18 days in Mexico Itinerary
Created using Klarna Trips Mexico route planner
Start: Chicago
Fly
1
Cabo San Lucas
— 4 nights
Fly
2
Puerto Vallarta
— 1 night
Fly
3
Mexico City
— 3 nights
Fly
4
Cozumel
— 4 nights
Ferry to Calica, Drive to Tulum
5
Tulum
— 5 nights
Fly
End: Chicago
Fri, Dec 16 - Mon, Jan 2
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Cabo San Lucas — 4 nights
©
One of Mexico's premier vacation spots, Cabo San Lucas lures pleasure seekers with its trendy restaurant scene, raucous nightlife, and, of course, picture-perfect beaches.Museum-lovers will get to explore Ivan Guaderrama Art Gallery and Galeria de Ida Victoria. Get in touch with nature at Dolphin & Whale Watching and Medano Beach. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Cabo San Lucas: San Jose del Cabo (Manuel Sanchez Jewelry & Mi Casa Azul Art Gallery). The adventure continues: enjoy the sand and surf at Santa Maria Beach, tour the pleasant surroundings at Chileno Beach, explore by horseback at Cuadra San Francisco, and relax and rejuvenate at some of the best spas.
To find more things to do, photos, other places to visit, and other tourist information, refer to the Cabo San Lucas road trip planner.
Chicago, USA to Cabo San Lucas is an approximately 8-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of train, tram, and bus. You'll gain 1 hour traveling from Chicago to Cabo San Lucas due to the time zone difference. Plan for warmer temperatures traveling from Chicago in December, with highs in Cabo San Lucas at 77°F and lows at 65°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 20th (Tue) so you can fly to Puerto Vallarta.
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Puerto Vallarta — 1 night
©
Boasting a coastline made for perfectly framed photographs of romantic sunsets, Puerto Vallarta continuously ranks among the world's top tourist resorts.Kick off your visit on the 21st (Wed): pause for some serene contemplation at Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe, enjoy the sand and surf at Nuevo Vallarta Beach, and then get close to the beloved marine mammals with a swim-with-the-dolphins experience.
To see reviews, other places to visit, and more tourist information, go to the Puerto Vallarta tour builder site.
Traveling by flight from Cabo San Lucas to Puerto Vallarta takes 5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and ferry; or drive. The time zone changes from Mexican Pacific Standard Time (MST) to Central Standard Time (CST), which is usually a 1 hour difference. In December, daytime highs in Puerto Vallarta are 82°F, while nighttime lows are 66°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 21st (Wed) early enough to catch the flight to Mexico City.
Side Trip
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Mexico City — 3 nights
©
City of Palaces
Breathtakingly large, Mexico City provides a home for almost 9 million people living in nearly 1,700 distinct neighborhoods.Get some cultural insight at Museo Nacional de Antropologia and Museo del Templo Mayor. Give yourself a bit of retail therapy at MAM Boutique and Yawi Arte Tradicional. Step out of Mexico City with an excursion to Zona Arqueológica de Teotihuacan Estacionamiento Puerta 5 in San Juan Teotihuacan--about 1h 15 min away. Next up on the itinerary: admire the masterpieces at Palacio de Bellas Artes, see the interesting displays at Museo Frida Kahlo, get a sense of history and politics at National Palace, and contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de Mexico.
To find maps, ratings, photos, and tourist information, refer to the Mexico City online route planner.
Fly from Puerto Vallarta to Mexico City in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of taxi and bus. In December, Mexico City is little chillier than Puerto Vallarta - with highs of 72°F and lows of 47°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 24th (Sat) to allow time to fly to Cozumel.
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Cozumel — 4 nights
©
Thanks to the island's outstanding scuba diving and snorkeling options, Cozumel tourism sector remains a major employer and the main source of income for this Caribbean getaway.You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Palancar Reef and Scuba Life Cozumel. Escape the urban bustle at Punta Sur Eco Beach Park and Santa Rosa Wall. Next up on the itinerary: head outdoors with Paradise Beach Cozumel, look for gifts at Cozumel Black Pearl, relax and rejuvenate at some of the best spas, and examine the collection at Discover Mexico Park Cozumel.
To see other places to visit, maps, where to stay, and other tourist information, refer to the Cozumel itinerary planning tool.
Fly from Mexico City to Cozumel in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car and ferry; or do a combination of bus and ferry. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 1 hour traveling from Mexico City to Cozumel. Expect somewhat warmer weather when traveling from Mexico City in December: highs in Cozumel hover around 80°F, while lows dip to 68°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 28th (Wed) to allow enough time to travel to Tulum.
Find places to stay Dec 24 — 28:
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Tulum — 5 nights
©
The only Mayan site built to overlook the ocean, Tulum remains a coastal paradise preserving the last vestiges of a pre-Hispanic civilization.Relax by the water at Mayan Beach and Ziggy Beach. Get a sense of the local culture at Tulum Archaeological Site and Balam Art On Feathers. Change things up with these side-trips from Tulum: National Reef Park of Puerto Morelos (in Puerto Morelos) and Skydiving (in Playa del Carmen). Next up on the itinerary: see the vivid underwater world at Two Eyes Cenote, don't miss a visit to Tulum Tower, Head underground at Aktun Chen, and find your balance on the water with some of the best stand-up paddleboarding in the area.
For ratings, more things to do, traveler tips, and more tourist information, you can read our Tulum online trip planner.
You can do a combination of ferry and car from Cozumel to Tulum in 2.5 hours. Another option is to do a combination of ferry and bus. In December in Tulum, expect temperatures between 80°F during the day and 68°F at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Mon) so you can catch the flight back home.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Dec 28 — Jan 2:
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Mexico travel guide
Tailor-made for anyone seeking that traditional sun-and-sand experience, Mexico vacations allow visitors to explore nearly 10,000 km (6,200 mi) of picturesque coastlines. Idyllic beaches and favorable year-round weather aside, this diverse country with a rich pre-Colombian history allows tourists a chance to discover a fascinating cuisine, numerous archaeological sites, state-of-the-art museums, colonial-era haciendas, and outstanding examples of 21st-century architecture. Most visitors get to know the country by its cities, but if you want a well-rounded Mexico tour, spend some time exploring its jungles, cloud forests, Caribbean reefs, snowcapped volcanoes, vast deserts, and tranquil lagoons. Life is lived outdoors in Mexico, so wherever you go, don't forget to dine alfresco and stroll the country's colonial streets.
