Central and southern Mexico excursion tour package travel airfare groups

Central and Southern Mexico
(min 2 Pax)
10 days / 9 nights
DAILY DEPARTURE
Day 01	Mexico City	Arrival transfer to the hotel.
Day 02	Mexico City	City tour - Shrine of Guadalupe - Pyramids of Teotihuacan. During the morning visit the main streets and avenues of Mexico City. Visit to the main square (called Zocalo, the National Palace in which you will admire the magnificent frescoes of Diego Rivera (closed on sundays). The frescoes narrate with images the most important events of our history during three centuries. We will see the ruins of the main temple of the Aztecs as well as the Cathedral. Then, you will make a stop in a handicraft center. On to Chapultepec Park, residential area, where you will see the homes of famous artists. In the afternoon, on the way to the sanctuary of Guadalupe short stop by the "Plaza de las 3 Culturas", where you see 3 different periods in the history of mexico represented by 3 different kind of buildings: an archeological site, a catholic church and a modern building of foreign affairs ministry.
		We continue our tour to the Basilica, where you will see the original image of the virgin mary appeard on a simple piece of fabric belonging to the indian juan diego. You will see both basilicas, the one of the XVIII century and the one devoted to the virgin almost three decades ago. On a modern highway we will reach the site of Teotihuacan "where men become gods" during your tour you will have the time and opportunity to climb the amazing Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon as well as to visit the Palace of Quetzal-Butterfly, the Feather-Snake-temple and the Avenue of the Death as well as the Citadel. (10 hrs)
Day 03	Mexico City - Puebla	Departure to Puebla. Arrival and visit to the Archeological site of Cholula and continue to Puebla. Visit to the city. In the afternoon transfer to the Bus Station and on to Oaxaca. Arrival and transfer to the Hotel.
Day 04	Oaxaca	Visit to the City of Oaxaca in the morning. The city was founded in the heart of a wide valley at 1500 meters over sea level. Santo Domingo church with its adjacent Dominican Exconvent. The interior of the church is a masterpiece of mexican baroque and rococo. The exconvent is at present the Regional Museum and houses magnificent sculptures among other objetcts of the zapotec and mixtec cultures, including the treasure and findings of tomb no. 7 from Monte Alban. The main square is surrounded by ancient buildings like the Governor's Palace provided with elegant porticos. The solid construction of the Cathedral is a good exemple that the buildings in Oaxaca had to be constructed to resist the centuries. Low and massive, it had to suffer various constructive and restauration stages. Its main facade made out of green quarry shows a rich variety of baroque ornaments. Juarez Market is like a huge showroom of the oaxaqueña cuisine. The exceptional variety of products yield an incredible mixture of colors and aroma
		In the afternoon visit to the archeological site of Monte Alban. This archaeological site was one of the first cities constructed in America. Founded in 800 a.c. arqueologists have determined different construction periods. In the 3rd century of our era Monte Alban reached its height with an extension of almost 7 square kms and a population about 25,000 inhabitants. From its amazing location on the top of a mountain, the Zapotecs took control of the central valleys in all concernings the economy, politics and religion of the area. Its culture reached noticeable progress in the sciences and arts like: arquitecture, astronomy, medicine and engineering. During the visit you will see the Ball Court, the Palace, the Observatory, the famous Dancers carved on stone stelaes and the tombs 7 and 104 of this huge complex, which are some of the most important structures in this site. (aprox. 08 hrs)
Day 05	Oaxaca - Tuxtla Gutierrez - San Cristobal de las Casas	Transfer out. Flight Oaxaca - Tuxtla Gutierrez. Transfer from the airport in Tuxtla to the Sumidero Canyon, where we will make a boat ride along the river. On to San Cristobal de las Casas. Transfer to the hotel.
Day 06	San Cristobal de las Casas	City tour, San Juan Chamula and Zinancantan Interesting tour in the heart of indian communities from mayan descendants. Visit of the churches in both towns. (04 hrs)
Day 07	San Cristobal de las Casas - Palenque	Transfer from San Cristobal de las Casas to the waterfalls of Agua Azul. A place incredibly beautiful. Free time. On to Palenque and transfer to the hotel. (aprox. 06 hrs)
Day 08	Palenque - Villahermosa - Merida	Visit to the archeological site of Palenque, one of the most interesting mayan cities from the classic era. Lunch included. Afterwards transfer to the airport of Villahermosa. Flight Villahermosa - Merida. Arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Day 9	Merida	Morning at leisure. At 13:00 transfer to Uxmal . Visit to the archeological site, which is located at 80 kms south of Merida. It is considered undoubtely as one of the most beautiful mayan ruins cities. The dimensions of its buildings and the fine carvings of its facades is astonishing. According to a legend, the big pyramid of the dwarf was made in only one night. In uxmal you can observe the purest mayan architecture without foreign influences, such as the one of the Toltecs in Chichen Itza. The date of foundation of Uxmal is not exactly known, but it is estimated around the V or VI century of our era.an example of pure Puuc-Style in its buildings like the Pyramid of the Magician. Light and sound show in the evening. Dinner included. Back to Merida. (08 hrs)
Day 10	Merida - Cancun/Playa del Carmen	Chichen Itza - Cancun/Playa del Carmen. Early departure and two and a half hours transfer to the archeological site of Chichen Itza. Visit of historical site to see the ancient buildings like: the Observatory, the 70 feet height Pyramid of Kukulkan, the Jaguar Temple, the Sacred Well and the Ball Court among others. Lunch included. On to Cancun or Playa del Carmen. Transfer to your hotel. (10 hrs) Trf out on any day from Cancun or from Playa del Carmen to the airport. HOTEL IN CANCUN OR PLAYA DEL CARMEN IS NOT INCLUDED
Note: Airline tickets are not included in the rate
2003
Rates per person		VALIDITY	SINGLE	DOUBLE	TRIPLE	CHD 2-11
Transfer to Cancun
FIRST CLASS 11		01JAN03-15DEC03	1158	937	899	446
Transfer to Playa del Carmen
FIRST CLASS 11		01JAN03-15DEC03	1170	948	911	451
CATEGORY		MEXICO		OAXACA		SAN CRISTOBAL
FIRST CLASS II		Casa Blanca		Mision de San Felipe		Mansion del Valle
CATEGORY		PALENQUE		MERIDA
FIRST CLASS II		Plaza Palenque		Los Aluxes