DAY 1 UK/Mexico City
Fly to Mexico City and transfer to your hotel for a three-night stay.
DAY 2 Mexico City
Our introduction to Mexico City begins in the Zocalo, a vast square at the centre of what was Tenochitlan, city of the Aztecs. Demolished by the conquistadors, it’s now the setting for the National Palace and Metropolitan Cathedral. See the excavations of the Aztec temple before visiting the fascinating National Museum of Anthropology in Chapultepec Park.
DAY 3 Teotihuacan
Today we visit the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico, before continuing to Teotihuacan, a 2,000-year-old city built by an unknown race. Already in ruins by the time the Aztecs discovered it, its wide Avenue of the Dead, temples and massive Pyramids of the Sun and Moon are truly incredible.
DAY 4 Puebla
After breakfast we leave Mexico City to travel to Puebla. En route we will visit Cholula, home to the Great Pyramid and an archeological site. We then continue to Puebla, the City of Angels, renowned for its distinctive colonial architecture, Talavera ceramics and textiles.
DAY 5 Oaxaca & Monte Alban
As we leave Puebla for Oaxaca we follow the road of the giant cactus – a great photo opportunity. The scenery becomes more rugged as you approach the enchanting city of Oaxaca, founded by the Aztecs in 1486, where we spend one night at the historic Hotel Casa Conzatti. Drink in the atmosphere at a pavement cafe in the Zocalo and bargain for local handicrafts. A short distance from the city, visit the sacred city of Zapotecs, Monte Alban, dramatically set atop a man-made plateau.
DAY 6 Oaxaca
The diverse city of Oaxaca was founded in 1521. It is home to ancient ruins, noble churches, colonial architecture and a fascinating melting pot of cultures. During the morning we pay a visit to the archaeological site at Mitla, a former Zapotec ceremonial centre whose name translates as ‘Place of the Dead’. The buildings here are decorated with incredible carved stone mosaics that truly must be seen to be believed. We see the ruins of four magnificent palaces from the Mixtec and Zapotec civilisations before leaving Mitla and journeying to the incredible Tule Tree, one of the most extraordinary natural sites in the world. This enormous tree is approximately 2,000 years old and measures 130 feet high, over 170 feet in diameter and weighs 509 tons. Our tour then takes us to the amazing archaeological ruins at Monte Alban, the ancient capital of the Zapotec people.
This incredible site, situated on a flattened hilltop 400 metres above the surrounding valley, offers a fascinating insight into the culture of the Mesoamerican people. We return to Oaxaca for a walking tour of the city, where the main sights include the baroque Santo Domingo Church and the cultural museum, located in a former Dominican convent. We also pay a visit to one of the city’s famous markets before travelling to the historic centre of the city, with its selection of colonial buildings, cathedral and central square. We return
to the hotel at the end of the day.
DAY 7 Merida
This morning, fly to the ancient city of Merida, where we stay for the next three nights. Merida is the cultural centre of the Mayan people, founded in 1542 and known as the ‘White City’ because of the large number of white buildings to be found here. A guided carriage tour of this charming city introduces us to quaint streets of whitewashed colonial buildings, 19thcentury mansions, the striking cathedral and the Governor’s Palace, decorated with murals of Mayan history.
DAY 8 Celestun
Today we have a day at leisure to relax, or you can take theopportunity to join an optional excursion to Celestun, a quaint fishing village with a long stretch of beach, famous for its seafood restaurants and beautiful colonies of flamingos. The unique wetlands of Celestun form part of a special biosphere reserve, and we observe the vast flocks of flamingos and hundreds of other bird species in their natural habitat on a fascinating boat trip.
DAY 9 Chichen Itza
Pay a visit to Izamal this morning. Founded in the 4th century AD, Izamal is simply stunning, with its mix of Mayan and Spanish colonial architecture. After this, the staggering sight of Chichen Itza makes a fitting climax to our Mexican discovery. This is the largest and best preserved of all Mayan cities. Abandoned in 1182, it is renowned for the dominating temple of Kukulcan, a ‘calendar’ pyramid with four stairways, 365 steps – one for each day of the year – and 18 terraces, the number of months in the Mayan calendar.
DAY 10 to 14 Puerto Vallerta
Relax and reflect on your Mexican adventure on the beautiful beaches of Puerto Vallerta. This delightful resort is located on Banderas Bay, Mexico’s largest natural bay, and the town centre is full of cobbled streets, red tiled roofs and whitewashed houses.
DAYS 15 to 16
Transfer to the airport for the flight back to the UK, arriving the next day.