San Luis Potosi Tour: a Fantastic Journey Through Waterfalls, Mountains and Sea (15 Days)

Day 1: Mexico City

Bienvenidos a la Ciudad de Mexico – the largest city in Latin America where ancient and modern coexist in harmony. Arrive at any time before meeting your group and Tour Leader in the evening: welcome dinner and get-together with the rest of the group.

• Transportation: walking
• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Mexico City
• Meals Included: dinner
• Activities Included: welcome meeting

Day 2: Mexico City

Join your group for a walk around the historic center of Mexico City and a visit to the National Museum of Anthropology in the morning, then choose by yourself what to do next  – your Tour Leader will be happy to give suggestions. Optional dinner and get-together with the group in the evening.

• Transportation: walking, public transport
• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Mexico City
• Meals Included: breakfast
• Activities Included: walking tour of the Historic Center of Mexico City; guided visit to the National Museum of Anthropology

Day 3: Mexico City – Tula – Grutas de Tolantongo

In the morning, go to visit the archaeological zone of Tula – a major city of the ancient Toltec culture widely known for its fearsome 4.5m-high stone warrior figures. Afterward, go to enjoy thermal waters and admire the picturesque mountainous landscapes of Grutas de Tolantongo. Accommodation, optional dinner, and get-together with the rest of the group in Grutas de Tolantongo.

• Accommodation: hotel in Grutas de Tolantongo
• Meals Included: breakfast
• Activities Included: orientation walk of Tula; guided visit to Tula Archeological Zone; entrance to Grutas de Tolantongo

Day 4: Grutas de Tolantongo – Zimapán Dam – Zimapán

After breakfast and a morning bath in the thermal waters of Grutas de Tolantongo, go to Zimapan Dam, a wonder of Mexican engineering known for its impressive landscapes. Upon arrival, have an optional lunch in one of the small family restaurants and try delicious local fish. Once finished, take a boat tour to navigate the river and see its shining stone walls that run more than 650 feet high. Afterward, go to the “Magic Town” of Zimapan seeing some of the most breathtaking sceneries in the region on your way. Accommodation, an orientation walk of the town, optional dinner, and get-together with the rest of the group in the evening.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Zimapan
• Meals Included: breakfast
• Activities Included: orientation walk of Zimapan, boat tour on Zimapan Dam

Day 5: Zimapán – Los Mármoles National Park – Xilitla

After breakfast, head to Los Marmoles National Park – a majestic place with virgin nature hidden amid the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains. Once there, try local apple wine that has been produced here by the descendants of English settlers for two centuries. Also, we’ll see the dramatic ruins of the foundry where parts of the famous Eiffel Tower were forged. Afterward, hike to a “Magent Stone” – a unique Lodestone boulder with magnetic properties, and enjoy stunning views of a local valley. When finished, head to the “Magic town” of Xilitla: check-in at our accommodation, an orientation walk of the town, optional dinner, and get-together with the rest of the group.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Xilitla
• Meals Included: breakfast
• Activities Included: apple wine tasting and hiking in Los Mármoles National Park; orientation walk of Xilitla

Day 6: Xilitla – Sotano De Las Huahuas – Aquismon

After breakfast, head to Las Pozas – a surrealist sculpture garden created by an eccentric English poet Edward James in the middle of the jungle. When finished, go to visit nearby Sotano De Las Huahuas – a large open-air pit cave that is home to a number of birds, including swifts and parakeets. Accommodation in the nearby “Magical Town” of Aquismon, orientation walk, optional dinner, and get-together with the rest of the group in the evening.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Aquismon
• Meals Included: breakfast
• Activities Included: guided visits to Las Pozas and Sotano De Las Huahuas; orientation walk of Aquismon

Day 7: Aquismon – Tamul/Tamasopo/Puente de Dios/Micos Waterfalls

On this day, we’ll visit two wonderful waterfalls (Tamul, Tamasopo) and Puente de Dios – a majestic pool of clear blue water, where the interior appears to light up due to the effect of the sunlight which is reflected and filtered between the rocks. Accommodation in eco-cabins near Micos Waterfalls, dinner, and get-together with the rest of the group.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B near Micos Waterfalls
• Meals Included: breakfast, dinner
• Activities Included: guided visits to Tamasopo and Puente de Dios Waterfalls; boat tour to Tamul Waterfall

Day 8: Micos Waterfalls – Tamtoc Archeological Zone – Tampico

After breakfast and exploration of the beautiful terraces of Micos Waterfalls, go to visit Tamtoc – impressive ruins of ancient Huastec city and one of the most recently opened archeological zones in Mexico. Thereafter, head to Tampico – a historical port city where different architectural styles create a unique and special urban landscape. Check-in at our accommodation, an orientation walk in the historic center, optional dinner, and get-together with the rest of the group.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Tampico
• Meals Included: breakfast
• Activities Included: guided visit of Tamtoc Archeological Zone, orientation walk of Tampico

Day 9: Tampico – Tuxpan Coral Reef /Tuxpan Mangroves – Tuxpan

After breakfast, we’ll head to Tuxpan where we’ll either take a snorkeling boat tour to a nearby Tuxpan Coral Reef (Apr-Sept) or take a mangrove boat tour (Oct-Mar). In the evening, we’ll be back to the nearby sleepy beach town of Tuxpan: check-in at our accommodation, an orientation walk of the town, optional dinner, and get-together with the rest of the group.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Tuxpan
• Meals Included: breakfast
• Activities Included: snorkeling in Tuxpan Coral Reef (Apr-Sept) or mangroves boat tour (Oct-Mar); orientation walk of Tuxpan

Day 10: Tuxpan – Cristo Redentor – El Tajin – Papantla

After a swim in the sea and breakfast in Tuxpan, go to El Tajin – a majestic UNESCO-listed archaeological zone with impressive pyramids and sumptuous buildings. On the way there, see a giant statue of Cristo Redentor and enjoy majestic views that arise from the hill. Afterward, continue to Papantla – a nearby “Magic Town” known for its downtown square and cathedral, where voladores (‘flyers’) perform the unique ritual considered a UNESCO Intangible Heritage. Check-in at our accommodation, an orientation walk of Papantla, optional dinner, and get-together with the rest of the group.

• Transportation: private vehicle
• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Papantla
• Meals Included: breakfast
• Activities Included: photo stops at Cristo Redentor statues; guided visit to El Tajin Archeological Zone; orientation walk of Papantla

Day 11: Papantla – Xicotepec – Pahuatlán

On this day we’ll visit two beautiful “Magic Towns”. Firstly, we’ll head to Xicotepec – a picturesque “Magical Town” that lives in the communion of the pre-Hispanic and colonial times. There, we’ll visit one of the local family coffee farms where we’ll about the whole process of elaboration of this aromatic drink. Then, we’ll go to Pahuatlán. Situated in the middle of the Puebla mountains, among numerous coffee and pahua (local type of avocado) plantations, this region with a high percentage of the indigenous population breathes an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Therefore, once there, you’ll be surrounded by Nahuatl and Otomi cultures, which still carefully preserve their traditions. Check-in at our accommodation, orientation walk, optional dinner, and get-together with the rest of the group in Pahuatlán.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Pahuatlán
• Meals Included: breakfast
• Activities Included: a tour of a family coffee farm with tastings; orientation walks of Pahuatlán and Xicotepec

Day 12: Pahuatlán – Cascadas Paraiso – Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla – Huasca de Ocampo

After breakfast, we’ll go to explore Cascadas Paraiso – a complex of 10 breathtaking waterfalls located in a beautiful mountainous area frequently covered with fog. Afterward, continue to Basaltic Prisms of Santa Maria Regla. This imposing 40-meter geological structure is made of shining rocks formed thousands of years ago and washed by four waterfalls. Finally, we’ll finish the day in Huasca de Ocampo – a charming “Magic Town” at the edge of the mountains where the bonanza of old times still reverberates, times when several ranches were built to make the Count of Regla the richest man of his time. Check-in at our accommodation, orientation walk, optional dinner, and get-together with the rest of the group in Huasca de Ocampo.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Huasca de Ocampo
• Meals Included: breakfast
• Activities Included: guided visit to Cascadas Paraiso and Basaltic Prisms of Santa Maria Regla; walking in Huasca de Ocampo

Day 13: Huasca de Ocampo – El Chico National Park – Mineral del Chico

Firstly, in the morning go hiking in El Chico National Park – one of the oldest protected areas in Mexico founded in 1898. After this, move to a nearby Mineral del Chico – a “Magical Town” whose rich nature and mining history will heighten your senses and fill you with energy as you walk along its steep narrow streets. Check-in at our accommodation, an orientation walk of the town, optional dinner, and get-together with the rest of the group.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Mineral del Chico
• Meals Included: breakfast
• Activities Included: hiking in El Chico National Park; orientation walk of Mineral del Chico

Day 14: Mineral del Chico – Real del Monte – Pachuca

Day 15: Pachuca – Teotihuacan – Mexico City

In the morning, go to see the UNESCO-listed Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque – an impressive 16th-century construction that stretches for 45 km. Afterward, head to explore majestic Teotihuacan – a complex of impressive pyramids, set amid what was once Mesoamerica’s greatest city. Finally, arrive in Mexico City around 3 pm.

• Meals Included: breakfast
• Activities Included: guided visit of Teotihuacan Archeological Zone and Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque