Mexico
Cabo
THINGS TO DO
The Arch: probably the most famous image of Cabo. Take a cruise around it to get some great shots.
Scuba: So many great dive sites in Cabo! If you’re lucky, you might come face to face with a sea lion.
Lover’s Beach: Hike to it, or take a boat to relax for the day.
Beach Clubs: Relax with drinks and good food for a day. Cachet and Mango are two of our favorites.
Sunset sail: lots of tours include drinks and snacks. You can go big or small, depending on how many people you’d like to go with!
Whale watching: There’s lots of local tours, or take a day trip to La Paz to see whale sharks. Pro tip: whale watching season near Los Cabos is January through March.
Fox Canyon: A hike out in the desert with a beautiful oasis. Def arrange with a tour.
PLACES TO EAT
Arbol: Meaning ‘tree’, in Spanish, and you’ll see why when you arrive. This place is phenomenal, you don’t want to miss it!
Acre de Baja: Another farm to table restuarant with beautiful decor and fantastic cocktails. Get a reservation.
La Lupita: Authentic tacos!
El Farallon: Beautiful cliffside dining, with an amazing selection of fish.
Edith’s: Fantastic decor, and lots of gluten free options.
Flora Farms: A must, for both the food and ambiance! Farm to table, and so fresh. It’s a trek, but it’s worth it. Reservations necessary.
La Guacamayas: cheap, authentic, Mexican food.
Nobu: Can’t beat this classic. Super fresh, amazing sushi.
Mint Jungle & Amber’s Market: fresh smoothies and breakfast fare to start your day. Dedicated gluten free.
The Cape Rooftop: Stunning sunset views, and delicious food to boot.
PLACES TO DRINK
Squid Roe: Massive nightclub to dance the night away.
Cabo Wabo: Often live music, and a Cabo classic.
Mango Deck: Day drink the day away with your feet in the sand.
PLACES TO STAY
The Cape: One of our favorite hotels. Insane views, great service, and the food and drinks are so worth it.
Playa Grande: Decent priced and great value for all inclusive.
Mexico City
OUR ITINERARY
Day 1
With an evening arrival, schedule a nice dinner and a spot at a cocktail bar. We chose Rosetta and Handshake Speakeasy – and loved both. Be sure to get the gnocchi and tamales at Rosetta, and try the PB&J cocktail at Handshake. You’ll want to make reservations for these as soon as they are available!
Note – the traffic in Mexico City is pretty hectic. Give yourself extra time to get to your destinations and always map it before.
Day 2
Grab breakfast at Panya Sam then head to the Xochimilco Canals. The Aztecs used these to get around when CDMX was still a swamp. It feels super authentic! You can bring your own food and drinks, but they will have margaritas, micheladas, tacos, and you can even hire a live mariachi band to join your boat. Make sure you’re only paying the flat cost per boat, not per person – and feel free to haggle with the vendors. Bring cash!
To kick off your evening head to Toledo for a sunset drink then Lucha Libre. Tickets are super affordable so get as close to the ring as you can. It’s a fun experience! Afterwards for dinner head to an authentic taco spot. Some favorites we tried and others recommend include Tacqueria La Palmera, Contramar for fish tacos, and Taqueria Las Rejas. If you’re already bopping around the Roma Norte and Condesa neighborhoods, Supra Roma Norte is a great rooftop spot with a DJ, and we also loved Gin Gin.
Day 3
You’ve got to get in a museum day and walk or bike the city. We did a biking + Churro tour that included Frida Kahlo tickets. We weren’t overly impressed with the Frida Kahlo museum and wouldn’t do it on it’s own, but combined with a history tour was great.
Finish up your weekend with a fancy dinner. Masala y Maiz was fantastic Indian + Mexican cuisine, and we have heard great things about Meroma. Pujol and Quintonil often come with mixed reviews, so be aware!
Things We Didn’t Do, But Would Try Next Time
Walking the Bosque de Chapultepec park and visiting Chapultepec Castle. Combining this with walking down the Avenue de la Reforma to the Palacio de Bellas Artes is a great way to get your fill of history and art. Grab a drink or meal at Balcon del Zocalo for great views of the plaza.
If you want to take a day trip, everyone recommends a hot air balloon ride at the Teotihuacan Pyramids and Las Grutas Hot Springs. Tepotzlan is also supposed to be a super magical town in a valley. We also had numerous people recommend a street food tour from the mercados!
Sunday Funday: the Four Seasons brunch in their garden or at Madre look stunning. Following that, if you’re into electronic music Sunday Sundays is a great rooftop hidden venue – you’ve got to buy tickets and go through the secret door.
Hanky Panky, Tokyo Disco Bar, and Limantour are supposedly incredibly cocktail bars.
Where We Stayed
The Roma Norte and Condesa neighborhoods are very safe and super vibey. We stayed at the Hotel Maison Mexico and it was super cute in a great location. Ignacia Guest House or Brick Hotel would have been my next options if they weren’t booked.
TULUM
THINGS TO DO
Cenotes: These natural pits look like they’re straight out of a movie set. Filled with pools of natural water, go scuba, snorkel, or swim!
Diving: Tulum is famous for its cenote diving– there are few places in the world with Tulum’s combination of beautiful weather, crystal clear caverns, and endless places to explore. La Calypso Dive Center is the most experienced dive operator in the region; their service and professionalism is unmatched.
Live music: At La Popular. Beachfront and has a great vibe.
Tours: If you are looking for a reliable and knowledgable tour operator to explore the many ruins, cenotes, and other attractions around Tulum, Boutique Tours Mexico is a great option. Ask for Sergio and let him know we sent you!
Shopping: Check out the little boutiques. They’re expensive, but Wonderlust is a favorite.
Walk the ruins: Ask the front desk of where you’re staying and they’ll be able to get you directions/transportation to check out some of Mexico’s finest ruins.
PLACES TO EAT
Cafe Violeta: This Italian-Mexican fusion restaurant is the perfect spot to grab a fresh and healthy meal by the ocean. The boho beach vibes and relaxed ambiance make for a lovely night in Tulum.
El Tabano: Traditional Mexican food, vegetarian options available and refreshing drinks.
Gitano: Place is popping so you’ll need a reservation. Dine in the jungle among neon lights and beautiful palm leafs. The cocktails are worth trying.
Hartwood: Their menu changes daily based on the fresh ingredients locally each day. Always something new and fresh, best to make a reservation.
La Zebra: Upscale restaurant in one of Tulum’s most beautiful hotels. You can’t go wrong ordering from this menu, but we highly recommend trying the ceviche and the fresh tuna with crispy bacon. Finish off with the tres leches dessert to round out the meal.
Negroamaro: Delicious and reasonably priced Italian food, located directly on the beach. The cocktails are made with care and perfectly accompany your meal!
Posada Marguerita: Great for lunch, on the beach with a nice view.
Taqueria Honorio: Noted by locals as the BEST tacos in all of Mexico. We don’t disagree. Make sure to try the cochinita tacos, a true Mexican specialty!
PLACES TO DRINK
Kin Toh @ Azulik: This is the coolest restaurant I’ve ever seen. It’s literally a giant nest. You absolutely have to go for drinks. You have to at least go check it out and try to go at sunset.
Papaya Playa: Double-deck bar facing the ocean with multilevel private seating. Gorgeous setting to watch a sunset with a drink
PLACES TO STAY
Be Tulum: They dub themselves “The Barefoot Luxury Experience” and they’re true to form. The vicinity is extremely well-kept and is also located steps from the beach. Can’t go wrong with either option.
Hotelito Azul: This small boutique hotel is comfortable, chic, and close to all of the action. The included breakfast is delicious, and don’t miss out on one of the incredible smoothies. With many cabanas and other places to lounge on the beach, what this hotel lacks in a pool it more than makes up for with its charm and relaxed beach vibe.
Nomade Hotel: Right on the beach with a truly fascinating concept. Rooms are spacious, staff is accommodating, and will have no problem finding sun or shade while soaking up some relaxing vibes.
