Colonial Treasures of Mexico — Self-Launched Edition
8 days · Central Mexico (Mexico City, Morelia, Pátzcuaro, Guadalajara, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Querétaro)
SAT Mexico Tour and Travel charges £2,210
No-markup version: ~£795 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, self-launched version of SAT Mexico's 8-day "Colonial Treasures" loop: Mexico City's Aztec and colonial core, the pyramids of Teotihuacan, then a westward swing through the UNESCO-listed silver-and-pink-stone towns of Morelia, Pátzcuaro, Guadalajara (with a tequila distillery stop), Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende and Querétaro. You'll use the excellent first-class ETN/Primera Plus coaches instead of a private minibus, stay in well-located hostels and family guesthouses instead of 4-star hotels, and book the same guides and walking tours directly or via GetYourGuide. Costs are approximate backpacker/mid-range rates in GBP and assume shared dorm or budget private rooms; add roughly 30–40% if you want a private room throughout.
Day-by-day
Arrive Mexico City — Centro Histórico orientation
Mexico City
Fly into Mexico City (MEX or NLU) and take the Metrobús Line 4 or an authorised airport taxi (~£8–10) to a hostel in the Centro Histórico or Roma/Condesa. SAT Mexico includes a private arrival transfer — you can replicate it with an Uber (typically £8–12 to Centro) booked in the app before you exit arrivals. Spend the late afternoon walking the Zócalo, seeing the Metropolitan Cathedral floodlit and grabbing tacos al pastor (3 for ~£2) at a taquería near Calle Regina. Pick up a local SIM/eSIM before arrival or at the airport OXXO.
🚌Uber or authorised airport taxi from MEX/NLU to Centro (~£10); all further city movement by Metrobús/Metro (£0.35 per ride)
🛏Hostel dorm in Centro Histórico or Roma Norte, e.g. via Hostelworld (~£14/night)
- →Zócalo evening walk (free)
- →Metropolitan Cathedral exterior (free)
- →Tacos al pastor dinner in Centro
Mexico City: Templo Mayor, Bellas Artes & Anthropology Museum
Mexico City
Do the guided walking-tour element yourselves: book a free/pay-what-you-want Centro Histórico walking tour via GetYourGuide or Guruwalk (tip ~£8–10) that covers the Zócalo, Cathedral, Templo Mayor exterior and Palacio de Bellas Artes. Then pay the ~£3.50 entry to Templo Mayor ruins and take the Metrobús or a short Uber to Chapultepec for the National Museum of Anthropology (£4.50 entry, closed Mondays). Audio guide or a GetYourGuide small-group museum tour (~£20) substitutes for the certified bilingual guide. Finish with dinner in Roma Norte.
🚌Metro/Metrobús (~£1.50 total); optional Uber to Chapultepec ~£3
🛏Hostel dorm in Centro Histórico or Roma Norte (~£14)
- →Centro Histórico tip-based walking tour (~£9)
- →Templo Mayor entry (~£3.50)
- →National Museum of Anthropology entry (~£4.50)
- →Palacio de Bellas Artes & Alameda Central (free to view exterior)
Teotihuacan pyramids & Basilica of Guadalupe
Teotihuacan / Mexico City
Book a small-group day trip via GetYourGuide or Civitatis (~£30–35) covering the Basilica of Guadalupe and Teotihuacan with a guide, which mirrors the included guided tour for a fraction of the cost. Alternatively, do it DIY: Metro+Búho bus from Terminal del Norte (~£5 return) plus £4.50 site entry, arriving at opening time to beat the crowds. Walk the Avenue of the Dead and climb the Pyramid of the Sun and Moon. Back in the city by evening — try a mezcalería in Roma.
🚌GetYourGuide/Civitatis shared day tour coach, or Metro + Búho bus (~£5) DIY
🛏Hostel dorm in Centro Histórico or Roma Norte (~£14)
- →Basilica of Guadalupe visit
- →Guided Teotihuacan tour with Pyramid of the Sun & Moon (~£32)
- →Avenue of the Dead walk
Mexico City to Morelia — pink stone city walk
Morelia
Take a first-class ETN or Primera Plus coach from Mexico City's Terminal Observatorio or del Norte to Morelia (~4 hrs, ~£22) — book online a day ahead. This replaces the operator's shared transfer and is comfortable with WiFi and reclining seats. Check into a hostel or guesthouse near the Centro, then self-guide the colonial core: Cathedral, Palacio de Gobierno (murals by Alfredo Zalce), Plaza de los Mártires, the Morelia Aqueduct viewpoint and Capilla de Guadalupe. End at the Mercado de Dulces for ates (quince paste) and regional candies (~£3).
🚌First-class ETN/Primera Plus coach Mexico City → Morelia (~£22)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse near Morelia Centro (~£20)
- →Self-guided Centro Histórico walk (free)
- →Palacio de Gobierno murals (free)
- →Mercado de Dulces tasting (~£3)
- →Morelia Aqueduct & Capilla de Guadalupe (free)
Pátzcuaro day trip & onward to Guadalajara
Pátzcuaro / Guadalajara
Catch an early local bus from Morelia to Pátzcuaro (~1 hr, ~£2.50). Spend the morning at Casa de los Once Patios artisan workshops (copper, textiles, lacquerware), the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud and Plaza Don Vasco de Quiroga. If you want the ranch stop from the original itinerary, Rancho Los Tres Potrillos is on the road out toward the highway — reachable by taxi (~£8) for lunch, but it's optional. In the afternoon take a Pátzcuaro/Morelia coach to Guadalajara (~4 hrs, ~£25). Check into a hostel near Guadalajara Centro or Colonia Americana.
🚌Local bus Morelia → Pátzcuaro (~£2.50) + Pátzcuaro → Guadalajara coach (~£25)
🛏Hostel in Guadalajara Centro or Colonia Americana (~£18)
- →Casa de los Once Patios artisan workshops
- →Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud
- →Plaza Don Vasco de Quiroga
- →Optional Rancho Los Tres Potrillos stop by taxi (~£8)
Guadalajara, Tequila distillery & Tlaquepaque
Guadalajara / Tequila / Tlaquepaque
Morning self-guided walk of Guadalajara's historic centre: Cathedral, Rotonda de los Hombres Ilustres, Teatro Degollado, Plaza Tapatía and a panoramic look at Hospicio Cabañas (Orozco murals entry ~£4). Then take the Tequila Plus / José Cuervo Express bus or a GetYourGuide tequila-distillery day tour (~£28–35) to Tequila for a distillery visit and tasting — this replaces the operator's included tour and tasting. On the way back hop off at Tlaquepaque for artisan workshops and dinner, then a cheap Uber back to the hostel (~£5).
🚌Local bus/Metro in Guadalajara (~£1) + Tequila day tour or Tequila Plus bus (~£30 round trip incl. tasting)
🛏Hostel in Guadalajara Centro or Colonia Americana (~£18)
- →Guadalajara historic centre self-guided walk (free)
- →Hospicio Cabañas murals (~£4)
- →Tequila distillery tour & tasting (~£30)
- →Tlaquepaque artisan district (free to browse)
Guanajuato & San Miguel de Allende
Guanajuato / San Miguel de Allende
Take an early Primera Plus coach Guadalajara → Guanajuato (~4 hrs, ~£24) and drop bags at the bus station lockers or a café. Self-guide the panoramic highlights: Teatro Juárez, University of Guanajuato, Callejón del Beso, Diego Rivera House-Museum exterior, and the famous underground streets (túneles). A GetYourGuide or local guide walking tour runs ~£12 if you want the commentary. Mid-afternoon continue by bus to San Miguel de Allende (~2 hrs, ~£6) and check into a guesthouse in the centre.
🚌Primera Plus coach Guadalajara → Guanajuato (~£24) + local bus Guanajuato → San Miguel de Allende (~£6)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in San Miguel de Allende Centro (~£22)
- →Guanajuato panoramic self-guided walk (free)
- →Optional Guanajuato walking tour (~£12)
- →Callejón del Beso & underground streets
- →San Miguel de Allende evening stroll
San Miguel de Allende & Querétaro, return to Mexico City
San Miguel de Allende / Querétaro / Mexico City
Morning walk to the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel (the pink neo-Gothic landmark), Chapel of the Holy House, Convent of La Concepción, Church of San Francisco and Casa e Instituto Allende, plus free time for galleries and artisan shops. Take the 1 hr bus to Querétaro (~£4) and self-guide the UNESCO centre: the Aqueduct, Ex-Convent of the Cross, Teatro de la República (Mexico's 1917 constitution was signed here) and Plaza de la Corregidora. Finish with an ETN coach Querétaro → Mexico City (~3 hrs, ~£15) or stay the night if your flight is early.
🚌Local bus San Miguel → Querétaro (~£4) + ETN coach Querétaro → Mexico City (~£15)
🛏Not included (onward travel or final night in Mexico City ~£14)
- →Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel & colonial churches (free)
- →Instituto Allende galleries (free)
- →Querétaro self-guided historic centre walk (free)
- →Teatro de la República
Self-launched vs. SAT Mexico Tour and Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | SAT Mexico Tour and Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£795 | £2,210 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,415 per person (64%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more SAT Mexico Tour and Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£795
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Colonial Treasures of Mexico — Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £795 per person for 8 days in Central Mexico (Mexico City, Morelia, Pátzcuaro, Guadalajara, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Querétaro). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with SAT Mexico Tour and Travel?+
Yes — SAT Mexico Tour and Travel charges around £2,210 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £795 — a saving of roughly £1,415 (64%) per person.
How long is the Central Mexico (Mexico City, Morelia, Pátzcuaro, Guadalajara, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Querétaro) trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Central Mexico (Mexico City, Morelia, Pátzcuaro, Guadalajara, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Querétaro).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, budget, foodie trip through Central Mexico (Mexico City, Morelia, Pátzcuaro, Guadalajara, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Querétaro), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.