Mexico Colonial Heritage

Mexico Colonial Heritage

Explore the magnificent colonial architecture and natural beauties of Central Mexico by following La Ruta de la Plata ("the Silver Road") - a historic route that was created during the colonial era and, according to experts, is the oldest and longest built by the Spanish conquistadors in the Americas. Here, history and nature come together. Historical tours can be made in cities that witnessed the Independence struggle, such as Queretaro and Guanajuato, or in captivating natural scenarios such as Mountains of Sierra Gorda with their green ravines. Naturally, you will be constantly surrounded by culture and rich popular art traditions of this region.

Itinerary

Day 1: Mexico City

Stop At: Zocalo, Calle Plaza de La Constitucion S/N Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Mexico City 06000 Mexico
Bienvenidos a la Ciudad de Mexico - the largest city in Latin America where ancient and modern coexist in harmony. Arrive at any time before meeting your group and Trip Leader in the evening: welcome meeting, optional dinner & get-together with the rest of the group.

Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/homestay in Mexico City

Activities Included: welcome meeting
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Mexico City.

Day 2: Mexico City

Stop At: Museo Nacional de Antropología, Av. Paseo de la Reforma s/n, Polanco, Bosque de Chapultepec I Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11560 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Join your group for a walking tour around the historic center in the morning, then choose by yourself what to do next - your Trip Leader will be happy to give suggestions. Optional dinner & get-together with the group in the evening.

Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Mexico City

Meals & Drinks Included: breakfast

Activities Included: walking tour in Mexico City; guided visit to the Museum of Anthropology
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Mexico City.

Day 3: Mexico City - Querétaro - San Miguel de Allende

Stop At: Historic Center of Santiago de Queretaro, Queretaro City 76000 Mexico
In the morning go to Querétaro (UNESCO) - one of the most representative examples of Spanish Colonial cities in Mexico with a compact historical center with buildings from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries that give us an idea of what life was like in those times. After a walking tour and optional lunch in the historic center, go to San Miguel de Allende (UNESCO) - a small city with a huge cultural heritage and a cosmopolitan population that preserves its true colonial feeling. Walking tour, accommodation, optional dinner & get-together with the rest of the group in San Miguel de Allende.

Transportation: private vehicle/mini-couch

Meals & Drinks Included: breakfast

Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in San Miguel de Allende

Activities Included: walking tours in Querétaro & San Miguel de Allende
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Zocalo, San Miguel de Allende Mexico
Walking tour, accommodation, optional dinner & get-together with the rest of the group in San Miguel de Allende.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in San Miguel de Allende.

Day 4: San Miguel de Allende - Dolores Hidalgo - Guanajuato

Stop At: Parroquia Nuestra Senora de los Dolores, Plaza Principal S/N, Zona Centro, Dolores Hidalgo 37800 Mexico
In the morning go to Dolores Hidalgo - the starting point of the fight for Mexican independence from the Spanish empire in 1810, led by priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. After a walking tour and optional lunch in the center of the town continue to Guanajuato (UNESCO) - an opulent colonial city, located among gold and silver deposits, with its greatest peak in the 17th and 18th Centuries. Walking tour, accommodation, optional dinner & get-together with the rest of the group in Guanajuato.

Transportation: private vehicle/mini-couch

Meals & Drinks Included: breakfast

Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Guanajuato

Activities Included: walking tours in Guanajuato & Dolores Hidalgo
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Parroquia de Basilica Colegiata de Nuestra Senora de Guanajuato, Calle Ponciano Aguilar 7, Centro, Guanajuato 36000 Mexico
Walking tour, accommodation, optional dinner & get-together with the rest of the group in Guanajuato.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Guanajuato.

Day 5: Guanajuato - San Luis Potosí - Zacatecas

Stop At: Cathedral of San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi Mexico
In the morning go to San Luis Potosí (UNESCO) - a city with numerous baroque constructions, colonial mansions and Novo Hispanic churches in the heart of what used to be the most important city in northern Mexico during the 17th century. After a walking tour and optional lunch in the center continue to Zacatecas (UNESCO). Accommodation, optional dinner & get-together with the rest of the group in Zacatecas.

Transportation: private vehicle/mini-couch

Meals & Drinks Included: breakfast

Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Zacatecas

Activities Included: walking tours in San Luis Potosí & Zacatecas
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Catedral de Zacatecas, Avenida Hidalgo 617, Zacatecas 98000 Mexico
Accommodation, optional dinner & get-together with the rest of the group in Zacatecas.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Zacatecas.

Day 6: Zacatecas

Stop At: Teleferico, Calle Del Grillo S/n, Col. Bancomer, Zacatecas 98040 Mexico
This day we will explore Zacatecas - the Northernmost pearl of our trip. In the morning join a walking tour around the historic center before taking the cable car to la Bufa, a mountain with a very distinctive shape that is recognized as the city's most recognizable landmark. In the afternoon visit la Mina El Eden, the only mine in the country that allows visitors to enter. Accommodation, optional dinner & get-together with the rest of the group in Zacatecas.

Transportation: private vehicle/mini-couch

Meals & Drinks Included: breakfast

Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Zacatecas

Activities Included: walking tour in Zacatecas; cable car to La Bufa; guided visit to la Mina El Eden
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Mina El Eden, Cerro Grillo, Zacatecas Mexico
Guided visit.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Zacatecas.

Day 7: Zacatecas - La Quemada - Aguascalientes

Stop At: La Quemada, La Piramide Votiva, Zacatecas Mexico
In the morning go to La Quemada - iconic pre-Columbian ruins that used to be home to a flourishing Mesoamerican population. After a tour around the pyramids, go to Aguascalientes - a prosperous industrial city with a handsome colonial center and numerous museums. Accommodation, visit to historic thermal waters, walking tour, optional dinner & get-together with the rest of the group in Aguascalientes.

Transportation: private vehicle/mini-couch

Meals & Drinks Included: breakfast

Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Aguascalientes

Activities Included: guided visit to La Quemada Archeological Zone; visit to thermal waters in Aguascalientes; walking tour in Aguascalientes
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Banos Termales de Ojocaliente, Avenida Tecnologico # 102, Aguascalientes 20198 Mexico
Accommodation, visit to historic thermal waters, walking tour, optional dinner & get-together with the rest of the group in Aguascalientes.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Aguascalientes.

Day 8: Aguascalientes - San Juan de Los Lagos - Cuitzeo - Morelia

Stop At: Basilica de San Juan de los Lagos, Calle Diana 5, San Juan de Los Lagos Mexico
In the morning go to San Juan de Los Lagos: founded in 1542, it is currently the second most visited religious place in Mexico famous for its Nuestra Señora de Los Lagos cathedral with six paintings that were allegedly created by Rubens. After an orientation walk around the historic center continue to Cutzeo - a charming "Magic Town" on the shore of a same-named lake with a colonial center and nearby Tres Cerritos archeological site. After a walking tour and optional lunch in Cutzeo, we will go to the last destination of our trip - Morelia (UNESCO). Known as the "City of the Pink Stone", it is home to numerous Baroque and Neoclassical monuments. Accommodation, walking tour, optional dinner & get-together with the rest of the group in Morelia.

Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Morelia

Transportation: private vehicle/mini-couch

Meals & Drinks Included: breakfast

Activities Included: walking tours/orientation walks in San Juan de Los Lagos, Cutzeo & Morelia
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Santa Maria Magdalena, Alonso de la Veracruz, Cuitzeo Mexico
Walking tour & optional lunch in the historic center.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Centro Historico de Morelia, Morelia Mexico
Accommodation, walking tour, optional dinner & get-together with the rest of the group in Morelia.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Morelia.

Day 9: Morelia - Mexico City

Pass By: Zocalo, Calle Plaza de La Constitucion S/N Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Mexico City 06000 Mexico
Morning departure to Mexico City. If you decide to extend your vacations, we can always book you extra nights, or even take you on our next adventure

Transportation: private vehicle/mini-couch

Meals & Drinks Included: breakfast

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.