Wings Over Mexico

Arrive in Mexico City, where you are met and transferred to your luxurious hotel, with the rest of your day at leisure. Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City

This morning, begin your explorations with a visit to the UNESCO-listed floating gardens of Xochimilco, which offer a glimpse into what the landscape was like here before the Spanish conquest. Board a colourful trajinera (gondola-like boat) for a graceful ride through its canals and view the gardens, or chinampas — floating rafts made of reeds covered with mud that eventually took root in the canal bed — on which locals have grown fruits, vegetables and flowers for generations.

Glide along in a festive atmosphere serenaded by mariachi and marimba music, enjoying a relaxing experience beloved by Mexico City residents. After lunch and some time to relax, make your way to the Frida Kahlo House & Museum, the former residence of the famed artist and cultural icon, for an exclusive after-hours private visit and dinner. Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City (B/L/D)

Rise early to lift off on a hot air balloon flight over Teotihuacán, gliding over this UNESCO World Heritage Site to marvel at its stunning pyramids and temple. Built by an indigenous pre-Aztec civilization of which relatively little is known, the city flourished between the first and sixth centuries. Touch down for a private breakfast served on the grounds of a little hacienda. Enjoy time to explore the archaeological wonders of Teotihuacán before returning to the city center to savor a lunch of traditional dishes with a contemporary touch in the city's historical center, complete with a tequila tasting.

After lunch explore the center of modern‐day Mexico City, starting in the capital's main square, once an important gathering place for the Aztecs. Then, make a guided visit to the Metropolitan Cathedral, the largest cathedral in the Americas. Next, join your expert guide for a private, off-hours exploration of the National Museum of Anthropology, a showcase of fascinating artifacts from cultures that once thrived in Mesoamerica. Tonight, head to the trendy Polanco neighborhood to enjoy dinner at one of the most innovative restaurants of Mexico City. Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City (B/L/D)

This morning, head outside the city to visit the Piedra Herrada Sanctuary, a reserve for monarch butterflies. Meet a biologist and expert guide who share their knowledge about these winged wonders, which face steep ecological challenges throughout their migratory existence.

Afterwards, travel by horseback and hike a short distance to move closer to view the migrating butterflies. Stop for lunch before boarding a short flight by private chartered air to Colima. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your stylish accommodations in the beautiful Mexican highlands. Stay: Hacienda de San Antonio (B/L/D)

Enjoy a day of exploration in the Mexican highlands. This morning, devote some time at leisure to taking in views of the nearby volcano and forest, before gathering for lunch near the pool. This afternoon, visit a coffee farm and a local cheese factory, sampling their products on site. Then, return to your hacienda or take time for a leisurely forest walk, followed by a relaxing Scenic Sundowner experience. Stay: Hacienda de San Antonio (B/L/D)

Today, fly by private charter to Oaxaca. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel before joining a renowned local chef for a hands-on cooking demonstration, followed by lunch. Afterward, head to the city centre for a walking tour of this amazing community. Later this afternoon, set out for a privileged, off-hours visit to Monte Albán, one of the most spectacular archaeological sites of the Pre‐Hispanic era, exploring alongside an expert guide. This evening, return into the city centre for a dinner of local Oaxacan specialties. Stay: Quinta Real Oaxaca (B/L/D)

Journey outside the city to Teotitlán del Valle, a rural village famed over the centuries for its weaving and textiles. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided walk to the local market, followed by a visit to a Zapotec family home to see how their woven rugs are made. Many artisans here still use the traditional techniques of carding and spinning their own wool, then dying it with natural colours, and weave on solid‐wood looms.

Also learn how Dominican priests once utilized weavings with architectural features to establish a relationship with the local Zapotec and Mixtec cultures. After lunch, return to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure. Stay: Quinta Real Oaxaca (B/L)

Step back in time today on a visit to the remote village of San Agustin Amatengo, where you enjoy the opportunity to interact with local mezcal producers and their families, learning both how they make the popular spirit and how they go about daily life in rural Mexico. This afternoon, return to Oaxaca for time at leisure.

Later, visit the church and former monastery of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, which hosts the treasures of the Zapotecs found in Monte Albán. View an amazing trove that includes golden masks, some inlaid with precious stones, as well as necklaces and other personal artifacts of Zapotec rulers dating as far back as far as 500 BC. Stay: Quinta Real Oaxaca (B/L/D)

Board your privately chartered flight to the steamy jungles of Chiapas to visit Palenque, a stunning yet hard-to-reach Mayan archaeological site. Arrive and explore this impressive remnant of the vast Mayan civilization, which flourished here during the sixth and seventh centuries, including the tomb of the site's longtime ruler, Pakal the Great. After lunch in the company of a local epigraphist and Mayan academic, fly on to Mérida in the heart of the Yucatán Peninsula, and continue to your resort nestled in the jungle just outside the city. Stay: Chablé Yucatán (B/L/D)

Relax with a morning at leisure. This afternoon, enjoy one of these Design Your Day experiences.

• Visit the Celestún Biosphere Reserve along the Yucatán coast, a mangrove environment seasonally home to migrating flamingos in the winter months
• Gain a Deeper Knowledge of the Mayan World by visiting the lesser-known UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Uxmal and Kabah
• Indulge in a Spa Treatment, which is just part of the soothing wellness offerings available at your resort

In the late afternoon, return to your resort. Later, set out on a guided city tour in the cooler air of the evening, followed by dinner in Mérida's city centre. Stay: Chablé Yucatán (B/L/D)

Today, set out on an expedition to famed Chichen Itza, a complex of Mayan ruins best known for its iconic step pyramid, El Castillo (the castle). Visit the site early in the day, before the crowds arrive, giving you more time to observe the magnificent buildings and immerse yourself in Mayan culture. Afterward, drive to a private cenote (limestone sinkhole) for a swim in its clear, refreshing waters, followed by lunch served on site. This evening, toast your journey with fellow guests at a farewell dinner. Stay: Chablé Yucatán (B/L/D)

After breakfast, transfer to the Mérida Airport for your departing flight. (B/L)