A Taste Of Mexico - Markets And Mayan Sites

Arrive in Mexico City, the capital of Mexico and truly the heart and soul of the country. With so much rich history to discover, the city is filled with historic buildings, landmarks and the largest number of museums in the world. Due to the number of evening flights into the international airport, your Leader plans to do the welcome meeting on the morning of day two, and will leave a message in reception with details on timings and everything else that you'll need for the day. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to arrive into Mexico City at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Mexico City International Airport (MEX) which is approximately a 30 minute drive from the hotel. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to have a stroll around Alameda Central, Mexico City's oldest municipal park, or visit the Templo Mayor Museum, which is known for its exhibits relating to the Aztec civilization.

On our first day in Mexico City we visit the downtown including the Zocalo (main square) and the Cathedral, built on top of Tenochtitlan - the old Aztec capital. During our tour around the city we will be introduced to one of Mexico's most famous exports - the tacos. We'll experience some of the best and most authentic basket tacos, known as 'tacos de canasta', at the city's local taquerias. These soft-shelled tacos are normally filled with marinated pork, beef or chicken as well as more unusual ingredients such as cactus leaves and flower petals. We can spice these up with some of the wonderful homemade chilli sauces, of which there are usually several heats to choose from. This afternoon we drive to Coyoacan in the south of Mexico's Federal District, famous for its coffee and churros culture. Founded in the seventh century and later conquered by the Mexica, the "place of coyotes" retains its small-town charm with cobbled streets, colonial churches and colourful markets.

Leaving this city we will drive north out to the mysterious pyramids of Teotihuacan. Although abandoned thirteen centuries ago, they are still an unbelievable sight. Once the largest city in the Americas with perhaps 100,000 inhabitants, its influence continued through Middle America, and Maya craftsmen borrowed its decorative motifs and building designs. Centuries later the Aztecs revered Teotihuacan as 'the Place of the Gods'. Following our visit we will continue our short journey east to the city of Puebla passing between three of Mexico's most recognisable volcanoes, Ixtaccihuatl, Popocatepetl and La Malinche. On the journey, we'll visit a local cactus farmer's family, who cultivate the nopel cactus and its fruit, Xoconochtli. We'll learn about how these leaves are handled and used in salads, as well as some of the products derived from the fruit.