Country itinerary · Mexico
7 days in Mexico
A route that follows geography, not a list: Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gobierno CDMX, CC0
Quick answer
Spend 4 days in Mexico City, 3 days in Puerto Vallarta. The stops are ordered to keep travel short — about 651 km in total. Go in October–May for good conditions everywhere.
Key facts
- Stops
- 2
- Total distance
- About 651 km
- Start
- Mexico City
- Best months
- October–May
Days 1–4: Mexico City
Aztec ruins, world-class museums, street tacos and leafy Roma and Condesa
Mexico City sits at about 2,240 metres in a high valley ringed by volcanoes, built on the ruins of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan.
- See: Zócalo, Metropolitan Cathedral, Templo Mayor, National Palace murals, Palacio de Bellas Artes and Torre Latinoamericana
- Eat: Tacos al pastor and Chilaquiles
- Stay: Centro Histórico — The Zócalo, Aztec ruins, baroque churches and colonial palaces
Days 5–7: Puerto Vallarta
About 651 km from Mexico City.
Puerto Vallarta sits on the Bahía de Banderas, one of Mexico's largest bays, where the forested Sierra Madre drops straight to the Pacific.
- See: The Malecón, Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Isla Río Cuale, Playa Los Muertos and the pier, Mirador de la Cruz and Los Arcos
- Eat: Pescado zarandeado and Smoked marlin tacos
- Stay: Zona Romántica — Cobbled streets, Los Muertos beach and the town's liveliest restaurants and bars
Puerto Vallarta travel guide · What to do in Puerto Vallarta.
The route at a glance
| Stop | Days | From previous stop |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | 4 | Start |
| Puerto Vallarta | 3 | 651 km |
Total straight-line distance between stops: about 651 km. October–May suit every stop on this route.
What 7 days in Mexico costs
Estimated spend per person on the ground, excluding flights, from the daily ranges in our destination research. Prices change; treat these as planning figures.
| Stop | Days | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | 4 | $160–$280 | $480–$880 | $1,400–$3,600 |
| Puerto Vallarta | 3 | $120–$210 | $300–$600 | $840–$2,100 |
| Total | 7 | $280–$490 | $780–$1,480 | $2,240–$5,700 |
Puerto Vallarta is the priciest stop (moderately priced for international visitors) and Mexico City the least expensive (affordable), so a longer stay in Mexico City stretches the budget.
Questions travellers ask
+Is 7 days enough for Mexico?
It covers Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta at a steady pace. With more time, add Cancún, Tulum and Playa del Carmen.