Day trip reviews · MEXICO DAY TRIPS

The 15 Best Day Trips in Mexico

27 day trips  ·  from $40 a seat

Good day trips in Mexico fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

Chichen Itza, Cenote and Valladolid Small Group Day Trip - Cenote Xux Ha is the refreshing finish
1-Day Tours, Day Trips, Mexico Day Trips, Small-Group Day Trips, Tour Reviews

Chichen Itza, Cenote and Valladolid Small Group Day Trip

1.Chichen Itza, Cenote and Valladolid Small Group Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,104 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $214Our pick

Leave Tulum early for a guided visit to Chichen Itza, followed by lunch and free time in colonial Valladolid. Finish with a swim at Cenote Xux Ha, often enjoyed by small groups with few other people around. Guides such as Miguel, Paloma, Santi, and Alondra bring history and local culture to life.

“Everything was perfect: the timing (we were in Chichen izta when most of the people were arriving) and the cenote is one of the best in the zone”

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Xcaret Park Day Trip, transportation and Cultural Night Show - Getting from Cancun to the park
1-Day Tours, Day Trips, Evening Experiences, Mexico Day Trips, Show, Tour Reviews

Xcaret Park Day Trip, transportation and Cultural Night Show

2.Xcaret Park Day Trip, transportation and Cultural Night Show

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,899 reviews · 6 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $167

Travel from Cancun to Xcaret Park with round-trip transport, then spend the day swimming in underground rivers, visiting wildlife areas, and exploring Mayan and Mexican culture. Your admission includes the evening México Espectacular show. Upgrade to Xcaret Plus for lunch, snorkeling gear, and the Plus changing area.

“We loved spending Boxing Day (day after Christmas) at the park. Such a beautiful location mixing nature with culture and attractions. Some of the add ons are a bit expensive, but are worth it if you have the budget. But the show at the end is worth the entrance ticket in itself. Would love to go back”

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Puebla, Cholula & Tonantzintla Day Trip with Optional Lunch - Santa María Tonantzintla and Indigenous baroque detail
1-Day Tours, Day Trips, Day Trips with Lunch, Lunch Experiences, Mexico Day Trips, Tour Reviews

Puebla, Cholula & Tonantzintla Day Trip with Optional Lunch

3.Puebla, Cholula & Tonantzintla Day Trip with Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,702 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $49

Spend about 11 hours visiting Cholula’s pyramid base, Santa María Tonantzintla’s indigenous baroque church, and Puebla’s historic center. Guides such as Álvaro, Omar, Rodrigo, and Arantxa add history and cultural context. Transport is included, but expect long drives, hills, and plenty of walking.

“Puebla, Cholula & Tonantzintla Day Trip Is excellent! The tour guy is very nice. My husband and I were enjoying so much. We are strong recommend this tour.”

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Chichen Itza Day Trip Exclusive Nool-Ha Cenote & Valladolid Visit - Chichen Itza: the day’s essential two hours
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Chichen Itza Day Trip Exclusive Nool-Ha Cenote & Valladolid Visit

4.Chichen Itza Day Trip Exclusive Nool-Ha Cenote & Valladolid Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,501 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $110

Travel from Cancun to Chichen Itza with a bilingual guide, then swim in Cenote Nool-Ha, eat a Yucatecan buffet, and visit Valladolid. Guides such as Ricardo, Roberto, Francisco, and Victor have earned strong praise for their Mayan history talks. Expect a long shared-bus day, optional shopping, and a possible extra government fee.

“Overall, this trip was a little disappointing! I will start with the good things. Pros: our tour guide, Francisco, was very informative and nice. The food at the Mayan reservation was pretty good. The three destinations were beautiful and great experiences. Cons: the day is 14 hours long, not 12. We were picked up at 7:30 and did not get into the bus until at least 9:30. It was a waste of time and not very organized. You spend the majority of the day on the bus. The first leg of the trip was over 2.5 hours long. The itinerary of the trip on Viator also did not match the…”

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From Mexico City: Puebla, Cholula and Tonantzintla Day Trip - The early ride east from Mexico City
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From Mexico City: Puebla, Cholula and Tonantzintla Day Trip

5.From Mexico City: Puebla, Cholula and Tonantzintla Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,191 reviews · from $89

Travel from Mexico City to Cholula, Tonantzintla, and Puebla with a bilingual guide such as Rodrigo, Alvaro, or Alex. See the Great Pyramid, an extraordinary indigenous Baroque church, Puebla’s cathedral and Rosary Chapel, then shop for Talavera pottery. Choose the lunch option for a traditional Puebla meal.

“Shout out to Miriam and our driver Antonio. Miriam did very well translating Spanish and English. I had a great day but a very long day! We left Mexico City about 9.30am after the pick ups and got back at 9.30pm as the traffic was so bad. We left the last stop at 5.20pm and it should have been 2 hours. Mexico traffic! I could have done with more time in cholula - we had an hour. I went around the archeological site of the cholula pyramid which was amazing. Some people climbed to the top to see the church, others went shopping or to the monastery. I would have…”

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Sian Ka'an Adventure Full Day Trip to Punta Allen - The boat ride through mangroves and coastal lagoons
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Sian Ka’an Adventure Full Day Trip to Punta Allen

6.Sian Ka’an Adventure Full Day Trip to Punta Allen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,179 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $254

Spend about 10 hours exploring Sian Ka’an with a small group of up to 12. Guides such as Miguel, Kenya, Niko, Lea, and Pablo explain the reserve as you travel by van and boat. Expect wildlife, mangroves, a possible reef snorkel, a lagoon swim, and lunch in Punta Allen.

“Our guide, Christine, was fabulous, such good energy made for a fun day. Our boat captain was amazing and got us up close to Dolphin, Manatees, turtles, tons of birds and a few others. Lunch in Punta Allen was great and enjoyed looking over the ocean. Snorkeling didn’t work out but we had a nice swim in some beautiful clear water. Everything was as advertised and on time!”

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Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Chacchoben Day Trip - Meeting at the Costa Maya port
1-Day Tours, Day Trips, Mexico Day Trips, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Chacchoben Day Trip

7.Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Chacchoben Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,109 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $64

Travel about an hour from Costa Maya to Chacchoben, where guides such as Ismael and Octavio explain Maya temples, red pigment, hieroglyphics, and jungle wildlife. Expect a small-group ride, uneven paths, steep steps, bottled water, snacks, and a port return timed for cruise passengers.

“Just okay. Would have been nice to see more of the island. You get on and go straight to the ruins. Long ride on a long road with pretty much no scenery, just bush on both sides. We were in the back seats of the van and couldn't hear anything the guide was saying because of the radio playing. You gotta turn the music down when you have something to communicate.”

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Tulum Day Trip Mayan Ruins and Cenote Swim - Tulum’s temples and Caribbean setting
1-Day Tours, Ancient Ruins Day Trips, Day Trips, Mexico Day Trips, Tour Reviews

Tulum Day Trip Mayan Ruins and Cenote Swim

8.Tulum Day Trip Mayan Ruins and Cenote Swim

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 924 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $79

Travel from Cancun to Tulum for a guided two-hour visit to the Mayan ruins, then cool off at Cenote Puerta Maya. Guides such as Mary, Abi, Gabriel, and Jackie have led this trip. Bring a refillable metal bottle, swimwear, cash, and comfortable shoes.

“The ruins tour was very disappointing. We never got close to the ruins and didn’t even see the main temple. Our guide spent the whole time telling us about how the Mayans sacrificed women. He told us how they did it (very graphically), how they chose the women and what time of year the did it. He wouldn’t allow us to stop and take photos. He kept saying Ko’ox (which means let’s go in Mayan) He took us to the back of the main temple and gave us 5 minutes to take pics. I would’ve gone around to the front had I know we weren’t going to. I’d recommend a…”

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From Cancun: Chichen Itza, Cenote & Valladolid Day Trip - The early Cancun pickup sets the tone
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From Cancun: Chichen Itza, Cenote & Valladolid Day Trip

9.From Cancun: Chichen Itza, Cenote & Valladolid Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 662 reviews · 12 hours · from $48

Travel from Cancun to Chichen Itza with a live English or Spanish guide, then swim at Cenote Chichikan and stop in Valladolid. Guides such as Manuel, Beto, Frank, and Paul are known for lively Mayan history talks. Choose carefully: lunch is only included with the VIP option, and the Chichen Itza tax costs extra.

“I did this trip alone and made good friends on the bus at and our destinations. Our guide Frank with Amigo Tours was awesome! The time on the bus flew by as he explained the history, culture, and lore of the places we were visiting. Totally worth doing this trip! It’s something everybody should do at least once in their lives!”

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From Cancún: Rio Lagartos & Las Coloradas Day Trip & Lunch - The six-hour journey from Cancún
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From Cancún: Rio Lagartos & Las Coloradas Day Trip & Lunch

10.From Cancún: Rio Lagartos & Las Coloradas Day Trip & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 451 reviews · 12 hours - 1 day · from $104

Travel from Cancún to Río Lagartos for a guided boat ride through mangroves, flamingos, crocodiles, and other birds. Visit the pink salt ponds of Las Coloradas, try a Mayan clay bath, swim at a beach, and enjoy a local fish, chicken, or vegetarian meal. Guides include José, Enrique, Carlos, and Philippe.

“Las Colorados were a sight to see. Rio Lagartos was amazing especially in boats and food in the local restaurant. Hoped to see more flamingos but happy to have seen the few. Carlos was good and the local guides were also very nice.”

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From Mexico City: San Miguel de Allende Day Trip - Arriving beneath the pink parish church
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From Mexico City: San Miguel de Allende Day Trip

11.From Mexico City: San Miguel de Allende Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 301 reviews · 14 hours · from $73

Leave Mexico City early for a guided day in San Miguel de Allende. Walk the cobbled center, see the pink Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, browse artisan shops, hear stories of Mexican independence, and enjoy free time for lunch and photos. English and Spanish guides lead the trip.

“Loved our guide ”Andrea” and our driver “Abraham.” Transportation was very comfortable. Loved the destination, just wished we would’ve a little more time to explore. But, overall we LOVED IT!”

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From Cancun: Day Trip to Tulum, Cenote & Playa del Carmen - Canamayte Eco Park and Cenote Mariposa
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From Cancun: Day Trip to Tulum, Cenote & Playa del Carmen

12.From Cancun: Day Trip to Tulum, Cenote & Playa del Carmen

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 290 reviews · 11 hours - 1 day · from $51

Spend 11 hours visiting Tulum, swimming at Cenote Mariposa in Canamayte Eco Park, eating a buffet lunch, and strolling Quinta Avenida. English and Spanish guides such as Jorge, Susanna, Carlos, and Mauricio lead the day. Roundtrip hotel transport is included, but Tulum entry fees are extra.

“This was a great day trip for me and my partner. That arrived for the pickup on time . We transferred into a big bus which was very comfortable and clean. The first stop was to the Mayan Ruins in Tulum , on the ride there our tour guide Carlos give us some really interesting information about the Mayan culture and history. After we got there , we spent about 2 hours exploring the area and then were heading down to get buffet lunch and swimming in the cenote . The lunch was delicious, made by the locals especially for tourists . For the cenote , floating devices are provided…”

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Guadalajara: Lake Chapala and Ajijic Day Trip with Boat Trip - Casa Calera turns tequila into a lesson
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Guadalajara: Lake Chapala and Ajijic Day Trip with Boat Trip

13.Guadalajara: Lake Chapala and Ajijic Day Trip with Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 242 reviews · 8 hours · from $51

Leave Guadalajara with guides such as Javier, Edna, or Majo for a full day around Lake Chapala. Visit Vicente Fernández’s ranch, taste tequila at Casa Calera, eat by the lake, ride a music-filled catamaran, and stroll Ajijic and Chapala.

“Javier was very kind, attentive and informative. With several stops along the way, we felt we had a good sense of the communities, the cultures and the opportunities that we had available in the day that we spent together. Sunset over Lake Chapala was lovely”

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From San Diego: Tijuana Guided Day Trip with Lunch - Crossing into Tijuana on foot
1-Day Tours, Day Trips, Day Trips with Lunch, Guided, Lunch Experiences, Mexico Day Trips, Tour Reviews

From San Diego: Tijuana Guided Day Trip with Lunch

14.From San Diego: Tijuana Guided Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 224 reviews · 5 hours · from $73

Cross from San Diego into Tijuana with an English-speaking guide, then explore Avenida Revolución, murals, historic sights, shops, and local food spots. A Mexican lunch and drink are included. Guides such as Tadeo, Carlos, Tabitha, and Humberto are often praised for making the five-hour visit feel friendly and easy.

“Great tour! Tadeo was great & knowledgeable. He explained in English and Spanish. The food was amazing. Tequila tasting was fun. The rooftop bar with margarita was a great location. I lucked out and found great deals at the shops too. The stores took pesos, dollars and credit cards so transactions were easy. Customs weren’t as bad as I had heard. I’m glad we didn’t listen to some people who said TJ was unsafe??? It was very safe and people there were pleasant.”

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From Oaxaca: Monte Alban, Alebrijes & Black Clay Day Trip - Arrazola and the careful art of alebrijes
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From Oaxaca: Monte Alban, Alebrijes & Black Clay Day Trip

15.From Oaxaca: Monte Alban, Alebrijes & Black Clay Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 217 reviews · 7 hours · from $52

Travel from Oaxaca to Monte Albán, Arrazola, and San Bartolo Coyotepec in a small group with a bilingual guide such as Ede, José Brena, or Ariana. Expect Zapotec ruins, copal-wood alebrijes, black clay pottery, a buffet lunch stop, and plenty of walking.

“A fantastic day! Our guide (Edilmira) was awesome. I highly recommend!”

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New in Mexico Day Trips

★ 4.4Sumidero National Park Full-Day Trip from Tuxtla GutiérrezFrom $12635 reviews
★ 4.8Motul, Hacienda, Xcambo, Pink Salt Mine & Progreso Day TripFrom $8741 reviews
★ 4.7Querétaro: Haciendas, Vineyards, and Magical Towns Day TripFrom $13152 reviews
★ 4.8Guanajuato: Culture & History Private Guided Tour – Day Trip25 reviews
★ 4.9From Mexico City: Tolantongo Hot Springs Day Trip with GuideFrom $13246 reviews
★ 4.5Bacalar: Lagoon, Pirate Canal, Stromatolite Day Trip w/LunchFrom $13853 reviews

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