Mexico City 12 Days

Day 1: Arrival Mexico City

Welcome to Mexico! Upon arrival in this huge city you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

 One of the world's largest metropolis, Mexico City is also the oldest urban centre in the Western Hemisphere, when it was called Tenochtitlan. Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortes and his men were awestruck by the sight of the imposing temples of the Aztecs. Reporting back to King Carlos V, Cortes was struggling to convey the majesty of what he saw. Imagine the King‟s surprise at learning that “one of the plazas is twice the size of that of Salamanca”, and “the principal pyramid is taller than the tower of the cathedral at Seville”, or that the stone and wood craftsmanship that adorned these monuments “could nowhere be bettered”.

Next three nights will be spent in Mexico City.

Day 2: Mexico City

Today you will have chance to wander the crazy streets of this mind boggling city and also visit the world famous Anthropological museum. Mexico City is the political, financial and cultural nerve center of Mexico, and to understand the country one should spend some time here. Perhaps more than any city on earth, it is at the intersection of the first and third worlds, with all the ills, thrills and surprises that suggests. 

Day 3: Mexico City

This morning you will be taken to experience the breathtaking pyramids of Teotihuacan, the old Aztec capital on the outskirts of modern day Mexico City. The ruins of Teotihuacán are among the most remarkable in Mexico -- indeed, they are among the most important ruins in the world. Mystery envelops this former city of 200,000; although it was the epicenter of culture and commerce for ancient Mesoamerica, its inhabitants vanished without a trace.

Day 4: Mexico City – Oaxaca

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your short flight to the lovely old colonial city of Oaxaca in the South of Mexico. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the old atmospheric center of the city. You will then be free to wander the center, shopping, eating, drinking and just take in the air of the place.  

Day 5: Oaxaca

Take a deep breath and prepare yourself for a mind blowing day of sightseeing to the impressive archaeological sites of Monte Alban, which sits on a mountain that rises from the middle of the valley floor -- or, rather, divides two valleys. From here you can see all that lies between you and the distant mountains.

Day 6: Oaxaca – Tuxtla  Gutierrez – San Cristobal de las Casas

We are taking you to the airport for your flight to Tuxtla Gutierrez. Once we arrive we will get on the road to San Cristobal de las Casas. On the way, visit of the enormous Sumidero Canyon where we will take a boat ride. Don't forget your camera!

We will spend the next two nights in San Cristobal de las Casas

Day 7: San Cristobal de las Casas

Today we will visit the Tzotzil-Maya villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacatán, where indian culture and tradition is very evident. Religion is a mixture of Catholicism and native Tzotzil. They believe that the world is a cube supported by 4 columns and surrounded by water. Gods are considered as inhabitants of the moon, heaven, and mother sun.  This will be followed with a walk through the colonial streets of San Cristobal de las Casas.

Day 8: San Cristobal de las Casas – Palenque

We will get back on the road and continue to the ancient Maya site of Palenque, in the foothills of the Tumbalá mountains, sitting on a ledge overlooking the swampy plains that stretch northward all the way to the Gulf coast. Palenque was at its height between 500 and 700 AD, when its influence extended throughout the basin of the Usumacinta river. The elegance and craftsmanship of the buildings, as well as the lightness of the sculpted reliefs with their Mayan mythological themes, attest to the creative genius of this civilization. On the way, we will visit “Agua Azul” waterfalls.

Day 9: Palenque – Villahermosa – Merida

It is a new day and nothing like a morning visit of the astonishing archaeological site of Palenque.  Afterwards, we drive to Villahermosa, founded in 1596 by the Spaniards on the banks of the River Grijalva.  From here we take a flight to Mérida, built more than 450 years ago on the site of T'ho, an ancient Mayan city. This will be our base for the next three nights from where we will explore the most important archaeological sites of the Yucatán Peninsula

Day 10: Merida

Today we will visit Uxmal, which means "'built three times" in the Mayan language, and though its name is a mystery, its beauty is not.  As a World Heritage site, it is one of the best restored and maintained ruins on the Yucatán Peninsula , and certainly one of the most magnificent. Its architecture is characterized by low horizontal palaces set around courtyards, decorated with rich sculptural elements and details.

Day 11: Merida – Chichen-Itza – Departure Cancun

It is time to get on our way to one of the most amazing and definitely, one of most famous places worldwide for its beauty and, recently named, one of the new 7 wonders of the world: the mysterious and ancient archaeological site of Chichen-Itza.

The name Chichén Itzá is a Mayan word: CHI (mouth) CHEN (well) and ITZA (of the witch water). Some say this is because people were often thrown into the nearby cenote as sacrifices, and those who survived were believed to be seers. After lunch, we will continue to Cancun. Your last night will be spent here, we recommend:

Day 12: Cancun - Mexico City - Departure

You will spend your final morning relaxing in Cancun.  Cancún is a coastal city in Mexico's easternmost state, on the Yucatán Peninsula. Cancún is located on the Yucatan Channel that separates Mexico from the island of Cuba. Cancún's region is sometimes known as the Mexican Caribbean or the Mayan Riviera.

From Cancún you will be provided with transport to the local airport where there will be connecting flights to Mexico City for your journey home.