Tripology

An Exciting Interview with Arthur Frommer

Mexico's Ancient & Colonial Cities

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Detailed Trip Description

Join this Mexico's Ancient & Colonial Cities fully inclusive Escorted tour including all meals. Enjoy sightseeing and many activities in Mexico City, Palenque, Veracruz and Merida.

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Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - Mexico City

 
Commercial Flight

Fly to Mexico City, the capital of this fascinating country with an exotic blend of indigenous and international cultures, close yet breathtakingly foreign.

Mexico City Commercial Flight picture
Airport Transfer

Caravan provides a transfer from the Mexico City airport to your hotel.

Hotel

Check in for a two night stay at your centrally located hotel. Rooms are available for check in after 3:00 p.m.

Food and Dining

Dinner is at your hotel, then join Caravan for an 8:00 p.m. welcome briefing. D


Day 2 - Mexico City

 
Sightseeing

This morning visit Mexico's grandest archaeological site, ancient Teotihuacan, built by the Nahua. The sixth largest city in the world in 400 A.D., Teotihuacan was mysteriously abandoned 300 years later, centuries before the Aztec occupation. Visit the Jaguar Palace and the Temple of the Plumed Conch Shells. See the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon. Walk the Avenue of the Dead, flanked by temples and palaces.

Food and Dining

Enjoy lunch.

Sightseeing

Then, a brief visit to the National Palace. See the murals of Mexico's greatest artist, Diego Rivera. These colorful murals cover Mexico's pre-Columbian Indian history, the colonial period and the Revolution.

Sightseeing

Next, drive by Mexico City's main square and Cathedral. Visit Mexico City's National Museum of Anthropology in Chapultepec Park. See archaeological treasures of pre-Hispanic civilizations, including the Toltec, Mexica, Aztec, Zapotec, Mixtec, Olmec and Mayan. See the immense Aztec Calendar Stone.

Food and Dining

Enjoy dinner. BLD


Day 3 - Mexico City

 
Sightseeing

Morning drive to visit the historic center of colonial Puebla, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is famous for its hundreds of churches.

Food and Dining

Enjoy lunch.

Bus

Arrive in mid-afternoon at the port city of Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico. For centuries Veracruz has been a crossroads of the Americas, with Caribbean, European, African and Mexican cultures.

Sightseeing

Explore the romantic plaza, the oldest in Mexico, with strolling mariachis, serenading guitarists and marimba bands.

Food and Dining

Enjoy dinner. BLD


Day 4 - Palenque

 
Bus

Mango orchards and pineapple fields give way to lush vegetation and tropical flowers on your drive east today (a box lunch en route).

Sightseeing

Photostop at Villa Hermosa's La Venta Park. See giant Olmec heads up to twelve feet tall. The Olmec are the predecessors of the Maya and Aztec.

Bus

Continue to Palenque for a relaxing two night stay.

Food and Dining

Dinner tonight. BLD


Day 5 - Palenque

 
Sightseeing

Palenque is magical. Here mysterious Mayan ruins are set against a natural backdrop of jungle foliage. See the Main Plaza, the Temple of the Inscriptions and the Group of the Cross. See the four story observation tower rising from the huge rectangular palace. Unique in the Mayan world, this observation tower is believed to have been constructed to view the winter solstice.

Sightseeing

After lunch, your day is at leisure to enjoy the tropical gardens of your resort.

Food and Dining

Enjoy dinner. BLD


Day 6 - Palenque

 
Food and Dining

Head north through the state of Campeche. Enjoy lunch overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.

Sightseeing

Next, through the Puuc Hills to visit ancient Uxmal, dating back to 600 A.D. At Uxmal, see the Pyramid of the Magicians, the Nunnery Quadrangle, the Governor's Palace with its 20,000 intricately carved lace-like stones and the Turtle House.

Bus

Then, drive to Merida, Yucatan's capital and cultural center, for a two night stay.

Hotel

Your hotel is ideally located near the Plaza Principal, lined with shops, cafes, strolling mariachis, and serenading guitarists.

Food and Dining

Enjoy dinner. BLD


Day 7 - Chichen Itza

 
Sightseeing

Morning drive to visit the Mayan-Toltec ruins of Chichen Itza. See the Castle Pyramid. Visit the Ballcourt, the Sacred Cenote and the Group of a Thousand Columns. Learn about achievements made by the Maya more than 1500 years ago, including the 365 day, 19 month Mayan Haab calendar.

Food and Dining

Enjoy lunch.

Sightseeing

Return to Merida. Drive by Merida's colonial mansions. Merida offers great shopping for paintings, handicrafts, hammocks and huipiles.

Food and Dining

Farewell dinner. BLD


Day 8 - Cancun

 
Airport Transfer

After breakfast, Caravan transfers you from Merida to Cancun. Arrive at Cancun airport at 11:00 a. m. Schedule flights after 1:00 p.m. If you are staying over in Cancun, Caravan will transfer you to your Cancun hotel. Thanks for vacationing with Caravan. B


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