Mexico City is my favorite city in the whole world. I constantly find myself daydreaming about running away and living there forever. From ancient Aztec pyramids to the Mueso de Frida Kahlo, CDMX is hot and popping full of delicious food and wonderful people. Don’t let unfounded racist rumors fool you into thinking it’s dangerous and you can’t leave your hotel. CDMX is a wonderful place that welcomes all who visit!
Day trip to Grutas de Tolantongo Park.
For $146 per person, this 14 hour tour includes nearly everything (except liquor) an adventurous traveler could want. Grutas de Tolantongo Park is located three hours away and once there, your experience is split up into three areas that are easily enjoyed throughout the day!
Las Pocitas: You’ll start the day relaxing in the pocitas; small thermal pools by the canyon offering amazing views to clear your body and mind. Included are natural tunnels, man made waterfalls, and even a rope bridge that allows you to oversee the beautiful canyon that you’re nestled in!
The Termal River: Enjoy swimming in the turquoise river that is naturally warm, with amazing limestones to rub all over your body to exfoliate your skin to further relax you.
Las Cuevas: Lastly, you’ll explore and swim inside the multiple caves that hide behind a large waterfall, which includes a natural and secret hot tub. From the family sized cave where the water only goes up to your thighs, to the clandestine tunnels that lead to dark bat filled caves, this area is truly unique and inspired.
There is an area to buy food and drinks and most importantly, ziplining. To get from Las Pocitas to the Thermal River and Waterfalls, you’ll have to pay an additional 250 pesos, or $10, to zipline down to the bottom. A day excursion like this is truly one for the books!
Service through Airbnb: Unforgettable Tolantongo – Airbnb
Sampling Crickets & Cafe De Olla, OH MY!
When you travel somewhere new and unexpected, you must branch out and try the local cuisine. Are some things easier to wrap our heads around than others, of course! But once you’ve pulled a perfectly seasoned cricket leg out of your teeth, there is no going back and you’ll find you’ve let go of your fears of ingesting insects!
As for Cafe De Olla, this local coffee is the stuff of my dreams! DO NOT ASK FOR CREAMER, you don’t need it and it won’t be brought to you! Made with cinnamon, cloves, chocolate, and additional spices and flavors, Cafe De Olla is the best part of waking up. I’ve searched for it in Los Angeles, and while I’ve found it and it tastes delicious, nothing will ever compare to those first sips in Mercado de Coyoacán. Pair with traditional Chilaquiles for a most excellent tasting experience.
Dine at Contramar
While the food in CDMX is incredible, Contramar is special. I saw the face of God in my tuna tostada and she was gorgeous. You’ll find no land animals there, only those from the sea, or el mar. The Al Pastor Fish Taco is sensational. Close out your meal with their fantastic fig tart that made me cry due to its fresh and clean palate. Dress up or come in jeans, Contramar is ready to welcome you with arms and flavors wide open!
Website: Contramar
Take the Boats at Xochimilco
Some tourist attractions are popular for a reason, and the boats at Xochimilco are no exception. For only $68 a person, this nearly 3 hour tour is well worth the money. Sit back and relax with Rosa; your tour guide extraordinaire, and suck down all the mezcal and tequila you can handle while rocking gently down some man made canals. Stop and take pics with a massive snake? You got it! A secret Island of Dolls made to creep you out! It’s OKAY! You can handle it! Boats of Mariachi Bands, Tacos, and jewelry makers float along beside you to help you discover the magic of Xochimilco!
Service through Airbnb: Xochimilco and Mexican Fiesta – Airbnb
Take a self-guided walking tour of Roma, La Condesa, Hipodromo, & Coyoacán.
Markets, food stands, and vintage shops galore! Sometimes your vacation calls for a freespace day (Enjoying the Art of the “Freespace Day”; or How to Trust Yourself when you Travel for a Day with No Plans | Kate Orlando) just getting lost in the streets of a new and exciting city. That’s how I found some of my most prized positions, my beautiful bright orange leather purse, various mugs, and of course my alebrije; my brightly colored Mexican sculpture of various spirit animals. Since the film “COCO” stole our hearts in 2017, they are hard to come by.
Snag a Pastry at Panadería Rosetta and a Churro at El Moro Churros
Get the guava rolls at Panaderia Rosetta because they are ravishing. Take a day and embrace the sugar high of your life as you settle down for anything that Chef Elena Reygadas has on her menu. Her inspiration for PR was to create a cafe that cultivated a sense of community in the massive city that is CDMX. This quaint and packed stop has all your breakfast needs to get you moving and grooving for the day!
Once you’ve had all your adventures, coast on over for churros and chocolate at El Moro Churros, but only if you’re ready to give up the infamous $1 churros at Costco. Once you’ve had the real deal, you’ll only want El Moro forevermore. Long with multiple options for dipping sauces, El Moro is the perfect pick me up after a long day exploring at the Mueso Frida Kahlo!
Get Classified donuts at The Secret Donut Society
This is a hidden gem that will surprise and delight even the most exhausted or hungover traveler. With two locations in CDMX, the entrances may look like art exhibits, but pick up the phone to order, pay through the hole in the wall, and then head to the bathroom to pick up your donuts through the bathroom mirror! The Secret Donut Society is the best way to wash down all that tequila and mezcal you’ve been tasting throughout the city!
Take in some Jazz at Zinco Jazz Club!
Jazz? In a city other than New Orleans or NYC? YES PLEASE! Zinco opened my mind to one of the best experiences I had in CDMX. Every night new acts from all over the world are showcased including big band, solo artists, and even classical. Live music is meant to be experienced in a place like this and reservations are absolutely necessary! Definitely get the ceviche or the poke tostada from the menu. Pair it with the Jamaiquini, a delightful cocktail filled with mezcal and fresh squeezed orange juice and other scrumptious liquors while you let various soulful sounds wash over you until closing time.
Reserve here: Zinco Jazz Club
