As a holiday destination, Mexico would be hard to surpass.

It offers a variety of choices from big-city sophistication to small-town intimacy, from sun-drenched virgin beaches to snow capped volcanoes. México is much more than the well known international jet-set favored sea side resorts of both Caribbean and Pacific coasts. It’s a nation of thirty one states, with the richest archaeological heritage in all America and an envious Spanish colonial past which you will miss mostly unless you allow yourself to appreciate a little more of it.

Within the limitations of a planned package offer, we are introducing alternatives and combinations that might be of interest for those who seek more than a nice suntan.

MEXICO CITY – HISTORICAL DISTRICT. Enjoy visiting Mexico’s center of the political and religious powers; the pre- Hispanic Tenochitlan’s “Templo Mayor” with twin altarsdedicated to Tlaloc and Huitzilopchtli, and the Metropolitan Cathedral, which took nearly 300 years to be built, and its “Cristo Negro”, the “Altar of the Kings” and a few steps further on the Diego Rivera’s frescoes at the Presidential Palace across the street.

MEXICO CITY TOUR. A panoramic guided view of Mexico City, one of the largest in the World, former “ciudad de los Palacios”. Drive along the 9 mile long former “Empress Way” (Paseo de la Reforma), built by orders of Maximilian of Habsburg, the statue of Diana the Hunter, the Monument to the Independence, so called “The Angel”, the monuments to Columbus and to Cuauhtemoc, the “Caballito”, the monument to the Revolution, the Fine Arts Palace (Bellas Artes), the Latin American Tower and the “Casa de los Azulejos” (Tiles House).

Return to the hotel. Afternoon at leisure. Accommodation.

BASILICA OF O.L. OF GUADALUPE. The most visited Catholic shrine in the World it is also the most important and impressive in America. Admire the master piece of Arq. Pedro Ramírez Vázquez with a detailed explanation of the Basilica and adjoining buildings

TEOTIHUACAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE. For centuries the great pyramid Teotihuacan have dominated the surrounding plainsand are dwarfed only by the encircling mountains. Grouped along a monumental alley as long, wide and straight as an airport runway, they are one of the best known imposing of Mexico’s Pre-Hispanic ruins. When the Aztecs came upon the vast ruined city, it has been abandoned for centuries, they could not believe that it had been built by mere mortals – the name in nauhatl means “City of the Gods”. The original name of the city it is not known, but it´s believed it was built between the 2nd and the 7thC AD, only to abandon for mysterious reasons. The evidence of the buildings tells us they were highly advanced in the fields of astronomy, geometry, architecture and arts. A very recent discovery of underground tunnels and chambers may lead to help solving part of the mystery. The Sun and the Moon pyramids and the Palace of Butterflies are highlights among many others.

Return to the hotel and accommodation.

See by yourself why UNESCO declared Xochimilco a World Heritage Natural site back in 1987. Listen to the wise teachings of our ancestors on herb therapy, learn how the “chinampas” were made in ancient times, try yourself to practice the old sowing techniques and see the habits and uses of “temazcal” and “ajolote” in risk of extinction today.

At the end, transfer to the bus station to catch a deluxe motorcoach to Morelia (journey duration: 4 hours, approximately).
Arrival at Morelia. Meeting and transfer to the hotel.

For those arriving on different days. meeting and transfer to the hotel.

Those passengers choosing shorter programs from MORELIA to IXTAPA and from MORELIA to URUAPAN, today’s program is as follows:

DAY 1 – MORELIA – short program.
Arrival, meeting and transfer to the hotel. Should you arrive on Saturday, by 08:30 PM leave to attend the Light & Sound show outside the cathedral.
Accommodation.

MORELIA was known in colonial times as Nueva Valladolid, because it reminded the “Conquistadores” of that Spanish town. Nowadays it is considered to be the most noble of all Mexican colonial cities. The architecture has been kept in the tradition of old Spain. Apart from the above mentioned Cathedral built of pinkish stone dominated by two 200 feet towers which took about 200 years to finish, the most significant landmark is the massive and yet elegant aqueduct built in 1790 with more than 250 arches.
Capital city of Michoacán, the handicraft activity here is predominant mainly for woodcarvings, pottery, copper, lacquer ware and woven goods.

TZINTZUNTZAN was the last ceremonial capital of the Purepechan Kingdom before the Conquistadores arrival. Apart from the Yacatas (remains of ceremonial site) visit to San Francis Monastery, a unique example of the “open Chapels”, a way the first monks to arrive at this region used to attract the Indians to the mass.

At the end continuation on to PATZCUARO. Time for lunch (not included).
(*) Artist’s presence is not guaranteed.

PATZCUARO is a charming small town by the lake of the same name, economical center of this region. It is here that every year the Day of the Dead main ceremonies are held attracting thousands of visitors.

By 4 PM party meet for the walking city center tour featuring: the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health built by Vasco de Quiroga a Spaniard sent on the 16th C by the King of Spain to evaluate the Conquistadores’ army behavior and became almost a saint for the natives, the former Jesuits Temple, the Plaza Vasco de Quiroga, a huge square surrounded by colonial arcaded buildings that house today small restaurants, cafés, souvenir and craft shops, small hotels. At the end a visit the Eleven Courtyard House will be paid. A former 18th C convent houses today a permanent craft exhibition with some handicraft workshops in normal activity.

Check in at the hotel. Accommodation.

IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO located in the Costa Grande of Guerrero State, 70 Km roughly from the state border with Michoacan, is connected with other important Mexican cities, through excellent roads and by air too.
Most Mexican commercial airlines operate domestic flights from local international airport (ZIH) as well as some US carriers flying to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo from USA.
Due to its location Ixtapa is an excellent port-of-call for cruise liners sailing the Pacific coast of US and Mexico.

"In the past years Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo has become one of the most important seaside destinations in the country; it provides the perfect combination of activities so everybody can spend holidays in natural, healthy and exciting surroundings!
The warmth of its people as well as the beauty of its beach sights have conquered the hearts of fellow Mexicans and foreigners alike, who, during their stay in this part of the Mexican Pacific, experienced (our) delicious cuisine, the golden sands, the sun, the nightlife (and other tourist attractions, naturally)....
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo as a destination offers you high quality service in restaurants and bars, hotel infrastructure, eco-tourism routes, handicrafts and a lot more of activities that will make your holidays unforgettable."

(*) by courtesy of Zihuatanejo Town Hall)

End of our services.

Happy journey!