Itinerary Expand all Day 1 Start Mexico City Those on the group flights normally arrive in Mexico City in the evening. Land only passengers can arrive at any time. Hotel Royal Reforma or similar Fly to Mexico City Those on the group flights normally arrive in Mexico City in the evening. Land only passengers can arrive at any time. Hotel Royal Reforma or similar Day 2 Coyoacan Neighbourhood, Frida Kahlo and Xochimilco Canals Today we head out for a day of exploring the bohemian side of Mexico City. We start off by making our way to the south of the city and a particular house hidden behind cobalt blue walls known as Casa Azul. This is where the acclaimed 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 colonial house, set around a luxuriant garden, doesn’t only showcase the collections and personal effects of the two great artists but is a window into the life of affluent Mexican bohemians in the first half of the 20th Century. Next, we visit the quaint neighbourhood of Coyoacan (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 that the conquistador, Hernan Cortes, made this the first capital of New Spain. Finally, we enjoy a relaxing ride on a pre-Hispanic boat along the peaceful waters of the Xochimilco Canals. These scenic waterways would have been used by the Aztecs and today see us enjoying a relaxing journey past floating gardens and little floating kitchens selling local food. We finally return to our hotel in the late afternoon. Hotel Royal Reforma or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Teotihuacan and Mexico City's Old Town The ancient city of Teotihuacan reached its zenith around 1,000AD when it was the 6th biggest city in the world with a population of about 125,000. Amongst the avenues and structures are the pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, the 3rd and 4th largest in the world. We explore this impressive archaeological zone with an expert local guide to unearth some of the site’s secrets. Returning to Mexico City, we visit the historic centre on a walking tour based around the Zocalo (main square) and the Cathedral Metropolitana. Our exploration will start in the capital’s main square, known as the Zócalo, but officially named the Plaza de la Constitución. Considered one of the biggest squares in the world, and just as it was an important gathering place for the Aztecs, it remains so in modern day Mexico, often hosting book fairs and concerts. On the North side of the Zócalo is the Metropolitan Cathedral. The largest Cathedral in the Americas, it was constructed over the Aztec temple, the Templo Mayor, as a sign that the Spanish were now in power. Our tour finishes outside of 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 Boari. It has an art nouveau style and its facade is made of marble from Carrara. Hotel Royal Reforma or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Museum of Anthropology and History and Palacio Nacional; on to Puebla Before leaving Mexico City behind we visit the Museum of Anthropology and History with its impressive collection of artefacts from Mexico’s many civilisations. We continue to The Palacio Nacional, which not only contains the offices of the President, the Federal Treasury and the National Archives but also murals depicting pre-Hispanic life and a large mural filling the central stairway depicting the entire history of Mexico from the conquest on. Starting our journey south we head towards the city of Puebla (about 2.5hrs). In the late afternoon we arrive in Puebla de los Angeles, the City of Angels – so called because of a legend that claims angels came down from heaven to place the cathedral’s bells in the towers when builders were unable to do so. The colonial city is known for its traditions, especially its handicrafts, including blue-and-white pottery, and its cuisine that is some of the best in Mexico. Hotel Colonial Puebla or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Puebla city tour and on to Oaxaca We spend this morning discovering the city of Puebla which has been given UNESCO World Heritage Site for its colonial architecture. We visit the Patio de los Azulejos and the ex-Convent of Santa Rosa, both of which provide classic examples of how ‘talavera’ tiles were incorporated into buildings, inside and out. Early settlers who came from Talavera de la Reina in Spain introduced these tiles and associated ceramics. Today the glazed pottery has become synonymous with Puebla. After our city tour we continue our journey and drive towards another Mexican World Heritage City, Oaxaca (about 4.5hrs). With a colonial centre of shaded pedestrian streets, bright, clear light, indigenous traditions and a creative atmosphere, Oaxaca has attracted and inspired many artists and artisans alike. The city boasts such sights as the beautiful zocalo (main square), the Cathedral and the vast Convento de Santo Domingo, along with museums, fascinating markets and charming inns. Hotel Oaxaca Real or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Monte Alban and Oaxaca Our next exploration of Mexican history takes us to the Zapotecan site of Monte Alban. Whilst the name dates back to a Spanish landowner in the 16th-century, previous names come from the Mixtec word ‘Sahandevul’ meaning ‘At the foot of the Sky’ or the Zapotecan ‘Danibaan’ meaning ‘Sacred Mountain. In 500 BC the Zapotecans moved into the Oaxaca region and began the monumental task of levelling the top of a 1,600m high mountain that intersects and divides three valleys. Here they built the city of Monte Alban with a maze of subterranean passageways, rooms, drainage and water storage systems. We later return to Oaxaca and explore the cobbled streets and vibrant squares and churches of the historical town. We also visit the Museum of cultures Santo Domingo. Hotel Oaxaca Real or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Learn how to create popular Mexican dishes Oaxaca is possibly the most famed region in Mexico for its cuisine and we get more acquainted with it as we head for a cooking class, learning dishes that can easily be recreated at home. The exact menu can change but we generally learn how to make two types of tortilla, three different salsas, guacamole, mole, a starter, a soup, a desert and a drink. We visit a local market where different ingredients are showcased and explained before returning to the restaurant for our class and a succulent lunch. The afternoon is free to wander around Oaxaca on your own. Hotel Oaxaca Real or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 8 Teotitlan del Valle, Mescal tasting and on to Tehuantepec A short distance from Oaxaca is the village of Teotitlan del Valle known for its colourful, hand-woven rugs and our first stop today. From here we continue to the Don Agave distillery to taste some mescal. Distilled from agave plants, mescal is different to tequila and is most popular in the Oaxaca region. After the tasting we drive to Tehuantepec where we spend the night (total drive time is about 7 hours plus stops) Hotel Calli or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 9 To San Cristobal Drive to San Cristobal (about 6hrs plus stops). One of Mexico's most popular cities with visitors, San Cristobal de las Casas is filled with cobbled stoned alleyways of whitewashed buildings with red-tiled roofs that give onto plazas and picturesque arcades. Arriving in San Cristobal in the afternoon, we have a short orientation tour of the historic city before checking into our hotel. Hotel Casa Mexicana or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 10 Free day in San Cristobal Today is a free day to explore San Cristobal at your own pace. Wander the colonial streets, take in the lively cafés, or buy handicrafts produced by the local Tzotzil indigenous groups with their different colourful dress. It’s also possible to do an optional boat trip through the Sumidero Canyon and/or visit one of the traditional Mayan communities who live in the villages surrounding the city (see money section for prices). Hotel Casa Mexicana or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 11 To Palenque via Agua Azul The road we take towards Palenque is very windy but picturesque. En route we visit the waterfalls of Agua Azul (after about 5hrs driving plus stops). Agua Azul is a group of beautiful waterfalls that create wonderful natural pools and has been a protected area since 1980. Following a stop at the falls it’s a further 2.5hrs to the town of Palenque, named after the nearby impressive ruins. Hotel La Aldea del Halach Huinic Meals included: Breakfast Day 12 Palenque Ruins, on to Campeche Emerging from the jungles of the Chiapas’ low-lying hills is one of Mexico’s most impressive ruins: the Mayan site of Palenque. The temples, sanctuaries and pyramids, with their sculptured walls and ceilings are some of the best-preserved and finest examples of Mayan buildings despite the city-state having peaked over 1,300 years ago in the 7th century. We explore this magnificent site before continuing on the road towards the Yucatan Peninsula and the Caribbean town of Campeche (about 5hrs plus stops). Yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the colonial town’s best feature are its impressive city walls built to protect it from the constant attacks by English and Dutch buccaneers and pirates during the 16th and 17th centuries. Hotel Lopez or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 13 Uxmal, traditional lunch and Merida About two hours drive from Campeche is our second Mayan site: Uxmal. Quite open, it is in contrast to the jungle-ruins of Palenque we visited yesterday. This site, which dates to the late classic era (500-800AD) and features the Pyramid of the Magician; the Nunnery Quadrangle with long, elaborately carved facades; and a ball court where a traditional ball game was played, sometimes ending in human sacrifice. Having worked up an appetite we have lunch at a local Mayan family restaurant. Here we get to eat Pollo Pibil and Cochinita Pibil – slowly cooked pork and chicken. The meat is roasted for about 5hrs along with achiote paste and wrapped in banana leaves. This is a typical Yucatan dish and representative of the local cuisine. After lunch it’s about 1.5hrs drive to Merida. A number of the city’s buildings, including the cathedral, were built using Mayan stones found on this site and, along traditional colonial architecture, features 19th century houses built in a French style. Arriving mid-afternoon we have a walking tour of Merida, returning later to enjoy the main square which is particularly delightful at night. Hotel Caribe or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 14 Tixkokob craft village, Izamal magic town and on to Chichen Itza Our first stop is at the traditional Mayan village of Tixkokob where local families practice the age-old craft of hammock weaving. After learning about how hammocks are made we continue to the ‘magic town’ of Izamal. Once a Mayan settlement, the name means ‘Place of the God of Medicine’. The town is covered in buildings painted yellow and white and is known for the 16th century Franciscan monastery built on top of the base of a huge Mayan pyramid (which was probably once larger than the Castillo in Chichen Itza). From here we transfer to Chichen Itza, possibly the best known and most impressive of all Mayan sites (total drive time of about 3.5hrs plus stops). Hotel Chichen Itza or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 15 Chichen Itza visit; on to Cancun; end Cancun Our final day starts with a visit the most famous Mayan temple city: Chichen Itza. Having spent the night near to the site means we can get in nice and early before the hordes of day-trippers coming from the beach resorts. Chichen Itza served as the political and economic centre of the Mayan civilisation and thrived from around 600 to 1200AD. 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 the extraordinary commitment to architecture, space and composition. The pyramid itself was the last, and possibly the greatest, of Mayan pyramids. This afternoon we drive about 2.5hrs to Cancun airport in time for the group flight. This is where the tour’s land only portion ends. Meals included: Breakfast Arrive London Arrive London
Mexico Holders of British, Australian, New Zealand, US, Canadian and most EU passports do not require visas for Mexico. However, please note that if flying via the USA, you will have to clear immigration during transit. In this case, you will be required to get an Electronic Travel Authority (USD14) prior to flying if travelling via the USA under the Visa Waiver Scheme (as is the case for most UK citizens). Please see our USA Visa page for more information.
Mexico There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever and/or Chikungunya are known risks in places visited on this trip. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Hotels We will stay in a variety of colonial and modern properties, all with en-suite facilities. Some of the accommodation highlights will include: a hotel classified as a historic monument which was originally a Jesuit monastery in Puebla, a Spanish colonial residence in the heart of San Cristobal de las Casas and a property 2km from Palenque surrounded by forest. Some of the hotels have pools and most have WiFi/internet. Single supplements are available upon request.
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Reviewed June 2019 Patricia Arlt Trip: Mexico: Mayans, Aztecs & Conquistadores MEXICO is great !!!! My 3rd trip with Exodus and they just keep om getting better !! The itinerary was really diversified and days were all extremely interesting. May was a great time to travel as we missed the rainy spell. Highly recommended!! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Quite a few: Archeological sites, cooking course, BIG TREE visit (extra stop bonus), canyon trip, Concote SWIM in sink hole (another extra stop bonus). What did you think of your group leader? HIGH PRAISE & THANKS!!! Artero was an absolutely fantastic Tour Leader, passionate about his work and devoted to well being and care of his group. Went the extra mile on more than one occasion. Miguel, the Driver, always kind and cautious! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take 100 dollar US Notes. You get better FX rate at the exchanges Is there anything else you would like to add? Saving for the next trip !!
Reviewed February 2019 Dennis Jenkins Trip: Mexico: Mayans, Aztecs & Conquistadores Mexico: Mayans, Aztecs and Conquistadores This was a very comprehensive tour from Mexico City to the Yucatan Peninsular visiting many amazing archaeological sites, colonial cities, markets, churches and seeing different local products being made. It also gave us the opportunity to sample a wide range of different Mexican foods including a lesson on how to prepare, cook and present a typical Mexican meal. Also interesting to see the varied wildlife and often stunning scenery. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? As always very difficult to highlight just one inspirational moment in such a varied trip but the optional visit to the Sumidero Canyon which also included a visit to the Mayan community of San Juan Chamula, particularly witnessing some of the pre hispanic ritual in the church. What did you think of your group leader? Arturo was excellent in every way. His knowledge of his country, which he obviously loved, was phenomenal and he was always cheerful, enthusiastic and always showed great concern for the welfare of all the group. A first class tour leader! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for long days and some early starts as distances are generally quite large or in the case of some of the mountain roads, quite slow. The trip notes do make this quite clear. I would strongly recommend the optional excursion to the Sumidero Canyon and visit to the local Mayan communities. Is there anything else you would like to add? Accomodation was generally very good in terms of location and character with some delightful colonial establishments. Although the trip is classified as "Leisurely" and it is entirely optional to climb the pyramids at the pre Hispanic sites, with the early starts, long days and with some of the places visited at medium altitude, I would think the classification should be "Leisurely/Moderate" as the tour is certainly"Full on". Again, this is outlined in the trip notes in which case I would question the "Leisurely" classification. I would also recommend may be extending the trip by staying 2 nights in Campeche rather than just 1 night. Campeche is an interesting city with a calm atmoshere and would give some relaxation after the long drive the day before from Palenque
Reviewed February 2019 Donna Heinle Trip: Mexico: Mayans, Aztecs & Conquistadores Mexico tour The title of this tour describes the itinerary. We explored archaeological sites galore, toured historical city centers, visited local artisans, and ate lots of Mexican (and some Mayan) food. The hotels were all comfortable, and the baños mostly had toilet paper and soap. We had opportunities to swim and to visit a cenote. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Walking into the church at San Juan Chamula with its thousands of candles ablaze. What did you think of your group leader? Arturo was our professor, our concierge, our maitre d'hotel, our friend. It was a pleasure to explore Mexico with him as our guide. He's the best. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The first week of the trip is spent in areas at relatively higher altitude, so the weather was cooler than I expected. With the second week, we hit warm weather. I found my walking sticks helpful for climbing the pyramids at the archaeological sites. Comfortable shoes, of course, are also important.
Reviewed November 2018 Michele Jones Trip: Mexico: Mayans, Aztecs & Conquistadores Good introduction to Mexico Good introduction to Mexico , combining culture, history and scenery. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Mayan sites What did you think of your group leader? Arturo was, quite simply, excellent. He has immense empathy, knowledge, good humour and patience. His command of English, including technical archaeological and geological terms, was outstanding. He also looked after me very, very well when I had a slight altercation with a park bench! Is there anything else you would like to add? I would have liked to have had more opportunities for sampling street food and maybe a free day in Oaxaca.
Reviewed November 2018 kathy tuggey Trip: Mexico: Mayans, Aztecs & Conquistadores Super trip exceeding expectations Saw so much of Mexico including Day of the Dead Festival. Lots of fantastic scenery, culture and history not to mention food and art. Be prepared for some long days and windy, mountain roads. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Loved swimming in cenotes which was added to the tour as well as Frida Kahlo house and the Mayan sites. What did you think of your group leader? Our guide Arthuro couldn’t do enough for the group and had extensive and humour! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Booked group flight via Washington and on reflection should have booked my own flight either direct or via non US hub. Transfer queues were worse part of holiday!
Reviewed April 2018 R. Perry Trip: Mexico: Mayans, Aztecs & Conquistadores So much to see! Our first Exodus trip, and first time in Mexico. Hugely enjoyed the experience, and saw so much more than we could have managed under our own steam. Nice mixture of ancient sites, colonial history and Mexico today. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Turning around at the top of the pyramid in Cholula to see the sun set behind Popacatepetl - magical! What did you think of your group leader? Arturo was an excellent, knowledgeable and careful guide, who made the whole trip very special. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Keep a daily diary - you see SO much, it is easy to mix up your memories! Is there anything else you would like to add? I'm looking forward to my next Exodus trip!
Reviewed March 2018 Prue Losada Trip: Mexico: Mayans, Aztecs & Conquistadores Mexico: Mayas, Aztecs & Conquistadores This is an epic journey through Mexico to see the ancient sites and to get a flavour of the country, its beautiful colours, its friendly people and its delicious food. Although we spent a lot of time on the road between locations (and some were very windy through the Sierra Madre mountains) we always made stops along the way to visit places of interest, have lunch and plenty of stops for the banjos! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Frida Kahlo's house was somewhere I had looked forward to visiting, and it didn't disappoint. I also loved all the ancient sites, but Palenque was my favourite, due to its setting. Our cooking class in Oaxaca was excellent, ending in a 6 course lunch of all the food we had chosen and helped to prepare. The optional boat trip in the Sumidero Canyon is a must - we had gone early and that meant we were virtually on our own for the outward journey and for stopping to look at the wildlife. Some of the hotels we stayed in were exceptional but sadly at those for only one night. Likewise the restaurants our guide took us to were excellent. The final treat of my holiday was a swim at the cenote (sink hole) on the last morning. Was extremely refreshing on a very hot day and I would definitely recommend it. What did you think of your group leader? Arturo was a fantastic tour guide. Nothing was too much trouble for him, and he looked after us so well and thought of absolutely everything and always had with him anything we might need, from extra water, to suncream, to anti-mosquito repellent to travel sickness pills ahead of what he knew would be a very windy route, for which I was most grateful! He was extremely knowledgeable about the history of everywhere we went; he would always dine with us (apart from a well-deserved couple of nights off) and he was very outgoing and had a great sense of humour. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Just be prepared for long journeys and for it being chilly some mornings in the high locations before the sun comes up. Take most or all of your money in Mexican pesos. I had too many dollars and was having to change them, which was sometimes a very lengthy process. Some of the smarter restaurants/hotels did accept credit cards. Is there anything else you would like to add? I would suggest to Exodus that they extend the trip to either a 2.5 or 3 week holiday so that you could really enjoy the best hotels/locations and make it a more relaxing holiday. Then setting off VERY early in the morning when heading for the next location would be ideal so that you got to the next destination in daylight and before sunset.
Reviewed March 2018 Phyllis Ryan Trip: Mexico: Mayans, Aztecs & Conquistadores Mexico: Myans, Aztecs & Conquistadors An excellent experience. We saw so many Mayan sites, and learned a lot about Mexico's history in general. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The experience of seeing some of the ancient sites, even from as far back as 200-500 years BC. I thoroughly enjoyed roaming around, and climbing up these pyramids. What did you think of your group leader? Arturo was a very good leader. He knew so much about his local history, and passed on his knowledge with humour and a great sense of pride. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for mosquitoes. Although it wasn't Malaria season, I still got bitten. Take a good repellent with you. Is there anything else you would like to add? No
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