17:23

36 Hours in Mexico City + My Budget Stats From My One-Month Backpacking Trip in Central America + Mexico

In this final episode of my month-long adventure through Central America and Mexico, I dive into the last stop of my trip — Mexico City — and share how I explored as much as possible in one of the world’s largest cities in just 36 hours. I cover everything from using the Mexico City Metro to where I stayed near the airport, the incredible Roma Norte neighbourhood, and major landmarks like El Zócalo, Palacio de Bellas Artes, and Bosque de Chapultepec.

After the travel stories, I break down my full one-month backpacking budget, revealing exactly how much I spent across El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico — including flight costs, food, accommodation, activities, transportation, and more.

Whether you're planning a backpacking trip through Central America, looking for budget travel inspiration, or curious about solo travel safety and tips, this episode packs a ton of value.

🧳 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What to see and do with just 36 hours in Mexico City
• The best neighbourhoods for backpackers in CDMX (hint: Roma Norte!)
• Tips for navigating the Mexico City Metro and using Uber
• My favourite cheap eats and local food experiences in Mexico City
• Full breakdown of my travel budget
• Average daily spending by country
• Honest reflections on travelling solo, safety, and must-see spots like Lake Atitlán, Acatenango Volcano, Antigua, Oaxaca and Tikal.
🎒 Useful Resources:

• 🌐 Winging It Travel Podcast Website
• 📺 Watch the Vlogs on Roaming with Hammo (YouTube)
🎧 Listen to Past Episodes:

• El Salvador Playlist on Spotify
• Guatemala Series
• Oaxaca Episode
🗣 Like, Review, Subscribe & Share

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate it, leave a review, and subscribe on your favourite podcast platform.

Please share it with your fellow travellers and follow me on YouTube @roamingwithhammo too!

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to the Winging It Travel Podcast

00:30 Exploring Mexico City: Arrival and First Impressions

01:58 Navigating Mexico City: Metro and Transportation Tips

02:58 Cultural Landmarks: Plaza de la Constitución and Palacio de Bellas Artes

05:06 Discovering Roma: Trendy Neighbourhoods and Cafes

07:03 Experiencing Festivals: Angel of Independence and Local Culture

08:25 Reflections on Mexico City: A Quick Visit

09:20 Trip Summary: Insights from Central America

10:49 Budget Breakdown: Costs of the Month-Long Trip

13:07 Final Thoughts: Future Travel Plans and Inspirations

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Winging It Travel Podcast Credits

Host/Producer/Creator/Composer/Editor - James Hammond

Contact me - [email protected]

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Cheers, James.

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This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

Smart Travel Podcast

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