Only half of the greatest people who celebrated my birthday in CDMX

Planning your birthday is always stressful. Planning a group trip is usually risky. Planning your own birthday group trip is asking to be mentally and emotionally tested over and over again. Will my friends have a good time? Am I accommodating everyone’s travel preferences? Will everyone get along? Will I even have a good time without worrying about everyone’s needs first? Is there enough to do…within budget? And one particular question that came up that I hadn’t initially realized was, Will everyone become friends with each other…without me?

Of course, I wanted everyone to get along and become good friends, otherwise, that would make for one awkward trip. And I love the people I surround myself with so it’s inevitable that they would vibe off each other’s genuine energy as well. But I also had to acknowledge that I was throwing myself right into one of my biggest triggers, which is watching the people I love gain a natural affinity towards one another and potentially, no longer need me in the picture. It sounds childish and petty but I also have to remember that I’ve had some unfortunate childhood experiences that remind me of those abandonment issues even now.

On the other hand, my dream has always been to travel with friends for my birthday. And as a full Leo, I’m always going to go all out. As my first fully planned group trip, there were lots of ups and inevitably, downs. But the downs were great life lessons and growing pains that have taught me so much about myself, and fortunately enough, I have really wonderfully mature friends who know not to stir unnecessary drama. The ups, however, were beyond amazing and memorable, and reminded me that as long as you’re surrounded by genuinely good, kind, supportive people, you will always be in good hands.

This was one of my favorite trips not only because I visited one of the most culturally beautiful cities, but because I got to deepen my friendships outside of the daily hustle and bustle in NY. I thank my forever friends for journeying this ride with me, experiencing the world alongside, and ensuring it was one of the best birthdays I’ve had.

If you’re considering a birthday group trip, I’ve shared some tips at the end of this list to help guide you to as smooth of a planning process as possible.

Mexico City has been a cultural zeitgeist for some time now. I remember first hearing about it through a co-worker who got married there, and then seeing it more and more as I saw everyone temporarily move there during the pandemic. As a simple city, it’s pretty easy to slip into local daily living, but it’s CMDX’s energy that is completely refreshing and exciting for any foreigner. With so much vibrant history and constant evolving culture, it’s no wonder people keep coming back (or moving there entirely).

There were plenty of spots we didn’t have time to check out (because 4 days in CDMX is not enough!) so feel free to refer to the Google Maps list for further references! I know I’m definitely going back to soak in the city (and eat) more. Here’s the Google Sheets itinerary I created for my group trip that includes my Google Maps list and outfit themes for each day (group coordination makes for the best photos!)

4-Day Itinerary

Where to stay

Each neighborhood in Mexico City offers a different vibe, though the city is easily walkable to experience each area within your trip. I decided to stay in La Condesa, which is Roma Norte’s sister neighborhood. They’re both super safe where the streets are lined with world-class restaurants, taco stalls, hip coffee shops, craft cocktail bars, and big food markets. They’re also the most “foreign” as most visitors and expats stay here, and as New Yorkers, we felt that it was very reminiscent of home.

We lucked out with this Airbnb that was the perfect size for the 8 of us. The interior design was so thoughtfully curated and our favorite part was the private backyard/courtyard that offered the perfect backdrop to the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room.

Day 1: food, markets, and salsa dancing

Being that this was our first day in CDMX, I wanted everyone to take the city in and explore like a local as much as possible. I didn’t schedule much other than our lunch and dinner reservations so we could walk around and visit the markets.

We woke up to a beautiful, 70-degree Friday morning, so to get our trip started, some of us went to get coffee, some of us did a little workout, some of us meditated and journaled. It was the perfect way to absorb the city and unify our eager energy.

Where to eat:

Contramar — This is a full seafood restaurant that is very well-known and popular across the global culinary scene. Under the direction of Chef Andrés Barragán, everything is meticulously prepared, and even includes ingredients from their own gardens. We ordered just about everything on that menu and the dishes did not disappoint. I’m still thinking about those tostadas. While dinner reservations are pretty difficult to secure, I recommend making lunch reservations instead. Not only is it much easier to make a reservation that isn’t months out, you will also get to experience the beautiful space in the daylight to get the most out of the ocean-inspired interior.
Amaya — This was a slightly more casual take on the Baja-Med cuisine. Not quite a hole-in-the-wall but not as grandiose, or pricey, as the other more-renowned restaurants. The restaurant’s Chef Jaír Téllez is also a winemaker so Amaya’s all-natural list features producers that are otherwise near impossible to find in the city.

What to do:

Mercado De Artesanias La Ciudadela — The stalls here are famous for selling folk art and handmade handicrafts. It’s easy to spot hand-embroidered pillow covers, colorful Otomi textiles, and pre-Columbian clay artworks. The intricate lacquerware and Lucha libre shirts—not your typical souvenir staples—also make great gifts. Plus, you won’t have to travel to Oaxaca or Chihuahua, as the items here are brought in from all over Mexico.
Mama Rumba — I was adamant on finding salsa clubs, which I found ahead of time, but this spot was confirmed by locals when we asked around for recommendations for places to dance at. There are three Mama Rumba locations in Mexico City but the Roma spot is the most popular by far. There’s plenty of live salsa and Cuban music but go early (at 9pm) for the free salsa course! It’s also located on a street with other bars so you can hop around. Heads up, there is cover for each place so it will get pricey. And if you’re looking for a pure hip hop music spot, you won’t really find it, which we learned the hard way.

Day 2: Xochimilco Canals

This was actually such a fun group activity, which I’m sure you’ve seen tons of TikTok videos on. While it may seem like another party boat excursion where you ride around and drink, it actually has much more significant historic value than people give it credit for. Thankfully, our tour guide was not only extremely hospitable — ensuring our shot glasses were never empty — but he also had a wealth of knowledge of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Xochimilco is an extensive lake and canal system that once connected most of the settlements in the valley. It’s an incredible vestige of the area's pre-Hispanic past. Historically, Xochimilco was a lake where the Aztecs started building manmade chinampas (artificial fields) that have now overtaken the lake and left a canal system behind. Now, it’s a book-able boat ride to visit its multiple historic sites, while drinking local tequila. It’s the perfect group trip so I highly recommend (if you’re willing to drink!). We booked the tour on AirBnB Experiences.

Day 3: Grutas Tolantongo Hot Springs

This is one of those Instagram/TikTok hyped spots that look completely surreal in photos. I am, unfortunately, a sucker for these kinds of spots, not just for the photos but because they tend to be the off-the-beaten-path type of adventures that are sometimes worth experiencing. My take on the Tolantongo excursion is that it’s half worth it — the long ride there and the overly-crowded pools made it feel a bit like a tourist trap but we did make the most out of other activities that were worth it. I’d only recommend if you have a full day to dedicate.

Located in the mountains of central Mexico, Grutas de Tolantongo, Hidalgo is an expansive resort complex of caves, natural hot springs, and thermal pools. It is located about 4 hours from Mexico City by car, but because this destination is pretty secluded and not as easily accessible, it’s best to book with a tour that provides a bus tour.

We booked this excursion on AirBnB Experiences. You will be leaving early in the morning and it’s about a 3-4 hour bus ride, where the bus stops for breakfast at a hotel and a bathroom break. The same goes for on the way back, where you’ll arrive back in Mexico City at about 9pm.

While this is a full-day excursion, there’s plenty to do in this secluded area:

Natural hot springs and underwater thermal pools — This part is not natural since they are man-made pools built into the side of the mountain. However, the water that is pumped into these pools is natural thermal water from the mountain. Heads up, these pools get crowded, even when we went on a Monday!
The cave and waterfall — Being close to the source of the hot springs, the cave has the hottest waters. They are naturally heated to around 68°F as they pass through a complex series of channels within the mountain. As the hot springs flow out of the cave to the river, the water mixes with cool water which results in more mild waters in the pools of the river.
The tunnel — This was probably our favorite part of the trip just because I’ve never experienced tunnels like these. As you enter the narrow tunnel, hot spring water flows down the sides and it’s surreal to see nature do her thing with these natural limestones and extremely warm waters. You can explore through the tunnel even further as it opens to a grotto (small cave) in the back
Ziplining — The Grutas Tolantongo zipline is over 6,000 feet (1,800 meters) long and split into four sections. The first two are the shortest and a bit of a warm-up. The last two sections are twice as long and take you further through the canyon with beautiful views of the turquoise river.

Day 4: recovery day & Exploring more of the city

This was our last full day in CDMX so I didn’t want to book or plan anything depending on how we all felt after the jam-packed (and lots of drinking) few days we had. This was also a free day for each of us to fill with our own preferences, whether that’s resting up at the AirBnB or picking up last-minute souvenirs, we split up after lunch until our dinner reservations that night.

Where to eat:

El Pescadito — How can you go to Mexico and not stuff yourself with extremely affordable ($2!), extremely authentic, and extremely fresh tacos?! And when I say fresh, I mean you are waiting in line from outside the casual eatery as you place your orders in front of the man frying up the fish and cooking the meat waiting to be stuffed inside warm tortillas. I could have gone there everyday to get my taco fix if we hadn’t discovered it on our last day.
Ticuchi — This was our last family dinner in Mexico City and my official birthday dinner. I wanted a sexy evening vibe for our last meal together, especially since we were dressed to the nines. Ticuchi, which is lives in the revamped former Pujol space, is one of the newer restaurants in Mexico City and has more of the feel of a bar than a restaurant. The entire menu consists of vegetarian and pescatarian takes on Oaxacan cuisine, tapas style.

Where to go post-dinner:

Tokyo Music Bar — This was a super chic, stylish speakeasy cocktail spot all about vinyl, Japanese whisky and top-end cocktails. It’s small and there aren’t many tables for large groups but you won’t be sitting anyways because with the DJ playing that night, you’ll definitely be dancing…or at least start the dance party and others will follow.

Bought some souvenirs from this lady and I hope she’s still there for you to buy as well!

other tips for planning a group trip

Picking a city like CDMX allows for accessible and bountiful options for your group to split up and do their own thing. Not only is it easy and safe to navigate, but being that we’re all from NYC, we’re familiar with the casual day-to-day of city living.
Give all excursion options (and their prices) to your group ahead of time so they can sign up for the ones that fit their travel preferences and budget. That way, it’s easier to book activities with a set group.
Create a shared Google Maps list so it’s easiest for everyone to contribute ideas and refer to while we’re on the trip IRL (and so anyone can refer back to the AirBnB if we separate!)
Assign everyone a role for the trip! This way, you’re not defaulted as the go-to person for every question. For example, someone who can manage the time so we’re making our reservations on time, someone to take official pictures and videos (aka whoever your photographer friend is), someone to rally everyone to go out after a long day (or else we’ll all end up sleeping early), someone to enter all group expenses into Splitwise.
Make reservations ahead of time! Walk-ins are usually not available for large groups and Mexico City’s well-known restaurants, especially, are booked out months in advance.
Do a group hangout before the trip so everyone gets to know one another (and preview what the group vibe is going to be like).

I hope this was helpful, not only in recommendations but also in preparing yourself if you intend to plan a group trip of your own. Friend group trips take a lot of planning in order for things to run as smoothly as possible but don’t be deterred if you run into hiccups because it happens! Try to have fun and enjoy this rare experience with friends because lord knows, adulting already isn’t easy :)

[ Mexico City ] How To Plan A Birthday Group Trip