Mexico City – April 2024
Hotel: IHG Presidente Mexico City
If you live in Southern California, you’ve probably heard of departing from the Tijuana airport for cheaper flights to Mexico. I did have to pay an extra $100 to bring a diaper bag, though, so being cheaper still is undetermined. But you are able to park in San Diego, and enter the airport via the CBX bridge, making the process super easy — and safe.
Before this trip, I had only ever heard good things about Mexico City, so I was excited to finally be able do see it for myself.
After a long travel day — we had to get up at 4 a.m. — we finally arrived to our hotel by the afternoon. We were staying in the neighborhood of Polanco, so we spent a few hours grabbing food for dinner and a couple different desserts while walking the surrounding area before getting some much needed sleep.
Day 1: Teotihuacan Pyramids
Our first day we headed out to the Teotihuacan Pyramids. You don’t need to make reservations in advance for the pyramids, but if you plan on eating at La Gruta, you’ll want to make those reservations well in advance. The pyramids are about an hour outside of Mexico City, and there’s a few options to get there. We ordered an Uber in the morning to take us, but you could schedule a driver who will stay and wait for you, or you could also take a bus tour. We were able to get an Uber back to the hotel easily, there just weren’t any XLs, so we took two separate ones.
While you’re there, there’s a few different pyramids you can walk around and see. Just be sure to be prepared for heat and have lots of water. There are quite a few vendors near the main entrance, as well, selling snacks, water, and souvenirs.
Day 2: Chapultepec Park and Lucha Libre
We started our second full day at Chapultepec Park. The park is massive and stretches 2 times the size of Central Park in New York, so there are quite a few things to do here.
Our first stop was the Chapultepec Zoo. Entry into the zoo is actually free, and only special exhibits need to be paid for. There’s tons of animals to see, and Lionel enjoyed pointing to every single one calling them “Gigi” — a.k.a. our dog Chloe. If you’re not traveling with kids, I would suggest skipping the zoo, though. We had heard the zoo used to be incredible, but since new ownership a few years ago, it’s gone downhill, and to be honest, the animals did look a little sad.
We then headed to Chapultepec Castle, walking through a small portion of the massive park on the route there. There was a carousel and many vendors selling a variety of souvenirs on the way.
To reach the castle, you have to trek up a steep hill. Once on top, you’ll have an incredible view overlooking the city, and can wander through the gardens and even inside some different hallways of the castle.
That night we went and saw a Lucha Libre fight. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster Mexico, and shows are on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Weekend event tickets will need to be purchased in advance. The kids all had so much fun cheering on the different wrestles. This is definitely a must when visiting the city.
Day 3: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
For our last full day, we hopped on the Turibus to get around the city. The red line will take you to all the main tourist stops. Lionel was convinced this was a parade for him, waving to the cars behind us the entire ride while sitting up top.
We hopped off at stop number 9 right outside of the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral. The cathedral is massive and absolutely stunning on the inside.
The surrounding streets are filled with shops and places to grab food. We wandered down a few going towards the Palacio de Bellas Artes, where we were able to hop back on the bus.
Originally, we were planning to hop back off in Reforma, but since Lionel somehow stayed awake past both his naps, we headed back to the hotel for some sleep, so we’d be able to still go out at night for dinner.
Our last morning before our flight, we headed back to walk the street Masaryk. To our surprise, it was the start of Mexico City’s Flower Festival that happens only once a year. All the storefronts were adorned with incredible flower arrangements. The festival lasts Thursday through Sunday, but we were told come the weekend, the street is so packed with people that it’s impossible to walk. All the installs were breathtaking and so fun to be able to see.
We had so much fun eating our way through the city. Everywhere we stopped to eat was delicious, but below I highlighted some of my favorites. You really can’t go wrong anywhere you pick, though.
Food Recommendations:
La Moro – Amazing churros. We kept going back every night.
La Gruta – An hour outside the city near the pyramids. The restaurant is located inside of a cave. Make reservations in advance.
Azul Condesa – Amazing food and ambience. The taco appetizer was incredible.
Fougasse – Cute bakery for breakfast. Possibly the best matcha latte I’ve ever had.
Garabatos – Stumbled upon here for breakfast and was so delicious!
Mexico City has so much charm, and we loved wandering the streets and spending time with our friends.
As for the TJ airport, though, I can’t say I recommend. Although the process was so simple from parking, customs, and check in, there were some negatives. The price wasn’t as cheap as advertised by the time we had to pay for our bags, seats, etc., and we were on a budget airline vs. Delta had we gone to LAX for almost the same price. On top of that, the flight there, the changing table had poop smeared/stained on it, and our flight home had NO running water, so it was impossible to wash your hands. For quick flights, it may be worth it if you’re able to travel light, but anything long distance, I’ll pass.
• Everyday Davis • 