Highlights include Pyramids of Teotihuacan, National Folkloric Ballet Performance, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Granaditas Museum San Miguel de Allende, Rafael Coronel Museum, El Eden Silver Mine, Hospicio Cabanas, Tequila Agave Fields, Patzcuaro, Morelia, National Museum of Anthropology, 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and more.|
Itinerary:
Day #1 Mexico City, Mexico - Tour Begins - Explore Mexico's colonial cities where archaeological sites represent ancient cultures and churches, haciendas, town squares and lively mariachi bands set the stage for your adventure. Enjoy a welcome dinner.
Day #2 Mexico City, Mexico - Join a local expert to explore Mexico City's Centro Histórico – a UNESCO World Heritage site built atop of the ruins of Tenochtitlán. Discover the Plaza de la Constitución; visit the 16th century Metropolitan Cathedral; view the Aztec ruins of Templo Mayor and travel to Our Lady of Guadalupe pilgrimage center’s famous shrine. Enjoy a presentation on the uses of the cactus plant followed by local craftsmen demonstrating the art of stone crafting and jewelry making. Visit Teotihuacán, a city dating back to 200 BCE. Stroll the Avenue of the Dead for views of the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon. Tonight, attend a folklore ballet showcasing Mexico's dances, music and colorful costumes.
Day #3 Mexico City - Querétaro - Guanajuato - Today you visit two UNESCO World Heritage sites. Travel to Querétaro, enjoying time to explore the historic center where you find beautiful examples of Baroque architecture, restaurants and tree-lined boulevards featuring exquisite colonial buildings. Continue to captivating Guanajuato and admire the photogenic twists and turns of its famous streets.
Day #4 Guanajuato - Dolores Hidalgo - San Miguel de Allende - Guanajuato - Enjoy a demonstration of Talavera pottery-making at a local workshop where artisans hand-paint designs on vases and tiles. Continue to Dolores Hidalgo, the pueblo where Father Hidalgo proclaimed the independence of Mexico in 1810. A short ride brings you to charming San Miguel de Allende, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A local expert leads your leisurely-paced walking tour of this well-preserved 16th century town. Visit Atotonilco el Grande sanctuary, featuring illustrative murals. Enjoy the remainder of the day exploring San Miguel's cobblestone streets and antique shops.
Day #5 Guanajuato - Zacatecas - Explore Guanajuato with a local expert. At the Alhondiga de Granaditos Museum, learn why this colonial city is considered the cornerstone of Mexico's Independence movement. Stroll the main plaza of Union Garden and Mercado Hidalgo before venturing underground to explore a network of tunnels under Guanajuato’s streets! This afternoon, travel through picturesque countryside to Zacatecas – “the city of light and color” and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Day #6 Zacatecas - Travel in a mine car to the depths of El Eden Silver Mine for a captivating tour. Then, enjoy a panoramic cable car ride from El Grillo Mountain to Bufa Hill for incredible city views. Witness how Zacatecan silversmiths fashion metal into jewelry at a local workshop. Visit the fascinating Rafael Coronel Museum with its collection of 4,000 hand-carved and painted masks. Enjoy a walking city tour featuring the Plaza de Armas and the Baroque Cathedral of Zacatecas.
Day #7 Zacatecas - Tlaquepaque - Guadalajara - Travel to Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, a renowned artisan center. Enjoy time to shop, sample local cuisine and listen to mariachi bands. Visit Hospicio Cabañas, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the early 20th century, the chapel was decorated with a series of murals by José Clemente Orozco, one of the greatest Mexican muralists from the period. Enjoy a panoramic tour of Guadalajara.
Day #8 Guadalajara - Tequila - Guadalajara - The Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is set on 85,000 acres of blue agave fields. Visit an agave field where a local worker demonstrates the planting and cultivation of blue agave. Explore the Mundo Cuervo distillery and museum to see the process of converting the blue agave to various grades of tequila.
Day #9 Guadalajara - Pátzcuaro - Morelia - This morning, visit Pátzcuaro, Michoacan, founded in 1540 and known for its grand architecture and natural beauty. Enjoy free time to mingle with locals and explore beautiful Vasco de Quiroga Square. Visit Morelia where the traditions of the Tarascan Indians are evident in their traditional attire and handicrafts.
Day #10 Morelia - Enjoy a leisurely-paced locally guided walking tour of Morelia's historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage site. View the National Palace, the 18th century aqueduct, and the Baroque-style cathedral. Your afternoon is at leisure.
Day #11 Morelia - Mexico City - Return to Mexico City and tour the National Museum of Anthropology, designed by Pedro Ramirez Vasquez. A local expert brings to life engaging exhibits like the Aztec calendar stone, giant stone Olmec heads, and Maya treasures recovered from the sacred Chichen Itza. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner.
Day #12 Mexico City - Tour Ends - Your tour ends today in Mexico City.