Cultural Wonders of Mexico

Arrive at any time; your arrival transfer is included.

Included Experiences

• Arrival Transfer: You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
• Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting: The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.

Rise early for a sunrise tour of Mexico City’s Xochimilco, a system of canals built by the ancient Aztecs. Navigate through colorful floating gardens on a punt—a brightly painted flat-bottomed boat—and stop at a local farm for a traditional breakfast. Afterwards, head to the vibrant Coyoacán district, home to the Frida Kahlo Museum. Tour the Casa Azul or “blue house,” where the famed Mexican artist was born and spent her final years. The afternoon is yours to explore: opt to visit one of the city’s stellar museums, such as the National Museum of Anthropology or the Palace of Fine Arts; or tour the murals of Diego Rivera, the renowned Mexican painter who spearheaded the Latin American fresco movement in the early half of the 20th century.

Included Experiences

• Sunrise Xochimilco Tour with Mariachi: Wake before the sun to take on the famous canals of Xochimilco in a vibrant coloured gondola boat past vendors, and local artisans. Feel the vibes of the music around you with a mariachi band playing onboard. Watch locals shop in the floating markets and hopefully you'll find something to bring back home too. Visit a local farm and enjoy a traditional breakfast while learning about the region and its people.
• Museum of Frida Kahlo (Casa Azul): Visit the famed "Blue House" where Frida Kahlo was born, lived and died. Her lifelong home is open to those looking to learn more about or see what life was like for the celebrated artist. The museum consists of ten rooms throughout the home, each filled with original furniture from when she lived there with her husband Diego Rivera, and personal items of Frida's from letters, art materials, original works of art, to handcrafted kitchenwares.
• Free Time: Take advantage of free time to get out and explore this amazing city and its surroundings.

Optional Experiences

• Diego Rivera Mural Museum Visit: Visit the Diego Rivera Mural Museum to see his works preserved in the historic centre of Mexico City. Rivera, widely known for his marriage to renowned artist Frida Kahlo, said "The composition (of the mural) are reminders of my life, my childhood and my youth and covers from 1985 to 1910. The characters of the walk all dream, some sleeping on the benches and others, walking and talking". To best know an artist you have to really look at their art to understand them better, visit the mural museum to do just that.
• National Museum of Anthropology: The National Museum of Anthropology houses the largest collection of Mexican art in the world. It's a must see if you're interested in the past or present-day history of Mexico. On the top of the highlights, see the Sun Stone (also known as the Aztec Calendar) an important piece in Aztec culture and mythology that illustrates the history of the universe. With over 20 exhibit halls, you may not be able to see the whole museum in just one day so grab a map and pick and choose what you're most interested in.
• Palace of Fine Arts Visit: Also known as the Cathedral of Art in Mexico, the Palace of Fine Arts is a cultural centre in the city capital that hosts events such as dance performances, orchestras and music, theatre and opera, along with art exhibitions for photography and paintings. If you are interested in the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, this is the venue they perform in. The building, a work of art itself, has a restaurant and bookstore that can be visited on the first floor. Getting to go inside is wonderful, but you can even appreciate the grandeur of this hall from the outside as the warm Mexican sun bounces off the glass dome on the top, and off of the beautiful marble siding of the palace.

Set out to discover the vibrant Mexican capital on foot. Visit the Zócalo, a massive, historic square that dates back to the city’s Aztec origins. Then immerse yourself in local cuisine on a walk through a bustling food market. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and take advantage of a free afternoon and evening to continue exploring. Opt to head to the top of the Torre Latinoamericana skyscraper for a bird’s-eye view of the metropolis, or catch an entertaining match of lucha libre—freestyle Mexican wrestling.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: The evening is yours to explore colourful Mexico City, take a stroll around markets, visit Torre Latino, or take it easy at the hotel.
• Mexico City Walking and Food Tour: Start the morning with a walking tour of the highlights of Mexico City with your CEO. Explore the Zocolo (historical centre), the ruins el Templo Mayor, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the grand building of Bellas Artes, and Palacio Postal. Wander the streets, explore a traditional market, and taste some local favorites for lunch. Indulge your sweet tooth at one of our favorite panaderías, then opt to try pulque, a royal ancient Aztec alcoholic drink.

Optional Experiences

• Torre Latino: Mexico City is home to Latin America's tallest skyscraper, Torre Latino. Marvel in all 181m (593ft) of this magnificent structure. Take the lift to see Mexico City from the observation deck on the 44th-floor, and then take a stroll through the buildings own museum all about Mexico City's history. (Fun note: Admission is free if you'd just like to visit the bar for a drink.)
• Lucha Libre Match: Combatants don colourful masks and catapult themselves towards their opponents off of the ring’s ropes, employing a variety of different moves and holds to pin them to the mat for a three-count. The largely Mexican crowds are usually rowdy, making “lucha libre” an entertaining way to throw yourself head-first into the local culture. Please be aware that prices for tickets will vary depending on seat location. (350-500 MXN per person)

Head to Teotihuacán for a guided tour of this ancient city and UNESCO World Heritage site. Little is known regarding when Teotihuacán, the “city of the gods,” was constructed or by whom, but by the fifth century A.D. it had grown to become one of the the most important cities in Central America. Explore these impressive pre-Aztec ruins and learn about the site’s iconic temples, the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. Continue to Puebla and take a guided walk of the stunning city, backed by a soaring volcano and renowned for its Spanish colonial architecture and culinary traditions. Mole poblano is said to have originated here!

Included Experiences

• Teotihuacán Guided Tour: Visit the ruins of Teotihuacán (meaning ‘the place where gods were born’), northeast of Mexico City. This ruin site dates back to 100AD and has the impressive Avenue of the Dead, Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon. Excavations are still underway at these ruins in the present day. These structures are so massive that the inside of the Pyramid of the Sun for example – has never been entirely explored. Bring water, wear a hat and solid walking shoes, and climb the pyramids to learn all about this pre-Columbian Mesoamerican city. Don't forget to stop by the museum too!
• Puebla Orientation Walk: Puebla is known for many things, such as pottery, colonial architecture and great food. Let your CEO guide you on a short walk through the city to point out the essentials like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs.

Explore Experiences

Enjoy a Talavera pottery demonstration with a local artist and learn about the historical and cultural significance of this Mexican ceramic tradition, brought to the New World by the Spanish in the 16th century. The rest of the day is yours to explore: choose to visit one of Puebla’s colorful markets; set out on a local food tour; or discover the Great Pyramid of Cholula, the largest pyramid in the world.

Included Experiences

• Talavera Pottery Experience: Spend time with a local artist to discover the historical and cultural significance of Talavera pottery dating back to the 16th century. Witness the process from clay to creation, learning about its uses from tableware to tiles and hearing about the purpose behind the colours chosen. Watch close to a hundred artisans working as they go through each stage of production. End the tour with a visit to a small museum of contemporary ceramic art.
• Free Time: There's something for everyone in Puebla. Spend some time at the Cholula Ruins, head out on a foodie tour, take a stroll around the city's central square, the Zócalo to see the beautiful Puebla Cathedral or search for some beautiful Mexican souvenirs to bring home. You have half the day at your leisure, discover the city as you wish.

Optional Experiences

• Puebla Food Tour: Dive into Puebla's foodie paradise on this walking tour. Your local cuisine loving guides will take you around La Acocota, the oldest market in the city, to enjoy the tastes of at least six local foods. Puebla is known for Mexican staples such as tacos and the city itself actually invented "tacos árabes". Tacos árabes are sure to make your mouth water with the star being its spit-roasted pork. Continue through the market feasting on fried masa (corn), and learning about what ingredients go into typical Mexican dishes. End the tour with pan dulce, delicious Mexican pastries, and try some tasty artisan candies made by the nuns of Puebla. Please note that prices for this tour will vary depending on which restaurants you choose.
• Cholula Ruins Visit: Also known as Tlachihualtepetl, Cholula is a massive archaeological site west of Puebla. Dating from at least 100AD, it’s the oldest continuously occupied ceremonial centre in the western hemisphere. Most impressive is the Great Pyramid of Cholula – a tall grass-covered structure which is actually at least four successive pyramids built one on top of the other. The Spanish built a church at the very top in 1594. Visit the museum to learn about the history, explore tunnels, and climb to the top for breathtaking views of nearby volcanoes.

Depart for Oaxaca, an eclectic Mexican city where Indigenous culture holds strong. Stop en route at an artisan community to learn about alebrijes, fantastical folk figurines carved from copal wood and then brightly painted. In Oaxaca, take a guided stroll around the main square, then set out to explore the culinary delights of the city with a local host. Learn how chocolate is produced at a grinding mill, and flip your own tortillas at a tortilla-making workshop. Continue to a local family's kitchen to taste an array of delicious Oaxacan dishes and chat with your hosts about traditional cooking methods and food culture. The Oaxaca area is well known for its many artisans who make everything from pottery, to elaborate weavings, and mezcal (tequila's cousin). Its also known for its culinary delights and you'll have many opportunities to taste an array of Oaxacan cuisine.

Included Experiences

• Alebrijes Artisan Community Workshop & Lunch: Alebrijes were created by a Mexican artisan named Pedro Linares who was known for making piñatas and carnival masks. After falling ill and hallucinating crazy figures and creatures inside his mind, the artist decided to bring what he saw to life by creating the small figurines we know as Alebrijes. Often made of a mash-up between animals, these figurines are now made by Oaxacan artisans out of wood and then painted with vibrant pigments and lots of patterns. Learn more about how these figurines integrated themselves into Oaxacan/Mexican folklore and how the craft expanded from originally being made from cardboard to now being carved from Copal wood. Meet a local artisan and speak with them, ask any questions the group may have and to learn more about how the Alebrijes are crafted. Then enjoy an authentic Oaxacan lunch at Zoológico Mágico. Here, you'll see why a meal is more than food -- it's a celebration of Oaxaca's vibrant traditions, brought to life. Each dish is a tribute to their heritage, featuring iconic plates like mole negro.
• Oaxaca Orientation Walk: Go on a CEO led walk through the colonial city of Oaxaca. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs.
• Oaxaca Culinary Experience: Expertly shown in an episode of National Geographic’s, “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted”, the delicious, local cuisine of Oaxaca is finally getting the spotlight it deserves. In a city often described as Mexico’s food capital, some of the best foodie experiences are still found on the streets in the form of antojitos, and intriguing stories from long-time residents of the city. Explore the culinary delights of Oaxaca with this exclusive foodie experience. With our local host attend a tortilla-making workshop. Then visit the home of a local family and taste an array of local cuisine, learn traditional cooking methods, and discuss the food culture in Oaxaca.

Set out on a full-day tour to Hierve el Agua. This stunning natural formation consists of a series of mineral pools near the edge of a cliff. The rock formations are often described as "cascadas de sal" and "cascadas petrificadas" because of the mineral content in the water. Explore the area and maybe go for a swim in one of the mineral pools. Afterwards, travel to a local restaurant for a delicious, typical Mexican meal. Then, head to the nearby ruins of Mitla for a guided tour. One of Mexico’s best known archaeological sites, it is believed that Mitla was founded as a Zapotec burial ground. On the way back, stop at a mezcal factory to sample this unique local beverage made from the agave plant; and enjoy a free evening in Oaxaca to relax or head out for a night on the town.

Included Experiences

• Day trip to Hierve el Agua: Travel to Hierve del Agua. This stunning natural formation consists of a series of mineral pools near the edge of a cliff. Over thousands of years, the heavily calcified water has flowed over the cliff, leaving mineral deposits as it does. The result is known as a "petrified waterfall" – nearly white rock formations that resembles a cascading fall. Enjoy time to explore the area and go for a swim in one of the mineral pools.
• Valley of Mitla Ruins Visit: The UNESCO World Heritage site of Mitla is 38km (24 mi) from Oaxaca. Its name derives from the Nahuatl language, meaning “Place of the Dead”. Occupied from 900 BC by the Zapotecs and then the Mixtecs, the ruin features five groups of structures on either side of the Mitla River. Look for ancient cut-stone mosaics and intricate stone carvings throughout. The region is also famous for its hand-dyed, foot-loomed woven rugs.
• Mezcal Factory Tour: The Valley of Oaxaca is renowned as the birthplace of mezcal. Not to be confused with tequila, this distilled liquor is made in small batches from a variety of species of agave (spiky green plants that look like the tops of pineapples). Sample different types, including white unaged mezcal (often sold with an agave larva inside), along with “reposado” and “añejo” (aged) batches. Grab a slice of orange that's coated in salt and mixed with chili and ground worms. Now, it’s time to sip and enjoy.
• Free Time: Choose to put your feet up after a long day or to head out and explore the nightlife.

Spend the morning at leisure, or wander among the plazas and pyramids of the Monte Albán ruins, dating to the eighth century B.C.. You can also opt to visit the Museum of Oaxacan Cultures, housed in a beautiful monastery; learn how to make the flavorsome mole sauce; or relax in a café in Oaxaca’s main square. Catch an afternoon flight back to Mexico City and choose to join the group for a final night out in the capital.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Soak up a bit more of the vibrant culture in Oaxaca before your afternoon flight to Mexico City.
• Plane: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Optional Experiences

• Monte Albán Tour: The Zapotec site of Monte Albán dates back to 500 BC and features platforms, pyramids, plazas, and a ball court sitting on a leveled mountaintop some 10km (5 mi) from Oaxaca. Enjoy the 360-degree views, see Olmec carvings, and be sure to visit the museum to see artifacts and stele excavated in the early 20th century.
• Mole-Making Class: Learn to make the traditional sauce of mole, made with an assortment of chilis and chocolate. Sample your mouth-watering creation when you're done.
• Cultural Museum of Oaxaca: Spend a couple of hours wandering through the Cultural Museum of Oaxaca, which lives in the historical monastery buildings attached to the Templo de Santo Domingo. This museum displays the rich culture of Oaxaca's present and past. With treasures dating back to the 14th-century history buffs are sure to enjoy this one. Stroll through halls from the pre-Hispanic to colonial periods, to the independence era and the present day. Please note that this museum is currently closed due to the ongoing pandemic and a reopening date has not been decided on yet.

Depart at any time.