Discover Mexico

Welcome to Mexico City, one of the most exciting capitals in the world and known for its layers of Aztec, colonial, and modern history. Today is all about settling into the hotel and city, as we have our welcome briefing tomorrow morning. Want more time in Mexico City? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative. Accommodation: Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton (or similar)

After breakfast, we gather as a group for the first time for our welcoming briefing, where we learn about the adventures ahead and you can ask any questions you may have. Then, we set out to explore the bohemian side of Mexico City. We start by visiting quaint Coyoacán (meaning place of coyotes) with its pebbled streets, colonial churches, bustling little markets and quiet squares. This area was inhabited before the arrival of the Spanish and it is said conquistador Hernan Cortes made this the first capital of New Spain. Next, we head to Casa Azul (visit subject to availability), where artist Frida Kahlo was born, grew up and, eventually, lived with her muralist husband, Diego Rivera, until she died in 1954 at the age of 47. Now a museum, the cobalt-blue colonial house, set around a luxuriant garden, showcases the collections and personal effects of the two great artists and provides a window into the life of affluent Mexican bohemians in the first half of the 20th century. Finally, enjoy a ride on a pre-Hispanic boat along the Xochimilco canals. These scenic waterways were used by the Aztecs and today see us enjoying a journey past floating gardens and kitchens selling local food. Return to our hotel in the late afternoon. Accommodation: Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton (or similar)

Transfer (1hr 15min) to the ancient city of Teotihuacán, which peaked around 1,000 CE when it was the sixth-biggest city in the world with a population of about 125,000. Among the avenues and structures are the pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, the third and fourth largest pyramids in the world. We explore this impressive archaeological zone with an local guide. Returning to Mexico City, we explore the historic centre on a walking tour. It starts in the main square, known as the Zócalo, but officially named the Plaza de la Constitución. It was an important gathering place for the Aztecs, and remains so in modern Mexico, often hosting book fairs and concerts. On the north side of the Zócalo is the Cathedral Metropolitana, the largest cathedral in the Americas. It was constructed over an Aztec temple, the Templo Mayor, as a sign the Spanish were now in power. Our tour finishes outside the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Construction of this massive neoclassical building began in 1904, on the remains of the Santa Isabel convent, under the Italian architect Adamo Boari. It has an art nouveau style and its facade is made of marble from Carrara. Accommodation: Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton (or similar)

Before leaving Mexico City, we visit the Museum of Anthropology, which has an impressive collection of artefacts from the many civilisations of Mexico. We then transfer (about 2hr 30min) south to Puebla. In the late afternoon, we arrive in Puebla de los Angeles, the City of Angels, named after a legend in which angels came from heaven to place bells in the cathedral towers when builders were unable to do so. After arriving, we visit the Palafoxiana Library in the historic core of the city. Founded in 1646, this is the oldest public library in the Americas and is now home to over 45,000 books and manuscripts. Accommodation: Hotel Colonial Puebla (or similar)

Spend this morning exploring Puebla, which has been named a World Heritage site for its colonial architecture. We visit the Ex-Convent of Santa Rosa, which provides classic examples of how talavera tiles were incorporated into buildings, inside and out. Then, if you’d like to watch artisans create talavera pieces, you can join an optional visit to a local factory (payable locally). After, we drive (about 5hr 20min) to Oaxaca, another World Heritage city. With a colonial centre of shaded pedestrian streets, indigenous traditions and a creative atmosphere, Oaxaca has attracted and inspired artists and artisans alike. The city has such sights as the beautiful zócalo (main square), the cathedral and the vast Convento de Santo Domingo, along with museums, fascinating markets and charming inns. Accommodation: Casa Conzatti (or similar)

Our next exploration of Mexican history takes us to the Zapotecan site of Monte Albán. While the name dates to a 16th-century Spanish landowner, previous names came from the Mixtec word Sahandevul, meaning at the foot of the sky, or from the Zapotecan Danibaan, meaning sacred mountain. In 500 BCE, the Zapotecans moved into the Oaxaca region and began the monumental task of levelling the top of a 5,250ft (1,600m) mountain that intersects and divides three valleys. Here, they built the city of Monte Albán with a maze of subterranean passageways, rooms, drainage and water-storage systems. We then transfer (30 minutes) to the small village of San Antonio Arrazola, where the local population are known for creating fantastical creatures called alebrijes from wood or papier-mâché. We later return to Oaxaca and explore the cobbled streets, vibrant squares and churches of the historic city. We also visit the Museum of Cultures Santo Domingo. Accommodation: Casa Conzatti (or similar)

Oaxaca is possibly the most celebrated region in Mexico for its cuisine and we get more acquainted with an authentic cooking class. At a rustic kitchen, we are taught to cook a full Mexican menu, including tortillas, a main, and dessert, from a Zapotec cook. We begin in our host’s own produce store, picking up the ingredients we’ll need, before we take turns to prepare the dishes, sharing the stations and working together. After, we tuck into our delicious creations! The afternoon is free to wander around Oaxaca on your own. Accommodation: Casa Conzatti (or similar)

Our final day starts with a visit to Chichén Itzá. Having spent the night near the site, we can get in early before the day-trippers arrive from the beach resorts. Chichén Itzá served as the political and economic centre of the Maya civilisation and thrived from around 600 CE to 1200 CE. The pyramid of Kukulkan, the Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall of the Thousand Pillars and the Playing Field of the Prisoners can still be seen today and demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to architecture, space and composition. The pyramid itself was the last, and possibly greatest, of all Maya pyramids. This afternoon, we drive about three hours to Cancún airport, where the tour ends. Want more time in Cancun? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative. Please note: The group transfer back to Cancún is scheduled to align with a chosen flight to London, UK; therefore, you should not book flights leaving before then. Please contact your sales representative for the timings of this flight.