The Mexico Guides

One Week in Mexico: Mexico City, Oaxaca and the Beach

· 8 min read Itinerary
Templo de Santo Domingo under blue sky in Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico

Contents

  1. The Route at a Glance
  2. Days 1–3: Mexico City
  3. Where to Stay
  4. Day 1: Historic Centre
  5. Day 2: Coyoacan and Xochimilco
  6. Day 3: Teotihuacan
  7. Getting from Mexico City to Oaxaca
  8. Days 4–5: Oaxaca
  9. Where to Stay
  10. Day 4: Monte Alban and the Oaxaca Centre
  11. Day 5: Mezcal and Food
  12. Getting from Oaxaca to the Coast
  13. Days 6–7: Pacific Coast
  14. Option A: Puerto Escondido
  15. Option B: Huatulco
  16. Return Flights
  17. Budget Summary
  18. Related City Guides

One week in Mexico allows for a satisfying combination of capital city culture, Oaxacan cuisine and archaeology, and Pacific coast beaches. This route moves south from Mexico City to Oaxaca, then west to the coast — a logical path that avoids backtracking.

The Route at a Glance

DaysDestinationHighlights
1–3Mexico CityZocalo, Templo Mayor, Chapultepec, Coyoacan, Teotihuacan
4–5OaxacaMonte Alban, Mercado Benito Juárez, mezcal tasting, street food
6–7Puerto Escondido or HuatulcoBeach, surf, snorkelling, sunset

Days 1–3: Mexico City

Where to Stay

Budget: Casa Pepe Roma — from approximately MXN 500 per night (around USD 28) for a private room in Roma Norte. Shared kitchen, rooftop terrace.

Mid-range: Hotel Casa Nuevo León — from approximately MXN 2,000 per night (around USD 114) in Condesa. Art deco building with a courtyard restaurant.

Upscale: Las Alcobas — from approximately MXN 6,000 per night (around USD 341) in Polanco. Spa, rooftop pool, walking distance to the Anthropology Museum.

Day 1: Historic Centre

Start at the Zocalo and work through the Templo Mayor (MXN 90 entry, Tuesday–Sunday 9am–5pm), Palacio Nacional (free, ID required), and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Lunch at Café de Tacuba (mains MXN 180–350) or grab tacos de canasta near the square for MXN 30–40.

Afternoon at Chapultepec Castle (MXN 90 entry, Tuesday–Sunday 9am–5pm). Walk down through Bosque de Chapultepec and take the metro back to your hotel.

Dinner in Roma Norte: Contramar (mains MXN 250–450) or street tacos at Tacos Orinoco (birria tacos from MXN 25 each).

Day 2: Coyoacan and Xochimilco

Morning at the Frida Kahlo Museum (book online in advance, approximately MXN 270–320, opens 10am). Browse Coyoacan’s markets and plazas. Lunch at Los Danzantes (mains MXN 220–380) or Mercado de Coyoacán stalls (plates MXN 60–120).

Afternoon at Xochimilco — hire a trajinera at Embarcadero Nuevo Nativitas (approximately MXN 500 per hour per boat as of 2026). Two hours is ideal.

Day 3: Teotihuacan

Early bus from Terminal Central del Norte (approximately MXN 120 round trip, 50 minutes each way). Site entry MXN 90. Climb the Pyramid of the Sun, walk the Avenue of the Dead, explore the Pyramid of the Moon. Return by early afternoon.

Spend the remaining hours in Mercado Roma and the Condesa neighbourhood. Final Mexico City dinner at Máximo Bistrot (tasting menu from MXN 1,200) or El Vilsito taco stand (tacos from MXN 15, open 9pm–2am).

Getting from Mexico City to Oaxaca

Two practical options:

  • Flight: Volaris and VivaAerobus fly Mexico City (MEX) to Oaxaca (OAX) in approximately 1 hour. Fares from approximately MXN 800 one way (around USD 45) when booked 2–3 weeks ahead.
  • Overnight ADO bus: First-class ADO GL departs Terminal TAPO at 11pm, arrives Oaxaca approximately 5:30am. Cost approximately MXN 650–900 (around USD 37–51). Seats recline fully and the bus has a toilet and air conditioning. This saves a night of accommodation.

We recommend the overnight bus if you are budget-conscious. If you value sleep quality, fly.

Days 4–5: Oaxaca

Oaxaca is the culinary capital of Mexico. The food alone justifies two days, and the archaeological site of Monte Alban adds a historical dimension that complements Teotihuacan.

Where to Stay

Budget: Hostal Casa del Sol Oaxaca — from approximately MXN 350 per night (around USD 20) for a dorm, MXN 700 (USD 40) for a private room. Central location near the Zocalo.

Mid-range: Hotel Casa Oaxaca — from approximately MXN 2,500 per night (around USD 142). Traditional courtyard building with a rooftop pool, two blocks from Santo Domingo church.

Upscale: Quinta Real Oaxaca — from approximately MXN 5,000 per night (around USD 284). Converted 16th-century convent with gardens and a fine dining restaurant.

Day 4: Monte Alban and the Oaxaca Centre

Take a colectivo to Monte Alban from the Hotel Rivera del Ángel on Calle Mina (departures every 30 minutes from 8am). Round trip costs approximately MXN 100 (around USD 6). Journey time: 25 minutes.

Monte Alban is the hilltop ceremonial centre of the Zapotec civilisation, occupied from approximately 500 BC to 750 AD. The main plaza, ball court, and carved stone slabs (danzantes) are the key features. Entry costs approximately MXN 90 (around USD 5) as of 2026. Open daily 8am–5pm. Allow 2–3 hours.

Return to the city for lunch at Mercado Benito Juárez — stalls serving tlayudas (large crispy tortillas with beans, cheese, and meat), memelitas, and fresh juices. Full meals from MXN 50–100.

Afternoon: Walk through the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán (free entry) — the baroque interior is covered in gold leaf. The attached Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca (MXN 90 entry) has Mixtec gold jewellery from Tomb 7 at Monte Alban.

Evening: Explore Calle Macedonio Alcalá, the pedestrian street connecting the Zocalo to Santo Domingo. Dinner at Los Pacos (mains MXN 150–300) for Oaxacan specialities like mole negro and chapulines (grasshoppers).

Day 5: Mezcal and Food

Morning mezcal tasting — several small distilleries in the village of Santiago Matatlán (45 minutes from Oaxaca) offer tours. Guided tours including transport run approximately MXN 500–800 (around USD 28–45) per person. Alternatively, visit In Situ Mezcalería in the city centre for a curated tasting flight (approximately MXN 250–400).

Lunch at Itanoni on Avenida Belisario Domínguez — a masa-focused restaurant using heirloom corn varieties. Tetelas and tlayudas from MXN 40–80 each.

Afternoon cooking class (optional): La Casa de los Sabores offers 4-hour Oaxacan cooking classes from approximately MXN 1,800 (around USD 102) per person, including market visit and meal.

Getting from Oaxaca to the Coast

  • To Puerto Escondido: Suburban vans (Líneas Unidas or Eclipse 70) depart from Oaxaca’s second-class terminal. The journey takes 6–7 hours on a winding mountain road — motion sickness medication is advisable. Cost approximately MXN 300–400 (around USD 17–23). Alternatively, fly with Aerotucán or VivaAerobus in approximately 40 minutes from MXN 700 (around USD 40).
  • To Huatulco: OCC buses take approximately 6 hours for MXN 350–500 (around USD 20–28). Flights with Volaris take 45 minutes from approximately MXN 800 (around USD 45).

Days 6–7: Pacific Coast

Option A: Puerto Escondido

Puerto Escondido is the Pacific coast’s surf capital. Playa Zicatela has the Mexican Pipeline — powerful beach breaks for experienced surfers only. Beginners should head to Playa Carrizalillo, a sheltered bay accessible by 167 steps, where board rental and 1-hour lessons cost approximately MXN 400–600 (around USD 23–34).

Where to stay: Hotel Santa Fe — from approximately MXN 1,500 per night (around USD 85) with a pool overlooking Zicatela beach. For budget travellers, Hostel Buena Onda offers dorms from MXN 300 (around USD 17).

Day 6: Morning surf or swim at Carrizalillo. Lunch at Almoraduz on Playa Zicatela (seafood mains MXN 180–300). Afternoon at Playa Manzanillo — a calm cove for snorkelling. Sunset from the cliff between Zicatela and Carrizalillo.

Day 7: Early morning bioluminescence tour at Laguna de Manialtepec (tours from approximately MXN 400–600 per person, best July–March). Afternoon at Playa Bacocho. Fresh ceviche at Mangos for MXN 120–200.

Option B: Huatulco

Huatulco has nine bays, most accessible only by boat. The water is calmer than Puerto Escondido, making it better for swimming and snorkelling with families.

Where to stay: Hotel Villablanca Huatulco — from approximately MXN 1,200 per night (around USD 68). For a resort, Dreams Huatulco runs from approximately MXN 5,000 per night (around USD 284) all-inclusive.

Day 6: Morning boat tour of the bays — a shared panga (open boat) from Santa Cruz harbour visits 5–7 bays including snorkelling stops. Cost approximately MXN 250–350 per person (around USD 14–20) for a 5-hour trip. Lunch at Terra-Cotta in La Crucecita (mains MXN 200–350).

Day 7: Morning at Playa La Entrega — one of the few bays reachable on foot, with calm water and fish visible from shore. Afternoon exploring the town of La Crucecita. Dinner at El Sabor de Oaxaca for coastal-Oaxacan fusion cuisine (mains MXN 180–320).

Return Flights

Both Puerto Escondido (PXM) and Huatulco (HUX) have airports with direct flights back to Mexico City. Huatulco has more frequent connections. Expect fares from approximately MXN 900–1,500 one way (around USD 51–85) as of 2026.

Budget Summary

CategoryBudget (7 days)Mid-Range (7 days)
AccommodationMXN 3,500 (USD 199)MXN 14,000 (USD 795)
FoodMXN 2,800 (USD 159)MXN 7,000 (USD 398)
Transport (inter-city)MXN 1,800 (USD 102)MXN 3,500 (USD 199)
Local transportMXN 500 (USD 28)MXN 1,500 (USD 85)
Activities & entriesMXN 1,200 (USD 68)MXN 3,500 (USD 199)
TotalMXN 9,800 (USD 557)MXN 29,500 (USD 1,676)

Prices are approximate as of 2026. Exchange rate used: 1 USD ≈ 17.6 MXN.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best 1-week itinerary for Mexico?
The most efficient 1-week route starts with 3 days in Mexico City (historic centre, Coyoacan, Teotihuacan), then 2 days in Oaxaca (markets, Monte Alban, mezcal), followed by 2 days at the coast — either Puerto Escondido for surf and backpacker culture or Huatulco for calm bays and resorts.
How do you get from Mexico City to Oaxaca?
The fastest option is a 1-hour flight with Volaris or VivaAerobus from approximately MXN 800 one way (around USD 45) if booked in advance. ADO first-class buses take 6–6.5 hours overnight from Terminal TAPO and cost approximately MXN 650–900 (around USD 37–51). The overnight bus saves a hotel night.
Is Puerto Escondido or Huatulco better for a 1-week Mexico trip?
Puerto Escondido suits travellers who want surf, a backpacker scene, and raw Pacific coast energy. Huatulco is better for families and couples looking for calm swimming bays, snorkelling, and all-inclusive resorts. Both are reachable from Oaxaca by van or short flight.
How much does a 1-week trip to Mexico cost?
Budget travellers can manage on approximately USD 50–70 per day including hostels, street food, and buses. Mid-range travellers spending on boutique hotels and sit-down restaurants should budget USD 120–180 per day. Flights between cities add USD 45–90 per leg.

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