North America

Toronto

Canada

Puerto Vallarta

Mexico

🌞 Puerto Vallarta at $287 RT from Toronto

Alright folks, you have a decision to make!

San Francisco

United States

San Jose

Los Angeles

San Diego

Seattle

Portland

Phoenix

Houston

New York

San José del Cabo

Sacramento

Mazatlán

Puerto Vallarta, Cabo & Mazatlán 🌞 in $290s-$390s RT 

Paris

France

Mexico City

Mexico City 🌮 in €1150s-€1170s rtn

Imagine how many tacos you could fit into these savings?!

Victoria

Vancouver

Puerto Vallarta 🌮 at $443 RT

Ixtapa

Ixtapa 🏖️ at $359-$389 RT from San Francisco 

Big birds, bigger canyons and the biggest savings!

London Heathrow

England

Lima

Peru

Miami

Boston

Philadelphia

Las Vegas

Algiers

Algeria

Madrid

Spain

London Gatwick

Panama City

Panama

Orlando

Casablanca

Morocco

Manchester

Dublin

Ireland

Raleigh

Inverness

Scotland

Madrid, Peru and more 🗺️ in £70s-£590s/€70s-€420s rtn

Hey JFC, I booked Cancún, Mexico 🌴 in €510s-€560s rtn !

Postcard from Johan

Just wanted to share a picture of Merida&#39;s Día de los muertos!💀

Postcard from Rebecca

My husband and I took in Merida&#39;s famous parades and celebrations for the Día de los Muertos.

Postcard from Becca

Hey JFC team!
I booked flights to Mexico as you tipped me off about the error fares.

I had some problems buying luggage online so called them up. The price for checked luggage was £120 in total for both ways. However, this is the key bit of info, the price in US$ was also 122! So buying in dollars was £91 and saved 25%. A huge saving and £45 for a 25kg bag is as cheap as you can get.
Hope this helps someone else,
Ed

Postcard from Ed

Hi, I booked my return trip to India yesterday over December and got it for 399 without a checked bag (and 458 with). This is a direct flight via BA from London &gt; Delhi &gt; London. Thought I’d share!

Postcard from Sangam

Incredible value direct flights with Tui.
We flew to Cancun picked up a hire car and headed off to explore the beautiful Yucatan Peninsula.
There was so much to see and do that with flights this value we are certain we will be back. 

Postcard from Amy

Guatemala

Netherlands

Finland

Fiji

Sri Lanka

Hey there Travellers,
Like much of the world this week, Katy's off on holiday, so I get the special honor of sending out the first Detour of 2026 🎉
New Year's Eve, for many folks, is a time of reflection! It's the perfect excuse to dig through some old memories and take stock of those meaningful moments.&nbsp;
So that's our theme for this week: memories.&nbsp;This Detour is chock full of them &mdash; from this year's highlights, to nostalgic travel tattoos from trips long past.&nbsp;
Let's make 2026 another great year, Travellers! And let us know in the comments which travel memories you're hoping to create in the next twelve months &mdash; maybe we can help :-)
Wishing you a safe and happy New Year,

Olivia - Sub-Editor of the Detour

Permanent Souvenirs: Our Travel Tattoo Tales&nbsp;

You know a trip is worthwhile when that bittersweet thought crosses your mind: I wish I could bottle up this moment and keep it forever.
It&rsquo;s the feeling that drives souvenir sales and fills up your photo albums, but for travelers who&nbsp;really want to keep those memories close, there&rsquo;s another option &mdash; having that memory permanently added to your body.
Despite the discomfort of traveling with a fresh tattoo, getting inked on the road is a time-honored tradition. Captain Cook&rsquo;s sailors are said to have returned home from Polynesia sporting some new body art. Even 700 years ago, religious pilgrims to the Middle Eastern Holy Land were <a href="https://www.palestine-studies.org/en/node/1235759">getting small tattoos as evidence of their journey</a>. By the 19th century, the list of folks with travel tattoos even included <a href="https://www.rct.uk/collection/exhibitions/japan-courts-and-culture/the-queens-gallery-buckingham-palace/features/royal-tattoos">British royalty</a>.&nbsp;
Nowadays, there&rsquo;s an entire culture built up around travel tattoos. Some shops in touristy areas even&nbsp;depend on the demand. And just like in centuries past, there are still a myriad of motivations behind the decision.&nbsp;

During my (rather formative) few months in New Orleans, I realized I&rsquo;d regret it forever if I didn&rsquo;t leave that city with an inked reminder. Next thing I knew, I was face-down on a leather table, surrounded by NOLA-typical spiritual decor, while a stranger put me through excruciating pain for so long that I felt like my soul was leaving my body.
Unfortunately, in my case, that meant I was having a panic attack, desperately trying to keep still while hyperventilating and gasping through the pain. I tried to focus on a fixed point in the room to ground myself, but ended up locking eyes with a large, weeping statue of Santa Maria. It seemed less unnerving than the taxidermied animals, the bloody crucifixes, or the clutter of figurines stuck with nails or covered in bones and teeth.&nbsp;
When it was finally over, I paid the artist with shaking hands and basically ran out of the shop. I cannot even describe the headspace I was in. The relief was so strong that I felt like an entirely new person. All I wanted was a drink and a place to sit down.
Fortunately, that&rsquo;s not a tall order in New Orleans &mdash; I popped over to Bourbon Street and entered the first bar I saw.&nbsp;

Midway through a whisky, while listening to a bartender&rsquo;s story, I realized my new tattoo had started bleeding. There was a gruesome, oozy red smear running down my leg and trickling onto the floor of the bar.
&ldquo;Sorry, could I just get a napkin?&rdquo; I say, interrupting the bartender. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m bleeding onto your floor.&rdquo;
She casually handed me a napkin without even pausing her story. She had no reaction at all to hearing a patron say they were bleeding onto the floor of her bar at 2pm on a Monday.&nbsp;
I guess that&rsquo;s business as usual on Bourbon Street!
The tattoo has long since healed, but whenever I look at it, I remember what a wild time it was. I had no idea it would be that intense, but I&rsquo;m honored to have been given such a distinctly NOLA experience &mdash; one that really embodies the chaotic excitement of my time in the city. It&rsquo;s how I got hooked on travel tattoos!
So, as a person with so much access to well-seasoned travelers who understand the value of overseas memories, I just&nbsp;had to ask the Jack&rsquo;s Flight Club staff and Community for a few more tales.
And I heard some great ones! Like the new tradition started by our reader Zo&euml; and her wife, which started out as a space-saving measure:

&ldquo;My wife and I have a tradition of getting a tattoo on every *far* trip. Makes the long haul flight home worth it&hellip; Wanting to collect &lsquo;souvenirs&rsquo; whilst living in a small flat at the time was the original inspiration. We&rsquo;ve collected them from Thailand, Bali, and Singapore so far. Many more on the travel wishlist.&rdquo; - Zo&euml;

Or our Jack&rsquo;s Navigator Henry&rsquo;s story, about a priceless memorial that only cost &euro;15:

&ldquo;When I was 19/20, I lived in Spain and became friends with a good group of people. I moved back when someone at home died, but while I was at home, one of my friends in Spain died (very tragic, I know). So when I came back to visit my friends, one of them mentioned that another guy was starting off as a tattoo artist, and he needed guinea pigs to get the business&nbsp; going, so I said I would volunteer one night we were out. So the next day, we went to Seville and got this done. It is of course the song of Liverpool Football Club. But the tattoo is actually for everyone who is no longer with us. The words of the song make more sense than whatever I will say here 😂 It took 3 hours and cost 15 euro.&rdquo;&nbsp;- Henry

Our writer Akasha&rsquo;s tales of stick n&rsquo; pokes in Central American hostels could probably fill an entire novel:

"After almost an hour with my face wedged in the crook of an old Maltese man&rsquo;s pungent armpit as he bent over backwards attempting to tattoo my ribcage, eighteen-year-old me was hooked.&nbsp;
'For each country I visit, I&rsquo;m going to get a tattoo to commemorate it,' I excitedly told my boyfriend at the time. He rolled his eyes. He was the typical Irish lad, one that would 'go on holidays' once every 5 years to Benidorm or Magaluf. Something about the Irish pubs there.
He probably didn&rsquo;t expect that by my twenties, I&rsquo;d be lying on a sagging mattress in the jungles of Guatemala, a Czech apprentice straddling my torso, carving her gun of pain into my arm for four hours without a break.
Or that I&rsquo;d let a French guy hand-poke a reiki symbol onto my wrist in exchange for covering a bar shift.&nbsp;
Stick and poke became my preferred way. So naturally, my ears perked up when a German tattooist blew into the hostel I worked at in Chiapas. It&rsquo;d take me a few weeks to propose a trade he simply couldn&rsquo;t refuse: I&rsquo;d bleach his dreadlocks in return for some artwork."

"This was probably my most painful one. Not from the needle but from the cup of rubbing alcohol he poured over my raw skin, and the violent slap that followed. A sick and twisted joke because it was midnight and I couldn&rsquo;t scream without waking the hostel guests.
And while I haven&rsquo;t managed to stay true to my promise of getting inked everywhere I&rsquo;ve wandered, I&rsquo;ve done a pretty good job of collecting permanent stamps.
Mostly, the ink I&rsquo;ve gotten along the way is a map itself - of the girl who showed up clueless and curious, reckless and scared, but booked the ticket anyway."&nbsp;- Akasha

And lastly, our Detour queen Katy shared the story of her first tattoo, a remnant of a teenage adventure in the Netherlands:

"When I finished high school, I didn&rsquo;t go on the big group trip clubbing in Ayia Napa. That wasn&rsquo;t my thing at all. I wanted to see some of the world before starting university, not just the inside of a bar, surrounded by people I&rsquo;d mostly never see again.&nbsp;
Instead, myself and some of my closest friends decided to go Interrailing around Europe for 5 weeks. As is common when leaving high school in Scotland, most of us were only 17 at the time. We couldn&rsquo;t even (legally) drink in bars at home, so a month of European rules was exciting. And when we realised that we&rsquo;d even be old enough to get tattooed in The Netherlands&hellip;
Well, let&rsquo;s just say a few of us decided to give it a go &mdash; a fact my mum only found out three years later, when I was lazily lying in bed with my leg hanging out from under the sheets.
When getting your first tattoo, there&rsquo;s a lot of pressure to make it meaningful, so I opted for something I knew would always be important to me &mdash; music. I was right, playing music is still part of my life. But perhaps more important is the fact that I got it while on a memorable adventure with people who are still part of my life."&nbsp;- Katy

When I look at all of these stories together, there&rsquo;s a common thread: Most things in life are temporary. People enter and exit, chapters close, and that return flight is always rapidly approaching. I can go back to New Orleans, but I can&rsquo;t go back to that trip. Travel, by definition, has to be ephemeral.&nbsp;
We might be staking our money, time, and energy on a very short-lived experience, but we often return home permanently changed. I think travel tattoos owe their prolonged popularity to that change &mdash; they can help make the outside match the inside.
So if you feel the same, and have a travel tattoo (or several) of your own, feel free to send them our way. Maybe you&rsquo;ll see them in part two :-)

Travel Tales

Jack's Gone Global: Where We Went in 2025

As you might expect, the Jack's staff is always jetsetting around the world! 2025 was no different &mdash; We traveled everywhere from the Caribbean to the Arctic Circle.&nbsp;
Here's a few highlights from another fantastic year of travel...

<h2 id="lapland">Lapland</h2>
Hannah Deals &amp; Content

&ldquo;We took a day-trip over to the <a href="https://arcticsnowhotel.fi/en/">Arctic SnowHotel </a>during our trip, as well as snowmobiled through the forests, and took reindeer and husky rides on a tour with the Snowmobile Park company &mdash; they were great and included proper snow gear in their prices, so would highly recommend.
And last but not least, the northern lights! While you can hunt for them on a guided tour, it gets pricey. Instead, we stayed just outside of the city (towards Ounasvaara) in an AirBnB and were lucky enough to spot them dancing above the house most nights we were there.&rdquo;

<h2 id="lapland">Fiji</h2>
Larissa Deal &amp; Content Manager EU

&ldquo;Fiji was such a surprise to me! I went for a family celebration and didn&rsquo;t have many expectations (given I knew a lot of the holiday would be resort-bound), but we managed to do a decent amount in Nadi and the surrounding <a href="https://www.koroyanituheritagepark.org/plan-your-trip">Koroyanitu National Heritage Park</a>. My highlights were DIY-ing a hike through the park to an incredible waterfall lookout, and visiting the <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qs6PyZGqz5nm2PF9A">Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple</a> - the intricate paintwork inside was incredible!&rdquo;

<h2 id="lapland">France &amp; Scotland</h2>
Andrea Member Experience Team Leader

&ldquo;My trip to France and Scotland healed parts of me I didn't know needed healing. The little girl in me who thought she might never make it to Europe and visit her dream city and the grown girl in me that found her soul city.
My favorite moment of my adventures was being able to see and touch the Eiffel Tower. I knew that I would cry the moment I laid eyes on her and I very much did! LOL The tears were joy and marvel and finally realizing that I did it, I made it, I was standing in Paris!! I was looking at a monument I had only seen in books and movies. I checked a place off of a very long bucket list. I had macarons and croissants from French boulangeries and strolled along streets with beautiful architecture. I spoke terribly broken French from the years of Duolingo that I had been doing and I was out of this world happy.
However. My favorite place was Scotland. I had never traveled and felt at home anywhere the way I did there. The buildings, history, slight gloom and chill in the air. The beautiful stone streets and castles, this was my place. A place I felt very happy and comfortable, where I could wander for hours and not feel tired. I am still day dreaming about my time there and thinking of the things I want to do and see when I go back. It was on my bucket list and still is. There's so much more I need to see and experience (highland coos, for example!)&rdquo;

<h2 id="lapland">Sri Lanka</h2>
Fran&nbsp;Deals &amp; Content/Social Media

&ldquo;We loved our train experiences in Sri Lanka, and we&rsquo;d suggest every curious traveller give it a try at some point. I even wrote <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/the-truth-about-traveling-by-train-in-sri-lanka">an honest guide</a> about it. It sparked our curiosity to venture beyond the tourist-packed routes and discover the more authentic, less crowded journeys in the future.&rdquo;

<h2 id="lapland">St. Croix</h2>
Olivia&nbsp;Deals &amp; Content/Detour Sub-Editor

&ldquo;The highlight was definitely the Cruzan Rum Distillery, which you can read more about <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-179-st-croix-historic-distillery">in my article here</a>. Between the informative tour, the historic setting, our lovely guide, and drinks enjoyed at a breezy, palm-lined patio bar, we couldn&rsquo;t have been more pleased. There&rsquo;s a reason every guide to St. Croix name-drops this spot, and I can happily add myself to its list of fans&rdquo;

<h2 id="lapland">The Netherlands</h2>
Gabi Product Team

&ldquo;I had such a great time in the Netherlands. I started off in <a href="https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/discover-the-netherlands/visit-the-cities/the-hague">Den Haag</a>, where I decided to try haring (the famous raw herring, just a full fish) which not everyone loves but I&rsquo;m absolutely crazy for (I really love pickled stuff). I spent the rest of my time wandering around the city center, renting bikes with nerdy names, and cycling to some pretty spots like Haagse Bos. That same day I rode all the way to Scheveningen, which turned out to be a super lovely beach with a big pier. I sat there with a hot Chocomel in hand, feeling very Dutch. It also POURED rain the minute I hopped on the bike.&rdquo;

How about our readers? Where did you travel in 2025? Let us know in the comments :-)

Travel Tips

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Unfortunately, we have to start the year off with some tragic news: Chaos in Machu Picchu as <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gweww8rjro">two trains collided</a> last Tuesday, causing one death and injuring 40 others.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">On a more hopeful note, National Geographic released their <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/travel-adventures-best-trips-to-book-2026">top 20 picks for adventures to take in 2026</a>. The key words? &ldquo;Immersive&rdquo; and &ldquo;Transformative.&rdquo;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sicily&rsquo;s Mount Etna has been in a bit of a turbulent mood lately, but that&rsquo;s not stopping the local skiers from <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cz7n4px7e41o">hitting her slopes</a>.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Central Asia <a href="https://www.euronews.com/culture/2025/12/22/kobyz-and-the-yurt-central-asias-living-knowledge-enters-unescos-intangible-heritage-lists">got some love from UNESCO</a> as a regional stringed instrument and a style of yurt both got added to the organization&rsquo;s list of intangible cultural heritage.</li>
<li>And finally, got any questions about life at an Antarctic research station? Now&rsquo;s the time to ask &mdash; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/27/climate/thwaites-glacier-expedition-antarctica.html">the NYT is heading on down</a>, and they want to know what you want to know.</li>
</ul>

Travel News

Ringing in 2026 with Our Travel Memories

Estonia

Hey there, fellow travellers,
It's time to dust off Flight Finder Lauren's advice on <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/what-to-pack-when-backpacking-around-europe">what to pack when backpacking around Europe</a>. That's because tomorrow marks the start of another race across Europe with&nbsp;<a href="https://lupine.co.uk/race/2025-london-to-tallinn-estonia-race.html">Lupine Racing</a>, this time from London to Tallinn, Estonia.
Brutalist architecture will be taking the lead in this race, with (as yet undisclosed) checkpoints designed to show off some of the continent's concrete masterpieces. If this year's racers are anything like me, they'll have already been studying <a href="https://www.sosbrutalism.org/cms/15802395#map">this map of the finest examples</a> to try and work out where they're off to!
Jack's Flight Club has been sponsoring the races since the first one, from London to Istanbul, in 2023, and I've loved every minute of being involved. There's nothing better than catching up with the community of racers along the way &mdash; many of whom are also JFC members &mdash; so I'll be running a social evening and pub quiz for three nights in the mid-way city.&nbsp;
I can't wait to get out on the rails again with my trusty Interrail pass and see what the week has in store for us. Fingers crossed nobody <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/german-rail-delays-connections-frankfurt-b2593820.html">falls foul of Deutsche Bahn</a> this time around&hellip; (If any of you have any good Deutsche Bahn disaster stories, please do <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-197-foodie-fever-dreams-magical-mexico#comments">let us know in the comments</a>!)
Happy travels and swift connections,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

It's Our Summer Sale!

Now is the best time&nbsp;to start planning your winter getaways. As a Premium member, you&rsquo;ll get access to&nbsp;all&nbsp;of our content: 8&ndash;10 flights&nbsp;per week, including error fares and business class.
Keep that summer feeling going long into the winter months with 3 months of Premium for &pound;1 - this is our biggest offer of the year!

Jack's Flight Club Promo

Now is the best time&nbsp;to start planning your winter getaways. As a Premium member, you&rsquo;ll get access to&nbsp;all&nbsp;of our content: 8&ndash;10 flights&nbsp;per week, including error fares and business class.
Keep that summer feeling going long into the winter months with 3 months of Premium for &euro;1 - this is our biggest offer of the year!

Now is the best time&nbsp;to start planning your winter getaways. As a Premium member, you&rsquo;ll get access to&nbsp;all&nbsp;of our content: 8&ndash;10 flights&nbsp;per week, including error fares and business class.
Keep that summer feeling going long into the winter months with 3 months of Premium for $1 - this is our biggest offer of the year!

Now is the best time&nbsp;to start planning your winter getaways. As a Premium member, you&rsquo;ll get access to&nbsp;all&nbsp;of our content: 8-10 flights&nbsp;per week, including error fares and business class.
Keep that summer feeling going long into the winter months with 3 months of Premium for $1 - this is our biggest offer of the year!

I Tried the Weirdest Foods at the Calgary Stampede So You Don't Have To

Flight Finder Kristi is a born and bred Canadian, who has recently returned to her beloved mountains after travelling the world as a digital nomad. When she isn't on the move, she is writing about travelling, or dreaming about travelling, or saving up for&hellip; you get the point :-)

By Kristi

Every July, my hometown of Calgary transforms into a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.visitcalgary.com/things-to-do/stories-from-calgary/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-calgary-stampede">cowboy fever dream known as the Calgary Stampede</a> &mdash; ten glorious days of belt buckles, bull riding, and a shocking number of rhinestones.&nbsp;
On the surface, it&rsquo;s a rodeo. A big one. One of the most famous in the world, actually.&nbsp;
But the Stampede is more than just boots and bulls. It&rsquo;s a full-blown celebration of agriculture, community, and <a href="https://www.calgarystampede.com/stampede/attractions/elbow-river-camp?_gl=1*db3neb*_gcl_au*OTcxNTcwNjg3LjE3NTMxMjEyMjg.*_ga*NTUwMTIwODM4LjE3NTMxMjEyMjg.*_ga_5606X0YF85*czE3NTM4MDg2MjUkbzIkZzAkdDE3NTM4MDg2NzMkajEyJGwwJGgw">Indigenous culture</a>, where horses race, tipis stand tall, and ranchers show off prize-winning livestock like proud parents at a kindergarten talent show.
And while you might show up for the rodeo or the music or the racing, you&rsquo;ll stay &mdash; and spiral into a food coma &mdash; for the wildly inventive and slightly unhinged Stampede midway eats.
I braved the midway with a single mission: try <a href="https://www.calgarystampede.com/new-midway-food">the weirdest foods I could find</a> so you don&rsquo;t have to. 
What follows is a journey of grease, sugar, confusion, delight, and mild gastrointestinal distress. Oh, and worms.
Buckle up, cowpokes.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Mopane Worm Poutine</h3>

Let&rsquo;s start with the headliner. Yes, this is classic Canadian poutine &mdash; gravy, cheese curds, fries. But topped with real roasted mealworms.&nbsp;
Crunchy. Nutty. Existentially alarming. 
If you can get your head around them, the worms were passable. 
Would eat again? Only on a dare. 1.5/10
<h3 dir="ltr">Deep Fried Cheese Curds</h3>

Take the best part of poutine, deep-fry it, and give it a cute little dipping sauce. These were molten inside and squeaky outside &mdash; proof that Canada knows how to make its national snack even less heart-healthy. 
10/10, no notes.
Except maybe bring antacids.
<h3 dir="ltr">Pineapple Dole Whip Ice Cream</h3>

Is this weird? No. Is it a spiritual experience on a 30&deg;C Stampede day? Absolutely. It's like being kissed by a Hawaiian breeze while someone fans you with palm leaves. I&rsquo;d abandon my family for another cone.&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t expect the most sour pineapple flavour, but it&rsquo;s a light and delicious snack.
7/10
<h3 dir="ltr">Dill Pickle Pizza</h3>

Hot take: This slaps harder than you&rsquo;d expect.
Think garlicky cream sauce, mozzarella, and so many pickle slices. It's like someone dared a pregnant woman to design a pizza, and then it ended up being genius.
Would pair well with a cold beer and questionable decisions.
7/10
<h3 dir="ltr">Dubai Chocolate Strawberries</h3>

<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/rodeo-or-foodie-paradise-calgary-stampede">Keep Reading...</a>

Detour Editor Katy is a budget travel aficionado who has already travelled to more than 50 countries. Whether she's at home or on a foreign adventure, she has a particular talent for stumbling upon tasty Georgian restaurants.

By Katy

Last week, I put out a cry for help on all things Mexico. Having suddenly been faced with awesome flights on offer all over the country, I realised that I simply didn't know where I would choose if I had been ready to hit 'book now'.
Between your emails, comments, and Instagram story replies, I now have a pretty good idea of where I'd like to go, and topping that list is...
<h2>Oaxaca</h2>

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"I&rsquo;ve been to a Oaxaca. The food is amazing. It would be great to look at other destinations in Mexico that are off the beaten track a little bit, like Cabo." - VivaciousGlobetrotter83828
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"Once you are in Oaxaca, you won't regret extending your trip to the Pacific Coast in Puerto Escondido to enjoy great surf experiences!"- WanderingVisitant68270
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"Oaxaca! Food, culture &amp; mezcal, say no more!"&nbsp;-&nbsp;@gracegrangetravel
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In her article on <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/8-lesser-known-destinations-in-mexico-that-most-travelers-miss">lesser-known spots to visit in Mexico</a>, Flight Finder Kash also agrees that Oaxaca and the surrounding area is not to be missed. Here are her recommendations for getting out into nature nearby:

<h3>San Jose del Pacifico, Oaxaca</h3>
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/263f17c9c35d2a33b029e4a38d20c4d3fb8df6da" width="483" height="322" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
It pays to keep your ears (and your plans) open when looking for lesser-known places in Mexico.&nbsp;
Thousands of miles away in Guatemala, I overheard two backpackers whispering about their most memorable travel experiences.&nbsp;
They spoke of a distant, magical place high in the mountains of Oaxaca, and I made sure to scribble the name down in case I ever made it there &ndash; San Jose del Pacifico.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Man they weren&rsquo;t lying about the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djNt4anBaDU">views</a>&rdquo; I muttered to myself minutes after climbing off the bus. Below me, cascading clouds drifted into a distant purple horizon, and it took a minute to register that I was literally higher than the clouds.&nbsp;
It turns out that the magical quality wasn&rsquo;t all down to the views. Hongos Magicos (magic mushrooms) are the currency here and have deep roots in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar%C3%ADa_Sabina">indigenous culture.</a>&nbsp;
Deep within the forest, you&rsquo;ll be able to pick your own mushrooms (under the guidance of a shaman), before embarking on a mystical journey.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.journeymexico.com/blog/temazcal-ceremony-guide">Temazcal&nbsp;</a>(sweat lodge) ceremonies, zip-lining, coffee tours and <a href="https://www.wikiloc.com/trails/hiking/mexico/oaxaca/san-jose-del-pacifico">hiking</a> trails are also easy to find for those who&rsquo;d rather skip the trip. San Jose del Pacifico is also a convenient stop between Oaxaca City and up-and-coming coastal surfer towns like Mazunte.
<h3>Hierve el Agua, Oaxaca</h3>
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/633e78883c496003f3096e7bcbb0941fbf7ae72c" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
Hugging the cliffs of the Oaxacan mountains sits Hierve el Agua &ndash; a sacred site to the Zapotec, an ancient civilization dating back 2,000 years.&nbsp;
A trick of nature, it first appears to be a frozen waterfall. But, look a bit closer, and you&rsquo;ll see it's actually a build-up of calcified rock.
On top of this petrified waterfall lies no better view &ndash; a freshwater infinity pool at the edge of the world with the deepest colors of turquoise and green. 
With plenty of <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/mexico/oaxaca/hierve-el-agua">trails through the valley</a>, it&rsquo;s a hiker&rsquo;s dream. I&rsquo;ve even heard of hidden caves around here that you can swim in (if you can find them!).&nbsp;
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/8-lesser-known-destinations-in-mexico-that-most-travelers-miss">Read more...</a>
 Aside from Oaxaca, a couple of other names popped up more than once: <a href="https://www.wandersmiles.com/things-to-do-in-taxco-mexico/">Taxco</a>, the silver capital of Mexico, and <a href="https://travelmexicosolo.com/safest-city-in-mexico/">M&eacute;rida</a>, often called the safest city in the country. But the Mexico is huge, and there are seemingly countless paths less travelled by the foreign visitor. So, while my next trip to Mexico may indeed land me in Oaxaca, I'll probably have to plan a few more to see <a href="https://www.afar.com/magazine/most-charming-small-towns-in-mexico">all these&nbsp;pueblos m&aacute;gicos!</a> 
Tell us about your favourite spots in Mexico <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-197-foodie-fever-dreams-magical-mexico#comments">in the comments</a>, or ask a question you'd like answered in the next edition of The Detour.

Reader's Corner

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.
<ul>
<li>Audophiles, armchair travelers!&nbsp;<a target="_blank" class="c-link" data-stringify-link="https://citiesandmemory.com/heritage/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" href="https://citiesandmemory.com/heritage/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen up! Literally.</a>&nbsp;Sonic Heritage&rsquo;s first ever collection allows you to hear the everyday sounds of 270 UNESCO World Heritage sites. The project aims to examine the role sound plays in enriching our travel experiences. </li>
<li>For the first time in 80 years,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" class="c-link" data-stringify-link="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/reintroduced-wolves-are-helping-baby-aspen-trees-flourish-in-northern-yellowstone-for-the-first-time-in-80-years-study-suggests-180987064/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/reintroduced-wolves-are-helping-baby-aspen-trees-flourish-in-northern-yellowstone-for-the-first-time-in-80-years-study-suggests-180987064/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Aspen trees are flourishing</a>&nbsp;in Yellowstone&rsquo;s National Park. It&rsquo;s not botanists we've got to thank, but wolves! </li>
<li>The data just dropped, and UN Tourism&rsquo;s World Tourism Barometer revealed that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" class="c-link" data-stringify-link="https://www.wanderlustmagazine.com/news/un-tourism-world-travel-barometer-2025/?uid=6cd2835b2479c2f8fd7831109194a78b&amp;utm_campaign=Wed%2030%2F07%2F2025&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_source=email" data-sk="tooltip_parent" href="https://www.wanderlustmagazine.com/news/un-tourism-world-travel-barometer-2025/?uid=6cd2835b2479c2f8fd7831109194a78b&amp;utm_campaign=Wed%2030%2F07%2F2025&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_source=email" rel="noopener noreferrer">these three </a><a href="https://www.wanderlustmagazine.com/news/un-tourism-world-travel-barometer-2025/?uid=6cd2835b2479c2f8fd7831109194a78b&amp;utm_campaign=Wed%2030%2F07%2F2025&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_source=email">countries</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link" data-stringify-link="https://www.wanderlustmagazine.com/news/un-tourism-world-travel-barometer-2025/?uid=6cd2835b2479c2f8fd7831109194a78b&amp;utm_campaign=Wed%2030%2F07%2F2025&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_source=email" data-sk="tooltip_parent" href="https://www.wanderlustmagazine.com/news/un-tourism-world-travel-barometer-2025/?uid=6cd2835b2479c2f8fd7831109194a78b&amp;utm_campaign=Wed%2030%2F07%2F2025&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_source=email" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a>are seeing the biggest growth in tourism in 2025, and one of them is really off the radar. </li>
<li>2028&rsquo;s going to be the year for Kent, UK! Manston&rsquo;s derelict airport is getting&nbsp;<a target="_blank" class="c-link" data-stringify-link="https://www.joe.co.uk/news/abandoned-uk-airport-set-to-reopen-with-ryanair-and-easyjet-flights-498306" data-sk="tooltip_parent" href="https://www.joe.co.uk/news/abandoned-uk-airport-set-to-reopen-with-ryanair-and-easyjet-flights-498306" rel="noopener noreferrer">a&nbsp;very&nbsp;expensive facelift</a>. </li>
<li>And finally, it's time for a quiz! Do you know your Pink Cities from your White Cities? Your Big Easies from your Big Smokes? <a href="https://www.wanderlustmagazine.com/quiz/city-nicknames-quiz/">Let's find out</a>!</li>
</ul>

Foodie Fever Dreams at the Calgary Stampede & Magical Mexican Moments

Italy

United Kingdom

&iexcl;Hola,&nbsp;fellow travellers!
Just yesterday, we had some super exciting Mexico trips spring right into our flight-hacking laps here at Jack's HQ.
First, we dug up some sweet <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/flights/mexico-in-1000s-1190s-rtn">Premium Economy fares</a> all across the country &mdash; a real rarity from the UK, for sure! Then there were the perfect winter sun flights to Canc&uacute;n from <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/flights/cancun-in-430s-510s-rtn">Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg</a>. So far, so good.&nbsp;
Then out of nowhere, as we were busy imagining ourselves sipping margs by the Caribbean, appeared an error fare from London to <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/flights/mexico-city-at-295-rtn">Mexico City for under &pound;300</a>!&nbsp;That one didn't last long, but suffice it to say, it made for a very excitable day.&nbsp;
The thing is, readers, all these surprise Mexican treats were from the European side of the pond. And frankly, awesome fares to anywhere other than Canc&uacute;n come around so rarely for us that I just don't know where to pick, given the choice.
So, this time, I'm looking mostly to those of you in North America, who are used to a little more Mexico on your plate &mdash; where's the place to be? Is it the beaches of <a href="https://theawkwardtraveller.com/cabo-or-cancun/">Canc&uacute;n or Cabo</a>? The street food of <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/1kmaaj8/mexico_city_vs_oaxaca/">Oaxaca or CDMX</a>?
Let us know your favourite spots in Mexico <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-196-slow-and-scenic-italy-alternative-uk#comments">in the comments</a>, or by replying to this email.
Happy travels and safe landings,

Larissa is an Aussie expat from Sydney who only sometimes misses the beach. Currently based in London, she&rsquo;s now working on ticking as many European cities off her travel list as possible, while checking for brunch spots along the way.

By Larissa

I&rsquo;ve just come back from a week in Puglia, and I didn&rsquo;t rent a car. That may surprise you, as the number one way to see southern Italy is from behind the wheel &mdash; and for good reason. Aside from the lax driving rules and how easy it is to pick up a vehicle at the airport, lots of the major visitor attractions are only accessible by car, like the best beaches in the area.&nbsp;
Despite knowing all that, I still decided to rely on trains and buses throughout my trip in June 2025. In fact, this is my second time travelling around the boot of Italy this way. You may be thinking, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t speak Italian, I&rsquo;m not adventurous enough to hop on and off public transportation across the country. Surely it&rsquo;s not worth the hassle!?&rdquo;
Well, neither do I! And you don&rsquo;t have to be as adventurous as you think; the south of Italy is surprisingly well-connected by trains and buses &mdash; we saw plenty of people using both as we navigated around, tourists and locals alike.

<h3 dir="ltr">Why take public transport in Southern Italy?&nbsp;</h3>
If you have the time and don&rsquo;t want the hassle of renting a car, buying petrol and figuring out your insurance, I&rsquo;d recommend ditching the car.&nbsp;&nbsp;
To give you a little background &ndash; I learned to drive as a teenager (as most do in Australia) around the suburbs of Sydney, have always enjoyed it, and still have a driver's licence. So far, so normal. That was, until I moved to London when I was 24. It&rsquo;s been 6 years since then, and that means 6 years since I&rsquo;ve been behind the wheel of a car.&nbsp;
When faced with the prospect of navigating tiny cobbled streets, Vespas and overeager European drivers, it struck me that I&rsquo;d maybe been off the roads for too long. So with that in mind, I decided to throw myself at the whim of bus and train schedules, while baking under the summer Puglian sun.&nbsp;
Before we go any further, a caveat: yes, trains and buses do get delayed, and the service can be infrequent (especially on weekends and the off season). This kind of travel will only work for you if you&rsquo;re happy to spend hours waiting around, and you allow yourself plenty of time to get where you want to go. For some people, it&rsquo;s always going to be easier to just hire a car and have the freedom to move around, which I totally respect!&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Catching public transport between Brindisi, Maglie, Ostuni, Lecce and Monopoli</h3>
We flew in and out of Brindisi airport, then (thanks to a very beautiful, but very remote wedding) had to make our way down to a little town called Maglie &mdash; it's located almost smack-bang in the middle of the boot, about 80 km from the airport. To get there, we took the airport bus into the centre of Brindisi, stayed overnight, and then spent the next day slowly winding our way down the country.&nbsp;
First, we caught a train from Brindisi to Lecce, &lsquo;the Florence of the South&rsquo;, and then hopped on a bus to Maglie from there. All in all, it took a couple of hours and two hops, whereas if we were to drive, we would have been there in just under an hour. Not the fastest way to go, but it was cheap (less than &euro;10 per person) and reliable (especially when compared to <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/1iagaf6/europes_best_and_worst_rail_operators/">other European rail networks</a>). The train and bus both came when they were scheduled.&nbsp;
We had to do it all again in reverse a couple of days later, which also went off without a hitch.&nbsp;
On separate day trips, we also travelled from Brindisi by train/bus to other spots on our list like <a href="https://www.alongdustyroads.com/posts/things-to-do-ostuni-puglia-guide">Ostuni</a> (the &lsquo;White City&rsquo;, full of boutique shops and has views of rolling hills for days), <a href="https://pugliaparadise.com/puglia-travel-guide/lecce/">Lecce</a> (the &lsquo;Florence of the South&rsquo;, with looming sandstone churches and baroque buildings) and <a href="https://www.bontraveler.com/monopoli-italy/">Monopoli</a> (easiest access to sandy beaches by foot, also a very pretty town in its own right).&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">How to plan your own trip around Southern Italy on public transport</h3>
So, you&rsquo;re intrigued &mdash; how do you follow in my footsteps?&nbsp;
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/puglia-by-public-transport">Keep reading...</a>

Alternative UK City Breaks: Bonus Round

Flight Finder Akasha finds phenomenal flights faster than you can decide where you want to take a trip to next. A pro at finding the best of the best fares, she's also a master at sharing must-visit spots for when you land.

By Akasha

Before we wrap up last week&rsquo;s roundup of alternative UK cities for a summer break, another entry just hit our inbox from JFC member Claire. Here&rsquo;s what she&rsquo;s got to say:

&ldquo;On the subject of UK cities worth exploring this summer, I'd love to make a case for Newcastle. A compact city centre boasts attractions old and new, particularly for those who love their art and culture. From world-class museums like <a href="https://baltic.art/">contemporary art gallery Baltic</a>, the fascinating <a href="https://www.northeastmuseums.org.uk/greatnorthmuseum">Great North Museum: Hancock</a>, to the interactive<a href="https://www.life.org.uk/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=19682308792&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADshYFo7ea6fKL-8Ebz43MQ3jWRfe&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwkILEBhDeARIsAL--pjykSj0YmybFRNnBaYYegg8cVyh9kdhWFEjI2NhAPT6tGpODMhP0mzYaAsubEALw_wcB"> Life Science Centre</a>&hellip;&rdquo;

And I have to agree! I spent a few days in Newcastle with my dad last year, and although it was just a quick stop en route to Edinburgh, the city really surprised me. More specifically, the people and their kindness surprised me (from the minute we arrived, the Geordie welcome hit full force), as well as the food!
Traveling with my father can be challenging; he&rsquo;s loud, he&rsquo;s curt, and he&rsquo;ll have no problem telling a waiter what he really thinks of the soup. But he is also a big foodie, which results in a Google Map transformed into a gastronomic guidebook before you&rsquo;ve even made it to the boarding gate.
No need for a tour guide, just follow Geoff. Give him 60 minutes, and he&rsquo;ll be on a first-name basis with the chef at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g186394-d1773852-Reviews-Rani_Indian_Restaurant-Newcastle_upon_Tyne_Tyne_and_Wear_England.html">Rani Indian Restaurant</a>, tucking into a Punjabi feast that&rsquo;s normally reserved for Aunties and VIPs. By dessert, he&rsquo;ll have two staff members and two diners signed up for Jack&rsquo;s Flight Club &mdash; and an entire notes app full of places like Shimla, Sissu and Manali to visit if I ever make it to <a href="https://youtu.be/dHEVGuw5LCE?si=SJ-9Ox83AQs9RQVj&amp;t=40">Himachal Pradesh</a>.&nbsp;

So with that in mind, I followed Geoff through a whirlwind of some of the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/quayingredient/?hl=en">best English breakfasts</a> I&rsquo;ve ever tasted, and <a href="https://www.rio-steakhouse.co.uk/quayside">Churrasco comas</a> come sunset. Relinquishing any notion of gazing up at those museum ceilings.
Okay, that&rsquo;s not exactly fair &mdash; I did manage to peel him away from <a href="https://newcastlegateshead.com/business-directory/shopping/matthews-cheese-specialist">the cheese stall at Grainger market</a> to visit the city&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.newcastlecastle.co.uk/">Norman castle</a>, which I highly recommend. Besides the standard tours of the castle, they also occasionally run movie nights, historical reenactments and talks. &pound;8 to hear someone yak about witches and cholera? Sign me up!

&ldquo;There's also <a href="https://newcastlegateshead.com/events">a free programme</a> of city-wide activities like kayaking on the River Tyne, outdoor movie screenings, and fun activities throughout the summer. The city's music scene is thriving. Head to the trendy Ouseburn Valley for quirky venues, craft beer, interesting eats, and tons of live music.&rdquo;&nbsp;- Claire

I&rsquo;ve heard&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stephaniefox.co.uk/enjoy-a-day-out-to-ouseburn-newcastle/">great things about Ouseburn</a>. Back in the day, it used to be an industrial hub. Now? It&rsquo;s more like what Shoreditch is to London. Quirky, gritty, cool.
By day, you can weave in and out of <a href="https://ouseburntrust.org.uk/events/tunnel-tours/">WWII tunnels</a>, art galleries like the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebiscuitfactorygallery/?hl=en">Biscuit Factory</a>, farm trails (yes, there&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.ouseburnfarm.org.uk/">an urban farm!</a>) or pass the time with a book and a gluten-free muffin <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thegaragencl/?hl=en">in a garage-turned-caf&eacute;</a>. Think exposed pipes, vintage lights, and coffee so strong it could rotate your tyres. 
At night? You&rsquo;ve got Newcastle&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://ouseburntrust.org.uk/explore-ouseburn-valley/where-to-visit/music-and-gigs-in-ouseburn/">best nightlife, live gigs and pubs</a> at your fingertips.

&ldquo;All this, and the stunning county of Northumberland on the doorstep, where you'll find coastal castles, networks of hiking and biking trails, ancient treasures like Hadrian's Wall, and friendly, welcoming people.&rdquo;

This is why I&rsquo;ve sworn to return to Newcastle solo next time (sorry, dad) &mdash; for the chance to see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hadrians-wall/">Hadrian&rsquo;s Wall</a> poking up among dramatic moorlands and Roman ruins, windswept castles, golden beaches, and quaint coastal towns on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/explore/destinations/towns-villages">Northumberland Coast</a>. Or maybe go northwest to be illuminated under the vastness of <a href="https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/things-to-do/discover-dark-skies/where-to-stargaze/">Northumberland Dark Skies Park</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t get me wrong, I wouldn&rsquo;t trade the memories for anything. But next time, I&rsquo;d love to see more of Northern England&rsquo;s natural scenery by venturing out into the wild between the fantastic feasts. Thanks so much for your tips, Claire! We love hearing everyone's destination recommendations, so if there's somewhere you absolutely need to tell The Detour readers about, <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-196-slow-and-scenic-italy-alternative-uk#comments">head to the comments</a> or hit 'Reply'!

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.
<ul>
<li>If all that talk of Mexican street food earlier on got your taste buds tingling, let <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/hubs/feast-2025">Gastro Obscura's 2025 Feast</a> help guide your upcoming travel plans. </li>
<li>Lusting after the most epic of all road trips?&nbsp;<a href="https://wild-places.com/">It's got to be Patagonia</a>. </li>
<li>First they stopped making us remove our shoes, and now they&nbsp;<a href="https://www.afar.com/magazine/tsa-tests-eliminating-bag-recheck-rule-on-connecting-flights">won't make us collect checked luggage</a> on international connections. Seems the TSA are in a good mood? </li>
<li>And finally, getting a slice of life abroad can sometimes be hard without taking a trip. But it turns out that all it takes for some authentic Colombian vibes is <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/reel/video/p0lqjgsz/the-secret-behind-colombia-s-blender-craze">a blender</a>. Time to get juicing!</li>
</ul>

Slow and Scenic Southern Italy, Bonus Alternative UK

Mexico City is a sprawling, vibrant metropolis nestled in the Valley of Mexico at an altitude that might make your head spin &mdash; literally, if you&rsquo;re not used to being up high.
It&rsquo;s a city of contrasts: centuries-old architecture stands proudly beside sleek modern buildings, and quiet, tree-lined neighborhoods like Roma and Condesa are just a short ride from the bustling chaos of the Centro Hist&oacute;rico.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Having visited myself, I can say that CDMX (an abbreviation you&rsquo;ll often see for Mexico City) is more than a destination; it&rsquo;s an experience. Whether you&rsquo;re biting into the most perfectly cooked huraches from a street vendor or marveling at Diego Rivera&rsquo;s murals in the Palacio Nacional, there&rsquo;s a rhythm to this city that pulls you in.&nbsp;&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s the kind of place where you&rsquo;ll want to dive into the culture, but might feel the need for a nap after tackling one of its expansive markets. Is it for everyone? That depends on how much you love a city that pulses with life 24/7.&nbsp;&nbsp;
To help you make the decision on whether it deserves a spot on your bucket list, we&rsquo;ve scoured the Jack's community and our go-to trusted sources for tips on Mexico City.
A quick note on the links in this guide: We&rsquo;re not affiliated with any external sites we&rsquo;ve chosen to include, so we&rsquo;re not getting any kick-backs or commission. We&rsquo;ve only included resources we think will genuinely be useful to help you make a decision on whether this destination is for you.
<div style="background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid #aaa; display: table; font-size: 95%; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 20px; width: auto;">
Quick Reference
<ul style="list-style: none; padding: 0; margin: 0;">
<li><a href="#getting-there">Getting There</a></li>
<li><a href="#entry">Entry Requirements</a></li>
<li><a href="#vacs-meds">Vaccines and Medications</a></li>
<li><a href="#in-cell">Internet and Cell Service</a></li>
<li><a href="#travel-style">Travel Style</a></li>
<li><a href="#season">Seasonality</a></li>
<li><a href="#getting-around">Getting Around</a></li>
<li><a href="#area-guides">Area Guides</a></li>
<li><a href="#day-trips">Day Trips</a></li>
<li><a href="#worth-note">Worth Noting</a></li>
<li><a href="#food">Food</a></li>
<li><a href="#event">Events</a></li>
<li><a href="#rec-res">Recommended Resources</a></li>
</ul>
</div>

<a id="getting-there" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Getting There</h1>
Flying to Mexico City is relatively straightforward, especially from places like the USA, Canada and Europe. The city&rsquo;s airport is well-connected to major cities around the world.
You can catch non-stop flights from most major hubs in North America, including JFK, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, and LAX, as well as bigger airports in Europe, such as Amsterdam Schiphol, London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Munich, and Paris.&nbsp;

Here&rsquo;s an idea of what we at JFC tend to see for flights to Mexico City.
From the USA:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average fare: $170s-$270s RT, depending on departure city and airline</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 20</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: $125 RT from San Antonio</li>
</ul>
From Canada:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average fare: $550 RT</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 4</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: We&rsquo;re still waiting to be impressed</li>
</ul>
Note: Canada gets loads of trips to PVR, Cancun, Cabo, and more for under $400 RT
From the UK:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average fare: &pound;460 rtn</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 10</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: &pound;361 rtn from Birmingham</li>
</ul>
From Europe:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average fare: &euro;450 rtn</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 8</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: &euro;305 rtn from Amsterdam </li>
</ul>
For longer adventures, you can link up your Mexico City trip with flights to other spots around Latin America, like Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile, Bogot&aacute;, Lima, and S&atilde;o Paulo. If you&rsquo;d rather stick to exploring every corner of Mexico, you can grab incredibly <a href="https://www.google.com/travel/explore?tfs=CBwQAxoaKABqBwgBEgNNRVhyDQgEEgkvbS8wYjkwX3IaGigAag0IBBIJL20vMGI5MF9ycgcIARIDTUVYQAFIAXACggELCP___________wGYAQGyAQQYASAB&amp;tfu=GgA">cheap domestic flights</a> all over. 
VivaAerobus is the country&rsquo;s budget carrier, and we&rsquo;ve seen one-way routes from Mexico City as low as $/&pound;/&euro;3 RT. No, that&rsquo;s not a typo.&nbsp;

<a id="entry" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h3 dir="ltr">Entry requirements</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Proof of onward travel: Sometimes, immigration officials will ask for proof that you&rsquo;re leaving the country (a return ticket or a ticket to another destination). It doesn&rsquo;t always happen, but it&rsquo;s good to have just in case.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Passport: Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months from your date of entry.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<a id="vacs-meds" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h3 dir="ltr">Vaccines and medications</h3>
There are no vaccines required for entry to Mexico however many travelers are recommended vaccines for Typhoid, Tetanus and Hepatitis A. Talk to your doctor before travelling to see what&rsquo;s right for you.&nbsp;
Any medication and travel essentials can be found and bought for a reasonable price in Mexico City.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Cash &amp; Currency</h3>
Mexico uses pesos as their main currency, but in touristy areas, American dollars are widely accepted. The only exception is in smaller shops and tiendas, where you can expect to pay in pesos.
Prices in Mexico are displayed in MXN (Mexican pesos) and denoted with the $ symbol, so don&rsquo;t panic if they seem high at first glance.
As a guideline, street tacos may be priced at 20 pesos, which is about $1 USD (or less than &pound;1/&euro;1) or a bottle of tequila 300&ndash;500 pesos, the equivalent of $/&euro;15-$/&euro;20&nbsp; or &pound;12-&pound;16.&nbsp;

You&rsquo;ll want to avoid changing money at the airport, as thieves have been known to target tourists after spotting them at the money exchange. Unfortunately, there&rsquo;s been many incidents of people being targeted by thieves after exchanging money.
You can withdraw cash from ATMs in Mexico for the best exchange rate, or consider using your home bank to exchange money before your trip. To make sure you always get the best rate, you should always choose to be charged in the local currency of the country you&rsquo;re in.
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For travellers from the USA, open a free Schwab checking account. It gives you free ATM access worldwide after rebate, and the exchange rate is 1 to 1. At then end of the month, your ATM fees are reimbursed.&nbsp;
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Akasha's Pro Tip

<h3 dir="ltr">Cash and Card Usage</h3>
In Mexico City, you can rely on using card, so carrying large amounts of cash isn&rsquo;t necessary. However, in small shops, markets and smaller towns or rural areas, cash is king.
<a id="in-cell" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h3 dir="ltr">Internet and Cell Service</h3>
Mexico City has reliable internet and cell service, making it a great destination for digital nomads. SIM cards are easy to find at airports, Oxxo convenience stores, or official carrier stores (Telcel, Movistar, and AT&amp;T Mexico are the main providers). Telcel has the best nationwide coverage.
Wi-Fi is widely available in caf&eacute;s, coworking spaces (like WeWork, Selina, and Impact Hub), and most Airbnb rentals. Some public areas and metro stations also offer free Wi-Fi, though speeds can vary. For uninterrupted work, consider getting a local SIM with a data plan or a portable Wi-Fi hotspot.
Many digital nomads work from neighborhoods like Roma, Condesa, and Polanco, where internet speeds are generally fast and caf&eacute;s are laptop-friendly. If you need high-speed internet, check with your accommodation beforehand or opt for a coworking space.

<a id="travel-style" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Travel Style</h1>
Always evolving, buzzy doesn&rsquo;t even begin to describe Mexico City.&nbsp;
First, this place is HUMONGOUS, bigger than you might expect. The city&rsquo;s energy is contagious, but for a first-time traveler or anyone who hasn&rsquo;t been to many cities in Latin America, Mexico City might feel a bit overwhelming. Especially if you&rsquo;re someone that struggles with sensory overload.
But with the right street-smarts and curiosity, it can be a hugely rewarding experience and locals are generally friendly and helpful, especially when you <a href="https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/this-spanish-course-will-prepare-you-for-your-mexican-vacation">try to speak in Spanish</a>. While some people do speak English, more so in touristy areas, being able to ask for directions or order food in Spanish will make your life easier &mdash; and your server&rsquo;s!&nbsp;
I&rsquo;ve highlighted the importance of keeping your wits about you. Here are some top tips on staying safe:
Pickpocketing: This is the most common issue in crowded places, like the metro or busy markets. Keep your valuables out of sight, split your money between pockets, and maybe even invest in a money belt.
Neighborhood Awareness: Some areas of Mexico City are super safe, like Roma, Condesa, and Polanco, but others, especially at night, might be worth avoiding (e.g., Tepito, and certain parts of downtown after dark). Always ask locals or your accommodation about which areas are worth skipping.&nbsp;
Scams: Watch out for overly friendly people offering "too good to be true" deals, and stay sharp if someone asks you for directions or strikes up an odd conversation.&nbsp;

Reddit is also a great place to ask questions about travelling in Mexico City. 
Whenever I plan my travels, I usually type a question into Google followed by the word Reddit, e.g. &ldquo;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=areas+in+mexico+city+to+stay+reddit&amp;oq=areas+in+mexico+city+to+stay+reddit&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yDQgCEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgDEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgEEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyCggFEAAYgAQYogQyCggGEAAYgAQYogQyCggHEAAYgAQYogTSAQg1ODQ5ajBqOagCALACAQ&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">Areas in Mexico City to stay Reddit.</a>&rdquo; Google will pull up an entire page full of Reddit discussions of real travelers&rsquo; opinions, instead of biased business pages or pages targeted for SEO.&nbsp;
But what's even better than Reddit? Asking your fellow JFC members! Post any questions you have in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/">Jack's Flight Club Travel Community</a> on Facebook!

<h3 dir="ltr">LGBTQ+</h3>
As the very first major city in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage, Mexico City has lots to offer LGBTQ travelers seeking vibrant nightlife, art, and culture. That being said, we&rsquo;ve sadly still seen reports of homophobic hate crimes in certain areas.&nbsp;
The heart of LGBTQ nightlife lies in the area known as Zona Rosa, where you&rsquo;ll find lively bars, clubs, and pride events. But the neighborhoods of Roma, Condesa, and Coyoacan are also home to a growing number of inclusive spaces.

If you&rsquo;re looking for travel tips, community, and recommendations for places to stay for LGBTQ+ travelers, take a look at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.misterbandb.com/">this helpful website</a>!

<h3 dir="ltr">Solo Female Travelers</h3>
As a solo female traveler in Mexico City, you can definitely have a fantastic time. I&rsquo;ve visited Mexico City a handful of times solo, and here are my best tips:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Stay in neighborhoods like Roma, Condesa, Polanco, Napoles, Coyacan. I wouldn&rsquo;t recommend staying in Zocalo, since it can be a bit dodgy at night.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Don&rsquo;t wear flashy, expensive jewelry. I&rsquo;ve had some weird experiences while on the metro, almost having a family heirloom grabbed from my neck. Thankfully, a kind stranger anticipated what was going to happen and stepped in.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Use Uber or Didi instead of grabbing random taxis, and avoid walking alone late at night.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Catcalls can happen, but just ignore them and keep moving. If someone seems too persistent or makes you uncomfortable, don&rsquo;t hesitate to duck into a shop or caf&eacute; for a bit. If a man stops and asks you for directions, it&rsquo;s usually better to be cautious. It could be harmless, but it could also be a distraction tactic. Just politely say you don&rsquo;t know and keep walking. If you ever feel uncomfortable and need to get out of a situation, try to find another woman nearby, especially someone who looks older or has a child with her. Approaching someone like that can help you feel safer and might discourage any unwanted attention. Trust your instincts and don&rsquo;t hesitate to ask for help if needed.</li>
<li>Stay at well-rated hotels, guest houses, or hostels, and trust your gut when dealing with people.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
There&rsquo;s a solid community of solo female travelers out there, including <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaletravelersinmexico/">Facebook groups</a> and <a href="https://asinglewomantraveling.com/13-must-have-travel-apps-for-solo-females/">apps</a>.&nbsp;

<a id="season" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Seasonality</h1>
<h3 dir="ltr">March&ndash;May: Ideal for Sunseekers</h3>
This is the start of the city's most idyllic weather, with highs around 26&deg;C/78&deg;F. Be sure to secure your travel plans early, as this is one of the most popular times of year to visit.
<h3 dir="ltr">June&ndash;August, December&ndash;February: Best for budget breaks</h3>
The summer months of June to August are Mexico's rainy season. The weather still hits highs of around 26&deg;C/78&deg;F during the day, but downpours appear nearly every afternoon.&nbsp;
Because it's a slower season, some hotels offer discounted rates. Visitors during these months can breathe easy as the rain clears up some of Mexico City's notoriously bad air pollution. Weather forecasts and pollution indexes are regularly updated <a href="https://mexicocity.cdmx.gob.mx/e/about/about-mexico-city/weather-forecasts-pollution-uv/">here</a>.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">September&ndash;November: Best time to experience Mexican festivals</h3>
Fall visits offer the opportunity to experience some of the city's most popular events and cultural activities, like <a href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/dia-de-muertos-what-to-know">D&iacute;a de los Muertos</a> (Day of the Dead).&nbsp;
Although D&iacute;a de los Muertos takes place at the beginning of November, celebrations kick off at the end of October &mdash; this is <a href="https://blog.vibeadventures.com/dia-de-los-muertos-2025/">an incredibly special time</a> to visit Mexico.&nbsp;

<a id="getting-around" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Getting Around&nbsp;</h1>
Getting around Mexico City will be the least of your worries. There&rsquo;s a sprawling metro system used by millions of people every day. It can get pretty packed during peak times (7am-9am, 5pm-7:30pm) &mdash; no joke, I once even lost a shoe trying to get off at my stop!&nbsp;
Remember to keep a close eye on your belongings and to not wear flashy jewelry, as pick-pocketing can occur, especially during rush-hour when everybody is packed in a subway car like sardines. To avoid overcrowding, passengers are discouraged from bringing large backpacks or suitcases.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s worth noting that the first three carriages of the metro are reserved for women and children only.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Renting a car</h3>
I&rsquo;d advise against renting a car here, as it&rsquo;s one of the world&rsquo;s most congested cities. It&rsquo;s best to avoid travelling by car or taxi during rush hour in particular, unless you want to spend your vacation in a grid-lock.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Rideshare and taxis</h3>
There are official taxis operating across the city, but for extra safety, I always recommend using Uber or DiDi.&nbsp;
Check out <a href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/getting-around-mexico-city">this helpful guide</a> from Lonely Planet for more information about transportation in Mexico City.

<h3 dir="ltr">Bus</h3>
If you&rsquo;re travelling around Mexico, it&rsquo;s likely that you&rsquo;ll take a long-distance bus at some point. As the capital city, you can grab an intercity bus to Mexico City from almost anywhere else in the country.&nbsp;
There are a couple of important things to know about coach travel in Mexico. Firstly, you should pay attention to the class of the ticket you buy &mdash; unsurprisingly, executive and deluxe services will be more comfortable, and generally speedier, than 1st class journeys, which again will be more pleasant than 2nd class. Familiarize yourself with <a href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/getting-around-mexico">the differences here</a> before booking.&nbsp;
Secondly, different companies operate in different parts of the country. In the south, ADO are one of the better options, while Primera Plus is a good choice in central Mexico.
ETN run connections between major cities along the Pacific, in the north, in the east, and some spots in the south. They&rsquo;re considered pretty luxurious, so while you&rsquo;ll pay a little more, it&rsquo;s worth it for those long journeys.
<a href="https://kittiaroundtheworld.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-travelling-around-mexico-by-bus/">This blog</a> is an excellent guide to the different routes and companies available, and how to plan for bus travel to and from Mexico City and other destinations around the country. Certain companies offer 10% discount if you book online in advance.

Don't forget Mexico City Benito Ju&aacute;rez International Airport (MEX) is a major hub for domestic flights in Mexico.
It serves as the primary hub for Aerom&eacute;xico, the country's flag carrier, and offers a wide network of domestic routes, including connections to other cities in Mexico (with budget friendly options with the airline Viva.&nbsp;

<a id="area-guides" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Area Guides</h1>
<h3 dir="ltr">Centro Hist&oacute;rico</h3>
The historic heart of Mexico City, Centro is filled with colonial-era architecture, museums, and cultural landmarks. The majestic Z&oacute;calo, one of the largest city squares in the world, is surrounded by iconic buildings such as the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace. While the Z&oacute;calo is a must-visit with its historic charm and lively atmosphere, it's important to be extra vigilant at night due to occasional petty crime&mdash;keep an eye on your belongings and stick to well-lit, crowded areas.
Vibe: Bustling, historic, and culturally rich. It&rsquo;s always lively with tourists and locals!
Key Attractions: Z&oacute;calo (main square), Metropolitan Cathedral, Templo Mayor, Palacio de Bellas Artes.&nbsp;
Roma Norte/Roma Sur
Stately Art Deco mansions, tree-lined boulevards, trendy caf&eacute;s, Roma is super popular with young professionals and digital nomads.&nbsp;
Artsy types will particularly enjoy the art galleries that line the streets of Roma Norte/Sur.
You can find street art murals adorning many of the buildings, adding to the creative energy of the area.
Vibe: Hip and artsy.&nbsp;
Key Attractions: Mercado Roma, Parque M&eacute;xico, art galleries, numerous caf&eacute;s, and restaurants.

<h3 dir="ltr">Condesa</h3>
Condesa&rsquo;s energy screams trendy. Artisanal dog treat bakeries, waiters in leather aprons, and more avocado toast than you&rsquo;ll know what to do with. It also happens to have some of the best parks in the city &mdash; you&rsquo;ll probably find more dogs than people here.&nbsp;
You&rsquo;ll find it hard to believe you&rsquo;re in a city of 22 million people as you wander through it&rsquo;s leaf lined boulevards and stunning Art Deco houses!
Vibe: Bohemian and fashionable.
Key Attractions: Parque Espa&ntilde;a, Parque M&eacute;xico, Avenida Amsterdam, a variety of restaurants and bars.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Polanco</h3>
Polanco is where the city's elite converge, drawn by its blend of modern skyscrapers and historic mansions.&nbsp;
The area is a culinary paradise, so you&rsquo;ll likely end up here if you&rsquo;re into a spot of fine dining, or you&rsquo;re celebrating a special occasion.&nbsp; Cultural landmarks like the Museo Soumaya and Museo Jumex also attract art lovers from around the world.
Vibe: Elegant, sophisticated, and exclusive.
Key Attractions: Museo Soumaya, Museo Jumex, Chapultepec Park, high-end boutiques on Avenida Presidente Masaryk.

<h3 dir="ltr">Coyoac&aacute;n</h3>
Coyoac&aacute;n feels like a village within the city, with cobblestone streets and plazas and colonial plazas packed with artists, performers and of course, mariachi bands. The neighborhood's artistic roots are plain to see at the Frida Kahlo Museum, <a href="https://www.museofridakahlo.org.mx/?lang=en">Casa Azul</a> (make sure to book your tickets in advance!) and the Leon Trotsky Museum. But even just browsing the&nbsp; Coyoac&aacute;n Market will give you a glimpse of the local creative talent!&nbsp;
Vibe: Historical, artistic, and laid-back.
Key Attractions: Frida Kahlo Museum, Leon Trotsky Museum, Coyoac&aacute;n Market, Plaza Hidalgo.
<h3 dir="ltr">Ju&aacute;rez</h3>
Once forsaken after the 1986 earthquake, Ju&aacute;rez has seen a shift towards gentrification in recent years. Divided by Avenida Insurgentes, Ju&aacute;rez has two completely different energies on its east and west sides.
On the west side, you'll find an interesting mix of Korean-owned businesses, run-down souvenir shops, bookstores, and sports bars, as well as the lively Zona Rosa, filled with campy discos, sex shops and strip clubs. On the east side, Marsella Street tends more towards concept stores, vinyl shops, local designer shops, and natural wine boutiques.&nbsp;
Vibe: Energetic, eclectic, and artistic.
Key Attractions: Reforma Avenue, Zona Rosa, Marsella Street, contemporary art galleries, hip caf&eacute;s, and vibrant nightlife.

<a id="day-trips" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Day Trips&nbsp;</h1>
<h3 dir="ltr">Valle de Bravo&nbsp;</h3>
For those in the know, Valle de Bravo is a welcome relief from the madness of Mexico City. Only <a href="https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Mexico-City/Valle-de-Bravo">a two-hour drive</a> and you&rsquo;re smack in the middle of a pine-clad valley, overlooking Lago Avandaro. Seamlessly woven into the town&rsquo;s architecture and art, you&rsquo;ll find a curious fusion of both Aztec and colonial influences.&nbsp;
The lake traditionally lures in affluent chilangos (residents of Mexico City) looking for a weekend escape. Luckily, you don&rsquo;t have to be a Telenovela star to enjoy everything on offer here; it&rsquo;s still relatively inexpensive compared to some spots in Mexico.&nbsp;
Nature is king here, especially if you&rsquo;re into water sports like kayaking, sailing, and water-skiing.&nbsp;
The hiking trails are endless, with more than their fair share of waterfalls and beautiful views, and if you&rsquo;ve ever wanted to try paragliding, there&rsquo;s no better place. In January, paragliders from all over the world flock to compete in the Monarca Open.
In winter, hike or horseback ride to <a href="https://owlovertheworld.com/visit-piedra-herrada-monarch-butterfly-sanctuary/">Piedra Herradura Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary</a>. You&rsquo;ll witness thousands of monarch butterflies making their annual migration from Canada to Mexico &mdash; it&rsquo;s truly magical.
To get here, you can rent a car and drive 2 hours, or take a 3hr bus ride from Terminal Poniente in Mexico City.

<h3 dir="ltr">Teotihuac&aacute;n</h3>
The ancient pyramids of Teotihuac&aacute;n are one of the most popular day trips from Mexico City, A UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the country.&nbsp;
Teotihuac&aacute;n means "The Place Where Gods Were Born," and dates back to around 100 AD. It was once one of the largest cities in the ancient world.&nbsp;
The site&rsquo;s two main pyramids, the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon, dominate the landscape. At about 216 ft tall, the epic views of the valley are worth the brisk climb to the top. Better yet,<a href="https://thehappyjetlagger.com/en/teotihuacan-mexiko-city/"> book a sunrise hot air balloon ride</a> if you&rsquo;ve got the cash to spend, it&rsquo;ll put you back about $/&euro;100 or &pound;80, but it&rsquo;s definitely worth it.&nbsp; 
Reaching Teotihuac&aacute;n from Mexico City by bus is simple and far cheaper than booking onto a tour, plus you&rsquo;ll beat the crowds of tourists if you can go earlier in the morning. The bus departs from Autobuses del Norte terminal.&nbsp;
At the bus station, find the booth that says &ldquo;Piramides&rdquo; to buy your tickets. Expect to pay around $52 pesos (approx. $/&euro;2.60 or &pound;2) each way. Departures are every 20 minutes. Otherwise, you can rent a car and be there in under an hour.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Puebla&nbsp;</h3>
Puebla is renowned for its stunning historical center, another UNESCO World Heritage site. The city boasts some incredible colonial architecture, like the ornate Puebla Cathedral and the Biblioteca Palafoxiana, dating all the way back to 1646 it&rsquo;s the oldest library in the Americas. The city is also famous for its Talavera pottery&mdash;colorful, hand-painted ceramics that make for fantastic souvenirs.
Foodies will love Puebla&rsquo;s renowned culinary scene, especially its famous mole poblano, a rich, spicy-sweet sauce often served over chicken. And don&rsquo;t leave without trying a cemita, a tasty sandwich piled high with meat, cheese, and avocado.
A short drive from Puebla will bring you to Atlixco, a picturesque town known for its lovely gardens and pleasant climate and beautiful flower markets.&nbsp;
Further on, you&rsquo;ll find the town of Cholula with its impressive Great Pyramid. This ancient structure, the largest pyramid by volume in the world, is mostly hidden beneath a hill but topped with the beautiful Nuestra Se&ntilde;ora de los Remedios church. Climbing up offers panoramic views of the surrounding area and nearby volcanoes.
That leads us to Popocat&eacute;petl or Popo as it&rsquo;s affectionately called, the enormous volcano dominating the skyline of Puebla and its surroundings.
Standing at nearly 18,000 feet, this active volcano offers a challenging trek starting from the town of Amecameca, with routes often beginning at the historical Paso de Cort&eacute;s.&nbsp;
The climb is demanding due to its high altitude and changing weather conditions, so it&rsquo;s crucial to check current access restrictions and be well-prepared with proper gear and local guides.&nbsp;
On clear days, the summit rewards climbers with stunning panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and the neighboring Iztacc&iacute;huatl Volcano, making the strenuous hike truly worth the effort.
Renting a car is a convenient way to explore these destinations at your pace, or you can catch a bus from Terminal Central del Sur in Mexico City. Departures leave hourly and tickets cost anywhere between 250-400 pesos depending on the bus class and company, and are often cheaper when booked ahead of time.
Puebla is a 2hr drive by car and 2.5 by bus, with Atlixco and Cholula 25-30mins from Puebla.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Tepoztlan</h3>
A mystical mountainous town Tepoztlan (not to be mistaken for Tepotzotl&aacute;n) has been long under the spell of the pyramid El Tepozteco. No wonder it&rsquo;s considered to be one of Mexico&rsquo;s Pueblo Magicos (magic towns).&nbsp;
The pyramid was built by the Aztecs in honor of Tepoztecatl, the god of pulque (a traditional fermented drink in Mexico). It offers breathtaking views of the surrounding valley, making it a popular spot for both history enthusiasts and hikers.&nbsp;
The town itself has long been associated with spiritual practices and local legends. It&rsquo;s often regarded as a place of energy and healing, with visitors flocking from across the country to consult its indigenous healers.&nbsp;
To get here is pretty straightforward. Rent a car and you&rsquo;ll arrive in 1.5hrs or hop on a bus from Terminal Tazqueno in Mexico City.
You&rsquo;ll want to head straight for the OCC counter where a one-way ticket will run you $130 pesos ($/&euro;7 USD or &pound;5.50), keep in mind though the bus drops you about a mile from the town center.

<a id="worth-note" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Worth Noting</h1>
<h3 dir="ltr">Language</h3>
Spanish is the most widely spoken language in Mexico, but the government also recognizes 68 other languages spoken in the country. Most hotels and tourism-related services offer at least some level of English.

<h3 dir="ltr">Altitude Sickness</h3>
Mexico City sits pretty high up, about 2,240 meters (7,350 feet) above sea level, so some visitors might feel a bit off when they first arrive. You could experience things like headaches, dizziness, or just feeling exhausted. It&rsquo;s usually nothing serious, and most people adjust in a day or two.&nbsp;
To help with it, drink plenty of water, take it easy on alcohol, and rest up when you get there. If the symptoms stick around or get worse, it's a good idea to check in with a doctor, but most people feel better after a little time.

<h3 dir="ltr">Food Hygiene&nbsp;</h3>
It&rsquo;s hardly a secret that Mexico has some of the best food on the planet. Unfortunately, though, food poisoning is a real issue, and during my time living in Mexico, I suffered from it more times than I can count. In some instances, it was nothing more than an upset stomach for a few days. But other times, it got so bad I even required hospitalization on several occasions &mdash; thanks parasites!
I won&rsquo;t go too into detail, but here are my best tips to avoid getting sick while travelling in Mexico:
<h3 dir="ltr">Water</h3>
Sadly, in Mexico, millions of people lack access to clean water due to pollution, lack of infrastructure and corporate corruption. And one of the biggest culprits of food poisoning that travelers encounter? Contaminated water.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Never drink the tap water. That goes for brushing your teeth too, use filtered water and don&rsquo;t even think about opening your mouth in the shower.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Never eat food washed with tap water or that contains high levels of water, e.g., that salad on your plate, forget about it.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Use dry glasses/dishware only. If somebody gives you a glass for your drink that looks like it&rsquo;s just been washed, avoid. This is because the harmful bacteria are water-born, so they&rsquo;ll die off once something has been left to dry.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Don&rsquo;t drink fruit juices unless they are freshly squeezed, as they might be reconstituted with tap water.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">If you&rsquo;re cooking at your accommodation, use filtered water to wash your vegetables. Pick up a bottle of <a href="https://kathleeniscookinginmexico.wordpress.com/tag/microdyn/">Microdyn</a> at any convenience store and add it to the water to disinfect your vegetables and fruit. Do not skip this step; fruit and vegetables are irrigated in waste-water in Mexico.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">You can buy 20L jugs of treated water from most grocery or convenience stores. These are known as garraf&oacute;ns and are the most convenient way of keeping a supply of clean water around. Most Airbnbs will have have 1&ndash;2 garraf&oacute;ns for you to use, but always make sure they are sealed. The same goes for bottled water in a restaurant. Some establishments may offer you conveniently pre-opened bottles of &ldquo;purified&rdquo; water, but usually they&rsquo;re trying to reuse bottles by refilling them with unclean water. Always ask for &ldquo;bebidas selladas,&rdquo; meaning &ldquo;sealed drinks&rdquo;.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Add some drops of Microdyn to your bottle as well, and avoid using the brand Bonafont &mdash; many locals have told me the water quality is questionable.&nbsp;

<a id="food" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Food</h1>
Mexico City&rsquo;s food scene is a delicious blend of tradition and innovation, with something for every craving. Here are some standout dishes&mdash;and the best spots to try them:
<h3 dir="ltr">Dishes to Try</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Huaraches &ndash; Thick, sandal-shaped masa bases loaded with beans, cheese, and toppings like tinga or nopales (cactus).</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sopa de Hongos &ndash; A comforting wild mushroom soup, often flavored with epazote and garlic.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Mixiotes &ndash; Tender lamb or chicken steamed in maguey leaves with pasilla chiles&mdash;super aromatic and juicy.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Escamoles &ndash; Buttery, nutty ant larvae (Mexico&rsquo;s "caviar"), best enjoyed in tacos or with eggs.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Chiles en Nogada &ndash; Poblano peppers stuffed with picadillo, draped in walnut cream and pomegranate seeds&mdash;a patriotic favorite.</li>
</ul>

<h3 dir="ltr">Where to Eat</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g150800-d814867-Reviews-Restaurante_El_Cardenal-Mexico_City_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast.html">El Cardenal</a> &ndash; A classic for chiles en nogada and mixiotes, plus incredible pan dulce and hot chocolate.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g150800-d2640717-Reviews-Azul_Historico-Mexico_City_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast.html">Azul Hist&oacute;rico</a> &ndash; Stunning courtyard setting and refined Mexican dishes like sopa de hongos and cochinita pibil.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g150800-d7347504-Reviews-Taqueria_Los_Cocuyos-Mexico_City_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast.html">Los Cocuyos</a> &ndash; A legendary late-night taquer&iacute;a where Anthony Bourdain ate, famous for suadero and tacos de ojo (yes, eyeball tacos).</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g150800-d800423-Reviews-Pujol-Mexico_City_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast.html">Pujol</a><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g150800-d800423-Reviews-Pujol-Mexico_City_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast.html"> </a>&ndash; Enrique Olvera&rsquo;s world-famous spot for next-level Mexican cuisine (try the mole madre tasting menu).</li>
</ul>
Eating in Mexico City is a fantastic experience, especially if you take advantage of the "Men&uacute; del D&iacute;a" (Menu of the Day), a budget-friendly and delicious way to enjoy a full meal. Here are some tips to make the most of it:
<h3 dir="ltr">Men&uacute; del D&iacute;a</h3>
Eating in Mexico City is a fantastic experience, especially if you take advantage of the "Men&uacute; del D&iacute;a" (Menu of the Day), a budget-friendly and delicious way to enjoy a full meal. Here are some tips to make the most of it:
Typically includes:
<ul>
<li>Sopa o pasta (soup or pasta)</li>
<li>Arroz o frijoles (rice or beans)</li>
<li>Guisado principal (main dish &ndash; meat, chicken, fish, or vegetarian)</li>
<li>Agua fresca (flavored water)</li>
<li>Sometimes dessert or coffee</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Best Places to Find Men&uacute; del D&iacute;a</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Fondas &amp; Cocinas Econ&oacute;micas &ndash; Small, family-run spots with home-style cooking.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Local Markets &ndash; Many markets (e.g., Mercado San Juan, Mercado Roma) have food stalls offering men&uacute; del d&iacute;a.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Traditional Restaurants &ndash; Look for places with a chalkboard or sign saying "Men&uacute; Ejecutivo" (executive lunch).</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">When to Go</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lunchtime (2&ndash;5 PM) &ndash; Mexicans eat lunch late, so the best men&uacute;s are served in the afternoon.</li>
<li>Avoid peak hours (around 3 PM) if you want a seat quickly.</li>
</ul>

<h3 dir="ltr">Street Food</h3>
Avoid or Indulge? That&rsquo;s the hot question.
Avoiding street food in Mexico means missing out on a cultural experience integral to the country&rsquo;s culinary roots. It&rsquo;s not just about the flavors; it&rsquo;s about the atmosphere, the community, and the stories behind each dish.&nbsp;
That being said, there are a few things to look out for if you want to have the best experience:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Eat at stands that locals are lining up for. If nobody is lining up at a certain stand, there&rsquo;s probably a reason for it. But remember, locals will have a different level of immunity than travelers.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Bypass the stands that vendors are handling raw meat and vegetables simultaneously, or are handling food and money. And if you see a stand where raw meat sits in the open sun for extended periods of time? Keep walking.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h3>Food Poisoning &amp; Parasites: Prevention &amp; Remedies</h3>
Unfortunately, you can&rsquo;t always protect yourself from food poisoning or parasites. I&rsquo;ve had memorable adventures with these nasty illnesses, and despite western medication from my doctor (which is readily available in Mexico City), I found that there were some local remedies that also helped my symptoms. 
I&rsquo;m not a doctor, though, so definitely do your own research and check with a medical professional to make sure whatever you take doesn&rsquo;t contradict your existing medication.&nbsp; 
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Charcoal Tablets: Activated charcoal acts like a sponge for toxins, binding to harmful substances in your digestive system. It helps alleviate gas, bloating, and even hangovers. Just remember to time it right with any medications!</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Probiotics: Think kefir, sauerkraut, and tepache as your gut&rsquo;s personal cheerleaders! These fermented foods are rich in beneficial bacteria that restore balance in your digestive system.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Chaparro Amargoso: Known for its bitter flavor, this herb is often used to tackle digestive issues and parasites. Its cleansing properties can help flush out unwanted guests from your gut.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Grapefruit Seed Extract: A potent ally with antimicrobial properties, grapefruit seed extract can combat bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Just a few drops in water can bolster your body&rsquo;s defenses and aid digestion.</li>
</ul>

If your Spanish is decent, head for Mercado de Sonora, Mexico City&rsquo;s witch-market. Here you&rsquo;ll find tons of stalls selling indigenous herbs and remedies. Ask them for Chinchawa and thank me later!&nbsp;

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<h1 dir="ltr">Events</h1>
<h3 dir="ltr">SEMANA SANTA</h3>
Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Mexico is a huge cultural and religious celebration leading up to Easter. In Mexico City, it&rsquo;s marked by solemn processions, dramatic reenactments, and deep traditions. One of the most famous events is the Passion Play in Iztapalapa, where locals reenact the crucifixion in an intense and detailed performance. Churches hold special services, and processions wind through the streets with statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.&nbsp;
Even if you're not religious, it&rsquo;s an amazing way to experience Mexico&rsquo;s blend of faith, history, and culture.&nbsp;
It is one of the busiest times to travel for Mexican families, so if you&rsquo;re more of an introvert, you&rsquo;ll probably want to avoid planning your trip for this time of year.
<h3 dir="ltr">INDEPENDENCE DAY (D&Iacute;A DE LA INDEPENDENCIA)</h3>
Forget Cinco de Mayo&mdash;September 16 is the real deal. The entire country bursts into life with music, fireworks, and an electric atmosphere, all to commemorate the start of Mexico&rsquo;s fight for independence from Spain in 1810.
The heart of the action is in Z&oacute;calo, Mexico City&rsquo;s main square. On the night of September 15th, thousands of people gather to witness "El Grito de Dolores" (The Cry of Dolores), a reenactment of the moment when Miguel Hidalgo, a priest, rang the church bell and rallied the people to rise up. The President of Mexico steps out onto the National Palace balcony, waves the Mexican flag, and shouts &ldquo;&iexcl;Viva M&eacute;xico!&rdquo; three times. The crowd roars back, the sky explodes with fireworks, and the party kicks into full gear.
The next day, September 16th, the streets fill with parades&mdash;expect to see everything from military processions to folkloric dancers twirling in traditional dresses. Bands play lively mariachi tunes, and the air is thick with the smell of street food like elotes (grilled corn) and tacos al pastor.

<h3 dir="ltr">DAY OF THE DEAD (DIA DE MUERTOS)</h3>
D&iacute;a de Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Mexico is one of the most visually stunning and heartfelt celebrations you&rsquo;ll ever witness. Taking place on November 1st and 2nd, it&rsquo;s not about mourning&mdash;it's a joyful, colorful tribute to loved ones who&rsquo;ve passed, celebrating their lives with food, music, and elaborate altars.
The most iconic part of the celebration is the ofrendas&mdash;altars set up in homes, streets, and public spaces. These are adorned with photos, marigold flowers (known as cempas&uacute;chil), candles, sugar skulls, and the favorite foods of the departed, inviting them to return and celebrate with the living. You'll find incredible public displays, especially at places like the Z&oacute;calo, where large-scale altars and installations are on full display.
Mexico City also hosts a massive D&iacute;a de Muertos parade, complete with giant skeleton floats, performers in full calavera (skull) makeup, and traditional dancers.
It&rsquo;s not all about the spectacle, though&mdash;there&rsquo;s a deep sense of reverence in the air. People visit cemeteries to clean and decorate graves, spending time with their ancestors in a beautiful blend of celebration and remembrance. Even if you're just a visitor, the warmth of this tradition will draw you in, and you'll leave with a more profound understanding of how Mexicans view life, death, and the unbreakable connection between the two.
<h3 dir="ltr">THE DAY OF THE RACE (D&Iacute;A DE LA RAZA)</h3>
D&iacute;a de la Raza in Mexico City is a unique mix of history, culture, and modern-day reflection. It&rsquo;s celebrated on October 12th, marking the day in 1492 when Columbus first landed in the Americas. But in Mexico, it&rsquo;s less about celebrating Columbus and more about honoring the rich indigenous cultures that existed long before European colonization.
In Mexico City, the day kicks off with vibrant parades, where you&rsquo;ll see people dressed in colorful indigenous costumes, dancing to traditional music. These events are all about reclaiming and celebrating the pre-Hispanic roots that are so integral to Mexico&rsquo;s identity.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s also a day for reflection. You'll notice many gatherings and speeches dedicated to social issues, particularly around indigenous rights and the legacy of colonization. It&rsquo;s a blend of celebration and a reminder of the struggles that indigenous communities still face today.

<a id="rec-res" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Recommended Resources</h1>
<h3 dir="ltr">Coworking &amp; Digital Nomads</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.wework.com/mx/en/l/mexico-city">WeWork Mexico City</a> &ndash; Coworking spaces across the city.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://nomadlist.com/mexico-city">Nomad List (Mexico City)</a> &ndash; Digital nomad tips and reviews.</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Transportation &amp; Ride-Sharing</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.uber.com/">Uber</a> &ndash; Most popular ride-hailing app.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.didi.mx/">Didi</a> &ndash; A cheaper alternative to Uber.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://cabify.com/">Cabify</a> &ndash; Another reliable ride-hailing option.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.ecobici.cdmx.gob.mx/">Ecobici</a> &ndash; Bike-sharing system (requires registration).</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://metro.cdmx.gob.mx/">Metro CDMX</a> &ndash; Official metro website with maps and updates.</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Public Transit &amp; Navigation</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://moovitapp.com/">Moovit</a> &ndash; Best app for metro, bus, and transit routes.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://citymapper.com/mexico-city">Citymapper</a> &ndash; Great for real-time transit directions.</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Safety &amp; Emergency Info</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://mx.usembassy.gov/">U.S. Embassy Mexico City</a> &ndash; Travel alerts and emergency assistance.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.gob.mx/sectur">SECTUR (Mexican Tourism Board)</a> &ndash; Official tourism info and safety tips.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.locatel.cdmx.gob.mx/">Locatel</a> &ndash; CDMX emergency &amp; assistance hotline (dial 5658-1111).</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Food &amp; Dining</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://eater.com/maps/best-mexico-city-restaurants-38">Eater Mexico City</a> &ndash; Best restaurants &amp; food guides.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://resy.com/cities/mex/mexico-city">Resy</a> &ndash; Book tables at top restaurants (like Pujol).</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.opentable.com/mexico-city-restaurants">OpenTable</a> &ndash; More restaurant reservations.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.eltenedor.com.mx/">Tenedor</a> &ndash; Discounts at restaurants.</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;Travel Communities &amp; Blogs</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/MexicoCity/">Mexico City Subreddit</a> &ndash; Real-time traveler Q&amp;A.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/mexicocityexpats/">CDMX Travel Facebook Groups</a> &ndash; Immigrants/digital nomads.</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;Culture, Events &amp; Tickets</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.tiqets.com/en/mexico-city-l147634/">Tiqets</a> &ndash; Skip-the-line tickets for museums (Frida Kahlo, Anthropology Museum).</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com.mx/">Ticketmaster MX</a> &ndash; Concerts, sports, and events.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.timeout.com/mexico-city">Time Out Mexico City</a> &ndash; Events, nightlife, and pop-up experiences.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.meetup.com/cities/mx/mexico_city/">Meetup</a> &ndash; Find expat/digital nomad events.</li>
</ul>

Mexico

$287 RT

Puerto Vallarta, Cabo & Mazatlán in $290s-$390s RT

Mexico City in €1150s-€1170s rtn

Puerto Vallarta at $443 RT

$385-$385 RT

Madrid, Peru and more in £70s-£590s/€70s-€420s rtn