ITINERARY

Day 1: LONDON – Mexico City (D)

Depart from London Heathrow to Mexico City International Airport and we transfer to the hotel for check-in.

Day 2: Mexico City (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
We drive to the Basilica of Guadalupe, the most important sanctuary of Mexico where on 12th of December, hundreds of thousands of Mexicans get together in pilgrimage to worship the Virgin.
We continue towards Teotihuacán ("Place of the Gods"), 53 kilometers far from the Federal District, approximately one-hour drive. Visit the archaeological site where the Teotihuacán culture settled. Admire the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, the Pyramid of the Sun, the temple of Quetzal-Papalotl and the Pyramid of the Moon. And from this spot, the Road of Dead is seen in all its splendor.
Lunch at a restaurant near the site and return to Mexico City for a sightseeing tour.
We will admire The Plaza de la Constitución (The Constitution Plaza), also known as the Zócalo which is surrounded by beautiful Baroque buildings, the Cathedral (the country’s largest religious monument built over the great Aztec temple) and the National Palace, headquarter of the Presidency of Mexico (closed on Mondays). Here, we can admire murals painted by Diego Rivera. One of the main and most recently discovered attractions is the Templo Mayor, the great temple of the Aztec capital (panoramic visit only).
Return to our hotel for dinner.

Day 3: Mexico City / Oaxaca (B/L/D)

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart from the hotel towards the city of Puebla, also known as the “City of the Angels”, 123 kilometers far from Mexico City (approximately 2-hour drive). We will arrive at the main square of Puebla, where some of the best examples of the religious architecture of Mexico Colonial times are found. Visit the Cathedral, the Chapel of the Rosary – an architectonic jewel of the 18th century, the Parián –craft market, and many houses that date from the same time. While here, visit a local “Talavera” workshop to see the manufacturing process of this type of decorated pottery which is famous for Puebla.
Lunch at a restaurant and afterward, continue to Oaxaca.
Check-in and dinner at the hotel.

DAY 4: Oaxaca (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we visit the famous archaeological site of Monte Alban, the ceremonial center built on the hill and we will see a lot of pyramids, tombs and sunken reliefs there.
Return to Oaxaca for lunch at a local restaurant and visit the city known as the “Patriots Cradle”, including the Zócalo with the Cathedral and the Santo Domingo Church; then we continue to the old Santa Catalina from Siena Friary and to the local market, one of the most typical of the region.
Dinner at the hotel.

DAY 5: Oaxaca / Tehuantepec (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, we depart to Santa Maria del Tule to see the majestic Tule Old Tree. Afterwards, visit of Mitla archaeological site, an ancient Mixtec center founded by Zapotec and also used by Mixtecan for their ceremonies. We will see geometrical decorations with abstract drawings.
Lunch at a restaurant and continue to Tehuantepec.
Upon arrival, check-in, and dinner at the hotel.

DAY 6: Tehuantepec / San Cristobal de Las Casas (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure towards Chiapa de Corzo and drive to the Cahuaré wharf to enjoy a launch boat trip through the Cañón del Sumidero (Sumidero Canyon); the altitude and beauty of the place will make the experience unforgettable. Lunch at a local restaurant and continue to San Cristóbal de Las Casas.
Check-in and dinner at the hotel.

DAY 7: San Cristóbal de Las Casas (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, we visit one of the most typical local markets where hundreds of Indigenous people sell their hand-made products every day; the tour continues to the Baroque Santo Domingo Church founded in 1547.
In the afternoon, we will experience the Indigenous communities of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán; the San Juan Chamula community which is particularly linked to its church where ceremonies were celebrated that had a great influence of paganism. The Indigenous population of Zinacantan is very loyal to the Catholic faith.
Return to San Cristóbal for lunch at a local restaurant and rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Dinner at the hotel.

DAY 8: San Cristóbal de Las Casas / Palenque (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we will depart to Palenque with a stop at the Agua Azul (Blue Water) waterfalls; the trip will last approximately 5 hours on a mountain road and on the way, we can enjoy the abundant vegetation of this Chiapanecan (from the State of Chiapas) zone.
Lunch at a restaurant and continue to Palenque.
Upon arrival, check-in, and dinner at the hotel.

DAY 9: Palenque (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
We will visit the Palenque archaeological site. The area displays beautiful Mayan work made in stone and stucco; this area is frequently recognized as one of Mexico’s most beautiful places due to its ruins enclosed in the Chiapanecan jungle. The most famous temple is called Templo de Las Inscripciones (Temple of the Inscriptions), and we can explore the discovered Pakal’s tomb with his famous jade green mask.
Lunch at the hotel and afternoon at leisure.
Dinner at the hotel.

DAY 10: Palenque / Campeche (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure to Campeche, capital of the Campeche State. Upon arrival, lunch at a restaurant and city tour to the ancient town which is surrounded by fort walls and towers to protect the city from the pirates. Campeche keeps a Colonial mood thanks to its gorgeous houses and austere churches. Then we visit the anthropology museum El Fuerte San Miguel, with artifacts from all over the Campeche State, some of them are vestiges from the Mayan sites of Edzna, Jaina, and Calakmul.
Check-in and dinner at the hotel.

DAY 11: Campeche / Merida (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we depart to the Uxmal archaeological site. Uxmal means “built in three stages” and it is a typical example of the classic and post-classic Mayan period; its main constructions are Pirámide del Adivino (The Fortuneteller’s Pyramid), Palacio de Los Gobernadores (Governor’s Palace) and the Cuadrángulo de Las Monjas (Quadrangle of the Nuns).
Lunch at a local restaurant and we continue to Mérida, the “White City”, which has Colonial houses as well as houses that date from the beginning of the century in the Arabic, French and Italian styles. Its buildings have witnessed all the old wealth that was generated thanks to the sisal culture. Then we will stop at Mérida’s Zócalo, where we can admire the city’s main monuments: the Cathedral, the Government’s Palace, the Municipal Palace and the Francisco Montejo’s House.
Check-in and dinner at the hotel.

DAY 12: Merida / Cancun (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure to visit Chichén Itzá archaeological site. Chichén Itzá was the Mayan capital of Yucatán and flourished between the 5th and 10th centuries AD. We can admire the impressive buildings of the northern and central archaeological sites, such as the Kukulcán Temple, the Ball Game, the Observatory, the Warrior’s Temple, the Convent of the Nuns and the Sacred Cenote.
Lunch at a local restaurant and continue to Cancun.
Check-in and dinner at the hotel.

DAY 13: Cancun (B/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Enjoy a full day at the leisure of shopping and entertainment, or just relax on the beach or at the hotel pool.
Dinner at the hotel.

Day 14: Cancun to London (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Cancun airport for our return flight to London.

SERVICES INCLUDED:

- Return International flights.
- Lodgement in mentioned hotels.
- American breakfast daily + 11 lunches + 12 dinners as mentioned in the program.
- Taxes and service on included meals.
- Private transportation with air conditioning and sound system (vehicle depending on group size).
- English-speaking escorting guide and local English-speaking guide
- Luggage handling at hotels and airports.

SERVICES NOT INCLUDED:

- Meals not mentioned in the program.
- Services not detailed in the program.
- Drinks and personal extras at hotels and restaurants.
- Tips to guide and bus driver.
- Entrance taxes to Mexico.
- All items not mentioned in “Included”.

Costs are From (Fr.) £ Per Person based on two sharing.