A friend recently asked Summer: “I’m planning a trip to Mexico—can you help me fit Mexico City, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Puebla, and Oaxaca into one itinerary?”
Absolutely!
Here’s the ultimate classic Central Mexico route—no thanks needed, just take it and go:
Mexico City → San Miguel de Allende → Guanajuato → Puebla → Oaxaca
Day 1: Arrive in Mexico City
Day 2: Anthropology Museum in the morning; Zócalo, National Palace, Cathedral & Templo Mayor in the afternoon
Day 3: Day trip to Teotihuacan pyramids + Xochimilco canals
Day 4: Travel to Guanajuato
Day 5: Explore Guanajuato, visit the Basilica, and watch the sunset from El Pipila
Day 6: Morning transfer to San Miguel de Allende; explore the colorful old town in the afternoon
Day 7: Travel to Puebla
Day 8: Morning in Puebla’s historic center; afternoon trip to Cholula
You’re absolutely right—Mexico City’s surrounding attractions are pretty spread out! Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Puebla… they’re all in different directions. While none of them are too far from Mexico City, only Guanajuato is far enough to justify a short flight. San Miguel and Puebla are so close that there aren’t even commercial flights—you’ll need to travel by road.
When Summer did this route, she took long-distance buses and visited each place one by one. But after traveling through Guanajuato and San Miguel, she realized that buses can eat up a lot of time—too much for someone who likes to move fast!
So, for the Puebla and Oaxaca legs of the trip, she switched to self-driving—planning routes at night and hitting the road during the day.
If you’d rather not go through the same hassle, don’t worry! You’ve got great alternatives:
Option 1: Hire a private driver and local guide
Option 2: Use intercity buses, then join local day tours at each destination
Either way, you’ll save time and energy while still experiencing the best of Central Mexico.
Day 9: Travel from Puebla to Oaxaca
If you’re visiting both Puebla and Oaxaca from Mexico City, here’s the best route:
Start with Mexico City, then head north to San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato. After that, go southeast to Puebla, and finally continue to Oaxaca.
This way, you avoid backtracking and keep your journey smooth.
Day 10: Monte Albán Day Trip
Day 11: Hierve el Agua & Mitla Tour
Day 12: Chill Day in Oaxaca
Morning: Oaxaca Ethnobotanical Garden
Afternoon: Local markets, street food, and souvenir shopping
Day 13: Fly Back to Mexico City or Head to Cancun
Though it’s just a few hundred kilometers from Mexico City, Oaxaca feels like a completely different world.
Mexico may be smaller than its northern neighbor, but its diversity is on full display here—from landscapes to flavors to local culture.
Traveling across Mexico isn’t about seeing the same sights over and over—it’s about discovering something new in every region.
The street food you try in Oaxaca’s markets tastes nothing like what you’ll find in Guanajuato. And if you get the chance to snap a photo with the towering cacti in Oaxaca’s botanical garden—that’s a memory worth keeping.
Want to know how to plan a cross-border route from Mexico to Guatemala? Stay tuned—that’s coming up in the next post.
Need help planning your Mexico City itinerary or figuring out transportation between cities?
DM Summer—I’m happy to help!
I’m Summer, an outdoor-loving backpacker sharing only the most exciting destinations with you.
Follow me for more tips on Mexico and adventure travel—let’s explore together!
