I traveled on a vegan tour of Mexico City with Ahimsa Travel Club and this is my full review of the trip. This tour is a fully immersive journey into the history, culture and food of Mexico City with a focus on plant-based food, wellness and sustainability.
Mexico City is one of the biggest cities in the world. It's the largest city in Mexico (and its capital city) and the most populous city in North America.
There's so much to see and do in Mexico City that we easily filled our week with city exploration and day trips. Mexico City is comprised of many lively and fun neighborhoods, and we got to experience so many of them.
Come along with me as I travel on a vegan adventure in Mexico City with Ahimsa Travel Club. I'll detail the itinerary, the delicious vegan food we ate, and what sets Ahimsa Travel Club apart from other tour companies.
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Mexico City Video
We've captured our adventure in this video called 7 Days in Mexico City Itinerary | 1 Week in CDMX.
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What is Ahimsa Travel Club?
Ahimsa Travel Club (formerly Escape To...) is a tour company offering vegan retreats and vegan tours to India, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Switzerland, the USA and more.
The concept of ahimsa in Hinduism and Buddhism emphasizes nonviolence, compassion, and sustainability.
Prachi Jain is the co-owner of Ahimsa Travel Club. She crafts carefully planned itineraries that are 100% vegan and will ensure that you'll fall in love with travel and other cultures.
Since 2010, they've hosted hundreds of travelers on vegan tours, volunteering abroad programs and cultural immersion trips.
Ahimsa Travel Club designs meaningful experiences that are mindful and sustainable. They promote human, animal and environmental rights through tours that encourage a cultural exchange, benefitting both the traveler and the people/places visited.
Recently, the popular Veg Jaunts & Journeys travel company has merged with Ahimsa Travel Club to expand their programs and offerings of vegan trips around the world.
Exclusive Discount for Ahimsa Travel Club
Interested in booking a trip with Ahimsa Travel Club, whether it's to Mexico City or one of their other tours? Use the promo code LAUREN and you'll receive $100 off your trip!
How This Mexico City Tour is Different
Ahimsa Travel Club's Mexico City tour is very unique. It embraces slow travel. This 8 day tour allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in Mexico City without traveling very far from the city, even on day trips.
They want people to understand the culture of different neighborhoods and almost feel like they live there. It's a great pace for the first time traveler because there's only one hotel and transportation is included.
It's also fantastic for repeat visitors to Mexico City because you'll see the city through a different lens. 20% of the tour participants have been to Mexico City before but find the itinerary to be very unique. The neighborhoods, restaurants and off the beaten track places are another reason to return.
This vegan tour of Mexico City is very small scale. There are no more than 10 participants. This makes everyone become like a little family by the end of the week!
Vegan Tour of Mexico City: The Itinerary
Prachi created this vegan tour of Mexico City so you can taste the excellent plant-based eats, find a sense of community on a global scale, and learn about amazing initiatives by local Mexicans.
Mexico has codified animal rights into its constitution. As vegans, it's a great way to support the country.
For those who aren't vegan, you are of course more than welcome to join this tour. It's a welcoming environment for those who are veg-curious or seeking a more sustainable and eco-friendly small group tour. It's also a delicious entry-point into the vegan lifestyle.
Here is a brief overview of this Mexico City vegan tour with breakdown of each day.
Day 1: The Adventure Begins
The Ahimsa Travel club team picks you up at Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) in Mexico City. You will need to book your own flight to Mexico City since group tour members are coming from various places around the world.
We spent the afternoon getting settled into our accommodation and going for lunch at a nearby cafe.
The tour truly starts in the evening with a welcome dinner. We dined at a traditional Mexican vegan restaurant and got to know our tour guides and fellow travelers.
Day 2: Frida Kahlo, Cobblestones and Cafes
Our first full day begins with a delicious homemade breakfast at our guest house accommodation, Casa Jacinta. Sara at Casa Jacinta prepared a yummy vegan breakfast every day for our group.
We started the day with a walking tour of Coyoacán, the neighborhood surrounding our guest house. It's a vibrant and historic district of Mexico City with colorful houses, art markets, colonial architecture and bohemian vibes.
After lunch with vegan options like ceviche and bean sopa, we will spend the afternoon at Casa Azul, Frida Kahlo's home and sanctuary in this quiet area of south CDMX.
For dinner, we enjoyed vegan appetizers and pizza at a local veg-friendly pizzeria.
Day 3: The Pyramids of Teotihuacan
The majority of the travelers on our small group tour of Mexico City added an optional early morning hot air balloon ride over Teotihuacan. It was such a magical experience and my first time ever being up in a hot air balloon!
Later that morning, our guide took us on an informative tour to Teotihuacan, an ancient Mesoamerican city settled in 400 B.C. We visited the ruins of this city with its temples, town squares, and pyramids for the moon and the sun.
We leave the city to go on an archeological adventure to an ancient Mesoamerican city, which was settled in 400 B.C. We will visit the ruins of the city that hold temples, town squares, and pyramids for the moon and the sun.
Day 4: Mexico's Enduring Indigenous Spirit
After breakfast at Casa Jacinta, we'll head over to Chapultapec for the Anthropology Museum. It's a treasure trove of pre-Columbian artifacts, showcasing the rich tapestry of Mexico's ancient civilizations.
This museum is known for its awe-inspiring architecture and immersive exhibits that transport visitors back in time to several ancient civilizations. It offers a profound understanding of Mexico's cultural heritage and the enduring spirit of its indigenous peoples.
After having lunch at the museum, we'll go for a stroll through Chapultapec Park with its gorgeous lakes and lush greenery. You'll have free time for the rest of the afternoon and evening to explore this neighborhood on your own or with your new travel friends.
Day 5: Colorful Downtown, Food and Dances of Historic Centro
Along with our knowledgeable guide, we'll spend the day in the historic downtown of Mexico City. We'll walk through the fascinating layers of history and modern day that seamlessly intertwine in Centro.
This is the heart of the city with local food stands, architectural marvels, ancient ruins, and shopping experiences. We'll support small vegan businesses and admire stunning city views.
We'll enjoy dinner at a balcony terrace restaurant overlooking the city center. In the evening, we'll attend a folk dance performance at the majestic Palacio de Bellas Artes (with its elaborate Tiffany mosaic curtain).
Day 6: Free Day
This is a free day to explore Mexico City however you'd like. Some tour members might visit Chapultapec Castle, a museum, a new neighborhood, or have a relaxing day with a massage and trips to local coffee shops.
Our group decided to book a tour to the floating gardens of Xochimilco together. We took a boat ride and visited a small university-funded sanctuary for axolotls. Our tour included lunch at the most delicious quesadilla stand on site.
The team at Ahimsa Travel Club can help arrange any activities and tours for you if you'd like. This might include a driver to somewhere farther away or simply by suggesting some ideas for you.
Day 7: Eco Workshop and Neighborhood Strolls
We start the day with a workshop from a local vegan brand that is moving the needle on producing leather from cactus, apples and pineapple. We will learn about the challenges Mexico faces from environmental to social issues from a female-owned startup.
Afterwards, we'll go on a walking tour through La Condesa and Roma. This ended up being one of my favorite days. We went to peaceful parks, art-filled cafes, rooftop terraces, vegan supermarkets and lovely vintage shops. Appreciate vibrant murals, top-notch coffee and flower-filled boutiques.
Today, you will start to feel like a local.
Day 8: Rejuvenation and Farewell
The final day of our vegan tour of Mexico City started with some more free time. Wander around a neighborhood of your choice, revisit a place you loved, or get in some last minute shopping.
We had a goodbye dinner at a beautiful 100% vegan restaurant. Tonight is for celebrating friendship, travel and Mexico.
Then, fly out the following day and the team will arrange your airport transfer. Or you can add on some more days in Mexico City and beyond if you choose!
Where We Stayed in Mexico City
We spent 8 nights at Casa Jacinta in the beautiful Coyoacán neighborhood. It's steps from Viveros de Coyoacán (public park and nursery), Plaza Coyoacán and the Frida Kahlo Museum.
This is a safe, comfortable and welcoming place to stay. Colorful art fills the walls and there's a quiet private garden with bright and beautiful blooms.
My room overlooked the courtyard and had a spacious closet, desk and private bathroom with a traditional style and flair. It feels luxurious yet warm, like a home away from home.
Everyone in our group loved the breakfasts at Casa Jacinta. The amazing breakfasts that are different each day are all homemade, by scratch, by the amazing cook, Sara. It feels like having your very talented aunt cook food for you that's not available in the restaurants.
Favourite Vegan Meals in Mexico City
Mexico City is one of my favorite destinations for vegan eats. Traditional dishes and pre-Hispanic food traditions are naturally plant-based or can easily be modified to become plant-based. So, it's easy to try classic dishes without much modification.
The spirit of Mexico City has always had an undercurrent of counter-culture, activism, and rock music. You'll see that a lot of the vegan restaurants are actually owned and operated by chefs who embrace veganism which is a resistance movement in itself.
The city has an abundance of fresh produce due to its location and exports to other countries. Plus, vegan tacos and street food is very affordable and super tasty. Many of these flavors, dishes and sauces are only available here. I haven't seen them anywhere close to home.
Veggicano
Veggicano is a vegan restaurant and small grocery store with 100% plant-based products, baked goods and refrigerated ingredients. The menu features Mexican food gone vegan like tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, birria and vegan desserts.
Café Vegetal
Cafe Vegetal is a vegan restaurant in Mexico City with two locations. Dine at Cafe Vegetal for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or simply coffee and desserts. They offer a wide range of dishes, including pancakes, pasta, Asian-inspired bowls, burritos and more.
I Quit - Café & Bakery
I Quit Cafe & Bakery is a popular vegan coffee shop in Roma Norte. There's fantastic coffee, mouthwatering pastries, and vegan ice cream. It's a great little spot to hangout, too.
Plantasia
Plantasia takes inspiration from Japan, China, Thailand and Indonesia to create their delectable dishes. This vegan restaurant is located in the Roma neighborhood and offers tasty vegan ramen, pad thai, and sushi. They're also home to the first Botanical Bar in Mexico City with a 100% alcohol-free cocktail menu.
La Pitahaya Vegana
La Pitahaya Vegana is the home of pink tortillas! They are a vegan restaurant with yummy tacos, mole, burritos, guacamole and so much more. Their pink theme continues with pink lattes and pink ice cream cones.
El Mundo Restaurante
El Mundo Restaurante is an upscale and innovative vegan restaurant in Roma. Chef Rebecca Noel Aguirre uses locally sourced ingredients and intriguing techniques to prepare delicious plant-based delights.
Some favorites include the thin crust pizza (fermented cashew ricotta, cremini and shiitake mushrooms, drizzled with white truffle oil) and watermelon tartare (marinated with sesame oil, ginger, white miso and other spices).
Exclusive Discount for Ahimsa Travel Club
Interested in booking a trip with Ahimsa Travel Club, whether it's to Mexico City or one of their other tours? Use the promo code LAUREN and you'll receive $100 off your trip!
More Vegan Guides to Mexico
I've visited Mexico on several occasions and I'm always seeking the best plant-based meals. Here are some more vegan guides for destinations in Mexico.
Want more travel tips and inspiration? Follow me on Instagram! I share daily adventures, whether I'm at home in Ontario, Canada, or halfway across the world!
Don't forget travel insurance!
Heading out of the country? Don't forget to get travel insurance. It's best to be covered in case of an emergency, cancellation or accident.
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