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Latin America & the Caribbean
Mexico
A KALEIDOSCOPE OF COLOURS
14 days
from
£1649
Fly from
Highlights include Mexico City Oaxaca San Cristobal Palenque Campeche Merida Chichén Itzá
Heathrow
Or from your LOCAL AIRPORT
What's Included
Return scheduled flights to Mexico City Internal flight as detailed Transfers between airport and hotel All other transportation as detailed Twelve nights' accommodation including breakfast Services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager and English speaking local representative All hotel baggage handling for one piece of luggage per person All State and local taxes All UK and overseas airport taxes and security charges Excursions as follows: - City tours of Mexico City, Oaxaca, San Cristobal, Merida & Chichen Itza - Tours of Palenque - Visit to Agua Azul waterfalls Your Hotels You will stay at the Regente Hotel or similar in Mexico City, the Hacienda de la Novia Hotel or similar in Oaxaca, the Calli Hotel or similar in Tehuantepac, the Hotel Casa Mexicana or similar in San Cristobal, the Ciudad Real Hotel or similar in Palenque, the Hotel Del Mar or similar in Campeche and the Hotel Castellano or similar in Merida. All hotel rooms feature private facilities, TV and telephone. Hotel facilities include restaurant and bar.
Mexico is a land of breathtaking contrasts, with dramatic mountains, tropical valleys and a wealth of treasures from past civilisations including the Aztecs and Mayans. The whole of Mexico is a colourful mosaic of folklore and tradition, where preColombian and Spanish influences blend harmoniously with 21st century living. This fascinating itinerary encompasses a mix of modern and traditional Mexico, which is the key to its charm.
YOUR ITINERARY DAY 1 - Depart on you scheduled flight to Mexico City. On arrival transfer to your hotel for a three night stay. DAY 2 - Mexico City, established by nomadic Indian tribes over 1,000 years ago in a mountain setting 7,000ft above sea level, is the oldest and one of the most beautiful cities in the Americas. Join our included full day city sightseeing tour including a visit to the vast Zocalo, the city's main square and the spectacular National Palace. This is followed by a drive down the Paseo de la Reforma to Chapultepec Park, site of the ill-fated Emperor Maximilian's castle. In the afternoon we visit the world-famous National Anthropological Museum. DAY 3 - Depart for your drive north to Teotihuacan to see the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, the Street of the Dead and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl all magnificent examples of pre-Aztec architecture. You will also explore the Temple of Butterflies with a stop at the Shrine of Guadalupe before returning to your hotel. DAY 4 - After breakfast depart for the colonial city of Oaxaca for an overnight stay. En route we call at Monte Alban, the ancient capital of the Zapotec people, to see the amazing archaeological ruins. We also include visits to the museum, the main square, the observatory, and the dancers' building. DAY 5 - Oaxaca is a diverse city founded in 1521, home to ancient ruins, noble churches, colonial architecture and a vibrant mix of cultures. This morning we include a city tour. Continue to a typical market where the local products such as chocolate, `mole' and cheese will be explained. We then visit one of the most extraordinary natural sites in the world the unique and gigantic Tule Tree. It is 130 feet high, weighs 509 tons and is approximately 2,000 years old. Afterwards we continue to the archaeological site at Mitla where there are ruins of four great palaces from the Zapotec and Mixtec civilisations. There will be free time for taking photographs and buying souvenirs at the nearby market before continuing to Tehuantepec for an overnight stay. DAY 6 - After breakfast depart Tehuantepec for the drive to San Cristobal via the impressive Sumidero Canyon, created by the mighty Rio Grijalva. Enjoy spectacular views before continuing to your hotel for a two night stay. DAY 7 - San Cristobal, the former capital of the state of Chiapas, is a delightful market town where colonial streets and alleyways lined with white-washed houses open out into small arcades and plazas. We include a sightseeing tour to see the main highlights such as the beautiful cathedral in the main square, the churches of Del Carmen and Santo Domingo. There will be free time for shopping in the many artisan shops selling arts and crafts created by the neighbouring Indian communities, including replicas of the local dress still worn by many today. DAY 8 - Morning transfer to Palenque via the Agua Azul waterfalls where according to legend, Kaprakan, a character from the Popol Vuh (the sacred book of the Maya) built some steps in the mountain so he could climb it more easily. Chac (the rain god), mocking him for his arrogance, laid down a blue carpet which moved as soon as the giant stepped on it. Continue to Palenque for an overnight stay. DAY 9 - Included morning tour of Palenque, one of the most beautiful Mayan ceremonial complexes, set in a rainforest clearing and considered by many to be Mexico's most beautiful and alluring archaeological site. The 20-foot high
HOLIDAY REF: LMEX
Chichén Itzá
MEXICO
Mexico City Oaxaca Mitla Tehuantepec
Pacific Ocean
Merida Campeche Palenque San Cristobal
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