Best of Mexico & Costa Rica

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Mexico. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll be met by a local representative for a complimentary transfer to your hotel. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet your local leader and fellow travellers – until then, the day is yours. Perhaps take a stroll to get a feel for this vibrant capital where the ancient and modern collide. After the meeting, you might like to head out with your leader for an optional group dinner – an opportunity to get stuck straight into the many local culinary delights.

Today, you’ll get to know Mexico City during a guided tour with your leader. Visit the Metropolitan Cathedral – the largest and one of the oldest cathedrals in Latin America. You’ll also explore Zocalo, the city’s main square, and the remains of Tenochtitlan – the capital city of the Aztec empire. Check out famous Mexican painter Diego Rivera’s Mural Museum at the Alameda Central. Today’s guided tour includes a visit to the Museum of Anthropology – home to an impressive collection of 600,000 pieces of Mexican art and artifacts. After, the day is yours to spend as you please. The Leon Trotsky and Frida Kahlo (La Casa Azul) museums are famous sights worth checking out as an optional activity. Otherwise, maybe visit the colourful floating gardens of Xochimilco just outside the city.

Depart Mexico City this morning and visit the ancient Teotihuacan ruins, once one of the biggest cities in the world. Meet with a local guide and discover the ruins known as the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon which dominate the skyline. Stroll down the Avenue of the Dead and get a sense of what life was like here nearly 2000 years ago. Continue to the colourful city of Puebla, joining your leader for an orientation walk to get your bearings around the beautifully preserved city centre. Puebla is known for its delicious food scene – your leader will have tips on the best places to dine on local specialties this evening.

This morning, get to know Cholula, a city close to Puebla, by joining your leader on an orientation walk. Cholula has more churches than any other city in Mexico and you’ll stop at a few on your journey, like Santuario de la Virgen de los Remedios, located on the top of the Great Pyramid of Cholula. After, head back to Puebla after to explore the historic city at your own pace in the afternoon – maybe sit down for a dish of mole poblano (Puebla’s specialty sauce of dried chillis blended with spices, nuts and chocolate, typically served with chicken).

Today you’ll journey to Oaxaca (pronounced wa-ha-ca), the city best known for its mole and mezcal. You’ll see the rest of its best bits on an orientation walk with your leader. Maybe see the main square with its architecture dating back to the 16th century or the Mercado 20 de Noviembre – a food market loved by the locals. Tonight, maybe join your group for a dinner where you can try some of the regional specialities such as tlayudas (Oaxacan pizza) or one of its seven varieties of mole.

Learn about the traditional skill of crafting alebrijes – brightly coloured folk art sculptures of mythical creatures – in a women-run workshop in San Martin Tilcajete. This workshop was founded by local woman Rosario – her family has been dedicated to the craft for three generations. The artisans will walk you through the history of the art and how the crafting process works and you’ll hear the story of how this community became a local symbol of resilience and female leadership. Then, enjoy a free afternoon – maybe visit the nearby archaeological site of Monte Alban, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Have your camera ready to go because you can get a fantastic view across the three legs of the valley of Oaxaca.

Set off with your leader this morning, first stopping at the famous Tule Tree – a 1500-year-old Montezuma cypress with a 36 m circumference, making it one of the widest in the world. Travel on to the Mitla archaeological ruins – once the religious centre for the Zapotec people. Lunch today will be at the home of a local Zapotecan family, where you’ll have the chance to try traditional dishes and learn about their culture. Visit a woman-owned mezcal farm and tour the cacti plantation – you’ll round out your day of exploration by sampling some of the different mezcals. Relax on the bus as you travel to Salina Cruz for the night.