Essential Cities & Ancient Civilizations

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 Mexico City this morning, as you head south towards the colorful city of Puebla, stopping along the way at the Cholula Archaeological Zone, an ancient Mesoamerican site known for its huge pyramid & tunnels. Arrive in Puebla and enjoy a brief visit of the city to soak up the beautiful architecture of its buildings, many of which are adorned with painted Talavera tiles. From here, transfer to the bus station to catch a bus to the southern city of Oaxaca, a journey of approximately 5-hours. Arrive in Oaxaca and transfer to the hotel. The remainder of the day is free to explore this vibrant state capital at your leisure. Oaxaca is one of the most important cities in Mexico and is famed for its well-preserved historic center and cobblestone streets and open-air markets. Overnight stay in Oaxaca. Note: The journey from Mexico City to Puebla is carried out via a commercial bus shared with other travelers. You will be accompanied by your guide and stop by Cholula and Puebla before arriving at the bus station for a drive to Oaxaca on a public bus. Tickets are included and you will receive them upon arriving in Mexico City.

Breakfast at the hotel. The first stop this morning is the Monte Alban Archaeological Zone, founded around the year 800 AD. One of the oldest cities in Mesoamerica, this incredible site is a testament to the true power and splendour of the pre-Columbian civilizations. During the tour, visit several of the most impressive structures including the Astronomical Observatory, the Ball Court, the Palace and the sculpted steles of the Danzantes. In the afternoon take a city tour of Oaxaca to know more about this vibrant city. Explore Zocalo square, in the heart of the city, and discover some of the most emblematic sights in Oaxaca such as the historic Templo de Santo Domingo. Overnight stay in Oaxaca.

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend a final day in beautiful Oaxaca at your leisure. Enjoy some last-minute sightseeing or enjoy a day of souvenir shopping! Alternatively, this incredible city is home to an array of museums and galleries. Overnight stay in Oaxaca.

Breakfast at the hotel.* Sadly, it's time to bring your unforgettable journey through Mexico to a close. At the indicated time, transfer to Oaxaca airport to catch your 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 8 days.