My journey across Mexico started from Puerto Vallarta and ended in Cancun. From ancient Mayan ruins to magical cenotes, I explored many beautiful places. Below are the maps outlining my route across the country and my 3 month Mexico itinerary while I backpacked across this beautiful country.
Table of Contents
- Mexico Backpacking Itinerary – Cities Visited
- 3 Month Mexico Itinerary
- FAQ
- Is it safe to solo travel Mexico?
- When is the best time to visit Mexico?
- How can I get around Mexico?
- What currency is used in Mexico?
- What are the common grocery stores in Mexico?
- How do I get cell service in Mexico?
- What do I do if I get sick in Mexico?
- Is the tap water safe to drink in Mexico?
- What should I pack for Mexico?
Mexico Backpacking Itinerary – Cities Visited
Zoom in of Oaxaca
Zoom in of Yucatan and Quintana Roo
3 Month Mexico Itinerary
Additional details on what to do and where to stay are in my blog posts linked below for each city I visited. I traveled Mexico during the rainy season (May-September) which is why I cut down my time in some cities such as San Cristobal de las Casas and San Jose del Pacifico that I would love to visit again during the dry season (November-April). Other cities such as Guadalajara or Puerto Escondido I spent more time than needed because I was either sick, as I was in Guadalajara, or I truly enjoyed the vibe of the city which was the case with Puerto Escondido. Each blog post details my experience in its true raw, unfiltered form to hopefully provide you with a starting point in creating your own travel plan. I hope this Mexico itinerary helps you!
| # | City | Number of Nights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita | 7 |
| 2 | Guadalajara | 11 |
| 3 | Guanajuato | 3 |
| 4 | Grutas de Tolantongo | 2 |
| 5 | Mexico City | 5 |
| 6 | Puebla | 3 |
| 7 | Oaxaca | 9 |
| 8 | San Jose del Pacifico | 1 |
| 9 | Puerto Escondido and Chacahua | 17 |
| 10 | Huatulco National Park | 2 |
| 11 | San Cristobal de las Casas | 4 |
| 12 | Palenque | 4 |
| 13 | Bacalar | 3 |
| 14 | Tulum | 6 |
| 15 | Cozumel | 2 |
| 16 | Isla Mujeres | 4 |
| 17 | Valladolid | 3 |
| 18 | Merida | 4 |
| 19 | Holbox | 3 |
| 20 | Cancun | 1 |
| TOTAL DAYS | 95 |
FAQ
Is it safe to solo travel Mexico?
In short, yes. Mexico is a huge, diverse country with many cities and small towns. After traveling through Mexico for 3 months, I never had any issues with safety or getting any of my belongings stolen. Of course follow the same rules you would at home. Don’t travel at night, be aware of your surroundings, and certainly trust your gut. Certain cities have areas known for theft such as Cancun and Tulum so just be wary there. Overall, your trip to Mexico can be safe and adventurous without the constant stress. Checkout this list of the safest cities in Mexico to help you plan your trip.
When is the best time to visit Mexico?
Anytime. Mexico is pleasant all year round. Rainy season runs from May till September and dry season is from December to April. Rainy season has a couple downpours and can be cold and wet in the mountainous town of San Cristobal de las Casas and San Jose del Pacifico. Hurricane season also runs around the same time as rainy season. During the months of June till September there is also a increased amount of sargassum on the beach of the Caribbean coast. This past year in 2022, it got quite bad to the point where you couldn’t even be on the beach. Dry season may be a bit more pleasant with much less rain but less green landscape. It’s best to time your Mexico itinerary around these weather patterns if you plan to spend more time in certain areas.
How can I get around Mexico?
There are many ways to get around Mexico depending on your budget. Rental car, private shuttles, taxis, and in some cities, Uber, are all possible options. Public transportation is by far the cheapest option, and the option I took as a budget backpacker.
When traveling West of Mexico City, the two main bus companies that operate here are Primera Plus and ETN. Both bus companies offer online deals on tickets so be sure to check both for the best price. From Mexico City to the East and South, the main bus company is ADO. There is an ADO app that you can use to buy the tickets. There is usually an online discount offered so definitely buy tickets through the app than in person.
Uber is only available in certain areas of Mexico. In general, I was able to use Uber in the major cities West of Mexico City, Mexico City, Puebla, and the major cities in Yucatan and Quintana Roo. There are no Ubers available in the entire state of Oaxaca, however, finding colectivos and taxis is very easy.
Colectivos are shared taxis and are the cheapest form of transportation to get around within a city. I mostly used colectivos in Oaxaca, however, the colectivos varied. In Oaxaca City, they were cars with a sign in the dashboard for the destination they were going to. In Puerto Escondido, they were open back trucks. I also used a colectivo in Chiapas near Palenque and there they were shuttle buses. So the vehicle of the colectivo varies and the price will also vary city to city (Ex. 10 pesos in Puerto Escondido, 20 pesos in Palenque). Be sure to ask how much the ride is before you get in.
What currency is used in Mexico?
Mexican pesos is the official currency. However, in certain touristy areas especially around Cancun, Tulum, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, they will accept US dollars. The price is almost always cheaper in pesos though. The easiest way for me to get cash was directly from the ATMs. I highly recommend getting the Charles Schwab debit card which reimburses you the ATM fees and also has no foreign transaction fees.
The best ATMs to withdraw money from that have the lowest fees incase you don’t want to get the Charles Schwab card are Santander, Banorte, BanCoppel, and Banco Azteca. I mostly used Santander since this bank is also in the US and there were Santander ATMs almost everywhere.
Cash is king in Mexico, so always keep some cash on you. Some touristy areas of Mexico will accept card, however, don’t bank on every place you go to to accept card.
What are the common grocery stores in Mexico?
Your new favorite store in Mexico will be the Oxxo. This is a convenience store all over Mexico and is very similar to 7/11 in the US. I would often go to Oxxo to get snacks, bottled water, sometimes they had basic groceries, or even to re-up your SIM card with more data.
A few of the grocery chains they have there are Chedraui, Soriana, and Walmart. Yes, there are several Walmarts all over Mexico. I often did my groceries at one of these grocery stores or the local markets. In general, I would say that the local markets are cheaper for fresh fruits and vegetables, but the grocery stores or Oxxo will have boxed items like cookies, rice, or juice.
How do I get cell service in Mexico?
Many of the US cell phone providers allow service in Mexico. Luckily the service I had with AT&T allowed full service (text, call, and data) in Mexico already included in my regular plan so I did not have to spend any extra money here. Otherwise, SIM cards can be bought in Oxxo and Walmart. Most people I met while traveling were using Telcel SIM cards. At the Oxxo or Walmart, you just tell them how much data you want on the SIM card.
What do I do if I get sick in Mexico?
If you get sick, you can see a doctor for very cheap. I found that some pharmacies have a doctors office right next to it or inside it. For example, I got very sick in Guadalajara and had to go to a doctor to get antibiotics. I went to Farmacia Guadalajara, which is a common pharmacy also found outside of Guadalajara, and right next to it was a doctors office. The office hours varied and they usually keep a sign on the door with when there will be a doctor in the office. The appointment itself cost roughly $1.50 USD and the medication they gave me (I received 4 different medications, one of them being amoxicillin) cost less than $10 USD. Overall, seeing a doctor and getting medication was MUCH cheaper than in the US. Not all the doctors speak English so if you don’t speak Spanish well enough to explain your symptoms you may need to use Google translate.
Is the tap water safe to drink in Mexico?
No, I would not drink the tap water. Most hostels will provide filtered water to drink. I did use the tap water to brush my teeth and had no issues. The only city to be wary of is San Cristobal de las Casas. This city is known to have bad water quality and I met several people that got sick from visiting this city, with either diarrhea or parasites in their stomach. The hostels in San Cristobal de las Casas provide filtered water for drinking and also for brushing teeth. Definitely be careful not swallowing any water while showering.
What should I pack for Mexico?
If you plan to travel all over Mexico, I recommend bringing clothes you can layer. Some parts of Mexico can get very cold and other parts are very tropical and warm. Laundry is available in every city for anywhere from 10-25 pesos per kilogram of clothing depending on which city you plan to do laundry. Some hostels also offer a flat fee for laundry, so in that case go crazy. In case you forgot anything, you can always buy decent clothes for fairly cheap at the markets or shops in any city. I never had any issue not being able to find anything.
I hope this helps in creating your Mexico itinerary! Happy exploring! 🙂