient pre-Hispanic city near the capital. I also recommend a visit to the Pueblo Mágico de Taxco, known for its cobblestone streets, picturesque houses and beautiful church of Santa Prisca. You can also take a trip to the town of Tepoztlán. Read on and see all the options!

One of the best trips to make without a doubt is to the archaeological zone of Teotihuacan during the first hour of the day. An expert guide will answer all your questions and tell you everything you need to know about the site itself.

On the excursion you will tour the City of the Gods and visit the Pyramid of the Sun, the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl, the Causeway of the Dead, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. This area of archaeological exploration is at a distance of just under 50 kilometres from Mexico City, which equals about 40 minutes.

No doubt this excursion to the Pyramids of Teotihuacan from Mexico City will delight you, also because it will take you to a workshop operated by a Teotihuacan family where you can enjoy different drinks made with cactus, among which tequila, mezcal and pulque stand out.

Details of interest

• Price: you will pay around 37 euros to enjoy this experience in its entirety.
• Duration: the tour lasts approximately 9 hours.
• Means of transport: transport will be by air-conditioned bus.
• Advantages of this option: you will have an expert guide who will accompany you throughout your experience. The bus is air-conditioned.
• Disadvantages of this option: Lunch and refreshments are not included. Drinks are also not included.

If you are passionate about Mexican history and culture, I recommend you sign up for one of the best excursions from Mexico City. In this case you will go to Puebla, Cholula and Tonanzintla. On this adventure, you'll have the opportunity to explore some of the oldest cities in the country and visit two of Mexico's most iconic volcanoes: Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl, which are located about 20 kilometres from CDMX.

During this experience you will also visit the impressive pyramid of Cholula, considered the largest in the world in terms of volume. After lunch, you will go for a walk through the historic centre of Puebla, where you will discover some of the most impressive monuments of Spanish colonial architecture. You will see the Plaza de las Armas and the Cathedral, which dates back to 1575.

Interesting details

• Price: you will pay around 65 euros per person to enjoy this experience.
• Duration: it will take you about 11 hours to complete the whole tour.
• Means of transport: the tour takes place by minibus or bus.
• Advantages of this option: you will have transport to and from your hotel or place of accommodation. You will have a guide during the whole trip. Entrance fees to some tourist sites are included.
• Disadvantages of this option: lunch is not included during the tour. Personal expenses are not included.

This is a not-to-be-missed experience in the heart of Mexico as you get to hike La Joya, which is the famous Paso de Cortés that connects the Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes. The best thing about this experience is that you can adjust the pace and route according to your physical condition.

You will find a first viewpoint at 3,800 metres above sea level. A little further up, at about 4,300 metres above sea level, you will find the second stop, which offers a unique panoramic view. This is a training route that I recommend you choose once you have already done a good Mexico City bike tour, so you can test your fitness before doing it.

You will climb up the mountain via an intermediate route that allows beginners and professional climbers alike to enjoy the ride. At the top you will be able to look down on Popocatepetl, Mexico's second highest volcano. During the hike, you will have the opportunity to circle around this natural wonder and admire the curious smoking figures that constantly rise due to its volcanic activity.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay around 65 euros to enjoy this experience.
• Duration: this experience lasts approximately 10 hours.
• Means of transport: you will travel aboard a bus.
• Advantages of this option: you will travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned bus. You will be accompanied by an expert guide.
• Disadvantages of this option: lunch and drinks are not included. Hiking equipment is not included.

This excursion takes you to Mineral del Chico, a charming town surrounded by lush forests and about two hours from Mexico City. Your tour guide will tell you about the town's mining past and the origin of its name. You'll also be able to take walks in the open air, visit museums, many of which are among the best museums in Mexico City, and sample local cuisine.

If you follow your expert guide's lead, you'll also be able to admire the impressive neoclassical church of La Purísima Concepción and discover the reason for the names of curious places like the Casa de las Brujas (House of the Witches) or the Montaña de las Monjas (Mountain of the Nuns). You will see one of the mines that give the town its name, but you can also walk more than a kilometre inside it to find out what the day-to-day life of the miners was like in the past.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay around 100 euros per person to enjoy this experience.
• Duration: it will take you around 9 hours to explore all the areas of the mine.
• Means of transport: the trip is completed by minibus.
• Advantages of this option: you will be accompanied by a tour guide. You will not have to queue to enjoy the mine.
• Disadvantages of this option: meals, drinks and snacks are not included. Personal expenses are also not included.

With this experience you will get to know a spectacular set of caves in the state of Hidalgo. During the tour you will be able to enter the caves of Xoxafi where you will have the opportunity to participate in a caving session that lasts about two hours. Xoxafi is about two and a half hours from CDMX.

Later on you will have the opportunity to test your courage with the thrilling circuit of three zip lines, each of a different length. After exploring the caves of Xoxafi and finishing the zip line circuit, you will have an hour to rest and have a picnic, while enjoying the beautiful view of nature. After this relaxing moment, your guide will take you back to your hotel or accommodation in Mexico City.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay around 70 euros to enjoy this adventure.
• Duration: the whole trip lasts approximately 9 hours.
• Means of transport: the whole adventure is completed by minibus or bus.
• Advantages of this option: transfer to and from your hotel or place of accommodation is included. The company of a tour guide is also included.
• Disadvantages of this option: meals and drinks are not included. Personal expenses are not included.

Located on the shores of beautiful Lake Avándaro, I recommend a trip to this town where you'll find historic streets lined with shops and restaurants to sample the local cuisine. You'll also love the natural scenery including waterfalls, mountains and hiking trails.

The first stop on this tour will be the Maranatha House of Prayer, a former convent of the Carmelite Order.

Then you will go to the Velo de Novia natural park, where there is an impressive waterfall, which you can admire from a viewpoint. Afterwards, you will visit the Avándaro Lake and then continue on to see the Black Christ. The tour ends back at your hotel or accommodation in Mexico City. Valle de Bravo is about two hours and 40 minutes from Mexico City.

Interesting details

• Price: you will have to pay from 15 euros per person to enjoy this experience.
• Duration: the ride lasts around 10 hours.
• Means of transport: you will be able to do this tour in a comfortable minibus.
• Advantages of this option: the package includes entrance tickets for all the sites to be visited.
• Disadvantages of this option: lunch and refreshments are not included.

If you like zoos, I recommend a trip to Bioparque Estrella, which has 300 hectares of land. It is one of the largest zoos in Mexico and has a wide variety of animals and activities for the whole family that you are sure to enjoy.

Besides observing a great variety of exotic species, at Bioparque Estrella you can also enjoy different animal shows, water games, a car safari, not to mention the options you have to eat and buy souvenirs to remember your trip, and the best thing is that Bioparque Estrella is about 30 minutes away from Mexico City.

Interesting details

• Price: you will have to pay around 23 euros per person.
• Duration: you will have 9 hours to enjoy and explore all the attractions of the tour.
• Means of transport: the activity is completed in an air-conditioned minibus.
• Advantages of this option: transport by bus or minibus to and from your hotel or accommodation is included. Entrance to the Biopark and all the attractions is included. Lunch is included during the experience.
• Disadvantages of this option: personal expenses are not included.

This excursion from Mexico City will take you to the Tolantongo Caves, an ideal natural destination if you love photography and natural beauty. This place is known for its thermal pools and waterfalls surrounded by landscapes that catch the attention of every visitor. During the experience you will be able to immerse yourself in the crystal clear thermal waters while enjoying the relaxing atmosphere.

Once in the Tolantongo caves, you will have more than five hours to enjoy the natural spas that you will find in the place. You can also go through an exciting rock tunnel, swim inside a cave or even take a swim in the Hidden Paradise section. You will cross a suspension bridge and, of course, enjoy the spectacular panoramic views of the place, which is located almost four hours from Mexico City.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay from 115 euros per person.
• Duration: the trip lasts approximately 14 hours.
• Means of transport: the whole trip takes place in a minibus.
• Advantages of this option: you are offered transport to and from your hotel or place of accommodation. You will be accompanied by a tour guide. Entrance fees to the Tolantongo caves are included.
• Disadvantages of this option: food and beverage service is not offered during the tour. Personal expenses are not included.

This is definitely a unique experience that you should experience at least once in your life. During the trip you will have the opportunity to enjoy one of the best hot air balloon tours in Mexico City, but you will also have the opportunity to live the experience inside the Teotihuacan complex, which adds even more interest to the tour.

After a flight of approximately 45 minutes over the Teotihuacan area, you will have a good breakfast at the restaurant La Cueva, which is a place located in a kind of cavern where you can enjoy a completely natural environment and some of the most special flavours of Mexican cuisine.

After this experience you will get to know a little more about Mexican culture and traditions in the middle of an obsidian and maguey course and workshop given by expert guides. Finally, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a good tasting of all kinds of liquors made in Teotihuacan.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay a little more than 215 euros per person to enjoy this tour.
• Duration: this tour lasts approximately 5 to 7 hours.
• Means of transport: the whole trip will be carried out in a private vehicle with all comforts and then by hot air balloon.
• Advantages of this option: you will have a tour guide who will accompany you at all times. Coffee and biscuits are provided on arrival. Entrance fees to San Francisco Mazapa and San Juan Teotihuacan are included.
• Disadvantages of this option: The package does not include meals or additional drinks. Transportation to and from the accommodation site is also not included. Personal expenses are not included. Entrance fees to Teotihuacan are not included and cost approximately 3 euros per person.

This excursion is an exciting way to explore the Piedra Herrada Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary and the magical towns of Mexico. The tour starts at Avenida de la Republica in Mexico City, where you will board a bus along with your guide, which will take you to the Piedra Herrada Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary. It will take you about two and a half hours to get there.

Once at the sanctuary, which is located just over 20 minutes from Mexico City, you will enjoy a three and a half hour ride on foot or horseback through valleys teeming with monarch butterflies. After the ride, you'll have half an hour to eat a snack before continuing on your way.

You will then reach Valle de Bravo, a village on the shores of the lake of the same name, to visit the basilica of Santa María Ahuacatlán. You will have free time to explore the town, taste local food and enjoy the scenery.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay around 36 euros to enjoy this tour.
• Duration: this tour lasts approximately 15 hours.
• Means of transport: the tour is completed by bus.
• Advantages of this option: you will be accompanied by an expert guide throughout the experience.
• Disadvantages of this option: the entrance fee to the Piedra Herrada Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary is not included. Lunch and hydration are not included.

Tips for a day trip from Mexico City

• Wear comfortable shoes and clothing on these excursions.
• Ask your tour guide if there is anything specific you should bring to enjoy the experience.
• Bring enough money in case the tour does not include meals, drinks or snacks.
• If you are travelling with children, be sure to ask if they can attend and what conditions they must meet.