Viva Mexico (Day of the Dead Festival)

Welcome to Mexico City, the economic, industrial and cultural centre of Mexico! Sprawling across a valley, encircled by volcanoes and mountains and atop an ancient Aztec civilisation, Mexico City is North America's highest city and one of the world's most densely populated. With a long and fascinating history that runs from ancient native civilisations through to the invasion of the Conquistadors and subsequent colonial rule, Mexico City boasts an array of fascinating sights and attractions.

Please meet your tour guide and other members of your group in the hotel lobby at 8:15. We begin the day with a tour of bustling Mexico City. Our sightseeing will include the main city square – Plaza de la Constitución or the Zócalo. The plaza is constructed from the stones of ancient palaces and temples and is said to be the second largest in the world after Moscow's Red Square. The Zócalo is bordered by the Cathedral to the north and the National Palace to the east. In the centre of the plaza is an enormous Mexican Flag which is ceremoniously raised and lowered each day and carried into the National Palace.

This afternoon we visit Xochimilco, a borough famous for its canals and hundreds of colourfully decorated boats - trajineras. Here, we'll experience the last remnants of a vast water transport system built by the Aztecs.

Special Experience: Board an authentic Mexican trajinera for a traditional lunch and cruise through the waters of Xochimilco. Afterwards we'll stop to explore a colourful arts and crafts market before we return to our hotel.

In the evening, we'll meet for a group welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

After breakfast we travel to the nearby site of Teotihuácan, considered to be one of the most impressive and mysterious archaeological sites in Mexico. The city was established in 100BC and the name Teotihuácan roughly translates as ‘Birthplace of the Gods'.

Here we'll marvel at the magnificent structures built in the pre-Columbian Americas, including the Temples of the Sun and the Moon. These are the largest buildings within Teotihuácan, with the Temple of the Sun rising 66 metres above ground level and the Temple of the Moon rising 43 metres.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we visit the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, or 'Basilica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe'. This Roman Catholic Church and shrine, arguably the most important Christian site in Latin America, was built near the location where Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego. It also houses the original apron of Juan Diego that shows the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which we'll be able to view.

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

This morning we say farewell to Mexico City and travel to Puebla, the main colonial city of Mexico. Also known as 'City of Angels' and 'City of Tiles', Puebla is famous for its Baroque-style churches, local ceramics and delectable dishes, including the spicy Mole Poblano sauce. The historic downtown area remains a Spanish colonial treasure, filled with 17th and 18th century European architecture with beautiful tiles adorning the many churches and buildings.

We'll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant here, before we continue to Oaxaca. This evening, we'll visit a local graveyard to partake in festivities for the famous Day of the Dead festival. It is believed that during this festival, the border between the spirit world and real world dissolves and deceased loved ones return to feast, drink and dance with the living. The celebration features bright flowers, decorated sugar skulls and energetic parades.

Today we discover magical Oaxaca (pronounced wah-hah-kah). With a vibrant and colourful arts scene, unique cuisine and a colonial city centre, this town is definitely a highlight of our journey across Mexico.

We start the day touring the scenic region surrounding Oaxaca, visiting the large pre-Columbian archaeological site of Monte Alban. Situated on a mountain 400 metres above the Oaxaca Valley, Monte Alban was once the spiritual capital of more than 30,000 Zapotecs. The ruins extend over the peaks of three mountain ranges that converge in Oaxaca's central valley at an altitude of 1,600 metres above sea level. These mountain ranges are some of the most spectacular natural wonders in all of Mexico.

Returning to Oaxaca we will take a walking tour. Highlights include the Church of Santo Domingo, Oaxaca’s pedestrian street and the Cathedral.
We’ll also view the mesmerising exteriors of the Theatre Macedonio Alcala and the House of Cortés. The last leg of our city tour will include a visit the Temple of San Juan de Dios, the Government Palace with its impressive murals, the local markets and El Mayordomo chocolate store. On completion of our walking tour, the remainder of the evening is at your leisure to enjoy the myriad of exciting activities taking place across the city. This will be an evening you will never forget experiencing parades, music, food and the countless costumes that the Day of the Dead is so well known for. Get ready for the party of a lifetime!

This morning we travel southeast to Mitla, one of the most important archaeological sites in the Oaxaca region. It is home to textile merchants and a great number of mezcal producers and vendors.

Along the way we visit the ‘Árbol del Tule' - an enormous tree with a circumference of over 48 metres at its base. The tree is between 1,500 and 3,000 years old and considered to be the oldest tree in the world. We also stop at a mezcal factory after seeing Teotitlan del Valle, a famous weaving village with a tradition that dates back to pre-Hispanic times. Once we arrive in Mitla we'll stroll through the quaint, narrow and colourful streets for lunch.

This afternoon, sit back and soak up the picturesque scenery as we continue our journey to Tehuantepec.

Awaken early this morning in the city of Tehuantepec, famous for its beautiful embroidered traditional dress – a style adopted by the artist Frida Kahlo. We'll take a scenic drive to the Sumidero Canyon near Chiapa de Corzo and explore this impressive canyon by boat. Marvel at the sheer cliffs that soar up to a kilometre high at certain points. After enjoying lunch, we continue to the charming town of San Cristóbal de las Casas.

San Cristóbal is a colonial village characterised by its white stucco walls and red tiled roofs, cobblestone streets, narrow sidewalks, elegant arcades and open plazas. Surrounding the town are many smaller villages of Mayan-speaking Indians. There's great variety and diversity in their language, dress and customs, making this area one of the most fascinating in Mexico.

Special Experience: In the mountains surrounding San Cristóbal, we visit the indigenous villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan to learn about the Mayan culture and traditions, which are still alive today. After lunch at a local restaurant, we'll return to San Cristóbal and learn more about the town on a tour.

Enjoy the scenic drive through the lush green valley's today as we head back down the mountain to Palenque. Along the way we stop to admire and enjoy lunch at the beautiful Agua Azul waterfalls, a series of cascading waterfalls with stunning blue water. We'll then continue our journey to the gorgeous city of Palenque.

We begin our day in the ancient Mayan city of Palenque. With its superb jungle setting and exquisite architecture, it is one of the marvels of Mexico. Palenque was first occupied around 100 BC, before flourishing between 600 to 700 AD.

Our morning is dedicated to exploring this archaeological city, which boasts several magnificent pyramids and the well-preserved tower. The pyramid structures feature intricately carved bas reliefs, depicting mythical and historical events relating to the reign of the Mayan ruler, Lord Pacal, and his descendants. Palenque's 500 buildings are spread over 15 square kilometres, but only a few have been excavated.

This afternoon we travel to the beautiful Spanish colonial city of Campeche. Founded in 1540, the city retains some of the walls which once protected it from pirates and buccaneers.

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

An incredible morning awaits with a visit to the Mayan site of Uxmal, considered the most important of all Mayan sites. The complex of ruins here represents the pinnacle of late Mayan art and architecture of the Puuc region, believed to have been built between 700 and 1,000 AD.

After lunch at a traditional Mayan restaurant, we make our way to historic Merida, the cultural capital of the Yucatán State. Merida is a cosmopolitan town nicknamed the ‘White City', that still conserves its provincial, colonial atmosphere with its narrow streets and broad central plazas. We stop at the Zócalo and see the external views of the Cathedral and the Town Hall, as well as a walk through of the Government Palace and the House of Montejo, before checking in to our hotel.

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

Today we visit the UNESCO listed Celestún Biosphere Reserve. Spanning more than 146,000 acres across the north-western tip of the Yucatán Peninsula, the reserve is home to mangrove forests, crocodiles and more than 300 species of wild birds! We enjoy a guided boat tour here, allowing us to admire the abundant birdlife and search for its famous flamingos. After a delicious lunch we'll return to Merida and enjoy the remainder of our day at leisure.

This morning we visit Chichén Itzá, the famous Mayan archaeological site, home to the enormous pyramid of Kukulkan. This 27-metre-tall pyramid was built from the 8th to 12th centuries directly upon the foundations of previous temples. The architecture of the pyramid encodes precise information regarding the Mayan calendar. In the afternoon, we travel to the resort town of Playa del Carmen and check into our hotel.

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

Playa del Carmen is one of the Yucatán Peninsula's hotspots. It offers amazing reefs that are excellent for diving and snorkelling, and is home to rays, moray eels, sea turtles and a huge variety of corals. Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue) is the main pedestrian thoroughfare and is full of restaurants, bars, cafes and shops. Today is at leisure to explore this city or relax and unwind. This evening we'll enjoy a group farewell dinner at La Parrilla, a traditional Mexican grill.

Optional Excursion: Experience the wonders of the ancient city of Tulum with our knowledgeable guides who, through colourful stories, will help you feel as if you are standing in Tulum in the 13th century. Our small group format and attention to detail will make your day memorable and educational as you walk through the Mayan's most well-preserved and majestic ruins. During this half-day tour, you will have time to learn about the rich history and culture of the Mayan civilization yet still have time to return to your resort and enjoy the rest of your day by the pool or on the beach. Includes round trip A/C transportation, a certified guide, bottled water, a light snack and guided entrance to Tulum site. 4 hours – from $80pp US

Optional Excursion: A Magical River found deep below Quintana Roo - Take our unbelievable underground river tour. In this surreal locale near Playa del Carmen you can observe natural history dating back millions of years, as you hike and swim through a route of about 1 km full of beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Go deep inside an underground cave, where you'll experience true silence among some of the most dramatic mineral formations in the world. Includes access to the Nature Reserve, specialised guides, lockers, wetsuit, life jacket, helmet with lamp, towels, regional buffet, non-alcoholic drinks and transportation. 4 hours – from $130pp US

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. We hope you leave with fantastic memories!