Colonial Charms & Central Highlands

Ready to uncover the vibrant culture, immersive history and mouth-watering cuisine of Mexico? Head to your departure airport to catch a flight to Mexico City.* Touch down in the Mexican capital and take a shared-transfer to your hotel. Famed for its huge population of more than 9 million people and high-altitude location, Mexico City is the largest city in North America and its incredible Centro Historic dates back to the days of the Aztec Empire. If time allows, spend the evening exploring at your leisure, taking in the breathtaking skyline or enjoying the capital's energetic nightlife. Overnight stay in Mexico City.** *If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day. ** You will have the option to add early check-in on arrival in the next step of the booking process.

Breakfast at the hotel. It's time to get to know this megacity with a full-day Mexico City & Teotihuacan tour. Begin at the incredible Basilica of Guadalupe, one of the most important religious sites in the country, which houses the cloak containing the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Leave the city and continue to Pachuca to visit the incredible Teotihuacan Archaeological Zone. Known as the city of the gods, here you can admire the impressive Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, among others. After the journey back in time, make an interesting stop to learn about the local use of the agave plant and volcanic obsidian stone before returning to Mexico City to visit the Zócalo and the National Palace. Continue to the historic Bosque de Chapultepec and end the day with a panoramic visit to the residential area of ​​Polanco and the famous Avenida Presidente Masaryk. After an action-packed day, return to the hotel and spend the evening relaxing at your leisure. Overnight stay in Mexico City. Please note: the order of the visits on this day may vary.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today is a free day to explore Mexico city at your leisure. There's a limitless number of things to see and do in this vast city, but some of the most popular sights include the magical Floating Gardens of Xochimilco, the National Anthropology Museum, and the legendary Frida Khalo Museum.* Of course, simply soaking up the atmosphere in the city's expansive plazas or diving into Mexican street food at the enormous Mercado de la Merced are equally as rewarding ways to spend the day! We recommend an optional visit to watch the mariachi bands of Plaza Garibaldi this evening.** Overnight stay in Mexico City. *Optional visit to the National Museum of Anthropology: Enjoy entrance to the National Museum of Anthropology, the largest and most visited museum in Mexico. It houses the most important archaeological and ethnographic collection in the world, representing the Pre Hispanic past and the multicultural heritage of Mexico. *Optional excursion to Xochimilco, Coyoacan & Frida Khalo Museum: Take a panoramic tour and see the largest Bullfighting Ring in the world, the Poliforum Siqueiro and the Teatro de los Insurgentes. Visit the University of Mexico, the largest in Latin America and see the Olympic Stadium and the Central Library. Next, admire the mosaic murals of Juan O'Gorman and enjoy a cruise through the floating gardens of Lake Xochimilco aboard a traditional trajinera boat! Continue to the colonial center of Coyoacan to admire its 16th-century architecture before visiting the Frida Khalo Museum, where the world's most famous Latin American artist once lived! **Optional Plaza Garibaldi at Night Show: Head to Plaza Garibaldi this evening to experience its famous mariachi bands and vibrant atmosphere! Enjoy an authentic Mexican fiesta with live music and dancing as you soak up the ambience of one of Mexico City's most emblematic nightlife spots! One drink included. Please note: It is not possible to take both the Xochimilco and National Anthropology Museum excursions on this day, but you can combine either one of the day excursions with the Plaza Garibaldi Night Show.

Breakfast at the hotel. Leave the capital behind this morning, as you are picked up from the hotel and depart to Morelia, known as the city of the Pink Quarry. Admire this colonial city's beautiful pink sandstone architecture as you see its most important buildings including the Government Palace, the Plaza de Armas and the 18th-century Aqueduct. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Morelia was known as Valladolid until 1828 and is today considered one of the most beautiful colonial cities in the country. Visit the Fuente de las Tarascas and the Church of Gualupita before strolling through a local craft and candy market. In the afternoon, continue your journey west to the charming lakeside town of Patzcuaro, known for its cobblestone streets and fusion of indigenous and colonial architecture. On arrival, take a tour of Patzcuaro, once the capital of the ancient Purépecha kingdom. Known for its unique ambience and fusion of indigenous and colonial influences. Visit the most emblematic sights in the city, such as the House of the Eleven Patios, Plaza Don Vasco de Quiroga and the local market. Transfer to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day relaxing or exploring at your leisure. Overnight stay in Patzcuaro.

Breakfast at the hotel. Begin the day with by taking in the views of Janizio Island from Patzcuaro Pier. Afterwards, pay a visit to the town of Tzintzuntzan, the ceremonial center of the pre-Columbian Tarascan state, before making a brief stop in the town of Capula, home to the largest Catrina statue in the world! Continue your journey around Lake Janitzio as you travel to Guadalajara, most famous as the capital of mariachi music! Arrive in the afternoon and enjoy a visit to the vibrant town of Tlaquepaque, known for its handicrafts and artistic heritage, Tlaquepaque is a colorful city and one of the best places in the country to buy authentic Mexican ceramics! Afterwards, head to your hotel in Guadalajara and spend the evening exploring at your own pace, perhaps indulging in the city's lively nightlife and excellent Mexican cuisine. Overnight stay in Guadalajara.

Breakfast at the hotel. Leave the city this morning and head north to the world-famous town of Tequila. Of course, this town is known for one thing in particular, as the birthplace of one of the world's most popular spirits. On arrival, pay a visit to a local distillery to see how the blue agave plant is used to produce tequila. Afterwards, return to Guadalajara to enjoy an eye-opening tour of this glorious city. As the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, this vibrant city is home to an array of beautiful colonial-era architecture, such as its Guadalajara Cathedral and Government Palace. See the Degollado Theatre and the Hospicio Cabañas, a cultural venue home to the murals of the renowned Jalisco painter José Clemente Orozco. After a good overview of Guadalajara, enjoy the remainder of the day exploring at your leisure. Why not visit a local bar to indulge in a tequila-based drink or dive into the city's fantastic food scene? Overnight stay in Guadalajara.

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off for Guanajuato, a city in central Mexico known for its silver mining history and colonial architecture. Arrive and embark on a city tour of Guanajuato. Discover its subterranean streets and its opulent 18th-century architecture, a result of the city's wealth during the boom years of silver mining! Visit Juarez Theatre, the beautiful Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato, the University, the Hidalgo Market and the Alhóndiga Museum. Finally, walk through the legendary 'Alley of the Kiss', one of the city's narrowest streets where the balconies facing each other are so close, that it's said the residents could lean across and kiss their neighbor on the opposite side of the street! Afterwards. check-in at the hotel and spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. Discover Guanajuato's atmospheric old town and narrow cobblestoned alleys or people watch from the cafe terraces at the leady Jardín de la Unión. Overnight stay in Guanajuato.

Breakfast at the hotel. Head east to the famous city of San Miguel de Allende today, in Mexico's Central Highlands. Home to an enchanting mix of colonial and baroque-era architecture, a vibrant foodie scene and excellent rooftop bars, San Miguel de Allende has become very popular with tourists and ex-pats in recent years. On the way, make a brief stop in Dolores Hidalgo and Atotonilco. Arrive and enjoy a city tour of San Miguel de Allende to discover its most emblematic buildings and get a feel for the city's vibrant atmosphere. Visit the Municipal Palace, the Casa del Mayorazgo de la Canal, the Allende Institute of Art and Culture and the Temple of the Immaculate Conception, among other highlights. On the way to the hotel, see the Paso de Camino Real and once checked in, spend the evening exploring the city at your own pace. Overnight stay in San Miguel de Allende.

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Querétaro this morning to explore its magnificent colonial center home to the house of the Corregidora, the stately Mansions of the Marquesa de la Villa del Villar del Águila and the house of the Count of Sierra Gorda. End the day with a final journey back to Mexico City, sighting the famous Los Arcos Querétaro Aqueduct as you leave Querétaro. Once you've arrived and checked in at the hotel, spend your final evening in Mexico at your leisure, doing some last-minute souvenir shopping or dining on authentic Mexican cuisine! Overnight stay in Mexico City.

Breakfast* at the hotel. Sadly, it's time to say 'Adios' to Mexico! At the indicated time, shared-transfer to the airport for your return flight back to Canada. Arrive in Canada and end your trip.** * Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day. ** Depending on the choice of flight, you may arrive back in Canada the following day, making the total duration of your trip 11 days.