3 Day Trips To Take From Mexico City

Just outside the boarders of Mexico City is a whole different world. From ancient pyramids, to caves, volcanoes, water holes and even a creepy island of dolls, you could easily feel like you’re in a different country every day just exploring the outskirts of Mexico City.

If you’re looking to get out of the city and explore more of the authentic Mexico City, here are a few ideas of day trips you can take.

Xochimilco

A local borough to Mexico City is Xochimilco, only approximately 45 minutes away from the centre of Mexico City. It is best known for it’s canals, which are left from what used to be a giant lake and canal system that connected most of the settlements of the Valley of Mexico.

The canals and the adjacent artificial islands called chinampas attract lots of visitors with their colourful gondola-style boats called trajineras that are available to hire for the day. Due to the pre-hispanic past of Xochimilco, it has been classed as a World Heritage Site.

island of dolls mexico city

Amongst the canals of Xochimilco you can also find Isla de la Muñecas, the Island of Dolls. It was never meant to be a tourist destination, but as rapidly become one. The island is home to hundreds of terrifying looking dolls with severed limbs, decapitated heads and blank eyes, hanging and nailed to the trees and shrubs that cover the island.

You might need a string stomach for this one. The legend states that a girl was found drowned in mysterious circumstances many years ago on the island, and the dolls are possessed by her spirit. If you have the guts to visit, we would love to know all about it!

Book now: Your tour to Xochimilco

Teotihuacan Pyramids

Known as the City of Gods, Teotihuacan was one of the largest and most important pre-Aztec cities in Mexico, and home to nearly 200,000 people from many different ancient cultures.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site is believed to be established in around 100 BC and if you visit on a day tour you can get right up into the archaeological zone, explore palaces, plazas and pyramids and learn about the history of the architecture and its cultural foundation.

Make sure to check out the Avenue of the Dead, as well as the Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun. You will even have the opportunity to climb to the top of the edifices for amazing bird’s-eye views.

Book now: Your tour to the Teotihuacan Pyramids

Cacahuamilpa Caves & Blue Water Holes

Combine nature, culture and history by visiting Cacahuamilpa Caves National Park – one of the largest cave systems in the world. You’re able to walk around inside the caves and check out the beautiful stone formations before heading to some local Blue Water Holes where you can swim, or just relax in nature. The Caves and Water Holes are about a three hour trip each way to and from Mexico City.

Book now: Your day trip to Cacahuamilpa Caves

There are so many different kinds of day trips you can take from Mexico City, covering absolutely everything you could imagine. Also within a day trip you could complete the Iztaccihuatl Volcano hike or hot air balloon over the ancient pyramids.

Check out Viator to find out all the different options available to you! All images in this post sourced from Google Images.

24 Hours in Mexico City

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