Teotihuacán
Mexico’s Ancient
Fully Escorted
All Meals Included
Uxmal
Chichén Itza
Veracruz Dancers
Veracruz Plaza
Palenque
1st day–Mexico City
Welcome to the glory of Old Mexico. See the
ancient cultures of the Nahua, Aztec, Olmec,
Toltec, and Mayan civilizations. Visit the
grand colonial cities of Veracruz, Campeche
and Merida. Arrive in Mexico City, the
capital of this fascinating country with exotic
indigenous and international cultures, close
yet breathtakingly foreign. Caravan provides a
taxi transfer from the Mexico City airport for a
two night stay at your centrally located hotel.
Rooms are available for check in after 4:00
p.m. Dinner is at your hotel, then join Caravan
for an 8:00 p.m. welcome briefing. D
2nd day–Mexico City, Teotihuacán
This morning, visit Mexico’s grandest
archaeological site, Teotihuacán, built
by the Nahua. The sixth largest city in
the world in 400 A.D., Teotihuacán was
mysteriously abandoned 300 years later,
centuries before the Aztec occupation. Visit
the Jaguar Palace and the Temple of the
Plumed Conch Shells. See the Pyramids
of the Sun and Moon. Walk the Avenue of
the Dead, flanked by temples and palaces.
Enjoy lunch. Then, a brief visit to the
National Palace. See the murals of Mexico’s
great artist, Diego Rivera. These colorful
murals cover Mexico’s pre-Columbian
Indian history, the colonial period and the
Revolution. Next, drive by Mexico City’s
main square and Cathedral. Visit Mexico
City’s National Museum of Anthropology
in Chapultepec Park. See archaeological
treasures of pre-Hispanic civilizations,
including the Toltec, Mexica, Aztec,
Zapotec, Mixtec, Olmec and Mayan. See
the immense Aztec Calendar Stone. Enjoy
dinner. BLD
3rd day–Mexico City, Veracruz
Morning drive to the port city of Veracruz
on the Gulf of Mexico. En route see the
towering snow-capped Popocatepetl
Volcano, weather permitting. Lunch in
Veracruz. For centuries Veracruz has been
the crossroads to the Americas, with
Caribbean, European, African and Mexican
cultures. Explore the romantic plaza, the
oldest in Mexico, with strolling mariachis,
serenading guitarists and marimba bands.
Enjoy dinner. BLD
4th day–Villa Hermosa, Olmec, Palenque
Mango orchards and pineapple fields give
way to lush vegetation and tropical flowers on
your drive east today (a box lunch en route).
Photo stop at Villa Hermosa’s La Venta Park.
See giant Olmec heads up to twelve feet
tall. The Olmecs were the first civilization in
Mexico, and believed to be descendants of
Africans. Continue to Palenque for a relaxing
two night stay. Enjoy dinner tonight. BLD