Viva Mexico Holidays

You will be amazed by the size of the city from the moment you arrive. Meet and greet with a local representative and get transferred to your hotel. As the country´s capital, the “Distrito Federal” is a mosaic of contrasts but most of all an experience in which all of Mexico comes together. It’s the perfect place to start your Mexico holidays.

Today, your Mexico holidays continue to head towards one of the world´s biggest and most exciting cities! Enjoy a guided visit in the historical center, listed by UNESCO as World Heritage. This interesting tour will include “The Zocalo”, the heart of the city, where you will visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, one of the oldest and largest of the Americas, and (if open) the National Palace, home of the famous murals of Diego Rivera. You will also see the ruins of the Templo Mayor, one of the most important temples of the Aztecs in their ancient capital city of Tenochtitlan. Next, we drive down the beautiful Paseo de la Reforma Avenue to arrive at Chapultepec Park, to visit the Museum of Anthropology. This museum is considered to be among the world’s finest of its kind. Here you will admire, among many other interesting treasures, the famous Aztec calendar stone.

Discover Teotihuacán, ‘the place where gods were created’. Teotihuacan is one of the most impressive archaeological sites of the country. It is assumed that the city may have counted 200,000 inhabitants during its period of prosperity. In those years, Teotihuacán was the biggest city of the American continent and one of the biggest of the world. Until its inhabitants abandoned the city around the 8th century, Teotihuacan was probably the most significant and civilized cultural center of ancient Mexico. During this guided excursion you see (and climb?) the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, walk down the Avenue of the Dead, visit the Temple of Quetzalcoatl with its unique stone sculptures of plumed serpents, the Temple of the Butterflies, and the Fortresses. Before arriving back at your hotel, we make a stop at the Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a pilgrimage place for millions of Mexicans and people from all around the world.

Day 4 of your Mexcio holidaysToday, we leave Mexico City behind. We travel to Puebla, Mexico’s fourth largest city, passing the photogenic, snowcapped volcanoes Popocatépetl (Smoking Mountain, 5464m) and Iztaccíhuatl (Sleeping Lady, 5230m). In Puebla, also known as the “City of Angels”, we will visit the extraordinary Rosary Chapel, the Cathedral, the main square and its beautiful historical centre. Lunch is included today. Later, cContinue to Oaxaca, one of the most colorful colonial towns of Mexico and, just like Puebla, listed as World Heritage.

Visit Monte Alban, built on a mountain top flattened by the Zapotecs. We will find here cultural traces from different civilizations, such as the Olmecs, Mixtecs and Zapotecs. We will then continue to the town of Coyotepec, famous for its ceramics (“barro negro”) production. Also visit the Teotitlán del Valle, a village known for its textiles. Local artisans will show us their weaving techniques and they will explain how they obtain natural dyes. Before returning to Oaxaca, we will make a stop at the Tule tree, perhaps one of the biggest living beings in the world. In Oaxaca we will have a little city tour, to see sights such as the Cathedral and the magnificent Santo Domingo church.

Departure towards the Gulf of Mexico. In the afternoon we will discover the beauty of the Port of Veracruz in an exciting tour full of history, culture, and sea. We’ll take you to explore the main points of interest in the city’s downtown, including the fortress of San Juan de Ulúa, Baluarte de Santiago, the Lighthouse, the pier, and the adjacent zone of Boca del Rio. At night, watch the Jarochos while they dance “danzón” (a dance that originates from Cuba) on the Zócalo and enjoy the pleasant ambience

Your day 7 of Mexico holidays will start with the departure towards Tlacotalpan, a small but beautiful waterfront town. It was listed as World Heritage by UNESCO because the urban layout and architecture of the city represent a fusion of Spanish and Caribbean traditions with wide cobbled streets and modest houses in an exuberant variety of styles and colors. After a short visit, we will continue towards San Andrés Tuxtla, to visit a cigar factory. We then visit Catemaco and the Nanciyaga Reserve. Here we will participate in a purifying ritual. Return to the hotel. At night there is a possibility to take a traditional Temazcal bath (type of sweat lodge which originates from pre-Hispanic times).

In the early morning we will depart to the beautiful state of Chiapas. Today’s highlight will be a boat ride through the Sumidero Canyon, which measures a thousand meters at its highest point. Admire the beautiful rock formations and enjoy the abundant wildlife that lives on the shores of the Grijalva river (crocodiles, spider monkeys, and many different species of birds). Afterwards, you will pass through the historically important town Chiapa de Corzo, on our way to San Cristobal de las Casas.

Scheduled for today is an excursion to the indigenous villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan, located in the highlands of Chiapas. In both Tzotzil Maya communities, the complex ethnic composition of Chiapas is well reflected and they still demonstrate a rich variety of customs and beliefs expressed in traditions of both pagan and Christian origin. Interestingly, San Juan Chamula enjoys a unique autonomous status within Mexico, which has kept the village authentic. We also recommend you to explore more of the beautiful city of San Cristobal de las Casas with, amongst its many attractions, a colorful market, the cathedral and the Jade museum. Included: Breakfast in Hotel, Transportation, English-speaking Guide for all excursions, Overnight Hotel in San Cristobal de las Casas

On Day 10 of Mexico holidays, we will drive to Palenque and enroute, we will visit the waterfalls of Agua Azul. The turquoise color, which makes these waterfalls so unique, comes from the high level of mineral content of the water. Also visit the waterfalls of Misol Ha. Enjoy the surrounding jungle environment and go for a swim (if time permits it). Afterwards we will continue our way through lush jungle with Palenque as today’s final destination.

Day 11 of Mexico holidays will take you to a ride towards ancient history! Visit the archaeological zone of Palenque, one of the most important sites of the Mayan World. Lakamha, as the city was known among the ancient Maya, flourished in the 7th century. It rose to prominence under the reign of legendary King Pakal, whose tomb was found in one of Palenque´s most iconic landmarks, the Temple of the Inscriptions. This ruined city is home to some of the finest architecture, exquisite sculptures, and carvings produced by the ancient Maya. Enjoy a guided visit and admire the impressive structures as well as the breathtaking natural environment of this World Heritage Site. After this visit, we head to Campeche, a captivating town full of naval history, baroque Spanish architecture, and aging beauty. The city has spent the past few years restoring hundreds of downtown historic buildings, making it one of the most photogenic colonial cities in all of Mexico. Upon arrival you will enjoy a panoramic tour through the city. In the evening, dinner included.

On the way to Merida we will visit Uxmal (meaning “built three times”), located in the Puuc region. Uxmal, also listed as World Heritage, is considered one of the Maya cities that is most representative of the Puuc style, the region’s dominant architectural style. Explore the Magician Pyramid, the Quadrangle of the Nuns, the Governor’s palace and the ballgame court. After lunch, you will proceed to Merida, “The White City”, to enjoy a panoramic tour, including Montejo Avenue, the monument to Motherland, the main square, the cathedral and government palace.

At the end of the Early Classic Period, around the year 600 AD, Chichen Itza was one of the largest and most prominent Maya cities. Nowadays, Chichen Itza is undoubtedly the best-preserved Maya site on the Yucatan peninsula, and it was recently declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Various different architectural styles are seen in Chichen Itza. Most famous landmarks are the Temple of Kukulkan (“El Castillo”), the Ballgame Court, the Platform of the Skulls, the Temple of the Jaguar, the Observatory, the One Thousand Columns, and the Sacred Cenote. Before we continue to Cancun, enjoy a lunch and take a refreshing swim at the cenote of Ik Kil. Drop off at your hotel in Cancun. Your Mexico holidays adventure ends here today. Hope you had a total blast!