Itinerary
- Day 1
Mexico City to Veracruz
You'll touch down at Mexico City airport where someone will meet you for the drive to Veracruz, which takes around 6 hours. After checking in at your hotel in the city center, the rest of the day is open for whatever you'd like to do. Wander around Veracruz if energy permits, or just settle in at the hotel and rest up from travel.
Optional Activities
- Explore Veracruz city on your own
- Day 2
Veracruz
Start with San Juan de Ulua fortress to get the backstory on its 500 years as New Spain's most important stronghold. From there, head to Latin America's largest aquarium for a few hours. After lunch, you'll take a boat through the Mandinga mangroves. Once evening rolls around, hop on a traditional tram through the historic center where you'll catch live music and dance performances.
Included Activities
- Visit San Juan de Ulua fortress and tour
- Aquarium of Latin America visit
- Boat tour through mangroves of Mandinga
- Historic center tram tour with music and dance
Optional Activities
- Taste gastronomy of Mandinga town
Landmarks/POIs San Juan de Ulua Aquarium of Latin America Mangroves of Mandinga - Day 3
Veracruz
This morning you'll spend time at the Naval Museum of Mexico learning about historical routes, weapons, navigation tools, and maritime Mexican history. In the afternoon, there's a gastronomy workshop where you'll actually prepare typical Veracruz dishes and understand how Spanish influence shaped the local food culture.
Included Activities
- Naval Museum of Mexico visit and tour
- Workshop on Veracruz gastronomy with typical dish preparation
Landmarks/POIs Naval Museum of Mexico - Day 4
Veracruz to Cempoala
Today follows Hernan Cortes's conquest route starting at La Villa Rica where his ships landed. You'll visit Quiahuiztlan and its Totonaco cemetery, then move on to Cempoala, the Totonaca city where the first Spanish and Totonaco alliance happened. Later you'll check out La Antigua to see Cortes's former house and Rosario's Chapel, the first chapel constructed in Continental America.
Included Activities
- La Villa Rica visit
- Quiahuiztlan visit and Totonaco cemetery
- Cempoala Totonaca city visit
- La Antigua visit
- House of Hernan Cortes visit
- Rosario's Chapel visit
Landmarks/POIs La Villa Rica Quiahuiztlan Cempoala La Antigua Rosario's Chapel - Day 5
Xico - Coatepec
You'll continue tracing Cortes's path toward the highlands by stopping in Xalapa for the Museum of Anthropology and History, which holds the region's largest Olmec, Totonaca, and Huasteca collections. From there, see Xico, the town Cortes passed through, and Coatepec, which is famous for its coffee production.
Included Activities
- Museum of Anthropology and History of Xalapa visit
- Xico visit
- Coatepec visit
Landmarks/POIs Museum of Anthropology and History of Xalapa Xico Coatepec - Day 6
San Carlos Fortress to Puebla
Head to San Carlos fortress, one of Mexico's largest Spanish structures. Continue on to Tlaxcala, where Cortes made crucial allies with the Tlaxcaltecas due to their conflict with the Mexica. Spend time looking at the murals and colonial buildings downtown, then travel to Puebla for the night.
Included Activities
- San Carlos fortress visit
- Tlaxcala city tour with murals and buildings
Landmarks/POIs Fortress of San Carlos Tlaxcala - Day 7
Cholula and Puebla
Cholula is your first stop, an important conquest city with continuous settlement since 400 B.C. You'll explore the pyramid tunnels and archaeological zone, then climb to the Church of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios at the top. Later, check out San Francisco Acatepec and Santa María Tonantzintla with their baroque indigenous churches, and wrap up at Puebla's Cathedral.
Included Activities
- Cholula pyramid tunnels and archaeological zone tour
- Church of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios visit
- San Francisco Acatepec visit
- Santa María Tonantzintla visit
- Cathedral of Puebla visit
Landmarks/POIs Cholula Pyramid Church of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios San Francisco Acatepec Santa María Tonantzintla Cathedral of Puebla - Day 8
Puebla
Spend the day in Puebla, the City of Angels, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. Walk through the Palafoxian Library and the Baroque Museum where historical elements and contemporary design mix together. Tour the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe, then wander the historic center learning about Talavera poblana artistic traditions and architecture.
Included Activities
- Palafoxian Library tour
- Baroque Museum visit
- Forts of Loreto and Guadalupe visit
- Historic center tour with Talavera poblana learning
Landmarks/POIs Palafoxian Library Baroque Museum Fort of Loreto Fort of Guadalupe - Day 9
Mexico City
Travel back toward Mexico City passing through the Guardian Volcanoes of Anahuac. Once in the city, see Tenochtitlan's main temple, check out Diego Rivera's murals in the National Palace, and visit the Park of the Tree of the Sad Night. You'll also stop at the Church of Jesus of Nazareth where Cortes is buried, and explore Chapultepec Castle, the only imperial palace in the Americas.
Included Activities
- Main temple of Tenochtitlan tour
- Diego Rivera murals in National Palace visit
- Park of the Tree of the Sad Night visit
- Church of Jesus of Nazareth visit
- Chapultepec Castle surroundings tour
Landmarks/POIs Templo Mayor National Palace Park of the Tree of the Sad Night Church of Jesus of Nazareth Chapultepec Castle - Day 10
Teotihuacan and Basilica of Guadalupe
Head to Teotihuacan, the city of the gods and a major Mesoamerican center planned from 400 B.C. that housed around 100,000 people at its height. Afterward, visit the Basilica of Guadalupe, a significant religious site showing how pre-Hispanic and local spiritual traditions blend together, drawing roughly 18 million visitors each year.
Included Activities
- Teotihuacan city tour
- Basilica of Guadalupe visit
Landmarks/POIs Teotihuacan Basilica of Guadalupe - Day 11
Mexico City to Airport
The hotel will arrange your pickup for the drive to the airport and your flight home.
