Immerse Into The Real Mexico & Oaxaca

Itinerary

Day 1: Hola, nice to meet you!

Stop At: Mexico City, Mexico City, Central Mexico and Gulf Coast
Today we’ll pick you up at the airport and get to know each other over a drink
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at a boutique hotel in Mexico City's Centre

Day 2: City Centre, Templo Mayor, Diego Rivera's Murals

Stop At: Historic Center (Centro Historico), Avenida Juarez 66, Mexico City 06000 Mexico
The best way to start our adventures in Mexico City is by visiting some of the most iconic buildings in the heart of this huge, chaotic and intriguing concrete jungle.

We’ll walk among locals in busy pedestrian streets that lead to the main “Plaza”, the huge and beautiful Zocalo.

Today we’ll visit the Templo Mayor where you’ll witness the impact of the Spanish invasion in the heart of the city. You’ll be marvelled by the eclectic examples of architecture within the city centre like the Postal Palace, Palace of Fine Arts, the Cathedral, the Torre Latinoamericana and many other gorgeous and significant buildings. All your senses will be awakened by loud laughs, street food, shouty merchants, smiley people and everything else that makes this place different and unique.
Duration: 9 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Hearty breakfast at the hotel
• Lunch: Lunch at one of our favourite taquerias in the City Centre
• Dinner: We'll wrap up the day with dinner at a place with an unbeatable view of one of the City's landmarks
Accommodation included: Overnight at a boutique hotel in Mexico City's Centre

Day 3: Bike ride, Xochimilco, Lucha Libre

Stop At: Paseo de la Reforma, Paseos de la Reforma No. 42, Mexico City Mexico
Sundays don´t get much better than this! Today you will get to experience Mexico City as we (Chilangos) love to. First, we will cycle through the most impressive street in the city, Paseo de la Reforma. We will finish our ride in Chapultepec which is our city’s largest park and is home to a castle, museums and a lake.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Xochimilco, Xochimilco, Mexico City, Central Mexico and Gulf Coast
Time to go and enjoy another weekend favourite for families and groups of friends, navigate through the city canals on board of a Trajinera (colourful boats powered by a person with a pole…think punting in Cambridge with a Mexican twist) while contemplating the views. It’s probably obvious to say that food, drinks, and music are usually involved.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Arena Mexico, Avenida de Las Granjas 800 cerca metro Balderas y Cuahutemoc, Mexico City 06720 Mexico
Last but not least we will be making our way to the temple of lucha libre, La Arena Mexico! Pick a side, rudos or tecnicos, scream your lungs out and enjoy the show!
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Hearty breakfast at the hotel
• Lunch: We'll have lunch on board of our trajinera (boat) in Xochimilco
Accommodation included: Overnight at a boutique hotel in Mexico City's Centre

Day 4: Mexico City - Oaxaca

Stop At: Oaxaca, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
After lunch, you'll have a free evening to explore the city centre of Oaxaca including its main square, (a perfect spot for people watching and getting a sense of how life goes by in this gorgeous place), museums and wandering past colourful houses and colonial buildings.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: We'll stop for breakfast on our way to Oaxaca. Nothing glamorous but tasty!
• Lunch: As soon as we arrive to Oaxaca we will refuel with a traditional lunch at one of Oaxaca's markets.
Accommodation included: Overnight at a boutique hotel in Oaxaca

Day 5: Hierve el agua, Mitla, Teotitlan del Valle

Stop At: Hierve el Agua, Oaxaca Mexico
On this day we will explore the outskirts of the city of Oaxaca, visiting some amazing sites. Our first stop will be the petrified waterfalls at Hierve el agua. We'll have time to enjoy the views and take a dip in its refreshing waters. Then, we will head to the mystical archeological zone of Mitla which was known as “Place of the dead”, famous for the intricate and elaborated decoration of its walls.

We will then have lunch and stroll through the small town of Teotitlan del Valle. This place is famous for its colourful wooden rugs which are still made with the traditional process so it’s well worth taking a look at the artisans’ workshops and having a chat with them. Bring cash because you'll want to buy everything!

On our way back to Oaxaca we will stop to admire Mexico´s most famous tree, the tree of Tule which is said to have one of the widest trunks in the world.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Lovely breakfast at a bakery
• Lunch: Traditional lunch at a restaurant near Teotitlan
Accommodation included: Overnight at a boutique hotel in Oaxaca

Day 6: Monte Alban, Santo Tomas Jalieza, Tilcajete

Stop At: Monte Alban, Oaxaca Mexico
Today we will visit the archeological site of the valley of Oaxaca, Monte Alban (also designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site), which was inhabited for 1,500 years by 3 different cultures, the Olmecs, Zapotecs, and Mixtecs.

By wandering through its temples, tombs, and courtyards you will be able to picture the ancient rituals and ceremonies.

We will then visit workshops at local communities famous for their traditional folk art. Each specialises in a particular craft - Santo Tomas Jalieza on its intricate and colourful textiles and Tilcajete on its animal creatures carved on wood.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast at a local market in Oaxaca
• Lunch: Traditional Oaxaca food at a restaurant near Tilcajete
Accommodation included: Overnight at a boutique hotel in Oaxaca

Day 7: Mezcal distillery

Stop At: Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Southern Mexico
Chances are that by now you have already tried a couple of Mezcales and that you have heard a thing or two about the way in which it is produced. Today we will visit a Mezcal palenque (distillery) where we will be able to fully experience the production process and of course...taste this delicious drink
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Lovely breakfast at a bakery
• Lunch: Traditional and simple food on our way back from the Mezcal distillery
• Dinner: Great contemporary Mexican food at a beautiful restaurant
Accommodation included: Overnight at a boutique hotel in Oaxaca

Day 8: Coyoacan, Museo Frida Kahlo

Stop At: Coyoacan, Parque Centenario, Mexico City 04000 Mexico
This morning we’ll make our way back to Mexico City. This time, we'll stay in a different area of the City, Coyoacan.

Coyoacan is one of those places that transport us to a different time. There’s something magical and perhaps romantic about this place, people usually describe it as a place with a bohemian vibe.

The buildings are colourful and vibrant, something that you need to see by yourself! Today, we want you to feel closer to Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera while you walk through Coyoacan’s pebbled streets but we also want you to live, discover and enjoy this beautiful neighbourhood like a true local chilango. Oh, and of course, we’ll pay a visit to the one and only “Casa Azul”, the place where Frida spent most of her life.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel in Oaxaca before making our way back to Mexico City
• Lunch: Lunch at one of the Coyoacan markets
Accommodation included: Overnight at a boutique B&B in Coyoacan

Day 9: Teotihuacan

Stop At: Zona Arqueologica Teotihuacan, Ecatepec Piramides km.22 + 600, San Juan Teotihuacan 55800 Mexico
Today we will travel to the neighbouring state of Mexico (ok it’s a bit confusing but in this country, Mexico, there is a city called Mexico and a state called Mexico) to explore the impressive archeological complex of Teotihuacan which was one of the largest prehispanic cities. The sensation of viewing the massive pyramids of the moon and the sun while walking through the road of the dead is breathtaking.

Aside from the pyramids, there are other amazing sights like Quetzalcoatl’s (the feathered snake) temple and courtyards with mystic murals depicting gods and sacred animals. At the time of writing this, it is still possible to climb to the top of the pyramid which gives a panoramic view of the whole complex and is thought to be reenergising. However, in case this doesn’t provide us with enough energy our lunch certainly will!
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Delicious breakfast at the B&B
• Lunch: Lunch at a very cool (and different) place on our way back from Teotihuacan
• Dinner: We may have a little surprise to say thanks for joining us!
Accommodation included: Overnight at a boutique B&B in Coyoacan

Day 10: Adios!

Stop At: Coyoacan, Parque Centenario, Mexico City 04000 Mexico
Time to say goodbye and (maybe) a little cry before you take your taxi to the airport.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Delicious breakfast at the B&B
No accommodation included on this day.