Mystical Mexico Cities, Canyons, Cultures

Welcome to Mexico City. We greet you on arrival and arrange your transfer to the hotel – then you have free time to settle in. Our guide will be in touch in the late afternoon.
Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

After breakfast, we head to the Plaza of the Three Cultures, then continue to Teotihuacan – entrance included – to explore the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, the Temple of Quetzalpapalotl, the Citadel and the Avenue of the Dead, with a visit to a local artisan centre. On the way back we visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. After returning to the hotel, the rest of the day is free for you.

You have the morning at leisure in Mexico City. After lunch, we transfer you to the bus station for the scheduled coach to Puebla, about 135 km away. On arrival at the Puebla bus station, we provide a further transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon you have free time to discover this city founded in 1531, celebrated for its colonial architecture, ornate churches, rich history and lively university spirit – you can seek out the cathedral, the Palafoxiana Library – the first public library in the Americas, established in 1646 – the Calle de los Dulces with its traditional sweet shops, and the Callejón de los Sapos with its antique stores.

We take a five hour excursion – admission included – to the Ex Hacienda Chautla, an eighteenth century estate famed for its English style castle reflected in an artificial lake amid forested scenery, then continue to Val’Quirico, a picturesque complex inspired by a medieval European village that invites a leisurely wander among artisan shops and cafés. We return to Puebla and you have free time. This excursion operates as a regular service with a local tour company.

Today we enjoy an included six hour excursion. In Cholula we visit San Francisco Acatepec, Santa María Tonantzintla, the San Gabriel Convent, the Royal Chapel and Soria Park, and we walk up to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Remedies atop the Great Pyramid. We continue to Chipilo, a community of Italian immigrants known for its cheeses – a tasting is included – before heading to Atlixco to explore its Historic Centre, admire the Wide Staircase murals and Floral Clock, and visit the Magical Garden and the Glass Viewpoint. We return to Puebla and you have free time. This excursion operates as a regular service with a local tour company.

We travel into the state of Oaxaca through mountain landscapes and arrive in the city of Oaxaca. We then ascend to Monte Albán – tickets and guided visit included – the most magnificent of the Zapotec cities, set high above the valley. Afterwards we return to Oaxaca for a panoramic tour of its historic centre, a World Heritage Site, and you then have free time to continue exploring.

We depart early, making a brief stop in San Pablo Villa de Mitla, a charming Pueblo Mágico, where you can stroll by the sixteenth century Church of San Pablo and along rustic streets. We continue across the mountains of Oaxaca towards the Isthmus, with lunch included en route. By late afternoon we arrive in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, capital of Chiapas.

We visit the Sumidero Canyon and take a boat to cruise this impressive gorge – almost 1 km deep and 14 km long – then enjoy a stroll in Chiapa de Corzo, a colonial town rich in tradition. We continue into Tzotzil Mayan culture with visits to Zinacantán, known for its colourful dress and weaving workshops, and San Juan Chamula, whose church blends Christianity with pre Columbian rites. We then continue to San Cristóbal de las Casas, where the afternoon is free for you.

Today we include a five hour excursion with a local tour operator to Moxviquil, a learning community for sustainability set within lush vegetation, where activities may include native birdwatching, observing pollinators and insects, exploring the orchid garden and following the signature interpretive trail that connects directly with nature. We then visit the Museum of Maya Medicine, which shares and preserves Tsotsil–Tseltal healing practices in Chiapas, with displays on the methods and therapeutic resources used by community healers, including the Jilol (pulse reader), Koponej witz (mountain prayer specialist), Tzakbak (bone setter), Jvetome (midwife) and Acvomol (herbalist). We return to the hotel and the rest of the afternoon is free for you.

According to your flight schedule, we arrange your transfer to Tuxtla Gutiérrez airport, where you can take the most convenient flight – not included – to Mexico City or onward, bringing your journey to a close.