Despite a diminishing exchange rate (which fell from 18 to 17 pesos per $1 during our four months), we budgeted well again for Leg 18. We ended up $417 under budget while depriving ourselves of absolutely nothing during our stay. Mexico remains a great value and continues to feel like a second home to us. 

Where We Were

Countries visited: 1 – Mexico

Cities visited (overnight): 6 – Zihuatanejo, Guanajuato, Queretaro, Tequisquiapan, Mexico City, Cuernavaca

Number of hotels: 2 (for my birthday weekend in Tequis and our overnight to Cuernavaca)

Number of hotel nights: 4 

Number of apartments: 4 

Number of apartment nights: 112

Total lodging budget: $6,081 

Total lodging actual: $6,091

How We Got Around and What We Did

Total transit budget: $3,244

Total transit actual: $2,975

Number of flights: 3 (not including connections)

Total food/entertainment budget: $6,175 ($343/week for 18 weeks)

Total food/entertainment actual: $6,017 ($334/week)

Totals

Total budget: $15,500 for 18 weeks ($861/week average, $90 less per week than Europe) 

Total actual: $15,083 for 18 weeks ($838/week, less than 3% difference)

Number of weeks over budget: 7 

Number of weeks under budget: 11

Least expensive week: Week 8, February 16-22, $553, our 3rd week in Guanajuato

Most expensive week: Week 5, January 26-February 1, $1,589, when we moved from Zihua to Guanajuato; a rare time when it wasn’t the first or last week of a leg. Our flight within Mexico was similar in cost to the flights getting to and from there.

The Best Parts

Best experiences (chronologically):

• Snorkeling at Playas Las Gatas
• Snorkel tour to Playa Manzanillo with fresh fish on the boat
• Learning about the history of Mexican independence in Guanajuato and Queretaro
• Classical music performances in three Mexican cities
• Celebrating my birthday on the wine and cheese route in Tequisquiapan
• Enjoying movies with a Mexican audience in CDMX
• Living like a local in our favorite CDMX neighborhood, Coyoacan
• Connecting with Under the Volcano in Cuernavaca

Best meals:

Tiritas de pescado on the beach and on the boat in Zihua, fresh fish meals made at home in Zihua, French dinner in Zihua at La Table de Andree, birthday dinner at El Maravillas, molcajete and Cuban jazz at Restaurante Calco 6 in CDMX, mall pozole at La Casa De Tono, tacos everywhere, tosti-elotes everywhere, tamales and champorada everywhere, churros everywhere