MEXICOS COLONIAL CITIES (YC2010)

Hotels


Mexico City
Holiday Inn Zocalo (MF),

San Miguel De Allende
Monte Verde Hotel (MF),

Guanajuato
Hotel Mission Guanajuato (MF),

Morelia
Hotel Fiesta Inn (MF)

Meals
American breakfast daily (B); 5 lunches (L); and 4 three-course dinners, including a farewell dinner in Mexico City.

Day 1:
Arrive in Mexico City. (Sat.) Welcome to Mexico. At 7 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink hosted by your Tour Director, who will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.

Day 2:
Mexico City. (Sun.) A full day to become familiar with the highlights of this former Aztec capital. Founded in 1521, Mexico City is colorful, vibrant, and cultured. This morning’s city tour will travel along the famous boulevard of Paseo de la Reforma to the main square of Zocalo. We’ll visit the CATHEDRAL and the NATIONAL PALACE before seeing the famous Zona Rosa (Pink Zone), where many of the city’s best restaurants and shops can be found. We then visit the FRIDA KAHLO MUSEUM and see Casa Azul, “the Blue House,” where this famous surrealist artist was born, grew up, and later lived with her muralist husband, Diego Rivera. The home gives you insight into the lives of this famous bohemian couple and their international and eclectic set of friends, including Nelson Rockefeller, George Gershwin, and Leon Trotsky. We return to Mexico City, where the remainder of the day and evening are at leisure. (B,L)

Day 3:
Mexico City–Teotihuacan–San Miguel de Allende. (Mon.) We leave bustling Mexico City to visit TEOTIHUACAN, “the place where men became gods.” While visiting this major archeological center—one of the best preserved in the country—you’ll see the main landmark, the Pyramid of the Sun, built around 100 AD. For an impressive overview of the city, a steep climb of 242 steps takes you to the top where a temple once stood. There’s also time to visit the Pyramid of the Moon, the Palace of the Quetzal Butterfly, and the Palace of the Jaguars, named after its feline mural paintings. We continue to San Miguel de Allende for an overnight stay. Populated by many American and Mexican artists, this charming town is full of galleries, shops, and colorful winding streets. (B,L,D)

Day 4:
San Miguel de Allende–Guanajuato. (Tue.) After breakfast this morning our city tour shows us the pretty colonial streets and buildings of San Miguel de Allende, which have been protected since 1926 when the whole town was declared a national monument. Afterward, we visit a LOCAL STUDIO to learn more about the unique artist community found in San Miguel de Allende. We continue to Guanajuato, considered by many to be Mexico’s most picturesque city, for a 2-night stay. (B,L,D)

Day 5:
Guanajuato. (Wed.) Birthplace of Diego Rivera and important for it silver mining and production since 1548, Guanajuato has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On this morning’s city tour, see UNION PLAZA, the busiest and most central of the town’s seven plazas; JUAREZ THEATER, a magnificent opera and concert hall; the Diego Rivera House; and the historic Alhondiga. Admire the many colonial churches that adorn the town. Guanajuato is renowned for its high-quality handicrafts so after lunch, maybe shop for local pottery or leather goods. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for additional sightseeing and the best places to shop and dine. (B)

Day 6:
Guanajuato–Pátzcuaro–Morelia. (Thu.) Leaving Guanajuato this morning, we travel to Pátzcuaro, one of Mexico’s most fascinating towns. Sitting high on a hillside above the shores of Michoacan’s largest lake we’ll explore Pátzcuaro’s winding cobblestone streets, lined with whitewashed walls and heavy wooden doorways that reveal alluring glimpses of timeless colonial courtyards. There’s time to discover more of this charming town on your own. Later this afternoon we arrive in Morelia, capital of the state of Michoacán. (B,L,D)

Day 7:
Morelia–Mexico City. (Fri.) Built in the 16th century, Morelia is an outstanding example of urban planning which combines the ideas of Spanish architecture with the Mesoamerican experience. More than 200 historic buildings, all in the region’s characteristic pink stone, reflect the town’s architectural history. Your tour includes a visit to the GOVERNMENT PALACE as well as the murals of native Michoacán painter Alfredo Zalce. Later this afternoon we return to Mexico City. This evening your Tour Director hosts a festive farewell dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 8:
Mexico City. (Sat.) Your vacation ends this morning with guests departing on independent schedules. Transfers are provided to the Mexico City International Airport. (B)

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Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
9/11/2010 - 9/18/2010	$1,349
9/25/2010 - 10/2/2010	$1,349
10/9/2010 - 10/16/2010	$1,349
10/23/2010 - 10/30/2010	$1,349
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

City Highlights


Mexico City:
City sightseeing including the Cathedral, National Palace, Frida Kahlo Museum; farewell dinner

Teotihuacan:
Tour of pyramids

San Miguel de Allende:
City sightseeing, visit an artist’s studio

Guanajuato:
City sightseeing including Union Plaza and Juarez Theater

Pátzcuaro:
City sightseeing

Morelia:
City sightseeing including the Government PalaceNote:Maximum enjoyment of the “Mexico’s Colonial Cities” vacation requires walking on rough streets and uneven pathways.

Price Details US
Single Room Supplement: $278Triple Room Reduction per person: $58Extra nights per person in Mexico City:in single room $89; in twin room $56; in triple room $482011 prices and itineraries are subject to change.

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Standard Offers and Specials provided by Globus Tours

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