UNESCO Sites Mexico: Discover the Amazing Heritage and Nature (9 Days Tour)

Day 1: Mexico City

Bienvenidos a la Ciudad de Mexico – the 2nd 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: informational meeting, welcome dinner, and optional get-together with the rest of the group in one of the local restaurants.

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

Day 2: Mexico City

Join your group to visit and explore the UNESCO Sites of Mexico: first, walk around the Chapultepec Castle, then transfer to Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo. After that, we’ll visit the Central University City Campus of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México and later take a boat around Xochimilco. Optionally, have dinner and get together with the group in the evening.

• Meals Included: Breakfast.
• Accommodation: Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Mexico City.
• Activities Included: A guided exploration of the Chapultepec Castle and Central University City Campus of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico; a guided visit to Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo; exploration around Xochimilco on folk puntboats.
• Objects on the UNESCO World Heritage List (3x): Xochimilco; Central University City Campus of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico; Visit to Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo.

Day 3: Mexico City – Xochicalco – Cuernavaca – Tepoztlan

Firstly, go to Xochicalco – ruins of the ancient Mesoamerican city whose apogee came after the fall of Teotihuacan. After exploring the archeological zone, continue to Cuernavaca. Known as “the city of eternal spring”, this capital of the state is flanked by imposing hills and is festive all year round.

After we come back from the historic center, take an optional lunch, and get prepared to visit another UNESCO Site, Cuernavaca Cathedral and a nearby 40-meter-high San Anton Waterfall, head to Tepotztlán. Located at the foot of Tepozteco Mountain, this “Magical Town” is the result of the combination of the unique ancient traditions and wisdom that enrich its many cultural expressions, such as esotericism, pre-Hispanic and vice-regal treasures, the counterculture, ecotourism or the simplicity of its everyday life.  Arrive at your accommodation and then join the group to get a walk in the historic center.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-own hotel/B&B in Tepotztlan.
• Meals Included: breakfast.
• Activities Included: guided visit to Xochicalco; guided explorations in Cuernavaca and Tepotztlan.
• Objects on the UNESCO World Heritage List (3x): Archaeological Monuments Zone of Xochicalco; Cuernavaca Cathedral; Convento de la Natividad o de la Anunciación in Tepoztlan.

Day 4: Tepoztlan – Tlayacapan – Oaxtepec – Puebla

After a guided hike to El Tepozteco Archaeological Zone, go to the “Magic Town” of Tlayacapan. Being there is like stopping time and enjoying a break in your life while observing the majesty of perfectly carved murals in the UNESCO-listed Former Convent of San Juan Bautista, with walls that seem to form a celestial vault to guard the recently discovered mummies.

After an exploration of the historic center of the town, we’ll move to the nearby town of Oaxtepec to see the UNESCO-listed Ex-Convent of Santo Domingo de Guzman. Finally, we’ll finish our day in Puebla – a vibrant capital of the same-named state that retains a fantastically well-preserved center, a stunning cathedral, and a wealth of beautiful churches. In the evening we’ll go around the historic center.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-own hotel/B&B in Puebla.
• Meals Included: breakfast.
• Activities Included: a guided hike to El Tepozteco Archaeological Zone; orientation walks in Tlayacapan, Oaxtepec, and Puebla.
• Objects on the UNESCO World Heritage List (3x): Ex-Convent of San Juan Bautista in Tlayacapan; Ex-Convent of Santo Domingo de Guzman in Oaxtepec; Historic Centre of Puebla.

Day 5: Puebla – Cholula – Teotihuacan – Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque – Queretaro

Start your day in Cholula – the oldest city in the Americas inhabited without interruption since its origins. There see the Great Pyramid of Cholula, the world’s largest pyramid topped by the Virgen de Los Remedios church. After a guided walk in the historic center of the town, go to Teotihuacan – a complex of awesome pyramids, set amid what was once Mesoamerica’s greatest city. After a guided visit to the archeological zone, we’ll go to visit an impressive Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque built by the Jesuits in the 16th century.

Finally, in the evening we’ll arrive at Queretaro – one of the most representative examples of Spanish Colonial cities with buildings from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. After check-in and some rest at our accommodation, we’ll go out for an evening walk around the historic center and an optional dinner in one of the local restaurants.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-own hotel/B&B in Queretaro.
• Meals Included: breakfast.
• Activities Included: guided visit to the Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan and Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque Hydraulic System; a guided walk to Cholula and Queretaro.
• Objects on the UNESCO World Heritage List (3x): Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan; Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque Hydraulic System; Historic Monuments Zone of Queretaro

Day 6: Queretaro – San Miguel de Allende – Guanajuato

In the morning, go to San Miguel de Allende – a small city with a huge cultural heritage and a cosmopolitan population that preserves its true colonial feeling. Then, have an optional lunch, and go to Guanajuato, passing by the UNESCO Site of Sanctuary of Jesus Nazareno de Atotonilco on the way. This church complex built in the 18th century features the mural work of Antonio Martinez de Pocasangre which is often dubbed the “Sistine Chapel of Mexico.” Evening arrival to Guanajuato – an opulent colonial city, located among gold and silver deposits, with its greatest peak in the 17th and 18th centuries. After resting at our accommodation, go out for an evening orientation walk around the historic center and an optional dinner in one of the local restaurants.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-own hotel/B&B in Guanajuato.
• Meals Included: breakfast.
• Activities Included: sightseeing excursion in San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato; a guided visit to the Sanctuary of Jesus Nazareno de Atotonilco; cable car to Monumento al Pipila in Guanajuato.
• Objects on the UNESCO World Heritage List (2x): Protective town of San Miguel de Allende and the Sanctuary of Jesus Nazareno de Atotonilco; Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines

Day 7: Guanajuato – Isla de Janitzio- Patzcuaro – Morelia

In the morning, visit Janitzio – the main island of Lake Patzcuaro that is famous for the butterfly fishermen that you can see on the 50-peso banknote. Afterward, continue the trip to Patzcuaro – a picturesque colonial town founded in the 1320s as the capital of the Tarascan state. Finally, we’ll go to Morelia. Known as the “City of the Pink Stone”, it’s home to numerous Baroque and Neoclassical monuments. First, we discover the historic center and get together in one of the local restaurants in the evening.

• Meals Included: breakfast.
• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-own hotel/B&B in Morelia.
• Activities Included: A guided exploration in Morelia and Patzcuaro; a water transfer to Isla de Janitzio.
• Objects on the UNESCO World Heritage List (1x): Historic Centre of Morelia

Day 8: Morelia – Los Azufres

In the morning, take your time to explore the city independently or join your Tour Leader for a continuation of the tour around Morelia. In the afternoon, head to Los Azufres – a rustic spa resort situated in the middle of the mountains with several hot springs and a sulfur mud lake. Once there, relax your body and mind in thermal springs and vapor rooms, or get an optional massage. Optional farewell dinner and get-together in the local restaurant in the evening.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-own hotel/B&B in Morelia.
• Meals Included: breakfast.
• Activities Included: guide in Morelia and Patzcuaro; boat ride to Isla de Janitzio; access to spa facilities in Los Azufres (thermal springs with sulfur mud, vapor rooms).
• Objects on the UNESCO World Heritage List (1x): Historic Centre of Morelia

Day 9: Los Azufres – Mexico City

Morning departure to Mexico City. In winter, on the way, we’ll visit the nearby Monarch Butterfly UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – a breathtaking over-wintering site of the eastern population of the monarch butterfly. In summer, instead, we’ll go to Angangueo – a small town with rich mining traditions located in high rugged forested mountains.

This is one of the greatest places to end the visit to UNESCO Sites in Mexico.

• Meals Included: breakfast.
• Activities Included: orientation walk of Angangueo (Mar-Oct) or guided hike in Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (Nov-Feb).
• Objects on the UNESCO World Heritage List (1x): Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (Nov-Feb only).