Mexico Colonial Cities - 10 Day Tour

This Mexico tour covers alot of ground in a short time and visits exciting locations. If you would like to take it more easy and add days in certain places just let us know.

Day 1: Arrival Mexico City

After we meet and greet you at the airport we will transfer you to your hotel. Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world, and it is also the oldest urban centre in the Western Hemisphere. In ancient times Mexico City was known as Aztec Tenochtitlan. The Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes and his band were amazed by the sight of the imposing temples of the Aztecs. There is a wide range of hotel accomodation in the central historic area of the city, for example the NH Hotel or the Plaza Florencia. Just let us know which standard of lodging you would like and we can provide suggestions for you to choose from.

Day 2: Mexico City

Today you will enjoy a full day city tour with a visit to the breathtaking pyramids of Teotihuacan.   When Cortes reported back to King Carlos V in Spain he found it difficult to convey the scale of what he was seeing. Imagine the kings surprise at learning that “one of the plazas was twice the size of that of Salamanca”, and “the principal pyramid is taller than the tower of the cathedral at Seville”, or that the stone and wood craftsmanship that adorned these monuments “could nowhere be bettered”. You will be shown some of these sights by your local guide before being dropped off at your hotel.

Day 3: Mexico City – Queretaro

You will travel by road with your private transport and driver to Queretaro, a city considered to be one of Mexico´s colonial gems. During the colonial era it played a central role in all the expeditions that headed towards the North. Later it was at the center of events in the three wars that forged the Mexican nation, the wars of La Independencia, La Reforma, and La Revolución. Downtown Querétaro is a lively, pedestrian-friendly place, filled with eye-opening colonial splendor. You will check into your hotel before enjoying a guided tour of Queretaro. Hotel options include the 5 star Mission Juriquilla and the 4 star Plaza Camelinas.

Day 4: Queretaro – San Miguel de Allende – Guanajuato

Today you will travel by road to beautiful San Miguel de Allende and upon arrival enjoy a guided tour of the historical center. Originally named ¨San Miguel el Grande¨, the town renamed itself "San Miguel de Allende" in 1826 in honor of General Ignacio Allende, a national hero who was captured and beheaded in the Mexican War of Independence.

The city is a national monument and San Miguel de Allende has all the panache of a cosmopolitan city with all the history that precedes its name. True world charm with a facelift, this city is internationally recognized for its colonial architecture, enchanting cobblestone streets, and numerous art galleries.

After your city tour of San Miguel de Allende you will continue on to Guanajuato and check into your hotel. Depending on the time of arrival and your local guides advice you will have a guided visit of this lovely city either today or tomorrow. Overnight in Guanajuato in a hotel such as the Mision Guanajuato.

Day 5: Guanajuato – Morelia

Attractive Guanajuato is crammed onto the steep slopes of a ravine. Its narrow streets twist around the hillsides and disappear into a series of tunnels. The city is replete with fine architecture thanks to abundant gold and silver deposits, the city is a living monument to its prosperous and turbulent past.

Guanajuato was listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1988, keeping traffic lights and neon signs away. But it's not just history that resounds through these cobbled streets: the university exudes a youthful vibrancy and cultural life that are as interesting as the colonial ambience.

After our short time in Guanajuato we will continue by road to Morelia. After arrival you will check into your hotel (maybe the lovely Hotel De La Soledad or similar) and then enjoy a guided tour of this aristocrat of colonial cities which maintains its original colonial atmosphere.

Day 6: Morelia – Guadalajara

This glorious capital city has so many well-preserved colonial buildings that its center was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1991. Blessed with a lovely and imposing cathedral, an important university and a lively cultural scene, travelers to Morelia often extend their stay.

We will continue by road to the colonial city of Guadalajara, and visit of the handicraft village of Tlaquepaque along the way. When we arrive you will check into your comfortable hotel for the evening. This could be one of the 5 star or boutique hotels the city boasts or a more modest option, we cater to all budgets.

Day 7: Guadalajara – Tequila – Puerto Vallarta

Today you will have an opportunity to explore Mexico's second-largest city; the ultimate fusion of the past and present. Guadalajara's heart is the Centro Historico, where meticulously preserved buildings from the colonial era provide a picturesque backdrop. After a visit around this city we will continue by road to the Pacific coast and, on the way, visit of a distillery in the town of Tequila. Your overnight stay in the beach city of Puerto Vallarta could be the 4 star Hotel Emperador or similar.

Day 8: Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta remains a favorite part of this colorful country, for its unrivaled combination of simple pleasures and sophisticated charms. No other place in Mexico offers both the best of the country's natural beauty and an authentic dose of its vibrant culture and lovely beaches.

Day 9: Puerto Vallarta

A second day is barely enough to enjoy all this city has to offer.  Ecotourism activities flourish -- from canopy tours to whale-watching, ocean kayaking, and diving with giant mantas in Banderas Bay. Forty-two kilometers (26 miles) of beaches, many in pristine coves accessible only by boat, extend around the bay. High in the Sierra Madre, the mystical Huichol Indians still live in relative isolation in an effort to protect their centuries-old culture from outside influences.

Day 10: Puerto Vallarta – Mexico City – Departure

Today you will be transfered to Puerto Vallarta airport for the short flight back to Mexico City where your vacation ends. From here you may go home directly or you could connect with another tour with us at Escaped to Latin America, please ask us for advise and prices.