Your unforgettable tailormade tour and vacation in Mexico start at the Zocalo, the heart of Mexico City, one of the world’s largest cities, full of contrasts.

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Your unforgettable tailormade tour and vacation in Mexico start at the Zocalo, the heart of Mexico City, one of the world’s largest cities, full of contrasts.

The Spanish conquest took off on the East Coast. In this off-the-beaten-track adventure you will follow the conqueror route down to the state of Veracruz, situated on the Mexican Gulf Coast, where the Spanish first landed. On this journey you will pass the beautiful nature of the Huasteca Region and fascinating places of history and tradition, such as the archaeological site of El Tajin. Get to know the Port of Veracruz, a bustling city (especially during its carnaval) and Mexico’s most important harbor town, before heading back to Mexico City via Puebla.

These are the highlights of your tour and trip to Mexico, in North - Central America:

  • Mexico City, the colourful, spectacular and lively capital of the country
  • El Tajin and Papantla, well-known for the mystical Pyramid of the Niches and the thrilling dance of the “Voladores de Papantla”
  • Veracruz, the town of the “True Cross”, where the Spaniards started their conquest of Mexico, is now a bustling harbor city full of culture and history.

Trip summary

  • Travel style Group departure
  • Departure Mexico City
  • End Mexico City
  • Countries
    • Mexico
  • City
    • Mexico City
    • Oaxaca
    • Veracruz
    • Xalapa
  • Theme Art, history and cultural trips
  • Accommodation Standard
  • Flight Excluded
  • Guide Included
  • The tour has met our standards

Detailed itinerary

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  • 1
    Mexico City
    Day 1

    Welcome! Upon arrival you will be received and transferred to your hotel. After the check-in, your afternoon will be available at leisure. 

    Overnight at hotel in Mexico City.

    Visited places:
    • Mexico City
    Accommodation offered:
  • 2
    Discover Mexico City
    Day 2

    Get to know one of the world´s biggest and most exciting cities! Enjoy a guided visit in the historical centre, 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 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. The Templo Mayor is thought to be located on the exact spot where the Aztecs saw the eagle perching on a cactus with a snake in its beak. This symbolized for the Aztecs that they had reached their promised land.

    Next, we drive down the beautiful Paseo de la Reforma Avenue to arrive at Chapultepec Park. In pre-Hispanic times a summer residence for the noble class of the Aztecs, now it is Mexico City’s largest park and one of the largest city parks in the world. We will visit the Museum of Anthropology (closed on Mondays). This museum is considered to be among the world’s finest of its kind. Here you will admire the famous Aztec calendar stone, models of Tenochtitlán, a fascinating market place diorama, giant stone Olmec heads from the jungles of Tabasco and Veracruz, among many other interesting treasures.

    Visited places:
    • Mexico City
    Accommodation offered:
  • 3
    Pyramids of Teotihuacan
    Day 3

    Teotihuacán, ‘the place where gods were created’, is one of the most impressive archaeological sites of the country.

    The history of Teotihuacan is quite mysterious. The earliest buildings were constructed around 200 BC. 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 centre of ancient Mexico.

    During this guided excursion you will encounter the magic and mystery of Teotihuacan. Admire (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 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.

    Visited places:
    • Mexico City
    Accommodation offered:
  • 4
    Mexico City - Puebla -Oaxaca
    Day 4

    Today you leave Mexico City and travel to Puebla, Mexico’s fourth largest city, passing the snowcapped volcanoes Popocatépetl (Smoking Mountain, 5464m) and Iztaccíhuatl (Sleeping Lady, 5230m). In Puebla you will visit the extraordinary Rosary Chapel, the Cathedral, the main square and its beautiful historical centre. Lunch included.

    Continue to Oaxaca, one of the most colorful colonial towns of Mexico and, just like Puebla, listed as World Heritage.  Included: Breakfast and lunch.

    Visited places:
    • Mexico City
    • Oaxaca
  • 5
    Monte Alban and crafts
    Day 5

    Visit Monte Alban, built on a mountain top flattened by the Zapotecs. Here you will see cultural traces from different civilizations, such as the Olmecs, Mixtecs and Zapotecs. Then it's on to the town of Coyotepec, famous for its ceramics ("barro negro") production.

    Also visit Teotitlán del Valle, a village known for its textiles. Local artisans will show you their weaving techniques and they will explain how they obtain natural dyes. Before returning to Oaxaca, you will stop at the Tule tree, perhaps one of the biggest living beings in the world. In Oaxaca have a little city tour, to see sights such as the Cathedral and the magnificent Santo Domingo church. Included: Breakfast.

    Visited places:
    • Oaxaca
  • 6
    Veracruz
    Day 6

    Departure towards the Gulf of Mexico. In the afternoon you 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. Included: Breakfast 

    Visited places:
    • Oaxaca
    • Veracruz
  • 7
    El Tajin
    Day 7

    In the morning, transfer to the archaeological zone El Tajin, located in the northern part of Veracruz State among hills and surrounded by tropical vegetation. El Tajín flourished from 600 to 1200 AD and during this time numerous temples, palaces, ball game courts, and pyramids were built. El Tajín was named a World Heritage site in 1992, due to its cultural importance and its architecture. Its best-known monument is the Pyramid of the Niches, a unique structure in Mesoamerica.

    After this visit, we will pass through the town of Papantla, famous for its vanilla production. If we´re lucky we may see the thrilling "Dance of the Voladores de Papantla", a ritual of courageous dancing and acrobatics on top of a high mast. It is a ceremony full of faith and color. We return to Veracruz following the Emerald Coast, with a short stop Tecolutla (free time for lunch). Included: Breakfast.
     

    Visited places:
    • Veracruz
  • 8
    Coatepec and Xalapa
    Day 8

    Departure to Coatepec. The weather here is always pleasant and ideal for coffee growing, Coatepec's claim to fame. Free time to visit its lovely center and to try a delicious, locally produced cup of coffee. We will then continue to Xalapa, the pleasant state capital. In Xalapa, we´ll visit the ex-hacienda de Lencero, the old estate and plantations belonging to Antonio de Santa Ana, an important military and political figure from the times of Mexico´s Independence War. After that, you’ll see the most interesting sights of Xalapa. Visit the Anthropology Museum, explore the historical city center, and enjoy some free time.  Included: Breakfast.

    Visited places:
    • Veracruz
    • Xalapa
    Accommodation offered:
  • 9
    Xalapa -Tlaxcala - Mexico City
    Day 9

    Departure towards Tlaxcala. We start with a visit to the Basilica of the Virgin of Ocotlán (a temple with a baroque interior, built in the XVI century) and the ex-convent of San Francisco, nowadays the cathedral, located next to the bullring. We will take a stroll through its beautiful historic center. After some free time, return to Mexico City.  Included: Breakfast.

    Visited places:
    • Xalapa
    • Mexico City
  • Prices and conditions

    Price includes
    • Accommodation at the hotels mentioned or similar in standard rooms
    • Daily breakfast (incl. service charge) and one lunch as mentioned in the itinerary
    • Transfers and excursions as mentioned in program
    • All transfers and excursions with Spanish-English speaking guide
    • Taxes
    Price does not include
    • Airfares (domestic and international)
    • All services, meals or items not mentioned
    • Personal expenses such as: phone calls, laundry, beverages, etc.
    • Tips to bellboys, room-maids, drivers, and guides