Mexico 12-Day Tours & Itineraries

Explore 9 trips designed by local kimkim specialists to get ideas for your trip to Mexico.

Check out our 12-day itineraries for Mexico so you can plan the perfect trip tailored to your interests and the places you'd like to visit. If you're interested in cultural experiences and scenic nature hikes, consider a trip like this Central Mexico itinerary, which takes you to the historical streets of Morelia and Guanajuato, the coffee plantations of Cuetzalan, and the mountains of Oaxaca. For those traveling with children, opt for an adventure like this family-friendly itinerary from Mexico City to Oaxaca, packed with activities like Lucha Libre wrestling, floating through Xochimilco's canals, and balloon rides over Teotihuacán's pyramids. If you'd like a mix of exploring and relaxing, opt for something similar to this Yucatán Road Trip, where you can hike in Tulum's ruins, sail Lake Bacalar, visit the pyramids of Chichén Itzá, and relax on Holbox Island.

See our itineraries below or read our guide to the best 12-day trips in Mexico.

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Ancient Maya ruins of Ek'Balam
Map of Highlights of Southern Mexico: Chiapas & Yucatán - 12 Days
Highlights of Southern Mexico: Chiapas & Yucatán - 12 Days

This family-friendly itinerary of southern Mexico combines cultural activities with plenty of natural exploration. The first half of your trip will see you exploring Chiapas' Sumidero Canyon, el Chiflón and Misol-Ha waterfalls, and the impressive ruins of Palenque. From there, you will head to colonial-era Campeche where you will pick up your rental car and tour the Yucatán: from modern Mayan communities to ancient ruins, from refreshing cenotes to the white sands of Holbox Island.

Relax in sun-kissedBacalar in the Yucatán
Map of Yucatán Road Trip: Tulum, Bacalar, Valladolid, Mérida, Holbox & Puerto Morelos - 12 Days
Yucatán Road Trip: Tulum, Bacalar, Valladolid, Mérida, Holbox & Puerto Morelos - 12 Days

Get ready for a 12-day road-trip adventure across Mexico's famed Yucatán Peninsula, known for its Caribbean beaches, underground cenotes, and ancient Maya ruins. You'll see all of it, starting at the fortress ruins in Tulum and then visiting biosphere reserves and exotic turquoise lakes. Next, you'll venture north to enjoy cultural exchanges in Indigenous communities, visit Spanish-colonial heritage cities, and descend into underground caves sacred to the Maya people.

Colorful flags and piñatas on a street in Oaxaca
Map of Mexico Family Adventure: Mexico City to Oaxaca - 12 Days
Mexico Family Adventure: Mexico City to Oaxaca - 12 Days

Jam-packed with fun, fascinating excursions, this 12-day itinerary is the perfect introduction to Mexico for the whole family. Starting in the capital, you'll cheer on your favorite wrestlers at a live Lucha Libre show, then go for a kid-friendly food tour through the colorful city streets. After exploring the canals and floating gardens of Xochimilco, it's time to make your way south toward Oaxaca—stopping en route to see the pyramids of Teotihuacan by hot air balloon and walk in the footsteps of dinosaurs at the Tehuacán Biosphere Reserve.

Baja California
Map of Self-Drive Adventure in Baja California Sur- 12 Days
Self-Drive Adventure in Baja California Sur- 12 Days

Jet off to Mexico's famed Baja California region for boat tours and road trips to some of the best beaches and islands in the country. You'll arrive in La Paz, whose crystalline coastal waters are legendary, and where you'll enjoy beach time and excursions to Espíritu Santo Island. After doing some coastal hiking, snorkeling, and relaxing in hot springs, you'll finish the trip on the sun-kissed beaches of Cabo San Lucas.

See the local color of Oaxaca
Map of Food, Culture & Adventure in Central Mexico - 12 Days
Food, Culture & Adventure in Central Mexico - 12 Days

Explore the ruins of ancient cities, hike rugged mountain trails, and immerse yourself in indigenous culture on this 12-day deep dive into central Mexico. It begins in the capital with walking tours of the historical center before heading to Cholula and Oaxaca to visit local markets and see the sights. The last half of the trip is packed with active adventures like horseback riding and hiking through misty cloud forests before finishing on the gorgeous Pacific Coast.

A cenote in the Yucatan
Map of Hidden Mexico: Explore the Yucatán Peninsula - 12 Days
Hidden Mexico: Explore the Yucatán Peninsula - 12 Days

With 12 days to spare, you can discover the best of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula with plenty of time to relax and soak up the beach life. Start in Valladolid to learn about traditional cuisine and Maya cities such as Chichen Itz. Swim in little-known cenotes, explore the Cobá archeological site by bike, and while the day away on Playa del Carmen's beaches. Finish your trip with four days on Holbox Island, where you'll swim with whale sharks, observe exotic birds, and cruise through mangroves by kayak.

Holbox Island
Map of Nature & Maya Culture in the Yucatán - 12 Days
Nature & Maya Culture in the Yucatán - 12 Days

From the colonial streets of Valladolid to the peaceful beaches of Holbox Island, this 12-day itinerary delivers plenty of adventure and relaxation in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Tour ancient Maya ruins, go swimming in underground rivers, and enjoy some R&R on the white-sand beaches of Holbox Island. And that's just the start.

See captivating sights like Santuario de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios in Cholula, Oaxaca
Map of Discover Central Mexico: Morelia, Guanajuato, Acaxochitlán, Cuetzala, Cholula & Oaxaca - 12 Days
Discover Central Mexico: Morelia, Guanajuato, Acaxochitlán, Cuetzala, Cholula & Oaxaca - 12 Days

This 12-day exploration of the heart of Mexico will take you to its most historic locales. This includes stops at the 16th-century cities of Morelia and Querétaro, where you'll enjoy horseback riding through the rugged Guanajuato mountains. Then immerse yourself in the region's culture with visits to indigenous workshops, tours of coffee plantations, and outings to the most incredible sights in Puebla and Oaxaca.

A close up of Mexico City's "tacos al pastor"
Map of Food & Culture from Mexico City to the Yucatán - 12 Days
Food & Culture from Mexico City to the Yucatán - 12 Days

Over 12 days, you'll experience the cultural highlights of Mexico City and the Yucatán Peninsula, from the cuisine to the historic landmarks to the natural beauty. It starts with a whirlwind tour of Mexico's capital, during which you'll nibble on street food, stroll the colonial streets of Coyoacán, and hike the pyramids of Teotihuacán. Then it's off to the stunning Yucatán region to laze on white-sand beaches, visit biosphere reserves, and hike around ancient Maya ruins.

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