Mexican Roots and Routes (2025)

Jour 1

Welcome to Mexico! Transfer to hotel and free time. Our guide will contact you late in the afternoon.

Jour 2

Today, we’ll explore Mexico City and the remarkable site of Teotihuacan, located just 40 km from the capital. After breakfast, we’ll begin our journey at the Plaza of the Three Cultures, where past and present merge seamlessly. From there, we’ll continue to the impressive archaeological site of Teotihuacan, where we’ll visit the monumental Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, the Temple of Quetzalpapalotl, the Citadel, and the Avenue of the Dead. We’ll also stop by a local artisan center. On our way back to the city, we’ll visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of Latin America. After returning to the hotel, the rest of the day will be free.

Jour 3

Free morning in Mexico City. After lunch, we’ll provide an included transfer to the bus station for the journey to Querétaro, located 200 km from Mexico City. Upon arrival at the station, you’ll be transferred to the hotel. Querétaro is a historic city known for its rich cultural and architectural heritage. Founded in 1531, it played a key role in both Mexico’s Independence and the Mexican Revolution. Its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is filled with charming plazas, baroque churches, and colonial buildings. Over the next few days, you’ll have time to stroll through the magnificent center, with its cobblestone streets, vibrant plazas lined with colonial architecture, the 18th-century aqueduct, lush gardens, and bustling markets.

Jour 4

Today, we’ll visit the Pueblo Mágico of San Sebastián de Bernal, a charming town known for its tranquil atmosphere at the base of the world’s third-largest monolith. Here, you’ll find skilled textile artisans. We’ll also explore Tequisquiapan, famous for its mineral water spas and colonial-style buildings that line its cobblestone streets. This town is renowned for its handmade artisanal products, especially the woven baskets sold in the artisan market. A guided tour will be included, allowing us to delve into the local history.Our excursion will also include a delightful culinary experience, with a visit to the San Patricio Winery and the Bocanegra Cheese Cellar. You’ll learn about cheese production and the unique challenges of high-altitude winemaking, accompanied by a tasting of regional wines.

Jour 5

We’ll enjoy a free morning in Querétaro for you to continue exploring this charming city. In the afternoon, we’ll include a unique theatrical experience! Just 40 km from Querétaro lies the Hacienda Atongo, a historic seventeenth-century estate. Here, we’ll take a guided tour with characters from another era, immersing ourselves in the rich history of the hacienda, from its main buildings to the vineyard. The visit will be brought to life with theatrical performances by local actors. We’ll also enjoy a refreshing drink made from wine produced on the estate. We’ll then return to Querétaro.

Jour 6

We’ll depart for Tula, the ancient capital of the Toltecs. Admission to its archaeological site is included. The Atlantean figures, imposing four-meter-tall warrior statues, are the site’s main attraction. You’ll also see pyramids, palaces, and carved columns, showcasing the sophistication of this pre-Hispanic civilization. We’ll then arrive in Puebla, a historic city renowned for its culinary traditions, colonial architecture, and ceramics. Highlights include its impressive Renaissance cathedral and its lively main square. We’ll spend the night in this lively and active city.

Jour 7

We travel to the state of Oaxaca, through mountainous regions with pleasant landscapes. Arrival in OAXACA at the end of the morning - Visit included to this UNESCO World Heritage City of Aztec origin with its impressive monumental heritage. Shortly after, we go up to the site of MONTE ALBAN, which is set deep in a 400-metre mountain above the Valley of Oaxaca – entry tickets and visit are included. This is the most magnificent of the Zapotec cities. Free time in Oaxaca, an extremely beautiful colonial city which is full of life.

Jour 8

We leave for SAN PABLO VILLA DE MITLA, a magical town. We allow time for a walk together to the Church of San Pablo dating back to the Sixteenth Century and through its beautiful rustic streets. We continue our route in the sierras of Oaxaca towards the Isthmus. Lunch is included en route. At the end of the afternoon, we arrive in TUXTLA GUTIERREZ, the capital of the state of Chiapas.

Jour 9

We see the CAÑON DEL SUMIDERO, on a boat we sail up this impressive canyon almost 1 km deep and 14 km long. Then we take a stroll in CHIAPA DEL CORZO, a colonial site of tradition and culture. After this, we go further into the Mayan culture and visit beautiful villages inhabited by the Tzotziles Indians. In ZINACANTAN we can admire the dresses of the women and the beautiful shops and weaving workshops. In SAN JUAN CHAMULA we will be surprised by its church which mixes Christianity with pre-columbine traditions in its rites. Continuation to SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS. Afternoon free in this very beautiful colonial city founded in 1528.

Jour 10

A stage of beautiful mountain scenery inside Chiapas, visiting areas inhabited by communities that have maintained their Mayan language and traditions. A stop in OCOSINGO, the regional capital. After that we continue to AGUA AZUL, admission included to the National Park, lunch included and time to walk or bathe among the more than 50 waterfalls between three and 30 meters tall. We go on to MISOL HA, an impressive waterfall that you can walk behind. Continuation to PALENQUE -dinner included and accommodation-. Note: in some instances, roadblocks might be expected in the region of Ocosingo due to local social issues. In that event, we would take an alternative route visiting the City of Villahermosa and the ecological reserve of Yumka instead of the usual stops at Ocosingo, Agua Azul and Misol Ha.

Jour 11

We visit the impressive archaeological site of PALENQUE, a Mayan city surrounded by jungle, where we will see its temples, pyramids and ball game. Admission and tour with local guide included. Afterwards, we travel to the Gulf of Mexico through the state of Tabasco. CAMPECHE, arrival in this Mexican port city known for its colonial buildings and its 17th century fortifications created to face pirate attacks. Dinner included.

Jour 12

We leave for the state of Yucatan. In a bit over two hours, we arrive to MERIDA. Tour of the city, the vibrant capital of the Mexican Yucatan State boasts a rich colonial and Mayan heritage. We see the fortified cathedral of Merida and the limestone church of the Third Order as well as the House of Montejo, a 16th century mansion and the emblem of Plateresque colonial architecture. Free time in the afternoon, we suggest you to visit the Museum of the Mayan World on your own. In the evening, we include a transfer to attend the "Mayan Ball Game show". Accommodation.

Jour 13

Today we enjoy a beautiful stage to see the Yucatán state. IZAMAL, one of the prettiest cities in Mexico, declared a "Magic town". In CHICHEN ITZAN, we include admission and a visit to the most important and renowned vestige of the Mayan civilization, a World Heritage Site where we see the mythical pyramid of Kukulcán and the warriors´ temple. After the visit we include a Mayan cuisine lunch. We continue to RIO LAGARTOS, a small fishing village in the middle of a Biosphere Reserve.

Jour 14

Today we enjoyed an exciting day where nature is featured. In the morning we include a boat ride of over two hours. We enter the biosphere reserve, where we can see crocodiles among its mangroves, lots of birds including pelicans and pink flamingos. You can also "live the mud experience" by smearing mud with high concentrations of sulfur, minerals and salts that act as exfoliants for the skin, leaving a feeling of softness throughout the body. After that, we travel to VALLADOLID, the third largest city of the Yucatan with a very nice historic city center. We recommend you to have lunch in one of the restaurants of the main square. In the afternoon we visit the CENOTE CHOJ HA, managed by the local Mayan community, where we will walk along a short path in the jungle to explore its dry cave and where you can swim in the wonderful lake inside the wet cave. Continuation to CANCUN. Arrival at the end of the afternoon.

Jour 15

Our services end after breakfast. We suggest that any travellers who wish to extend their stay for a few days can do so resting by the beautiful beaches of Cancun or the Riviera Maya.