Mexico: From the Pacific to the Caribbean

Bienvenidos to Mexico! Upon landing in the capital you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to settle in and start soaking up the energy of one of the world's great metropolises.

The adventure opens at the Plaza of the Three Cultures before heading out to the awe-inspiring pyramids of Teotihuacan, one of Mesoamerica's most celebrated archaeological sites. On the way back we pause at a local artisan workshop, then pay a visit to the revered Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. After returning to the hotel, the rest of the day is free.

Leaving the capital, we stop in Tepoztlan, a village framed by a great green hill crowned with a small pyramid, where you'll have time to wander. In Cuernavaca, our guide introduces the Palace of Hernán Cortes and the city's cathedral, followed by free time for lunch. The day ends in silver-famed Taxco with a city tour and an overnight stay.

A scenic mountain drive brings us to Chilpancingo de los Bravos, where a guided visit to the Regional Museum is included. Continuing to Acapulco, you'll enjoy free time on one of its popular beaches with a chance to have lunch by the sea. In the afternoon, admission and a tour of La Fortaleza (the San Diego Fortress) are included before the transfer to your hotel and free time.

We trace the Pacific coastline to the laid-back resort town of Zihuatanejo. An included boat ride carries you to Playa Las Gatas, where you can swim, unwind on the sand, and enjoy lunch. You'll return by boat, with accommodation and free time to close the day.

Crossing arid landscapes, we enter the lush green mountains of Michoacán. At Lake Pátzcuaro we board a boat to Janitzio Island, home of the Purépecha people, where you can lunch, stroll the traditional lanes, and if you wish, climb to the towering statue of José María Morelos. A boat ride returns us to shore and the day concludes in Pátzcuaro.

We set off for Morelia, the elegant capital of Michoacán, then continue to Cuitzeo del Porvenir, set beside Mexico's second-largest lake. The route carries on to Guadalajara, capital of Jalisco and the proud birthplace of Mariachi music and Tequila.

A guided visit of Guadalajara features the Cabañas Hospice, a UNESCO World Heritage landmark. We then journey to the picturesque town of Tequila, with time to stroll and have lunch. Entrance to a working distillery is included so you can see exactly how Mexico's most famous spirit is crafted, before returning to Guadalajara for free time.

We travel to Guanajuato and spend the afternoon on a city tour of this stunning UNESCO-listed university town, famous for its steep hillsides, narrow alleyways, and beautiful churches. A cable car ride is included, lifting you to the El Pípila monument for a sweeping panorama over the city.

Winding through the mountains, we reach Dolores Hidalgo, the town where Mexico's fight for independence was born. We then visit the Sanctuary of Atotonilco and the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage city of San Miguel de Allende. By afternoon we arrive in the lively colonial city of Queretaro.

Today we head for Tula, once the capital of the Toltec civilization, where admission to the archaeological site is included. We then continue to Puebla, a historic city renowned for its colonial architecture and its animated central zocalo.

We travel toward Oaxaca, arriving in the late morning, and visit Monte Alban, the greatest of the Zapotec cities, dramatically perched above the Oaxaca Valley; admission and a guided tour are included. Afterward we return to Oaxaca, where free time lets you explore this fascinating city and its deep indigenous roots.

Mountain scenery and charming villages accompany us to the Pueblo Mágico of San Pablo Villa de Mitla. After crossing the Oaxacan sierras, we enjoy an included lunch before arriving in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the capital of Chiapas.

A boat carries us between the soaring walls of the Sumidero Canyon, followed by a walk through Chiapa del Corzo. We then visit the villages of Zinacantan and San Juan de Chamula, where Mayan traditions remain vividly alive. The day ends in the beautiful colonial city of San Cristobal de las Casas, with free time to explore.

We cross the mountainous heart of Chiapas, through lands traditionally inhabited by Mayan communities, stopping in Ocosingo along the way. Entry to Agua Azul National Park is included, along with lunch, and we walk among the waterfalls at Misol Ha. We continue on to Palenque, where dinner is included.

The morning is dedicated to exploring the extraordinary archaeological site of the Mayan city of Palenque. We then cross the state of Tabasco toward the Gulf of Mexico, arriving in Campeche, a port city celebrated for its colonial buildings and imposing fortifications. Dinner is included.

We drive into the state of Yucatán and arrive in Mérida, its capital, a city rich in both colonial and Mayan heritage. The afternoon is free to discover the city at your own pace, and in the evening an included transfer takes you to the Zocalo, with time to wander and enjoy dinner. Overnight in Mérida.

Exploring the State of Yucatán, our first stop is the golden 'magical town' of Izamal. We then visit Chichen Itza, the most important surviving monument of the Mayan civilization, with a typical Mayan lunch included. The day finishes at the fishing village and Biosphere Reserve of Río Lagartos.

The morning brings an included boat trip through the mangroves, alive with birdlife. We continue to Valladolid to enjoy its pleasant historic center, and in the afternoon descend into the Choj Ha cenote, surrounded by jungle, with its dry cave and the underground lake of its humid cave. We reach Cancún at the end of the day.

After breakfast, our services come to an end. You depart with memories stretching from the Pacific coast to the Caribbean shore.