Welcome to Mexico City!

On arrival, transfer to hotel and free time. You will receive information about the start of the circuit during the afternoon.

Note: IF YOU REQUESTED ADDITIONAL NIGHTS on arrival at the hotel you will have your booking made but the guide of your trip will normally not arrive until the start of the included activities. YOUR TIME BEFORE THIS MOMENT IS THEREFORE FREE.

Note: The schedules you will find in this itinerary are approximate. The guide, depending on the situation and in order to improve the development of the circuit, may adjust the schedules.

Note: All mentioned hotels below are for your reference only, you might also check-in other same-level hotels.

08.30 hrs.- Today we have a fantastic day acquaint ourselves with Mexico. We include a sightseeing tour of the city. We will visit the Plaza of Three Cultures, and the historic centre in which the Zócalo (main square) and its Metropolitan Cathedral stand out, the main Aztec temple, Chapultepec Park, the "Paseo de la Reforma" Avenue and the other main avenues of this impressive city.

At the end of the visit we travel to the BASILICA OF GUADALUPE, the most visited Catholic temple in the Americas where the Virgin of Guadalupe is found. There we will be able to explore the old basilica dating back to the 18th Century and also the modern temple.

In the afternoon we travel to the neighbourhood of XOCHIMILCO, a wonderful place with its canals and semi-floating gardens. Here we include a ride in a "trajinera", one of the boats festooned with flowers.

18.00 Hrs.- Return to the hotel

21.00 Hrs.- We include a transfer to the Plaza de GARIBALDI, with its many bars, restaurants and bars where tacos and tequila are served and the Mariachis sing. Dinner is included in a traditional restaurant.

Scenery: Pleasant mountain landscapes.

07.30 h.- Mexico –Departure-. We enter the state of Michocaín and its lush, green countryside.

12:30 h.- MORELIA –Arrival- . The centre of the splendid capital of Michoacán is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its magnificent cathedral, large busy square and aqueduct. Time to explore and have lunch.

16.00 h.- Morelia –Departure- .

17.00h. - PATZCUARO, arrival to the pretty colonial town with the basilica of Our Lady of Health and the House of Eleven Patios, now an arts and crafts centre. Accommodation in in this "magical town".

Scenery: Beautiful countryside near Chapala Lake.

08:30 h.- Pátzcuaro –Departure-. We set out for the state of Jalisco where we visit Chapala lake, the largest natural lake in Mexico, set amidst mountains.

09.15 h.- We stop in TZINTZUNTZAN to know this town next to Lake Patzcuaro, which was the most important city of the Purepecha empire. We will visit the Franciscan Convent of Santa Ana, with its olive trees almost five hundred years old. In front of it are the Yácatas, ancient Purepecha Pyramids.

13:00 h.- CHAPALA, free time to wander around and have lunch in this small touristic resort near the lake.

16:00 h.- Chapala –Departure-.

16.45 h.- TLAQUEPAQUE arrival to this quarter, with its charming streets filled with shops and arts and crafts centres. Free time to explore.

18.00 hrs.- Tlaquepaque. Departure.

18.30 h.- GUADALAJARA. –Arrival to Mexico´s second largest city, birthplace of Mariachi and Tequila. Free time to explore.



 

09:00 h.- In the morning we include a visit to Guadalajara, the modern metropolis with its colonial historic centre, its cathedral, its market, its Tapatía square. We will enter the Cabañas Hospice, declared Unesco World Heritage.

12:00 h.- Guadalajara - Departure

14:00 h.- TEQUILA - Arrival. We include entrance to the MUNDO CUERVO distillery and will see how this famous Mexican drink is made (entrance and tasting included). After this, time for a stroll and lunch in the picturesque town of Tequila.

Note: On arrival in Tequila, the big bus cannot enter to the city centre, so you will have to walk for about twenty minutes.

Note: In High Season, the appointment to the Distillery can be in the morning, so the order of the visits on this day will be reversed without affecting its content.

15:45 h.- We return to Guadalajara.

17:00 h.- Guadalajara – Arrival and free time.

08:00 h.- Guadalajara –Departure-.

13:00 h.- GUANAJUATO – Arrival-.

Note: It is forbidden by law the entry of tourist buses into the historic centre.

On arrival, walk down to the Pípila viewpoint, time for photos. Afterwards, we will take the cable car ride to the centre. Free time to have lunch. After lunch, we will visit this beautiful university city declared World Heritage Site, its steep slopes, its narrow streets, its temples. We included a visit to this beautiful university city and World Heritage Site, with its narrow, steep streets and churches. Followed by free time. Visitors who are interested can visit the impressive “Mummies´ Museum”.

17.30/18.00 hrs: Transfer by sprinter vehicle to the hotel.

Scenery: Attractive mountain scenery between Guanajuato and Dolores Hidalgo.

08:30 h.- Guanajuato –Departure-. We travel through impressive mountain landscapes.

10:00 h.- DOLORES HIDALGO, the birthplace of Mexican independence. Visit to the church where the priest "Hidalgo" cried out for independence.

Note: It is forbidden by law the entry of tourist buses into the historic centre.

11:30 h.- Dolores Hidalgo –Departure-.On the way, we will visit the Sanctuary of ATOTONILCO, known as "Sanctuary of God and the Patria", a World Heritage Site (sometimes we will not be able to visit its interior due to the retreats that take place).

13:30 h.- SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, a beautiful city with colonial architecture and cobbled streets, declared a World Heritage Site. Time to explore.

Note: It is forbidden by law the entry of tourist buses into the historic centre. In this case, the alternative is to walk for about 15 minutes or take public transport.

17:00 h.- San Miguel de Allende –Departure.

18:30 h.- QUERÉTARO –Arrival-. City with its attractive colonial city centre, main square and busy restaurants and pedestrian streets.

Countryside: Mountains. Arid plateaus.

07.30 hrs.- Querétaro. Departure. We reach one of the most impressive Aztec places.

10.45 hrs.- TEOTIHUACAN, which in Nahuatl means "the place where men become gods", and is one of the most impressive cities from the ancient world. We will admire the pyramids of the sun and the moon. Entry ticket and visit.

12.45 hrs.- Teotihuacan- Departure. We continue our route.

15.00 hrs.-CHOLULA,. Time to have lunch and a stroll throught its beautiful square, its tunnels under the pyramid and the picturesque sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios from where you can admire the magnificent panorama.

16.15hrs.- Cholula. Departure.

17.00 hrs.- Arrival at PUEBLA, a historic city known for its gastronomic tradition, colonial architecture and ceramics, its great Renaissance cathedral and its active zocalo (main square) stand out. Free time at leisure.







 

08.00 hrs.- We travel to the state of Oaxaca, through mountainous regions with pleasant landscapes.

13.00hrs.- OAXACA. Arrival and visit included to this UNESCO World Heritage City of Aztec origin with its impressive monumental heritage. Shortly after, we go up to the site of MONTE ALBAN, which is set deep in a 400-metre mountain above the Valley of Oaxaca – entry tickets and visit are included. This is the most magnificent of the Zapotec cities. Return to Oaxaca.

In the evening we recommend a stroll through the historic centre of Oaxaca, an extremely beautiful colonial city which is full of life and music.

Countryside: Mountains. Small towns en route.

Note: A new fast toll road is being built between Oaxaca and the Isthmus. Inauguration is expected throughout 2018. Travel time, when open, will be reduced by approxibately one and a half hours compared to that indicated in this itinerary.

07.30 hrs.- Oaxaca- Departure.-

09.30 hrs.- SAN PABLO VILLA DE MITLA. Arrival. We stop at a this magical town. We allow time for a walk together to the Church of San Pablo dating back to the Sixteenth Century and through its beautiful rustic streets.

10.15 hrs.- San Pablo. Departure. We continue our route in the sierras of Oaxaca towards the Isthmus. Lunch is included en route.

20.30 hrs.- At the end of the afternoon, we arrive in TUXTLA GUTIERREZ, the capital of the state of Chiapas.

Landscapes: spectacular

Notes: We recommend you to take appropriate waterproof clothing for the speedboat ride.- The visit of the towns of Zinacantán and San Juan can take place on Wednesday or Thursday morning (according to opening times of the church of San Juan).

08.30 hrs.- Tuxtla - Departure.

09.00 hrs.- We will explore the SUMDERO CANYON. Travelling by boat, we will travel for more than 1 hrs up this impressive canyon which is almost 1 km deep and 14 km long.

10.45 hrs.- Sumidero Canyon.- Departure.

11.00 hrs.- Next, we will walk through CHIAPA DEL CORZO, a white traditional and cultural colonial site. Time for a stroll and a coffee.

11.45 hrs.- Chiapa del Corzo. Departure. We enter into the center of the Mexican Mayan culture. We discover 2 beautiful villages inhabited by the Tzotzil Indians.

12.45 hrs.- In ZINACANTAN we can admire the dresses worn by the women and also their small loom workshop-shops.

13.45 hrs.- Zicacantan.- Departure.

14.15 hrs.- SAN JUAN CHAMULA we will be surprised by their church that mixes Christianity with pre-Columbian traditions. Time for lunch.

15.45 hrs.- San Juan Chamula.- Departure.

16.15 hrs.- We continue to SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS. Free afternoon in this beautiful colonial city founded in 1528.

Landscape: Beautiful mountain landscapes of Chiapas. Villages which retain their ancient Mayan language and traditions.

Note: We suggest you bring comfortable clothes and shoes, insect repellent and sunscreen - as well as a bathing suit and a towel, to fully enjoy the natural waterfalls and spectacular blue river water.

08:00 - San Cristobal, we head to central Chiapas.

10:45 - OCOSINGO. We stop at the commercial regional capital situated on dairy-farmlands, next to the north Chiapas range, where incredible archaeological remains are found.

11:45 - Ocosingo- departure - We get back on the road and drive through mountains and jungle.

13:45 - Parque Nacional de AGUA AZUL (Agua Azul National Park). Entrance fee and lunch included after the visit, time to have a walk or bathe in the pools and more than 50 waterfalls, which range from 3 to 30 meters in height.

16:30 Agua Azul- departure.

17:45 - MISOL HA. Arrival at this impressive waterfall and its walking trails.

19:00 - Misol Ha- departure.

20:45 - Palenque- arrival. Dinner included.

Note: in some instances, roadblocks might be experienced in the region of Ocosingo due to local social unrest. In that event, we would take an alternative route visiting the City of Villahermosa and the ecological reserve of Yumka instead of the usual stops at Ocosingo, Agua Azul and Misol.

Scenery: Yucatan Peninsula. Beautiful views over the coastal road of the Gulf of Mexico.

09.00 hrs.- We include entrance and guided visit to the impressive archaeological site of PALENQUE. This Mayan city, surrounded by jungle, reached its peak between 600 and 800 AD. During the visit we will see its temples, pyramids and ball game. Free time for lunch.

12.30 hrs.- Palenque -departure-. We travel to the Gulf of Mexico through the state of Tabasco.

18.30 hrs.- CAMPECHE- Arrival to this Mexican port city known for its colonial buildings and 17th century fortifications created to confront pirate attacks. Dinner included.

09.00hrs- We leave Campeche for the state of Yucatan. In a bit over two hours, we arrive to Merida.

11.30 hrs- MÉRIDA- arrival. Tour of the city, the vibrant capital of the Mexican Yucatan State boasts a rich colonial and Mayan heritage. We see the fortified cathedral of Merida and the limestone church of the Third Order as well as the House of Montejo, a 16th century mansion and the emblem of Plateresque colonial architecture. Afternoon free, we suggest you to visit the Museum of the Mayan World on your own.

In the evening, we include a transfer to attend the Mayan Ball Game show". Accommodation.

Scenery: Nice stage to get to know the state of Yucatan.

Note:- Remember to bring comfortable clothes and shoes, swimsuit and towel, sunscreen and mosquito repellent.

08.00 hrs- Merida- departure.

09.15 hrs- IZAMAL- arrival to one of the prettiest cities in Mexico, declared a "Magic town".

10.15 hrs- Izamal, departure.

11.30 hrs- CHICHEN ITZAN,- we include admission and a visit to the most important and renowned vestige of the Mayan civilization, a World Heritage Site where we see the mythical pyramid of Kukulcán and the warriors' temple.

14.30 hrs - After the visit we include a Mayan cuisine lunch.

16.00 hrs- Chichen Itzan- We continue on our beautiful stage through the state of Yucatan.

18.15- RIO LAGARTOS, arrival to this small fishing village in the middle of a Biosphere Reserve.

Note: The hotel infrastructure in Rio Lagartos is very limited. Occasionally, we will have to provide accomodation in Valladolid. In that case, we will visit Valladolid on Sunday instead of Monday and spend more time in Rio Lagartos on Monday.



 

Note: Remember to bring comfortable clothes and shoes, swimwear and towel, sunscreen and mosquito cream.

08.00 hrs.- We include a boat ride of more than two hours. We enter the biosphere reserve, where we can see crocodiles among its mangroves, lots of birds, including pelicans and pink flamingos. You can also "live the mud experience" by smearing mud with high concentrations of sulfur, minerals and salts that act as exfoliants for the skin, leaving a feeling of softness throughout the body.

11.30 hrs- Rio Lagartos, departure. We head to the interior of the peninsula.

13.00 hrs- VALLADOLID- arrival in the third largest city of the Yucatan with a very nice historical city center. We recommend that you have lunch in one of the restaurants in the main square.

14.30 hrs- Valladolid, departure.

15.30 hrs- CENOTE CHOJ HA. We will explore this Cenote managed by the local Mayan community. We will walk along a short trail in the jungle to visit the dry cave and swim in the wonderful lake inside the wet cave.

17.00 hrs- Cenote, departure. Continuation to Cancun.

20.30 hrs- CANCUN, arrival.



 

Our services end after breakfast. We suggest that any travellers who wish to extend their stay for a few days can do so resting by the beautiful beaches of Cancun or the Riviera Maya.