Mini Tour Mexico ** Special Dia de los Muertos ** October 31 — NAAR
Abstract
The DĂa de Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a traditional Mexican holiday celebrated on 1st and 2nd November. It is a time when families honour and remember their deceased loved ones, symbolically welcoming their souls with offerings, food, music and prayers. It is not a sad holiday, but a joyful celebration of life and memory, with parades, colourful costumes and symbols such as La Catrina, the elegant skeleton that represents death in an ironic and festive way. It has been recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for its profound cultural and spiritual significance.,
Characteristics
Group tour with local guides
bilingual (Italian, Spanish, French, English), depending on departure day, services might be shared with Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American travellers,
Itinerary
Day 1 — Mexico City
Welcome upon arrival and transfer to the hotel, free evening and night,
Day 2 — Mexico City
Day 3 — Mexico City
American breakfast, full day tour of Mexico City and. The ancient Aztec city of Tenochtilan, rising at an altitude of 2,250 m in the proximity of the volcanoes Popocatepetl and Ixtacihuatl, is now a 20-million-inhabitant metropolis: a crucial spot for understanding Mexico’s past as well as its future. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Zócalo, the “Constitution Square” – the third largest square in the world after Tienanmen and the Red Square. Zócalo is overlooked by the Cathedral, Mexico’s largest religious building, and by the National Palace, the seat of the presidential offices. The Palace will be seen from outside only. After that, visit the remains of the Templo Mayor – the great Aztect pyramid., Brief stop off at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, dedicated to Mexico’s patron saint: a major pilgrimage site in Latin America., Visit the remains of this colossal Aztec city, today a UNESCO World Heritage Site: see the massive Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon and the 2 km-long Avenue of the Dead; the Butterfly Temple; the Temple of Quetzalcoatl; and the Citadel., lunch at a restaurant, return to the hotel; the rest of the night is free,
Car
Day 4 — Mexico City → San Cristobal de las Casas
American breakfast, transfer to the airport and flight to Tuxtla Gutierrez (included in the tour), capital city of Chiapas State. Transfer to Chiapa de Corzo (about 55 km / 1 hour away from San Cristobal); from here you will go for a picturesque cruise on the Rio Grijalva in the Cañón del Sumidero, the largest single Natural Wonder in Chiapas. As you sail down the river, flowing between 1000 m-tall rocky walls and scenic waterfalls, you might catch sight of monkeys, crocodiles, pelicans, herons and cormorants: the inhabitants of the surrounding thick forest. lunch at a restaurant Continuation to San Cristobal. accommodation.
Day 5 — San Cristobal de las Casas
American breakfast, In the morning, visit the market – one of the most representative of the area – and the baroque church of Santo Domingo. After that, visit the nearby native communities of San Juan Chamula and Zinancantan, still taking pride in their unbroken Mayan tradition. The township of San Juan boasts a unique blending of Mayan Tzotil religion and Catholic rites: its well-known church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist is the ideal core of this communion, and one of the holiest sites in Mexico., The tour includes a visit to a Zinacantan family, where you will cook a typical tortilla and taste some “Pox” – the Mayan tequila., return to town; the rest of the day is free,
Car
Day 6 — San Cristobal de las Casas → Palenque
American breakfast, departure to Palenque. Brief stop off at, Starting from 12/26/2023, a small snack in the hotel before departure around 5.30 in the morning, breakfast will be made during the stop in Ocosingo, in a local restaurant.
The waterfalls of Agua Azul (“blue water”) are true to their name in the dry season, from November to April. During the rain season, especially in July and August, their water is brownish rather than blue; however, the huge volume of water falling makes for an outstanding view all the same., accommodation, free evening and night,
Car
Day 7 — Palenque → Campeche
American breakfast, morning visit to the archaeological site of Campeche, Palenque, at the heart of the forest, is considered the most beautiful Maya city state of the Archaic period. Excavation brought to light just a minor portion of this huge site; however, the magnificence of what has been dug out will inevitably leave the beholder speechless, awestruck at the splendour of this ancient religious and military centre. The civilisation of Palenque was outstandingly advanced in terms of architecture and engineering, and its artistic refinement was unmatched in the Pre-Columbian world. One example of this are the grave goods of Pakal, discovered in the Temple of the Inscriptions. Palenque is a UNESCO World Heritage Site., departure to Campeche. Brief panoramic tour of the city upon arrival, lunch at a restaurant, Campeche – whose name is derived from the Maya name of “Ah-Kin-Pech”, “the place of snakes and ticks” – is a colonial seaside town, with matte-painted houses and massive walls built around the port: in the 17th century it used to be a sitting target to French, Dutch and English pirates. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site., accommodation, free evening and night,
Car
Day 8 — Campeche → Merida
American breakfast, En route visit to the archaeological site of. The UNESCO-listed ceremonial centre of Uxmal is one of the most important archaeological sites of Maya culture. Its highlights are the Pyramid of the Magician and the Governor's Palace – two impressive edifices, wondrously decorated., lunch at a restaurant, afternoon visit of Merida, The capital of the Yucatán, Merida is a colonial town, full of pleasant parks and humming streets, and lively with its several open air concerts and its rich craft market. Stop off at the main square, overlooked by the Cathedral, the Government Palace, the Palacio Municipal, and the Casa de Montejo., accommodation, free evening and night
Car
Day 9 — Merida → Riviera Maya
American breakfast, En route visit to the archaeological site of, The UNESCO-listed Chichen Itza, halfway between Merida and Cancun, is one of the largest and most intact archaeological sites in Mexico. It is estimated that, at the time of its apex (10th-12th century), this Mayan-Toltec site was home to half a million people. Its magnificence shows in the colossal size of its famous structures, rising on the neatly-cut grass of the archaeological area: the El Castillo pyramid; the Ballcourt; the Sacred Cenote, a human sacrificial site; the Observatory; and the Temple of the Warriors., late night arrival at Riviera Maya, The visit includes a stop off at the Samaal cenote: enjoy a swim in this beautiful natural pit of karst origin., lunch at a restaurant, departure to Riviera Maya, accommodation, all inclusive treatment,
Day 10 — Riviera Maya
American breakfast, transfer to Cancun airport, end of the tour,
Notes
HOTEL PREVISTI:
1 - Città del Messico: Barcelò Mexico Reforma
2 - San Cristobal de las Casas: Sombra del Agua
3 - Palenque: Villa Mercedes
4 - Campeche: City Express Campeche
5 - Merida: Courtyard by Marriott Merida
6 - Riviera Maya: Barcelo Maya Grand
Gli hotel possono essere sostituiti con altri di pari categoria, senza preavviso.. ROOMS: rooms only have one or two beds. “Triple”, “quadruple”, “family” room refers to the number of the guests, who will sleep in the beds provided (max. 2). The possibility of adding a rollaway bed – even if requested at the time of reservation – is subject to availability, with a supplement to be paid on site. Likewise, special requests for double or separate beds; adjoining, high-floor, low-floor rooms etc. are always upon request and these services can never be considered as granted.
DISABLED PEOPLE: disabled travellers can take part to the tour as long as they are self-sufficient. This is because means of transport are not equipped with a wheelchair platform; in addiction, due to insurance and security reasons, neither the guide nor the driver are allowed to help passengers getting on board. Disabled passengers must thus travel with an assistant of their own, to provide them all the help they might need during the tour. All bookings are on request.
HOTEL / ITINERARY, CHANGES: The Organizing Body reserves the right to substitute the itinerary and/or the hotels to alternative of a similar or superior category in the event of unplanned circumstances, and if the safe and normal proceeding of the tour is threatened. Furthermore, when in the impossibility for all of the travellers to stay at the same hotel, the group will be split amidst several hotels of the same category..
Starts from
10 days / 7 nights – from Mexico City to Riviera Maya,
Price includes
Accommodation at the scheduled hotel (or similar), daily American breakfast; lunch and dinner as per program, domestic flights (when specified), bilingual (English-speaking) local courier / guide, admissions, visits and excursions: as scheduled, airport and hotel porterage, 1 piece per person,
Price does not include
Meals that have not been specified; beverage; any extra, tips, tourist tax for every entry into Mexico, air travel and taxes, administration fees and “no-risk” coverage, trip cancellation, medical expense & baggage coverage,
