A Trip to Celebrate Dad's Retirement
Mexico City
Five days for three Johnsons — Kyle, Russell & Dad — eating, exploring, and toasting a big new chapter. Here are three ways we could do it.
Pick a vibe — or mix & match days
Each plan covers the whole trip at a different pace and price. Every stop links to its location and, where it helps, an official site for booking. Costs are per person and cover the activity, that meal, and your share of rides — not flights or the rental.
📍 = open in Google Maps↗ = official site / booking$ = est. per person
SAT AUG 29Arrive & ease in$32/person
12:00 PM—
Land at MEX, immigration & bags
Have the Airbnb address ready; use an ATM for pesos.
1:30 PM$6
Uber to Condesa & check in
~40 min, ~$15/car split three ways.
5:00 PM$12
Welcome beers & snacks
Patio at a local spot — go light, you're at altitude.
SUN AUG 30Chapultepec + Lucha Libre$95/person
2:00 PM$18
Lunch near the museum
Sit-down to rest Dad's legs.
MON AUG 31Coyoacán & Xochimilco$97/person
9:00 AM$9
Breakfast, then head south
Fuel up; today has some driving.
6:00 PM$4
Back to Condesa, rest
Long day — decompress.
TUE SEP 1Centro Histórico$101/person
9:30 AM$9
Breakfast in Condesa
Easy start.
4:00 PM$3
Back to Condesa, downtime
Rest / pool if the rental has one.
WED SEP 2Departure$16/person
8:30 AM$10
Breakfast & last stroll
Coffee + pan dulce; grab souvenirs.
10:45 AM$6
Uber to MEX airport
Be at the airport ~11:30 for the 2:10 PM flight.
2:10 PM—
Flight home
¡Buen viaje!
SAT AUG 29Arrive & ease in$35/person
12:00 PM—
Land, immigration & bags
~1.5 hr buffer.
1:30 PM$6
Uber to Condesa & check in
Drop bags.
6:00 PM$12
Beers back in Condesa
Go easy — altitude.
8:00 PM$14
Casual tacos dinner
Early night.
SUN AUG 30Teotihuacán Pyramids$109/person
7:00 AM$8
Early breakfast & depart
Beat the heat and crowds.
9:00 AM—
Pyramids of the Sun & Moon
Climb the Moon Pyramid's first level; the rest is flat walking.
4:00 PM—
Back to Condesa, rest
Included in the tour cost.
8:00 PM$28
Dinner in Roma
Relaxed contemporary Mexican.
MON AUG 31Forest hike + San Ángel$94/person
9:00 AM$9
Breakfast
10:30 AM$16
Desierto de los Leones
Pine forest + a 17th-c. ex-convent. Cool air, marked trails.
1:30 PM$4
Hike & explore the convent
Pick a 1–2 hr loop to suit Dad.
6:00 PM$4
Back to Condesa
Clean up.
8:30 PM$35
Mezcal & dinner crawl
Cantina hop — small plates + mezcal flights.
TUE SEP 1Tepoztlán (Pueblo Mágico)$106/person
8:30 AM$8
Breakfast & depart
11:00 AM$4
Climb to Tepozteco pyramid
~1 hr steep climb to a clifftop temple. Sons climb; Dad explores town.
4:30 PM$25
Back to the city
Driver return.
8:30 PM$26
Easy dinner in Condesa
Wind down.
WED SEP 2Departure$16/person
8:30 AM$10
Breakfast & last stroll
Parque México loop, coffee.
10:45 AM$6
Uber to MEX airport
Be there ~11:30 for the 2:10 PM flight.
2:10 PM—
Flight home
¡Buen viaje!
SAT AUG 29Arrive in style$103/person
12:00 PM—
Land, immigration & bags
~1.5 hr buffer.
1:30 PM$6
Uber to Condesa & check in
Settle into a nicer rental.
6:30 PM$30
Mezcal tasting in Condesa
A curated flight to learn the agave styles.
9:00 PM$12
Light bites / early night
Balloon launches early tomorrow.
SUN AUG 30Balloon over Teotihuacán$390/person
5:00 AM—
Pre-dawn pickup
Included in the balloon package.
10:00 AM$20
Walk the pyramids with a guide
A private guide brings the Avenue of the Dead to life.
2:00 PM—
Back to the city, rest
Recover before the big dinner.
MON AUG 31High-country adventure$104/person
7:30 AM$10
Breakfast & depart with driver
Private driver for the day (~$130/car ÷ 3).
9:30 AM$40
Nevado de Toluca crater lakes
Drive high up a dormant volcano; walk to the crater lakes.
1:30 PM$6
Hike & photos at the crater
Go slow at 13,000+ ft; the views are the reward.
3:00 PM$22
Lunch in Toluca / on the road
Hearty mountain food.
6:30 PM—
Back to Condesa
Driver included above.
8:30 PM$26
Casual recovery dinner
Tacos & a cold beer; legs up.
TUE SEP 1Culture + ringside Lucha Libre$115/person
9:30 AM$10
Breakfast in Condesa
4:30 PM$3
Rest / pool time
Recharge.
WED SEP 2Departure$20/person
10:45 AM$6
Uber to MEX airport
Be there ~11:30 for the 2:10 PM flight.
2:10 PM—
Flight home
¡Buen viaje!
Book these early: the Frida Kahlo Museum (timed tickets sell out), the Teotihuacán balloon, and any fine dining (Pujol / Quintonil / Contramar). And a heads-up on lucha libre during our dates — shows run Sunday Aug 30 at 5 PM and Tuesday Sep 1 at 7:30 PM. Mexico City sits at 7,350 ft, so we'll take the first day easy.