Itinerary

DAYS 1 & 2

You are met upon arrival and taken to your hotel in the elegant Planco neighborhood. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to relax or explore. On the morning of Day 2, enjoy a sightseeing tour of this cosmopolitan city. Visit the Zocalo (Central Square), the second largest in the world, and the adjacent National Palace, notable for Diego Rivera’s moving murals depicting more than a thousand years of Mexican history. Next to the Zocalo is the enormous Metropolitan Cathedral — taking almost 300 years to complete, it displays a mix of varied architectural styles. Next visit the Templo Mayor or Great Temple, uncovered by accident in 1978. (B)

Four Seasons Hotel, Mexico City

DAYS 3 & 4

This morning leave the city to explore the Archeological Site of Teotihuacán, the “city of the gods.” Visit the impressive Quetzalcoatl’s Temple, walk along the Avenue of the Dead and perhaps climb the Sun and Moon pyramids. Next drive to the small and charming colonial city of San Miguel Allende. On Day 4 you have the option of participating in a Mexican cuisine cooking class from the renowned Sazon Cooking School (at an additional cost). You can learn how to make regional dishes, food for a fiesta, breakfast foods or perhaps visit the local market with your instructor and learn how to select ingredients for a delicious salsa. And of course, you get to taste what you learn to create. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure and explore the city on foot. Visit galleries, walk to shops, marvel at the churches and take in the city’s atmosphere. (2B)

Casa de Sierra Nevada, San Miguel Allende

DAYS 5 & 6

Drive to Guanajuato and enjoy a full-day tour of this incredibly interesting and historical city. Your guide will lead you through, pointing out the historic points of note and hidden treasures. See Juarez Theater, built during the opulent era of Porfirio Diaz in 1903, and Alhondiga de Granaditas, site of the first rebel victory in the War of Independence. Stroll along Callejon del Beso, which translates to “the alley of the kiss,” as its balconies are so close to each other they nearly “kiss.” Explore through the Jardín de la Unión, a botanical garden that serves as the city’s main meeting place. Visit Diego Rivera’s birthplace — it has been restored and converted into a museum, displaying some of the early works of this revolutionary painter. On Day 6, enjoy the colonial treasures of Guanajuato at your leisure. (2B)

Hotel Villa Maria Cristina, Guanajuato

DAYS 7 & 8

Take a short drive to the colonial city of Morelia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the country’s most significant colonial cities. Tour the impressive historic center of Morelia, with its elegant Spanish Colonial architecture. Tour the pink stone Morelia Cathedral which dominates the main plaza, or Zocalo, that took more than a century to build. Visit the Palacio Clavijero, which has gone from the Jesuit school of St. Francis Xavier, to a prison to local government offices. Explore the Casa de Artesanias, with its robust array of local and Mexican handicrafts. On Day 8, explore the highland colonial gem city of Patzcuaro. Stroll the main square, or La Plaza Grande - full of markets and street performers, and in the center is a statue to the beloved 16th century Bishop Vasco de Quiroga. Visit the holy Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud, where Bishop Quiroga is buried. Also, explore the Casa de los Once Patios (House of Eleven Courtyards) — originally a convent, today it houses a variety of artisan workshops, where you can watch them at their craft. (2B)

Casa de La Real Aduana, Patzcuaro

DAY 9

Depart this morning for a visit to a fascinating artisan village that surrounds picturesque Lake Patzcuaro. During the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) celebrations, these villages attract visitors from around the world to witness the mystical and somber rituals of sitting vigil with deceased family members. The rest of the year, the villages present a peaceful look into pre-Columbian times and insight into the friendly Purépecha indigenous people. We begin by heading out into the countryside to visit Tzintzuntzan, one of the last few remaining archeological sites of the Purepecha indigenous people. Next drive to Santa Clara del Cobre, where you will visit Santa Clara’s famous silver shops before returning to Patzcuaro by late afternoon. (B)

Casa de La Real Aduana, Patzcuaro

DAY 10

Today you are taken from your hotel to the Morelia airport for your flight home or on to your next destination. (B)

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