Day 1. Mexico City arrival (October 28)

At a Glance

*Day is at leisure

*Welcome to Mexico City! Upon arrival to Mexico City International Airport, the group will be greeted by our representative and the driver and transferred to your hotel.
Check-in to Mexico City hotel and the rest of the day will be at leisure.

Overnight: Hotel in Mexico city
Meals: None

Day 2. Mexico City Tour (October 29)

At a Glance

*Mexico City full day Private group tour

*Experience life in one of the largest Cities in the World. Admire the so called “La Ciudad de los Palacios” (The City of Palaces). Tour the most important sites in Mexico City. Visit the National Palace and get to know the rich Mexican history “described” by the famous painter Diego Rivera on its murals. Then, visit the largest Cathedral of the Americas, the Metropolitan Cathedral and visit the “Templo Mayor” archaeological site in the Heart of the City. Visit the famous “floating gardens” in Xochimilco. Experience a “trajinera” local boat ride, and admire the colorful side of Mexico
Transfer back to the hotel

Highlights
*National Palace visit and Diego Rivera’s murals
*Metropolitan Cathedral visit
*Templo Mayor archaeological site tour
*Panoramic Reforma Avenue tour with photo stops
*Xochimilco “floating gardens” boat ride tour

Overnight: Hotel in Mexico City
Meals: Breakfast in hotel in Mexico City
   Traditional lunch in a local restaurant in Xochimilco (drinks not included)

Day 3. Basilica de Guadalupe & Teotihuacan tour – Transfer to Puebla (October 30)

At a Glance

*Basilica de Guadalupe & Teotihuacan private group tour

*Today, after breakfast, hotel check out and meet your local tour guide in the main lobby of your hotel to start with a journey full of History and traditions. First, we will tour the beautiful Basilica of our Lady of Guadalupe (Basilica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) a Roman Catholic Church, National shrine of Mexico. The shrine was built near the Hill of Tepeyac where Our Lady of Guadalupe is believed to have appeared to San Juan Diego. Then, we will visit the Ancient Mesoamerican City of Teotihuacan. This Archaeological site is world wide known for its amazing Sun and Moon Pyramids and the Avenue of the Death. We will see small portion of its Murals that have been exceptionally well preserved.
We will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant with its typical Mexican food (drinks not included) and a visit to the local market where tequila & mezcal taste is a tradition. We will have time for souvenirs shopping as well.
Then , we will continue with transfer to our hotel in the beautiful City of Puebla de Los Angeles.

Highlights
*Basilica of our Lady of Guadalupe
*Teotihuacan archaeological site and museum
*Local market visit with tequila and mezcal taste
*Transfer to Puebla de Los Angeles City

Overnight: Hotel in Puebla City
Meals: Breakfast in the hotel in Mexico City
   Lunch in Teotihuacan local restaurant (drinks not included)

Day 4. Puebla City tour (October 31)

At a Glance

*Puebla City private group tour

*Puebla is famous for being scene of a number of battles, the most notable, the battle of Puebla or “Batalla de 5 de Mayo”.
We will see why UNESCO put Puebla on its World heritage list. We will tour around the historic downtown and visit the Zocalo (main square), see the major landmarks among others, the Puebla Cathedral and the unique and extremely beautiful Rosary Chapel “Capilla del Rosario”; known as “La Casa de Oro” “The Golden House”, because of its interior walls covered with gold. Our experienced tour guide will share with us the incredible story of its construction; this Chapel is consider the best example of the Baroque in the New Spain (Mexico); we will see why !
We will visit as well the City Hall and the “Biblioteca Palafoxiana” (Palafoxiana Library), nowadays museum, which was founded in 1646. It was the first public library in Mexico; sometimes consider the first in the Americas. We will hear incredible stories and real facts from some of the books kept here.
We will enjoy a delicious traditional lunch including typical food and the famous “mole poblano”, Mexican dish prepared with numerous kind of Mexican chili (drinks not included). Then, visit the local market “el parian” famous for its handmade handicrafts and at the same time, because of the Day of the Dead festivities, you will have the opportunity to admire the “amate paper”, traditional colorful handmade work and get to know the traditional “cempazuchil flower” used in the “Altars” offers in different points of Puebla Downtown.

Highlights
*Puebla City Down Town walking tour with Day of Dead Altars visit
*”La Casa de Oro” Rosary Chapel
*Palafoxiana library, first public library in Mexico
*“El Parian” market

Overnight: Hotel in Puebla City
Meals: Breakfast in hotel in Puebla
Traditional lunch (drinks not included)

Day 5. Transfer to Oaxaca – Monte Alban tour Xoxotlan old cemetery evening visit (November 01)

At a Glance

*Monte Alban & Oaxaca, Xoxocotlan (pronounced "ho-ho") old cemetery group visit for the Day of the Dead celebrations

*Our journey will start with early transfer to Oaxaca. At arrival, we will tour Monte Alban, one of the most important and famous pre-Columbian archaeological sites in Mexico. The site is believed to be more than three thousand years old and has been inhabited by various Mexican cultures such as the Olmec, the Zapotec and the Mixteca. Discover the various features of the complex including the main square, the ballgame court, the palace, the observatory and the Plaza of the Dancers, among others. Then, our journey will continue to the indigenous village of Arrazola, famous for its wood carving handicrafts known as "Alebrijes“. This small town is where the history of “Alebrijes”, now, traditional Mexican handicraft and souvenir started. The art is handed down thru generation to generation. These artist do not use a pattern, or photos, or mold to work from to complete this art! You will be amazed at the attention to detail and colors that are used; and of course, you can buy your souvenirs practicing your negotiation skills. A place that is worthy to visit!
At 6 p.m. we will go to Xoxocotlán to be part of a great experience with the beginning of the celebration of the Day of the Dead at a local cemetery.

Highlights
*Monte Alban archaeological site
*Arrazola, ”Alebrije” village visit
*Xoxotlan cemetery evening visit

Overnight: Hotel in Oaxaca City
Meals: Breakfast in hotel in Oaxaca
Traditional lunch (drinks not included)

Day 6. Oaxaca Day of Dead Festivities & City tour (November 02)

At a Glance

*Oaxaca Day of Dead festivities and City tour including Altar contests and Giant Sand Tapestry in Oaxaca's Palacio de Gobierno (Museo del Palacio)

*Today, our tour guide will lead us to explore Oaxaca City Center. We will see why this beautiful peaceful Spanish Colonial town is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Because of the Day of the Dead, we will visit the Altar and Giant Sand Tapestry set up in Oaxaca's Palacio de Gobierno (Museo del Palacio); here, there is also usually a contest for the best Altar - with altars set up around the main floor of the building. Among others, we will visit some other places in Oaxaca Center where more Day of the Dead Altars, sand tapestries and other decorations will be displayed like in the Escuela de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts School), across from La Soledad church; the Casa de la Cultura, as well as Alcala Street (the pedestrian walkway) and the Zocalo. We will learn about the history of the City, its architecture, and local customs during our tour. We will have the opportunity to see the Festivities Parade as well as experience the many options of traditional food vendors offer everywhere you go
This will be a different and unique experience to remember for life!

Highlights
*Oaxaca City tour including Giant Sand Tapestry and Altar contests in the Government Palace. School of “Bellas Artes”, Casa de la Cultura and Zocalo to see Altars, sand tapestry and other decorations
*Day of Dead parade

Overnight: Oaxaca
Meals: Breakfast in the hotel in Oaxaca
Please, note lunch is not included; it will be in a random place during the tour to experience the many options local vendors offer this day everywhere you go

Day 7. Oaxaca Valley tour. Hierve el Agua, Mitla, Teotitlan del Valle & El Tule (Nov. 3)

At a Glance

*Oaxaca Valley private group tour

*Admire the natural and cultural beauty of the Oaxaca Valley. Our journey will start visiting the petrified falls of Hierve el Agua; one of the highest ridges in the Valley with stunning views of the Valley. Then , our journey will proceed to visit Mitla, consider the second most important archaeological site in the State of Oaxaca, and it is the most important of the Zapotec culture. Admire the intricate fretwork and mosaic designs at the well-preserved archaeological site. We will visit and watch one of the most important weaving workshop in Teotitlan del Valle, where during their presentation, we will get to know the complete process of their “art”; Here, we will enjoy a traditional lunch 100% homemade specially for us; the main dish will be “mole con pollo” (chicken with mole); the “mole” will be prepared by members of the family beginning several days before our arrival with the antique process the Zapotec ancestors used to prepare it by mixing many different kind of chili and chocolate as well. We will try the traditional “tamales” and “quezadillas” besides including “mezcal” tasting, traditional liquor produced in the area. On our way back to Oaxaca, we will visit “El Tule” (the tree of Tule) located in the church grounds in the town center of Santa Maria del Tule, approximately 9 km east of the city of Oaxaca. it is a Montezuma cypress or ahuehuete (meaning "old man of the water" in Nahuatl). This tree is famous for its circumference of 42 m and it is occasionally nicknamed the "tree of life" from the images of animals that are visible in the tree's trunk including jaguars and elephants.

Highlights
*Fossilized falls of Hierve el Agua
*Mitla archaeological site
*Teotitlan del Valle weaving workshop presentation with traditional home made lunch including mezcal tasting
*See the world’s widest trunk on the magnificent “El Tule” tree in Santa Maria

Meals: Breakfast in hotel in Oaxaca
Traditional home made lunch including mescal tasting

Day 8. Oaxaca – Mexico City – Merida Yucatan

At a Glance (November 4)

*Oaxaca – Mexico City group transfer – Flight to Merida, Yucatan

*Today, after breakfast in the hotel, we will be transferred to Mexico City International airport to take a flight (not included) to Merida, Yucatan. We will stop in Puebla for lunch (drinks not included) to continue our journey to our destination.
Suggested flight Mexico City – Merida. Interjet 4O 2530. Departure at 18:25 hrs.

On arrival, private group transfer to Merida hotel

Overnight: Hotel in Merida, Yucatan
Meals: Breakfast in hotel in Oaxaca
Lunch in Puebla (drinks not included)

Day 9. Merida panoramic, Chichen Itza & Valladolid “Magic Town” tour – Playa del Carmen (November 5)

At a Glance

*Merida City tour – Chichen Itza private group tour – Valladolid visit – Playa del Carmen

After breakfast, we will proceed with the Merida panoramic tour with photo stops. First, we will Discover Merida's Downtown. This city is full of culture and history. During this journey, we will go through the ancient history to the modern life in Merida. We will see Merida Cathedral, Montejo house Museum, the Government Palace among others in Downtown. Then, we will continue in Paseo Montejo, notable avenue named after Francisco de Montejo, the Spanish conquistador who founded the city in 1542. We will finish our panoramic tour visiting Monumento a la Patria

Our journey will continue with a visit in one of the 7 wonders of the Modern World, Chichen Itza. consider the most important Mayan site. We will tour around visiting the dominating Temple of Kukulkan (a Mayan feathered serpent deity similar to the Aztec Quetzalcoatl) el Castillo ("the Castle"), the main ball court; archaeologists have identified thirteen ball courts in Chichen Itza but the great ball court about 150 meters to the north-west of the Castillo is by far the most impressive, the largest and best preserved ball court in ancient Mesoamerica. At one end of the great ball court, we will visit the Temple of the bearded man (templo del hombre barbado) then the Tzompantli, or skull platform and the chichen itza main cenote among others; our experienced local tour guide will share with us his knowledge taking us back in time to the splendor of this amazing Mayan city.
Then, enjoy traditional lunch in a local restaurant (drinks not included)

Our driver will take us to Valladolid, Yucatan; consider “Pueblo Magico” (Magic Town) based on its natural beauty, cultural riches, and historical relevance to the Country.
After a short visit in Valladolid downtown, we will continue our trip towards the beautiful turquoise waters of the Mexican Caribbean in Playa del Carmen.

Highlights
*Merida City Panoramic tour
*Chichen Itza archaeological site
*Valladolid “Magic town” visit
*Enjoy the Yucatecan cuisine lunch in a beautiful colonial mansion (drinks not included)

Overnight: Hotel in Playa del Carmen
Meals: Breakfast in hotel in Merida, Yucatan
   Buffet lunch (drinks not included) in Chichen Itza

Day 10. Playa del Carmen beach day (Nov. 6)

At a Glance

*Day on the beach

*This day, relax on the white sandy beaches in Playa del Carmen. Forget about schedules and enjoy the day, the sun, the beach and your loved ones.

Overnight: Hotel in Playa del Carmen
Meals: Breakfast in the hotel

Recommended optional tours:
*Cozumel Island own visit
*Isla Mujeres tour
*Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve tour
*Xel-ha ecological park
*Xcaret
*Rio Secreto
*Explore tour…and so many more! Ask your YOUCATAN TRAVELS Rep.

Day 11. Playa del Carmen Beach day. Departure from Cancun (Nov. 7)

At a Glance

*Beach day. Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Cancun Intl. Airport

*Free morning at leisure.
*Private group transfer to Cancun International airport for departure.

Meals: Breakfast

END OF SERVICES

**Additional Individual or group beach days on request + €