Premium Mexico in Depth - 17 Days

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Mexico. Your adventure begins in Mexico City, where you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Meet your group and local leader at a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. Your hotel in Mexico City is housed in a building built in the 1890s and is set in a prime location. The buzzing Zocalo Plaza and the National Cathedral are right on your doorstep, and you can see views from the hotel’s rooftop restaurant and bar. After your meeting, head to a few local taquerias and a classic cantina to try some authentic tacos, botanas (snacks) and drinks, giving you your first glimpse of the city’s rich culinary culture and passing some iconic landmarks along the way.

Today, you’ll get to know Mexico City on a tour with your knowledgeable local leader. From cosmopolitan glamour to ancient history, there’s a lot to see, so rise bright and early and head out to the National Museum of Anthropology, where your leader will take you to the most interesting rooms so you can walk through the different stages of the country’s past. Continue to the Zocalo Plaza, the lively main square of the city. Visit the National Cathedral to hear its story and see the impressive Baroque architecture, then stop at Diego Riviera Museo Mural where you can appreciate one of his most famous works. Tonight is free for you to seek out some delicious food – your leader will have the best local recommendations.

Depart Mexico City and travel to Teotihuacan. Here, you'll discover the extraordinary ruins known as the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon, which dominate the skyline. This was once the biggest city in the Americas and predates the Aztec Empire by many centuries. Join an expert local guide and stroll down The Avenue of the Dead to see fascinating clues as to what life here was like nearly 2000 years ago. After lunch, continue to Puebla. Make a stop on the way to visit a local family who produce beautiful stonework carved form obsidian – a naturally occurring volcanic glass-like rock. Take some time to admire their striking creations and speak to the family about their craft. Arrive in Puebla and set out for a walk around town, visiting Calle de los Dulces (Candy Street) and the El Parian handicraft market. See the Rosary Chapel and Town Hall Palace, then have dinner at Casa Reyna – a local restaurant known for its traditional regional cuisine and warm atmosphere, giving you an authentic taste of Puebla’s vibrant culinary heritage. You’ll spend the next two nights at your Feature Stay, located just a stone’s throw away from the city centre. Fitted with modern amenities, this hotel retains the traditional charm of the converted 16th, 17th and 18th-century buildings it’s housed in.

After breakfast, get to know Cholula, a city close to Puebla, by joining your leader on an orientation walk. As Cholula has the most churches in Mexico, you’ll stop at a few on your journey, like Santuario de la Virgen de los Remedios, located on the top of the Great Pyramid of Cholula. Walk to the church overlooking the site for views of the excavated areas around the pyramid and learn how the structure was built to honour the great Popocatepetl volcano. For lunch today, stop at a restaurant serving up organic dishes made with locally sourced produce to minimise their impact on the environment. In the afternoon, visit a Talavera pottery workshop where you’ll learn about the traditional techniques used to craft these vibrant ceramics which have gained global popularity for their gorgeous, intricate designs. Watch artisans at work and see the craftmanship that goes into each piece of pottery in action.

Today, you’ll make the journey to Oaxaca – a colourful city rich with history and culture. Arrive in the late afternoon and settle into your hotel for the next three nights – converted from a 19th-century mansion, traditional charm emanates from every corner, from its ivy-clad courtyard to original frescoes and stone fountain. Situated close to the city’s main zocalo, full of cafes, musicians and artisans, there’s no better base for your time in Oaxaca. Head out for an orientation walk with your leader to get a feel for the city, stopping by the local markets of Benito Juarez and 20 de Noviembre for a classic Oaxacan lunch, then enjoy a free evening. The best way to get to the heart of Oaxaca’s culture is to taste its food, so your leader will be happy to offer up some great local recommendations for dinner.

Today, venture out of the city and take a tour of the Oaxaca region. Visit the Mitla ruins archaeological site – once the religious centre for Zapotec communities – and the Tule Tree, considered the world’s widest tree at over 11 m in diameter. The Montezuma cypress’ gnarled trunk is over 1500 years old, roughly the same as the ruins. Stop off to try some Mexican ice cream – an important part of Mexico’s culinary history, this hand-churned ice cream is considered one of the tastiest in the world. Maybe try some traditional Beso Oaxaqueno – a fresh fruit sorbet – or a scoop seasoned with chili. Continue to a beeswax candle-making workshop, learning age-old processes passed down for generations and the intricate designs that are created. Later, take part in a Zapotec weaving demonstration, which uses only traditional techniques, tools, patterns and organic dyes. Watch as local families craft folk clothing and rugs, some taking months to complete. Here, you’ll have a mostly plant-based lunch of regional specialities. On your way back to Oaxaca, stop by an agave mezcal factory for a tasting before returning to the city in the late afternoon.

Enjoy a free day to take in the sights, sounds and tastes of Oaxaca. There’s something here to suit every interest – speak to your leader about arranging a visit to the Mitla archaeological site, take a local cooking class or opt for a street art cycling tour. Tonight, sit down with your group for a special dining experience with a menu of traditional Oaxacan dishes, curated and cooked by the restaurant’s award-winning owner and inspired by the recipes of her mother and grandmother. Let the dishes take you on a trip around the state as you tuck into a multi-course meal.

This morning, catch an unescorted transfer to Playa del Carmen – a coastal resort town on the Yucatan Peninsula, known for its turquoise waters and nightlife. You’ll be met at Cancun International Airport and transferred to your hotel. When you arrive, the rest of the day is free for you to explore until your second welcome meeting at 6 pm. Maybe stroll along the pedestrian avenue while perusing handmade hammocks, jewellery and crafts, or simply relax with a cocktail on the scenic Playacar coastline. After your meeting, you’ll head to a local restaurant for a traditional feast of fresh fish, mussels, shrimp and clams. The Yucatan’s bountiful Caribbean coastline means it’s home to some of the freshest seafood in the country.

After breakfast, depart Playa del Carmen and head to the secluded Laguna Chabela to meet a local Maya family who have lived here for generations. Gain a deeper understanding of their way of life as you walk through the low jungle full of medicinal plants, see what they grow and learn how they live off the land. Watch a demonstration on how to make delicious tortillas in the Coba style with the family matriarch, then sit down to a traditional lunch prepared using a 1000-year-old mortar and pestle found in the nearby ruins. You’ll feel like you’ve travelled back in time, with stones from ancient Maya structures emerging from the jungle and the sounds of birds as your backdrop. In the afternoon, continue to the city of Valladolid, known for its pastel-coloured buildings. Set on the city’s main square, your hotel was converted from a 16th-century house and offers a perfect base for your explorations. This evening, you’ll visit the atmospheric Cenote Zazil, which lies 20 m underground. Cenotes (limestone sinkholes) were viewed by the Maya as doorways to the underworld. Gaze up at the stalactites covering the ceiling (including the largest stalactite in all of Yucatan!), take in the natural surroundings illuminated by candlelight and perhaps go for a swim.

This morning will be spent exploring the complex of Chichen Itza. Named as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza is considered the most important archaeological vestige of the Maya-Toltec civilisation in Yucatan by UNESCO. Meet with a local guide for a tour to uncover the secrets of what is perhaps the most famous Maya site, dominated by the Temple of Kukulkan, or El Castillo – a Mesoamerican step-pyramid. After, you’ll have a home-cooked lunch with a local family in the town of Piste. Tuck into a traditional Pibil feast – a Maya style of cooking that involves barbecuing underground, which the family have perfected over generations. After lunch, visit a local cenote for a swim. Continue to Merida – founded in 1542, this city is the Yucatan capital and retains much of its old-world charm. Your Feature Stay accommodation for the next three evenings is in the historic Hotel Casa Lucia. Spacious rooms feature traditional touches, surrounding a courtyard that features a swimming pool. Join your leader for a stroll to get acquainted with Merida and make a stop to try marquesitas (a traditional dessert of crispy, rolled crepes filled with cheese, chocolate or caramel).

Today, join a local guide for a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Uxmal ruins. This is considered one of the most important ancient Maya sites in Mexico, showcasing Puuc architecture. See the highlights like the Pyramid of the Soothsayer, the Governor's Palace and the House of the Tortoises while your expert guide points out the typical features of Puuc design like the references to Chaac (the Maya god of rain) and decorative friezes. Have some traditional regional cuisine for lunch at a nearby restaurant, then visit the Los Ceibos ceramics workshop. At this family-run workshop, you’ll be welcomed by one of the family’s artisans – Patricia Morales, who paints the sculptures. Patricia will take you on a guided tour of the workshop, explaining the pigments she uses and demonstrating the carving techniques used in sculpting process. Patricia has been crafting these sculptures for more than 40 years and has made a significant contribution to preserving traditional Maya ceramic techniques. Learn about how these techniques and cultural traditions have been passed down through generations, then you’ll have some free time this afternoon for you to make your own discoveries. You might like to relax in the green and shady Plaza Grande or browse the outdoor market selling Maya replicas. Regroup for dinner at Teya Santa Lucia – a local restaurant serving up Yucatan specialties with a contemporary twist, located in Merida’s historic centre.

After breakfast, you’ll head out for another Signature Experience at the Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve and Bird Sanctuary. One of the first places migratory birds arrive for the winter, the reserve offers a birdwatching experience like no other. Tour the area by small boat while you learn about its unique flora and fauna. Look out for the Yucatan woodpecker, Mexican sheartail, tropical mockingbird and depending on the season (usually December to March), you might witness the thousands of flamingos streaking across the landscape. Hop off the boat for a quick walk to see bubbling springs, then cruise back through the mangrove canals. Stop in a fishing town where you’ll have some time for lunch – maybe grab some fresh seafood and eat it on the sand. Take a dip in the Gulf of Mexico before returning to Merida for a free afternoon.

Depart Merida this morning and head towards Muyil, stopping for lunch in the village of Coba. Continue to the lesser-known Muyil archaeological site – this ancient Maya trading post is one of the oldest formerly-inhabited sites in the country, with a history stretching back to 350 BC. Explore the ruins with your leader who will explain what life here once looked like. Next, head to the banks of the Maya River and board a small boat to explore the canals and lagoons of the Sian Ka'an biosphere. One of the largest protected areas in Mexico, this UNESCO World Heritage site covers more than 400,000 hectares of land, lagoon and marine areas, including countless flora and fauna. You’ll be joined by guides from the local community who will help you get the most out of this experience. Admire the ruins on the riverbanks before disembarking in the waters of the ancient Mayan mangrove canals, where you’ll experience a natural ‘lazy river’ and float through the peaceful canals in a slow but steady current. After, carry on to Tulum.

In the morning, head to the Tulum archaeological site to learn about the history of the ruins and take in views of the ocean. This was one of the last cities built by the Maya, and your leader will paint a picture of how life played out here as you explore the complex against the ocean backdrop. Spend the afternoon soaking up the sun at a beach club, where you can swim in the Caribbean Sea or nap in a comfortable lounge chair. Tonight, dine at one of Tulum’s best restaurants. With laid-back vibes and fresh local produce and seafood, this final dinner with your newfound friends will certainly be one to remember.

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you would like to spend some more time in Tulum, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.