How to Do a Week in Mexico with Full Board

Planning a week in Mexico on full board sounds like the ultimate fantasy—no worries about meals, just you, the rich culture of Mexico, and days packed with vibrant experiences. But Mexico is more than just spicy tacos, sun-soaked beaches, and tequila shots (though, let’s be honest, that sounds fabulous too!). What if we told you that a week on full board here can be a surreal combination of sensory overload, offbeat adventures, and deeply satisfying soul-food moments?

Let’s embark on a quirky, sophisticated, and delicious tour of a week in Mexico—where the mezcal flows as freely as conversation, where ancient pyramids coexist with bustling metropolises, and where every meal is a story waiting to be told.

Day 1: Arrival in Mexico City – Where Modernity Meets Ancient Roots

After touching down in Mexico City, you’ll likely be hit by the sensory kaleidoscope that is the metropolis. Mexico City is no sleepy pueblo; it’s a buzzing, thriving urban landscape where history lives side-by-side with the avant-garde.

Your full-board journey begins at a boutique hotel like La Valise or Condesa DF, where gourmet meals will blend contemporary cuisine with traditional Mexican flavors. Think mole dishes that take hours to perfect, with spices that tickle your palate like they’re weaving a story—each flavor a plot twist.

Dinner might consist of a deconstructed taco al pastor with pineapple foam and locally-sourced slow-cooked pork, paired with a smoky mezcal cocktail garnished with chapulines (that’s right, grasshoppers!). In Mexico, eating is an art form, and you’re now in the gallery.

Day 2: Exploring the Pyramids of Teotihuacan and Culinary Secrets of the Aztecs

Start your day early with a hearty breakfast of chilaquiles verdes, a traditional dish made of crispy tortilla chips smothered in a tangy green tomatillo sauce, topped with crema and fresh cheese. The flavors are bold, just like the day ahead.

You’re off to explore Teotihuacan, the ancient Mesoamerican city that once boasted one of the largest populations in the world. Climbing the Pyramid of the Sun—with sweeping views of the Valley of Mexico—becomes a metaphor for your adventurous ascent into the heart of Mexico’s ancient civilization.

For lunch? A meal inspired by the ancient Aztecs awaits. Amaranth tortillas, grilled nopales (cactus), and a sip of pulque—a fermented beverage consumed for thousands of years. It's full board with an archeological twist.

Return to the city to indulge in antojitos (little cravings), such as elotes (grilled street corn), topped with lime, chili powder, and cheese. The streets will entice you to join the chorus of laughter and sizzling sounds. Street food, after all, is where Mexico’s heart beats strongest.

Day 3: Frida, Diego, and the Soul of Mexican Art

Day three brings you face-to-face with the art and soul of Mexico. A trip to Casa Azul, the home of Frida Kahlo in Coyoacán, is a must. Immerse yourself in her world—full of pain, passion, and undeniable vibrance. Across town, Diego Rivera’s massive murals at the Palacio Nacional tell stories of revolution, oppression, and hope.

Today’s lunch is traditional with a twist: at Azul Historico, you can enjoy cochinita pibil, a slow-roasted pork dish from the Yucatán Peninsula, marinated in sour orange and wrapped in banana leaves. The flavors melt into each other like brushstrokes on a Rivera mural—earthy, warm, complex.

Dinner? It’s Pujol time. Ranked among the best restaurants in the world, Chef Enrique Olvera’s creations reimagine Mexican ingredients with avant-garde techniques. You’ll experience his famous mole madre, aged for over 2,000 days, paired with younger mole—a poetic symphony of time and taste.

Day 4: Oaxaca’s Culinary Mecca and the Zapotec Spirit

Today, we head south to the cultural and culinary haven of Oaxaca. Known for its distinct indigenous roots and culinary prowess, Oaxaca is a place where food traditions are fiercely preserved. Settle into an authentic hacienda like Casa Oaxaca for your full-board stay.

A morning market visit takes you to Mercado Benito Juárez, where colors burst like fireworks and the scent of cacao, cinnamon, and fresh tortillas waft through the air. Have a go at tlayudas, the Oaxacan pizza, a gigantic, crispy tortilla spread with black bean paste, Oaxacan cheese, and heaps of fresh ingredients.

Take an afternoon trip to Mitla, the ancient Zapotec city, and return just in time for a dinner of mole negro, a dish so labor-intensive and rich in flavor that it's practically a love letter to the ingredients. This is the art of slow cooking, perfected over centuries.

Oaxaca’s full board experience isn’t complete without mezcal, of course. An artisanal mezcaleria will introduce you to the smoky, nuanced flavors of this beloved spirit. “Para todo mal, mezcal,” they say. “For everything bad, mezcal.”

Day 5: Vibrant Waters and Relaxation in the Riviera Maya

After days of immersion in history and food, it’s time for some R&R. Fly to the Riviera Maya and settle into a lush eco-resort like Hotel Esencia. The Riviera Maya, with its powdery white beaches and crystalline waters, is a haven for rest and contemplation.

On full board here, expect meals bursting with the sea’s bounty. Start with ceviche: fresh, tangy, and bright, with lime-soaked shrimp or octopus, married with fresh avocado and cilantro. In the afternoon, let a lazy siesta follow your lunch of pescado a la talla, fish marinated in a red chili rub and grilled to perfection.

For dinner, your resort will spoil you with a seafood feast under the stars. Lobster tails, grilled shrimp, and creamy coconut rice. The moonlight reflecting on the Caribbean waters makes each bite a little more magical.

Day 6: Cenote Diving and Mayan Magic in Tulum

Wake up with the sun and dive headfirst into adventure! Today is all about exploring cenotes, the natural sinkholes filled with cool, clear water, once sacred to the Maya. Snorkeling or diving in these crystalline waters feels like floating in an otherworldly dream.

For lunch, savor a sopa de lima—a light yet zesty soup flavored with citrus and pulled chicken—under the shade of palm trees. Afterward, spend the afternoon wandering through the ruins of Tulum, perched dramatically on cliffs overlooking the sea. It’s a combination of culture and nature that leaves you speechless.

As night falls, a beachside dinner at Hartwood, known for its wood-fired cooking and farm-to-table approach, awaits. The produce here is local, organic, and paired in ways you never imagined—like watermelon salad with habanero oil or grilled octopus with black beans.

Day 7: Departing but Not Quite Leaving

Your final day. It’s time to soak in the last bit of Mexican sun before heading back to the airport. Breakfast is simple yet fulfilling: huevos rancheros—fried eggs over corn tortillas, bathed in a fiery red salsa. You’ll feel your soul warm up with each bite.

Mexico has more than fed your body; it has nourished your spirit. From the ancient ruins to modern art, from street food stalls to world-renowned restaurants, from mountains to cenotes, you’ve experienced the full spectrum of what this land has to offer. And as you board your flight home, a piece of Mexico—whether it’s the taste of mole or the echo of a mariachi tune—remains with you, a flavor you’ll carry long after you leave.

This full-board experience isn’t just about meals served at set times or accommodations that cater to your every whim—it’s about immersion in the heart of Mexico. Every meal tells a story, every landmark whispers secrets of civilizations past, and every interaction with the locals makes you feel like you’re part of something bigger. So pack light, bring your appetite (and your curiosity), and let Mexico fill you up in ways you never expected.