Mexico City

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Use the code MEXICOCITY (or MEXICOCITYPLAN if you’re using a payment plan) to save $499 or more. Sale ends Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 11:59pm ET.

Mexico City is a sprawling, vibrant city with world-class museums, monumental churches, grand plazas, historic buildings, beautiful parks, and one of the best food scenes in the world. It’s no surprise that travelers fall in love with all aspects of this dynamic city. Join us for a tour that takes you beyond the surface, hang out with locals, and get the real feel of the city.

Founded in the early 14th century by the Aztecs, Mexico City is one of the oldest capital cities in the Americas. Today, it is one of the most fascinating cultural destinations in the world, with eclectic art galleries, animated food markets, a bustling nightlife, and grandiose historic buildings on tree-lined streets.

A creative city, Mexico City has long been a center for the arts in all its forms. From modern artists like Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, to the colorful murals that adorn the city’s streetscapes today, to writers, painters, and musicians, there’s an incredible art scene that compliments the incredible food scene. Using our local connections, we designed this itinerary to showcase the places travelers don’t always see when they visit.

We’ll hang out with our local friends, eat at hole in the wall taco stands, visit some incredible parks, the ancient city of Teotihuacán, cruise around the city’s floating gardens, explore the bustling markets, and indulge in all the delicious food the city has to offer. 

If you’re the kind of person who wants a deeper, more authentic and nuanced travel experience, then this tour is for you.

Tour Itinerary

You can arrive any time today. Our guide will be around to welcome you and answer any questions that you have. We’ll meet for an orientation meeting in the evening before taking you to one of our favorite spots in Mexico City at 7pm for our welcome dinner.

Included meals: Dinner

We’ll start the day by diving right into the heart of Mexico City with a walking tour of Centro Historico. We’ll visit some of the most important landmarks, from the historical Templo Mayor to the iconic Palacio de Bellas Artes. We’ll wander the Zócalo (the city’s main plaza) and stroll the bustling streets while our tour guide provides us with an overview of the city’s history and culture. 

In the evening, we’ll meet back together as a group for a 3-hour local food tour with one of our favorite food experts who is a Chilanga foodie influencer on Instagram. You’ll stop at a mix of different hole-in-the-wall restaurants and food carts that are pretty famous for the local Mexican community, but aren’t on tourists radar yet. You’ll indulge in a variety of local dishes (lots of tacos), agua frescas, plus a mezcal tasting!

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, we’ll leave the city to visit the most important and largest city of pre-Aztec central Mexico, Teotihuacán. The archeological site of Teotihuacán, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987, was one of the largest cities in the world at its apogee (c. 500 CE). The great Mesoamerican city was at the heart of politics, the economy, trade, religion, and culture. Our knowledgeable and passionate local guide will walk us through the City of Gods‘ historic monuments, vast building complexes, and extraordinary mural paintings. We’ll stop for a group lunch at a unique restaurant before heading back to the city.

Included meals: Breakfast

Today is a rest day, where you’ll have the day to relax and explore the city on your own. Our guides will provide you with suggestions on how to spend the day depending on what you’re looking for. 

Included meals: Breakfast

More than twice the size of New York’s Central Park, Chapultepec Park is the oldest and largest park in Latin America. It contains tons of monuments, museums, gardens, and lakes and is home to Chapultepec Castle, the only true castle in Latin America. After strolling through the park, we’ll be guided through Chapultepec Castle, known for its stunning architecture, manicured gardens, incredible views of the city, and home to the National Museum of History. We’ll also walk along the iconic 19th-century Paseo de la Reforma Avenue, built to connect Chapultepec Castle with downtown. The avenue is full of historical monuments, shops, and restaurants. In the evening, we’ll organize a group dinner for those who want to eat together.

Included meals: Breakfast

No trip to Mexico City is complete without a visit to Xochimilco. Today, we’ll cruise around the ancient Chinampas (“Floating Gardens”), a creative type of Mesoamerican agriculture that built artificial islands in a freshwater lake in order to cultivate crops. We’ll float through the gardens on board a typical trajinera, a traditional Mexican wooden boat, colorfully painted and decorated, while enjoying snacks, drinks, and live music played by traditional Mexican bands.

We’ll then transfer to Coyoacan, one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in the city. We’ll do a walking tour and visit its colorful market. We will end the day with our final dinner as a group.

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, our tour ends. Our guides will be around to help anyone getting to the airport or that has questions about staying longer.

Included meals: Breakfast

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Tour Essentials

Accommodation

You’ll be staying at a hotel that’s centrally located in Roma Norte. This hotel features ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning, fitness center, on-site restaurant, 24-hour reception,and you’ll be sleeping in at least a full-sized comfortable bed.

Transport

During the trip, we’ll travel via public transportation and private van around the city and to our excursions.

Meals

Daily breakfast and 3 dinners are included. You can refer to the itinerary to see which ones. Alcohol is not included and can be purchased separately.

Sustainability

We aim to offer as sustainable an experience as we can. Trash is recycled whenever possible. We avoid mass tourism activities that cause harm to the environment and/or do not benefit local communities.

Small Groups

This tour will have 8-16 travelers on it so we can provide a great small group tour experience. This way, you’ll be able to enjoy unique, rewarding activities that would not be accessible with more people.

Expert guides

You will be led by an expert tour leader who will always be around to provide extra information, create spontaneous experiences, join the group for all of activities and meals and ensure that the trip is as informative, fun and memorable as possible! You will also have excellent licensed, local guides for walking tours, activities and excursions.

What’s Included

What’s Included

  • Accommodation
  • Transportation
  • Activities and entrance fees listed
  • All included meals listed
  • Local tour guides during activities
  • Expert tour leader

What’s Not Included

  • Flights to/from the destination
  • Any passport/visa fees
  • Meals not listed
  • Travel insurance (required)
  • Optional activity fees
  • Some tips

Reviews

“I love The Nomadic Network tours because they are off the beaten path, tend to attract all ages of free spirited, fun, and adventurous people. I met a lot of solo travelers which was inspiring.”

– Dave, Oaxaca 2022

“Taking a Nomadic Network tour is like having a friend show you around one of their favorite cities. You don’t feel like a tourist as you dig into the local culture.”

– Scott & Dana, Oaxaca 2022

“We had a fabulous time on our Oaxaca trip. The local tour leaders were friendly, organized and so knowledgeable! We got a great sense of Oaxacan food, drink, culture and art from the diverse activities and adventures we had.”

– Caedmon, Oaxaca 2022

“As a solo traveler I’d never been interested in taking a group trip but when I saw TNN was doing a tour in Oaxaca, I knew it would be different from the typical tour. Every activity was curated to really connect with locals, the culture, food, mezcal, and adventure. I felt like I was traveling with a bunch of friends and it was one of my most memorable trips!”

– Vanessa, Oaxaca 2022

“Our Nomadic Network tour to Oaxaca was a fun, once-in-a-lifetime experience!! The team did a fantastic job of curating great food & cultural experiences that were very unique to the Oaxaca region! In addition, our hotel was right across from a lovely park in the heart of Oaxaca city – making it very convenient for exploring the city.”

– Eric, Oaxaca 2022

“I fell in love with the friendly, quaint city of Oaxaca. Our small-sized group of 14 strolled and shopped in town, viewed majestic ruins, feasted on local art and murals, danced in the lively Zocalo, and frequented local establishments for scrumptious food and drink. Our Nomadic Network tour was a truly authentic and intimate experience!”

– Phyllis, Oaxaca 2022

FAQ

Currently, there are no visa requirements to enter Mexico if you are a US or Canadian citizen, but you do need a passport that has at least 6 months validity. Upon arrival in Mexico, immigration will stamp your passport with a tourist visa that typically allows for a 180-day stay (some airports will provide a printed slip instead). There is nothing you need to do ahead of time for this. While it is unlikely you’ll be asked, some immigration officers will ask to see a return ticket or proof of onward travel upon entry.

Please note that we do not offer visa assistance. It is your responsibility to determine what entry requirements might be necessary based on your nationality.

Fly into and out of Mexico City International Airport (MEX).

  • On the first day, our orientation meeting generally takes place in the evening, around 6pm. It’s best to arrive by the afternoon so you have enough time to get settled in before we meet up. 
  • On the last day, you can depart at any time. We’ll have breakfast available for you and the rest of the day is yours to explore. You are always welcome to extend your stay if you so choose, just let us know what your plans before and after the tour will be.

No. Before the start of the tour, we’ll send you specific information on how to get to the hotel via public transportation, taxi, or Uber. However, if you’d like a private transfer, we can book them for you for an added fee.

Throughout the year, Mexico City tends to have milder temperatures, trending warmer during the day and fairly cool at night. During the spring, it’s quite dry and temperatures range from the mid-60s to the mid-70s Fahrenheit (around 18-24 Celsius). During the fall, the weather is very similar and only slightly cooler.

We will send you a packing list ahead of time to help you prepare. There are no strict expectations for dress code, however, shorts and sandals are also not commonly seen in Mexico City specifically.

As a woman, there is nothing super out of the ordinary to be concerned about. When it comes to safety, don’t wear flashy jewelry, try to stay in pairs or groups (especially at night), and use common sense.

Mexico uses standard North American plug outlets (Plug Types “A” and “B”), so if you’re coming from the US or Canada, you won’t need an adapter.

As for electricity, most mobile phones, laptops, and other devices can handle all types of voltage when charging. The standard voltage in Mexico is 127v/60Hz. Check your chargers to see if they say 110 – 220V. If that range is listed on the charger, you will not have any problems charging your device while on the tour. You won’t need a converter, only the plug adapter (if you’re joining from a country other than the US or Canada).

The cell service in Mexico City is typically very strong, but there are some areas that can be spotty (and the free city WiFi barely works). Our hotel has strong WiFi as well as most cafes, bars, restaurants across the city. 

Note that in some pockets of Mexico City, your phone will show you have full service, but you won’t actually be able to use your phone for anything more than texts and calls. This hasn’t caused issues for guests or tours in the past, just something to note.

Most US cell service providers now include Canada and Mexico in their plans, but if yours does not, you can consider activating the international plan from your network at home, purchasing a local SIM card upon arrival or purchasing an e-sim online.

For the duration of our tour, we will be staying in a modern and comfortable hotel in the beautiful neighborhood of Roma Norte. This hotel features ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning, on-site restaurant, 24-hour reception, and you’ll be sleeping in at least a full-sized, comfortable bed.

Twin share rooms:

  • If you are traveling solo, you’ll be paired with someone of the same gender in a room with two full beds.
  • If you book two spots, you’ll get the entire room for you and your travel partner. 

Private rooms:

If you’d like to get your own private room, you can add that option at checkout for $250 USD. There are a maximum of 16 single rooms available. Private rooms run on a first come, first served basis.

We can book additional nights for you at the hotel prior to or after the tour as long as you let us know 30 days in advance (the earlier the better). As soon as you provide us with the dates, we will confirm availability with the hotel and provide you with payment instructions.

This tour requires moderate physical activity. Please note that the trip can involve somewhat long days, walking tours in crowded cities, hot temperatures, and early morning wake-ups.

Daily breakfast and 3 dinners are included. You can refer to the itinerary to see which ones. All dietary restrictions can be accommodated with prior notice. Alcohol is not included and can be purchased separately.

No. The hotel will provide you with a water bottle each day and you can easily purchase additional bottles at any convenience store. At restaurants, you may ask for agua de casa (filtered water) by the glass to use to refill your water bottle.

You should budget an average of $20-30 USD per day for all your extra needs. Most of your expenses are covered in your trip price, but you will need cash for non-included meals and any additional purchases (laundry service, snacks, etc.) as well as activities you do on your own. Certainly bring more money if you plan to shop!

Yes, you will be able to withdraw cash. We recommend using ATMs which are available in cities and will dispense local currency. However, please check with your home bank as many banks charge foreign transaction fees every time you withdraw money from an ATM overseas. Learn how to avoid paying extra fees here.

If using an ATM machine is not an option, the second-best method is to simply bring US dollars in cash that you can exchange at money exchange booths or banks located all over the country.

Tips for local guides and included meals are already taken care of. Generally, tipping in Mexico is not as common as in the West, but in some cases it is expected. Here’s a general guideline:

  • Restaurants and bars: 15%
  • Hotel staff: 20 pesos if someone helps you with luggage or anything else
  • Local guide: At the end of the trip, we recommend that everyone gives about $10 USD per day as a tip (about $50 for the week). We’ll collect this on the last day and give it to our guide and driver during our departure dinner.

Find our general FAQ here to get any of your other questions answered.

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Book with confidence. Your deposit is 100% refundable for 30 days after your booking is made, as long as it’s 60 days prior to departure, so you don’t lose out in case your plans change.