Best of Cholula

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Cholula
Mexico’s oldest continuously inhabited settlement, Cholula was founded over 2000 years ago. The widest pyramid ever constructed attests to the prominent role Cholula played as a major religious center, and Spanish colonists later added their own mark, building over three dozen churches (sometimes placed right on top of pre-Colombian structures). Far from being a frozen-in-time relic of the past, Cholula has a buzzing food scene, a packed festival calendar, and vibrant nightlife — fueled in part by its large student population. 

Previous kimkim travelers have gained a deeper understanding of Cholula’s importance on guided tours of the Great Pyramid of Tepanapa. Though covered in greenery and lying beneath a Spanish colonial church, this fascinating archaeological site contains over four miles of tunnels (including a half-mile section open to visitors), which reveal the story of its successive reconstructions over the centuries. You can fast-forward to the present on a bespoke excursion to Cholula’s market while learning about maize and other sacred foodstuffs. You can also explore Cholula on guided bicycle tours, or have a hands-on workshop at an artisan’s studio, with the opportunity to make your own iconic talavera (painted ceramic tile).
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Spectacular Volcano Views
Discover Central Mexico: Mexico City, Cholula & Puebla - 6 Days

If you're short on time but don't want to compromise on adventure, this packed six-day trip to Central Mexico is for you. Start in Mexico City, where you'll visit Aztec ruins and enjoy a delicious street-food tour. Then, spend a couple of days in Cholula walking amid colonial history while also learning about its rich indigenous history, which is represented in the cuisine, talavera pottery, and more.

Visit Nuestra Señora de los Remedios Church perched atop Tlachihualtepetl (the Great Pyramid of Cholula)
Map of Highlights of Mexico City & Cholula - 5 Days
Highlights of Mexico City & Cholula - 5 Days

This five-day getaway is packed with cultural highlights, perfect for travelers wanting to experience Mexico's archaeology, cuisine, and art. You'll admire the architecture of Mexico City's neighborhoods, witness floating gardens in Xochimilco, tour Frida Kahlo's house, and cycle past the ancient ruins of Teotihuacán. Then, continue to Cholula, a fusion of Indigenous culture and Spanish colonial influences, for a market experience followed by a traditional ceramics workshop.

Colorful Trajineras
Discover Central Mexico: Mexico City, Cholula & Oaxaca - 7 Days

Spend a week discovering Mexico's central region, from Mexico City to Oaxaca. Visit the National Museum of Anthropology, go biking in Teotihuacán — The City of the Gods, and explore the history of the local agricultural staple of Cholula: corn. End in Oaxaca for a historical tour and a cultural experience to create your own alebrije: a little clay statuette.

Our Lady of Remedies church and palm trees in Cholula, Mexico
Map of Mexico City, Cholula & Oaxaca: Best Itinerary Ideas
Mexico City, Cholula & Oaxaca: Best Itinerary Ideas

Eight to nine days is a great length for a Mexico trip, with stops in Mexico City, Cholula, and Oaxaca. Travelers with less time can hit the route's highlights in four to seven days, which makes for a fast-paced journey. With more time, you can enjoy extra activities at each stop or a few days in another region like Yucatán Peninsula, Mazunte, or Mérida. Get inspired with the below Mexico City, Cholula, and Oaxaca trip ideas.

Sample the sacred Aztec drink of pulque (fermented agave juice) in an atmospheric cave dining experience at Teotihuacán
Map of Sacred Mexico: Culture, History & Cuisine in Mexico City & Cholula - 10 Days
Sacred Mexico: Culture, History & Cuisine in Mexico City & Cholula - 10 Days

Seek out the rich flavors and sacred traditions of central Mexico with this 10-day itinerary. Snack on Mexico City's spiced street corn and cruise down its pre-Columbian waterways, then learn about Aztec history and Indigenous customs with a spiritual cave ceremony in Teotihuacán. Continue to the "Magical Town" of Cholula to dive into its culinary traditions with a market tour and tortilla-making workshop, then end back in the capital at the pilgrimage site of the Basilica of Santa Virgin of Guadalupe.

Peaceful Oasis in the City
Map of Discover Central Mexico: Mexico City, Cholula & Oaxaca - 8 Days
Discover Central Mexico: Mexico City, Cholula & Oaxaca - 8 Days

Visit anthropology museums in Mexico City, explore archaeological sites in Teotihuacán, and experience local cultures on this eight-day immersive trip to Mexico's central region. Start in Mexico City, where you'll explore the bustling capital, then head to Cholula for ancient ruins and a tour of the local staple crop: corn. End in Oaxaca, one of the culinary capitals of Mexico.

Quiet street in Oaxaca
Discover Central Mexico: Mexico City, Cholula, Oaxaca - 9 Days

This trip is perfect for travelers who are short on time but don't want to compromise on adventure. Start in Mexico City to explore the food scene and waterways that show the city's history. Continue to the foodie town of Cholula to explore Teotihuacán, then end the trip in Oaxaca for a history tour and a chance to taste authentic mezcal in the place where it's produced.

 Explore the incredible volcanoes around Mexico City on this 10-day tour
Map of Hiking, Biking & Volcano Adventures Around Mexico City - 10 Days
Hiking, Biking & Volcano Adventures Around Mexico City - 10 Days

Explore volcanoes, pyramids, and the colorful neighborhoods of Mexico City during this active 10-day adventure. Float down the ancient Aztec canals of the capital before heading to the nearby Teotihuacán pyramids for a biking tour. Hike around the famous "Smoking Lady" of Popocatépetl volcano, sweat out your impurities at a traditional temazcal in Amanalco, and spend a night at the base of Nevado de Toluca in a cozy mountain cabin.

See the local color of Oaxaca
Map of Food, Culture & Adventure in Central Mexico - 12 Days
Food, Culture & Adventure in Central Mexico - 12 Days

Explore the ruins of ancient cities, hike rugged mountain trails, and immerse yourself in indigenous culture on this 12-day deep dive into central Mexico. It begins in the capital with walking tours of the historical center before heading to Cholula and Oaxaca to visit local markets and see the sights. The last half of the trip is packed with active adventures like horseback riding and hiking through misty cloud forests before finishing on the gorgeous Pacific Coast.

Smoke roiling from Popocatepetl
Discover Central Mexico: Mexico City, Cholula, Oaxaca, Mazunte, & More - 11 Days

This packed eleven-day itinerary offers the best of Central Mexico's culture and nature, from volcanoes to the ocean. You'll go hiking in the national park, visit Mexico City's best museums, and walk through a forest of cactuses. There's also time for moments of relaxation — kick back on Mazunte's beaches, enjoy a leisurely sunset walk in the forest, and take in the best of Oaxaca's foodie scene.

Olive Ridley Seat Turtle
Discover Central Mexico & Oaxaca: Mexico City, Cholula, Mazunte & More - 17 Days

Explore Mexico City, Oaxaca, and more on this 17-day comprehensive trip. Explore the various neighborhoods of Mexico City, float on the canals of Xochimilco in a traditional wooden Trajinera, and go hiking in Popo-Izta National Park. Immerse yourself in a cactus forest in the Tehuacán-Cuicuitlan Biosphere, then round out the trip by tasting traditional Mexican Mezcal in Mazunte.

See captivating sights like Santuario de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios in Cholula, Oaxaca
Map of Discover Central Mexico: Morelia, Guanajuato, Acaxochitlán, Cuetzala, Cholula & Oaxaca - 12 Days
Discover Central Mexico: Morelia, Guanajuato, Acaxochitlán, Cuetzala, Cholula & Oaxaca - 12 Days

This 12-day exploration of the heart of Mexico will take you to its most historic locales. This includes stops at the 16th-century cities of Morelia and Querétaro, where you'll enjoy horseback riding through the rugged Guanajuato mountains. Then immerse yourself in the region's culture with visits to indigenous workshops, tours of coffee plantations, and outings to the most incredible sights in Puebla and Oaxaca.

Traditional dress
Discover Central Mexico & Oaxaca: Mexico City, Cholula, Mazunte & More - 18 Days

Explore the best of Central Mexico on this 18-day tour. Start in bustling Mexico City for cultural exploration and some incredible food, then continue to Cholula to hike in the national park. Head to Oaxaca for mezcal, alebrijes, and a ritual steam bath, then round out your trip in Mazunte where you'll see baby sea turtles return to the ocean.

View of the Chapultepec Wood
Discover Central Mexico: Mexico City, Oaxaca, Mazunte & More - 14 Days

Spend two weeks exploring the best that central Mexico has to offer. Start in Mexico City for explorations of the metropolis and a ride on a traditional wooden Trajinera. Continue to Cholula to explore Teotihuacán, then head to Oaxaca to visit the Tehuacán-Cuicuitlan Biosphere Reserve. End in Mazunte to see bioluminescence and view baby sea turtles return to the ocean.

Temple of Quetzalcoatl
Discover Central Mexico: Mexico City, Cholula, Oaxaca, Mazunte, & More - 13 Days

If you want to experience Mexico's culture and leave time for adventure, look no further than this packed 13-day trip. From the buzzing streets of Mexico City to the ancient archaeological ruins that emerge from the rainforest, you'll see the best of the region and enjoy insider experiences, like a traditional Temzacal steam bath.

See Santo Domingo Cathedral in captivating Oaxaca City
Map of Discover Central Mexico: Mexico City,  Guanajuato, Cholula, Oaxaca & More - 15 Days
Discover Central Mexico: Mexico City, Guanajuato, Cholula, Oaxaca & More - 15 Days

This adventure covers the most incredible ancient cities in the country. It starts in Mexico City, a capital whose colonial legacy is as rich as its indigenous history. Then travel north to the Baroque cathedrals and colorful houses of Guanajuato and Morelia before touring the massive Aztec city of Teotihuacán. It all comes to a close with culture, history, and foodie tours of beautiful Puebla and Oaxaca.

Locals dressed in traditional clothes in Oaxaca
Map of Mexico Grand Tour: Mexico City, Cholula & Oaxaca - 8 Days
Mexico Grand Tour: Mexico City, Cholula & Oaxaca - 8 Days

Get to the heart of historic Mexico on walking tours of the nation's capital, Cholula, and Oaxaca. In Mexico City, you'll visit the most artistic and colorful neighborhoods, like Coyoacán and Xochimilco, plus take a bike tour of the ruins at Teotihuacán. Then head south to Cholula and Oaxaca, two cities whose awe-inspiring Spanish-colonial landmarks are matched only by their rich indigenous heritage.

Catch a sunset from Punta Cometa in Mazunte
Discover Central Mexico: Mexico City, Cholula, Oaxaca, Mazunte & More - 15 Days

Spend fifteen days exploring the best of central Mexico. You'll walk through a cactus forest in the Tehuacán-Cuicuitlan Biosphere, taste traditional Mexican Mezcal, and more on this itinerary. Start by exploring the various neighborhoods of Mexico City and floating on the canals of Xochimilco in a traditional wooden Trajinera, then continue to the countryside to explore nature and ancient ruins.

Mexico City's Palacio de Bellas Artes concert hall
Map of Art & Archeology: Mexico City to Oaxaca - 9 Days
Art & Archeology: Mexico City to Oaxaca - 9 Days

The regions in and around Mexico City are brimming with art, culture, and history of both the Indigenous and Spanish-colonial variety. Over nine days, you'll experience all of these highlights plus outdoor adventures as you travel around Mexico City and the state of Oaxaca and overnight in Cholula. Activities include art walks, nature hikes, city tours, and visits to the country's most significant pre-Columbian archaeological sites.

Other popular travel destinations in Mexico
Yucatán Peninsula · Mexico City · Valladolid · Oaxaca · Tulum · Mérida · Holbox · Puerto Morelos · Chiapas · San Cristobal de las Casas · Playa del Carmen · Puebla · Palenque · Bacalar · Campeche · Cancún · Chunhuhub · Uxmal · Calakmul · Guadalajara · San Miguel de Allende · Guanajuato · La Paz · Morelia · Querétaro · Cabo San Lucas · Pisté · Los Cabos