MEXICO’S COLONIAL CITIES - 2010

8 days from Mexico City to Mexico City (GL-YC)

Discover Mexico’s colonial cities in this vacation through the heart of Mexico. Your trip starts in Mexico City, Mexico’s capital, founded in 1521. A city sightseeing tour includes visits to the cathedral, National Palace, and Frida Kahlo Museum. Travel to Teotihuacan, “the place where men became gods.” This major archeological center, one of the Mexico’s best preserved, includes the Pyramid of the Sun, built around 100 AD. A steep climb of 242 steps takes you to the top where the temple once stood and offers impressive overviews of the city. Continue to San Miguel de Allende, a charming town full of galleries, shops, and colorful winding streets. A guided tour shows you this town, protected since 1926 as a national monument. Next, travel to Guanajuato, A UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a tour of Diego Rivera House, Juarez Theater, and Union Plaza. Next stop: Morelia, built in the 16th century. More than 200 historic buildings, all in the region’s characteristic pink stone, reflect the town’s architectural history. Your tour includes a visit to the Government Palace and murals of native Michoacán painter Alfredo Zalce. Return to Mexico City for the end of this fascinating vacation to Mexico’s colonial cities.

The beautiful architecture in Mexico City Guanajuato, Mexico - A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Itinerary

Day 1 Sat. ARRIVAL IN MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

Welcome to Mexico. This evening, mix and mingle with your traveling companions and enjoy a 7 pm welcome reception hosted by your Tour Director. (WR)

Day 2 Sun. MEXICO CITY

A full day to become familiar with the highlights of this former Aztec capital. Founded in 1521, Mexico City is colorful, vibrant, and cultured. This morning’s city tour will travel along the famous boulevard of Paseo de la Reforma to the main square of Zocalo. We’ll visit the CATHEDRAL and the NATIONAL PALACE before seeing the famous Zona Rosa (Pink Zone), where many of the city’s best restaurants and shops can be found. We then visit the FRIDA KAHLO MUSEUM and see Casa Azul, “the Blue House,” where this famous surrealist artist was born, grew up, and later lived with her muralist husband, Diego Rivera. The home gives you insight into the lives of this famous bohemian couple and their international and eclectic set of friends, including Nelson Rockefeller, George Gershwin, and Leon Trotsky. We return to Mexico City, where the remainder of the day and evening are at leisure. (B,L)

Day 3 Mon. MEXICO CITY–TEOTIHUACAN–SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE

We leave bustling Mexico City to visit TEOTIHUACAN, “the place where men became gods.” While visiting this major archeological center—one of the best preserved in the country—you’ll see the main landmark, the Pyramid of the Sun, built around 100 AD. For an impressive overview of the city, a steep climb of 242 steps takes you to the top where a temple once stood. There’s also time to visit the Pyramid of the Moon, the Palace of the Quetzal Butterfly, and the Palace of the Jaguars, named after its feline mural paintings. We continue to San Miguel de Allende for an overnight stay. Populated by many American and Mexican artists, this charming town is full of galleries, shops, and colorful winding streets. (B,L,D)

Day 4 Tue. SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE–GUANAJUATO

After breakfast this morning our city tour shows us the pretty colonial streets and buildings of San Miguel de Allende, which have been protected since 1926 when the whole town was declared a national monument. Afterward, we visit a local studio to learn more about the unique artist community found in San Miguel de Allende. We continue to Guanajuato, considered by many to be Mexico’s most picturesque city, for a 2-night stay. (B,L,D)

Day 5 Wed. GUANAJUATO

Birthplace of Diego Rivera and important for it silver mining and production since 1548, Guanajuato has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On this morning’s city tour, see UNION PLAZA, the busiest and most central of the town’s seven plazas; JUAREZ THEATER, a magnificent opera and concert hall; the Diego Rivera House; and the historic Alhondiga. Admire the many colonial churches that adorn the town. Guanajuato is renowned for its high-quality handicrafts so after lunch, maybe shop for local pottery or leather goods. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for additional sightseeing and the best places to shop and dine. (B)

Day 6 Thu. GUANAJUATO –PATZCUARO–MORELIA

Leaving Guanajuato this morning, we travel to Pátzcuaro, one of Mexico’s most fascinating towns. Sitting high on a hillside above the shores of Michoacan’s largest lake, we’ll explore Pátzcuaro’s winding cobblestone streets, lined with whitewashed walls and heavy wooden doorways that reveal alluring glimpses of timeless colonial courtyards. There’s time to discover more of this charming town on your own. Later this afternoon we arrive in Morelia, capital of the state of Michoacán. (B,L,D)

Day 7 Fri. MORELIA –MEXICO CITY

Built in the 16th century, Morelia is an outstanding example of urban planning which combines the ideas of Spanish architecture with the Mesoamerican experience. More than 200 historic buildings, all in the region’s characteristic pink stone, reflect the town’s architectural history. Your tour includes a visit to the GOVERNMENT PALACE as well as the murals of native Michoacán painter Alfredo Zalce. Later this afternoon we return to Mexico City. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a festive farewell dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 8 Sat. MEXICO CITY

Your vacation ends this morning with guests departing on independent schedules. Transfers are provided to the Mexico City International Airport. (B)

AIRPORT TRANSFERS

Airport transfers may be included when you make your international flights arrangements.

Dates and Prices

Departure Details	Departure Date	Tour Start Date	Return Date	Land/Cruise Price Only	Status
	9/11/2010	9/11/2010	9/18/2010	$1,349.00	Available
	9/25/2010	9/25/2010	10/2/2010	$1,349.00	Available
	10/9/2010	10/9/2010	10/16/2010	$1,349.00	Available
	10/23/2010	10/23/2010	10/30/2010	$1,359.00	Available
	3/26/2011	3/26/2011	4/2/2011	$1,429.00	Available

Popular Departure - due to itinerary and time of year, this departure historically sells out quickly. Early booking is encouraged.

Single Room Supplement:
$278