Mexico Discovered

Highlights

• Mayan & Aztec monuments
• Colonial attractions
• Market towns and artisan workshops
• Hacienda stay
• Yucatan archaeological sites
  

Day 1 - Arrive Mexico City
Arrive into Mexico's capital city and transfer to your stylish boutique hotel.
Las Alcobas (Executive Room)

Day 2 - Mexico City
A full day with your private guide visiting the city's most important sights. See the impressive city square (Zocalo), the Palacio Nacional, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Palacio of Bellas Artes and overview the Templo Mayor from above. This afternoon head to the Paseo de la Reforma and its many interesting monuments including a visit to the world renowned National Museum of Anthropology. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon (B).
Las Alcobas (Executive Room)

Day 3 - Mexico City
Head off today for a privately guided tour of the stunning archaeological zone of Teotihuacan, famous for the world's 3rd and 4th largest pyramidal structures, the enormous Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. Your guide will enhance your experience with expert explanations of the importance of the site and its place in the rich history of Mexico's many layers of pre-Columbian civilisations (B).
Las Alcobas (Executive Room)

Day 4 -Mexico City - Puebla
This morning head south to the UNESCO world heritage city of Puebla. Stop for a visit in Cholula, famous for its many churches and especially for its Great Pyramidal temple, the largest in the world by volume. This site is noted for being the largest of its kind in Mexico, larger not only than Teotihuacan's Pyramid of the Sun, but also far more massive than the Egyptian pyramids in terms of volume.

Upon arrival, the Spanish were awed and frightened by the devout nature of the Aztec worship, and when they discovered Cholula they were amazed to see over four sites of worship. As in other places in Mexico and throughout Latin America, the Spaniards hoped to usurp the spiritual powers of the indigenous by destroying the ritual centres and building churches directly on top of the foundations of the ancient temples.

Continue on to Puebla for lunch and on to your hotel. This afternoon, visit the city centre with your guide for a brief overview followed by some time to stroll the shady central plaza on your own (B,L).
Camino Real Puebla Centra (Camino Real Club Room)    
      
Day 5 - Puebla
This morning is a private guided tour of Puebla's historic city centre. A UNESCO world heritage site, it's home to more than 70 churches and thousands of colonial buildings, many covered with azulejos (ceramic tiles) for which the city has become famous.

Visit the shady central plaza and its imposing Cathedral, along with the must see Museo Amparo, Casa de la Cultura, the 18th century Teatro Principal and more depending on time and interest. Enjoy sampling Puebla's famous Mole and other regional specialties at lunch today.

This afternoon, visit a ceramic "Talavera" work shop and learn about the process by which the intricately ornate tiles, vases, plates and more are created according to the age old tradition, little changed by time (B,L).
Camino Real Puebla Centra (Camino Real Club Room)

Day 6 - Puebla - Oaxaca
This morning travel south, with Oaxaca as the final destination. The afternoon is spent exploring the historic city centre on foot. Time later this afternoon to relax at one of the many street side cafes or wander the charming cobbled stone streets and soak in the unique flavour of Oaxaca (B).
Camino Real Oaxaca (Camino Real Club Room)

Day 7 - Oaxaca /Ocotlan / Santo Tomas Jalieza / San Bartolo de Coyotepec
A day spent visiting the outlying market villages of Ocotlan, Santo Tomas Jalieza (wood figurines), and San Bartolo de Coyotepec (shiny black pottery). Meet the artisans who have developed sophisticated traditions in their respective crafts and learn how each is created.

This is a unique opportunity to explore bustling market towns, where villagers from the surrounding countryside come to trade their goods and display their wares. Lunch is hosted today by a local family and consists of tasty regional specialties (B,L).
Camino Real Oaxaca (Camino Real Club Room)

Day 8 - Oaxaca / Monte Alban / Oaxaca
Head off today to the ancient ruins of Monte Alban with a few hours to walk and explore this magnificent Zapotec site. Named the People of the Clouds, the Zapotec people made this site their most developed cultural centre. Return to Oaxaca and your charming hotel for some free time to explore the galleries, museums, crafts shops and more with your guide or on your own. You may decide to learn some of the secrets of Oaxacan cuisine with a private cooking class or maybe a herbal steam bath of Temazcal (optional) (B,L).
Camino Real Oaxaca (Camino Real Club Room)           
            
Day 9 - Oaxaca / Tlacochauaya / Teotitlan del Valle / Mitla / Mezcal / Oaxaca
Begin the day with an early visit to the bustling local market at Tlacochauaya, where villagers of 13 different ethnicities from the surrounding five valleys come to trade their wares. The variety of people and goods is fascinating and provides an interesting look at Oaxaca's modern day importance as a meeting place and commerce hub for the region.

Continue on to Teotitlan del Valle, home to the famous Zapotec rug weavers, for a demonstration of traditional weaving and dying techniques. You are invited to lunch today with local friends and can try your hand at tortilla making.

Visit the important Mixtec / Zapotec archeological site of Mitla before returning to Oaxaca, but not before a quick stop at a Mezcal distillery to learn about this age old process and even sample some of the local brew (B,L).
Camino Real Oaxaca (Camino Real Club Room)

Day 10 - Oaxaca - Merida
A flight* north-east to Merida on the Yucatan Peninsula and transfer to the beautiful Hacienda Temozon. The rest of the afternoon at leisure to enjoy the facilities including the lovely spa, tennis courts, mountain bikes and pool (B).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
Hacienda Temozon (Junior Suite)

Day 11 - Yucatan Peninsula
This morning is a trip to Celestun Reserve one of the most extensive and important protected areas in the Yucatan Peninsula and home to a permanent colony of pink flamingos. Board a speedboat with your guide and local boatman to explore the mangrove estuaries and wetlands. Celestun is home to a wide array of flora and fauna including crocodiles, egrets, herons, ibis, and hundreds of other birds. Disembarking you are treated to a lovely seafood lunch before heading to Merida's historic city centre for a privately guided tour of this bustling city. First you will head to the Avenida de Montejo named after conquering Spaniard Francisco de Montejo and fashioned after the Champs-Élysées and where many of the most ornate colonial mansions dating between the 16th and 19th centuries are found. Continue to the city centre and Plaza and visit the Cathedral of San Ildelfonso and the Casa Montejo as well as the Palacio Municipal and Palacio del Gobierno. Then it's time to visit the bustling markets for a look into the everyday workings of this commercial hub where the modern day Maya culture still maintains age old traditions.

Merida is known as the White City, today one of the most tranquil and safest cities in Mexico. Merida's broad avenues, bustling markets, and incredible assimilation of ancient, colonial and modern day Maya life will enchant you.

Return to the Hacienda mid-afternoon with time to relax and enjoy the surrounds (B,L).
Hacienda Temozon (Junior Suite)

Day 12 - Yucatan Peninsula
Venture into the heart of Maya territory with your guide and driver. Visit the Puuc Route including the archaeological sites of Uxmal & Kabah. There is an opportunity also of sampling a Pibil (earth cooked) typical meal of chicken or pork and meeting a Maya Family en route (B,L).
Hacienda Temozon (Junior Suite)

Day 13 - Merida - Cancun
This morning head to the famous archaeological site of Chichen Itza, the most restored and famous of the Maya ceremonial centres. Once again your visit is enhanced under the expert tutelage of your guide. Chichen Itzá, despite its popularity, still maintains its grandeur and deserved reputation as one of the most spectacular and impressive of all the sites of the Mayan Civilization. Spend a few hours at the site before continuing east to the magical Mexican Caribbean and Cancun Airport for your departure flight or to transfer to a luxury beach resort (B).

*Flight not included.

Pricing
At A&K all of our journeys are individually tailored to suit your needs and timescale. However, as a guide, a 13 day journey in Mexico will cost from $9,415 per person based on two adults sharing and is subject to availability.