Mexico's Ancient and Colonial Cities

Hotels

Meals: 8 breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 8 Dinners

All of the activities described in the itinerary pages

Airport transfers

Gratuities to hotel porters, restaurant staff and local guides.

Caravan's professional Tour Directors and local guides will be with you every step of the way, ensuring a worry free vacation.

Day 1 – Mexico City
Welcome to the glory of Old Mexico. Review the ancient cultures of the Nahua, Aztec, Olmec, Toltec, and Mayan civilizations. Visit the grand colonial cities of Puebla, Veracruz and Merida. Fly to Mexico City, the capital of this fascinating country with an exotic blend of indigenous and international cultures, close yet breathtakingly foreign. Caravan provides a transfer from the Mexico City airport for a two night stay at your centrally located hotel. Rooms are available for check in after 3:00 p.m. Dinner is at your hotel, then join Caravan for an 8:00 p.m. welcome briefing.
Meals: D

Day 2 – Mexico City, Teotihuacán Ruins
This morning visit Mexico’s grandest archaeological site, Teotihuacán, built by the Nahua. The sixth largest city in the world in 400 A.D., Teotihuacán 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. Enjoy lunch. 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. 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. Enjoy dinner.
Meals: BLD

Day 3 – Mexico City, Puebla, Veracruz
Morning drive to visit the historic center of colonial Puebla, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is famous for its hundreds of churches. Enjoy lunch. 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. Explore the romantic plaza, the oldest in Mexico, with strolling mariachis, serenading guitarists and marimba bands. Enjoy dinner.
Meals: BLD

Day 4 – Villa Hermosa, Olmec, Palenque
Mango orchards and pineapple fields give way to lush vegetation and tropical flowers on your drive east today (a box lunch en route). 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. Continue to Palenque for a relaxing two night stay. Dinner tonight.
Meals: BLD

Day 5 – Palenque
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. After lunch, your day is at leisure to enjoy the tropical gardens of your resort. Enjoy dinner.
Meals: BLD

Day 6 – Yucatán, Campeche
Head north this morning into the Yucatán Peninsula. Enjoy lunch overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Next to the fortified Spanish colonial city of Campeche. Free time to explore the historic center. Your hotel is conveniently located near the main plaza. Enjoy dinner.
Meals: BLD

Day 7 – Uxmal, Mérida
Morning drive 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. Enjoy lunch. Next, drive to Mérida, Yucatán’s capital and cultural center, for a two night stay. Your hotel is ideally located near the Plaza Principal, lined with shops, cafes, strolling mariachis, and serenading guitarists. Enjoy dinner.
Meals: BLD

Day 8 – Mérida, Chichén Itzá
Morning drive to visit the Mayan-Toltec ruins of Chichén Itzá. 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. Enjoy lunch. Return to Mérida. Drive by Mérida’s colonial mansions. Mérida offers great shopping for paintings, handicrafts, hammocks and huipiles. Farewell dinner.
Meals: BLD

Day 9 – Mérida, Cancún
After breakfast, Caravan transfers you from Mérida to Cancún. Arrive at Cancún airport at 11:00 a.m. Schedule flights after 1:00 p.m. If you are staying over in Cancún, Caravan will transfer you to your Cancún hotel. Thanks for vacationing with Caravan.
Meals: B

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
No Departure Date Information was found for this Tour. This could be due to our website undergoing an update. Please call a tour specialist at 1-800-942-3301 for personalized assistance.
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Mexico City

Temple of the Plumed Conch Shells

Popcatepetl Volcano

Villa Hermosa's La Venta Park

Nunnery Quadrangle

All tour prices are per person, in US dollars, based on double occupancy.

2011 Taxes and Fees:

Double $199
Triple $188
Single $247

Deposit of $300 pp required to hold space

Full payment due 60 days prior to departure

$99 Travel Protection available

Bottled water provided on motorcoach

Purified water provided at all meals

HOTELS
1,2 Mexico City: Hilton Reforma
3 Veracruz: Gran Hotel Diligencias
4,5 Palenque: Mision Palenque
6 Campeche: Hotel Del Mar
7,8 Merida: Casa del Balam

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