Mexico
To get our mini brochure for this holiday please click here, and we will email you a PDF copy.
Day One: Welcome to Mexico
Fly into Mexico City International, where you’ll be greeted and taken by private transfer to your hotel. On the drive from the airport, you’ll see the sheer scale of this mega-city, passing neighbourhoods packed with Art Deco and Art Nouveau buildings as well as modern skyscrapers. Once you’ve checked into your hotel, the rest of the day is free to get acquainted with its attractions. Perhaps wander through the Templo Mayor, the Aztec ruins right at the centre of the city, crammed between old colonial buildings packed with shops, cafés and government offices. Or settle down to dinner – the city is packed with restaurants vending excellent nuevo-Mexican cuisine.
Overnight in Mexico City
We offer a variety of hotel classes to suit different budgets. You can choose the style that’s right for you.
Select from Classic, Premium or Deluxe when booking, and click hotel name below for more details.
Classic - Hampton Inn & Suites
Premium - Hotel Zocalo Central
Deluxe - Hilton Reforma
Meals included: None
Day Two: Your First Taste of the City
You’ll spend your morning wandering Mexico’s buzziest barrios and most breath-taking buildings (including the biggest cathedral in Mexico, the Metropolitan) with a private guide. Then indulge in the country’s most celebrated crop – cocoa – on a chocolate tasting with the country’s master chocolatier, the internationally-renowned José Ramón Castillo. Castillo takes inspiration from the Mayans, who discovered cocoa back in 900AD, as well as the Aztecs, who used it for drinks, tax – and even suncream. Continue on to the National Museum of Anthropology, packed with perfectly preserved Mayan treasures. Marvel at frescoes, tombs and murals set in an ultra-modern building, In the evening, there’s an optional chance to watch respected dance company Ballet Folklórico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez perform dances from across the country, at the spectacular Palacio de Bellas Artes (see the Extras tab for information on cost).
Overnight in Mexico City
Classic - Hampton Inn & Suites
Premium - Hotel Zocalo Central
Deluxe - Hilton Reforma
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Three: Capital of Culture
Your day starts with a visit to the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). The campus has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, thanks to its modernist buildings covered with murals (by Diego Rivera and others) depicting the country’s history and culture. Then it’s onto the ‘blue-house’, once home to Rivera’s wife, Frida Kahlo. Now a museum, it offers an intimate insight into how she lived and worked, as well as a collection of her paintings. Afterwards, a car will take you 120 miles from Mexico City to Angangueo, an old mining town that is now the best place to see the migrating Monarch butterflies.
Overnight in Angangueo
Classic, Premium and Deluxe - Hotel Posada Don Bruno (differing room types)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Four: Forests of Butterflies
In the morning, you’ll travel by horseback up the hill to the Angangueo butterfly sanctuary. Once there, you’ll wonder at a scene straight from a story book: fir trees drip with the weight of thousands of Monarch butterflies who are huddling for warmth. Thousands more float through the air, resting wherever there is a perch – including on you. The delicate creatures fill the sanctuary with tranquility. Later, transfer by private car to the Villas Arqueologicas Teotihuacán, where you’ll stay for the night, ready to explore the ancient archaeological site named The City of Gods in the morning.
Overnight in San Juan Teotihuacán
Classic, Premium and Deluxe - Villas Arquelogicas Teotihuacan (differing room types)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Five: The High Life
We’ve found an unforgettable way to see the incredible pyramids of the ancient city of Teotihuacán – by hot air balloon. Savour the vistas from on high, then enjoy a glass of sparkling wine and explore the complex up close, visiting its spectacular Sun and Moon pyramids. A car will then take you to Mexico City International Airport to catch your flight to the hip coastal city of La Paz. A shuttle will be waiting at La Paz airport to take you to your hotel.
Overnight in La Paz
Classic - La Concha
Premium - Hotel Catedral La Paz
Deluxe - La Posada La Paz
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Six: Snorkel with Sharks
Meet at La Paz’s waterfront at 9.30am: it’s time to swim alongside one of the greatest creatures on Earth. Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean, but their docile nature means that you can glide alongside wearing just a swimsuit, snorkel, mask and flippers. After a short boat ride out into La Paz bay, jump into the water and see if you can keep up (whale sharks swim as fast as humans walk; around 3mph). If you get tired, or would rather stay out of the water, there’s the chance to witness their sheer scale and take plenty of pictures from the boat. The trips last two hours. When you return to shore, you’ll be free to explore the city. Perhaps learn about more of La Paz’s sealife at the Museo de la Ballena, but do leave time to soak up the relaxed atmosphere of the Malecon waterfront come evening; it has spectacular views of the city’s neon-infused sunsets over the sea.
Overnight in La Paz
Classic - La Concha
Premium - Hotel Catedral La Paz
Deluxe - La Posada La Paz
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Seven: Onwards to Cabo
After breakfast, you’ll transfer to the airport for your flight to Cabo San Lucas. Upon arrival, you’ll be picked up and taken to Hacienda Encantada. Now it’s time to settle in, explore the hotel’s facilities and relax.
Classic, Premium, Deluxe - Hacienda Encantada
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day Eight & Nine: Time to Relax
The next 2 days are at your leisure and can be as active or as relaxed as you want them to be. Unwind in the hotel’s spa with an incredible range of treatments, holistic experiences, enjoy sumptuous cuisine, book onto an exciting excursion or two or just lie on the beach and enjoy the Mexican sun.
Classic, Premium, Deluxe - Hacienda Encantada
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day Ten: Homeward Bound
After a final breakfast and dip in the ocean (dependent on flight time), you’ll be transferred back to Los Cabos Airport for your flight home.
Meals included: Breakfast
What's included:
- Private English-speaking guides unless stated otherwise
- Private transfers and internal flights, unless stated otherwise
- Meals as listed
- Mandatory taxes and service fees
- Entrance tickets and permits unless stated otherwise
- Hot air balloon flight over Teotihuacán pyramids with glass of sparkling wine
- Horse ride to see monarch butterflies
- Boat excursion to see and swim with whale sharks
What's not included:
- International flights to/from experience: call 0208 432 0885 for AX specially negotiated flight rates
- Optional extras listed
- Round trip transfer from hotel in La Paz to meeting point for whale shark tour on Day 6. You might want to consider getting a taxi.
- Tips for guides, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff
- Any visa, customs, airport taxes or similar charges before or after the tour
- We cannot guarantee the included hotel breakfast for early departures
- Drinks during meals unless stated otherwise
- Personal expenses, such as laundry
GETTING THERE
Typical return Economy flights from London cost around £600 per person and take approximately 12 hours outbound, 15 hours inbound depending on exact flight configurations and layover times.
For this particular experience, we have found that the best option is to book a multi-stop flight from London - Mexico City - La Paz - London.
Experience start point: Mexico City (MEX). Arrive at any time.
End point: La Paz (LAP). Depart at any time.
Prices for departures to 30th October include a 20% Pioneers Club discount and are subject to Pioneers Club terms & conditions. Click here for more information about the Pioneers Club.
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