9 Days December 21 - 29, 1996
INCLUDED MEALS
Arrive Mexico City
Saturday Dec. 21 D
Arrive in Mexico City and transfer to the hotel. Meet your tour manager and fellow tour members at this evening's get-acquainted reception and dinner at WESTIN GALERIA PLAZA HOTEL.
Mexico City Ballet Folklorico
Teotihuacan Puebla
Sunday Dec. 22 BD
This morning, enjoy a Christmas performance of Ballet Folklorico featuring dancers from various regions of Mexico. In the afternoon, visit the pyramids of Teotihuacan, "Palace of the Gods." Destroyed by fire in 750 and completely buried, it continued to be remembered for its grandeur. Centuries later, the Aztecs arrived, giving it the name meaning "place where the gods were born." They believed it was here that the gods created the universe. Along the Calzada de los Muertos (Avenue of the Dead) are the pyramids of the Sun and Moon, the Ciudadela and the Temple of Quetzalcóatl. Continue to Puebla, founded in 1531 by the Spanish as a fortress town, and known for its baroque structures of red brick, gray stone, white stucco and Talavera tiles made from local clay. The battle of May, 1862 took place north of Puebla and is honored during Cinco de Mayo. CAMINO REAL HOTEL.
Explore Teotihuacan's Pyramid of the Sun along the Calzada de los Muertos.
Puebla Oaxaca
Noche de los Rabanos
Monday Dec. 23 BD
After a morning city tour of Puebla, enjoy lunch on your own. This afternoon, drive to Oaxaca, known for its colonial and Indian history. Stay two nights at the Mision Los Angeles, located on the north side amid an oak and acacia-dotted garden park. Tonight, join the festivities of Noche de los Rabanos. Growers and artists display their hybrid radishes carved and arranged to depict a variety of scenes from the nativity to space travel. THE MISION LOS ANGELES.
Oaxaca Monte Albdn
Tuesday Dec. 24 BD
Discover old-world charm in Oaxaca, where the pace of life is relaxed. Cobblestoned streets lead you past picturesque plazas and historical monuments. A morning city tour includes the Cathedral, the Church and Monastery of Santa Domingo and the Regional Museum of Oaxaca that houses a spectacular collection of Mixtec art and jewelry found at Monte Albán. This afternoon, visit Monte Albán, once a Zapotec holy city, now one of the most magnificent archeological sites in Meso-America. The "Temple of the Dancers" is the oldest of four temples, covered with elaborate carved stone figures. Tonight, enjoy Christmas Eve dinner followed by processions from the various churches to the zocalo, with decorated floats, music, dancing, pifiata contests and fireworks. Midnight Mass will be held at a local church. THE MISION LOS ANGELES.
Taxco, the Silver City
Wednesday Dec. 25 BLD
Merry Christmas! The morning is at leisure before Christmas lunch is served at the hotel. Take an afternoon drive to Taxco, an 18th-century colonial town and one of the jewels of the Guerrero State. The town was declayed a national monument in 1928. Its silver mines have drawn people for centuries, but you'll be drawn by its charm. Tonight, enjoy a festive Christmas dinner and entertainment. HOTEL MONTETAXCO.
Taxco Morelia
Thursday Dec. 26 BD
Taxco is a shopper's paradise with over 100 silver shops. You have the option of joining a morning shopping excursion. Midmorning, drive to Morelia, named for the mule skinner-turned-priest who took up the battle for independence in 1811. Morelia is the capital of the state of Michoacan, designated as a World Heritage Artistic Site and known as the "Aristocrat of Colonial Cities." Magnificent pink quarry-stone buildings attest to the skill of Morelia's stone masons and form part of a proud legacy in the rich history of Mexico. Stay two nights at the Posadade la Soledad, housed in a restored private mansion built around 1700. The beautiful courtyard, archways and bright bougainvilleas add to its charm. POSADA DE LA SOLEDAD.
Patzcuaro Morelia
Friday Dec. 27 B D
Have the chance to see Tarazcan Indians fishing in dugout canoes with huge butterfly nets as you take a boat trip across Lake Patzcuaro to the island of Janitzio. This afternoon, visit Santa Clara del Cobre where copper crafts are made from raw copper as it was during the Spanish Colonial Period. Return to Morelia and the POSADA DE LA SOLEDAD.
Jalisco Guadalajara
Saturday Dec. 28 BD
Drive to the Land of the Tapatíos-Jalisco, the musical, folkloric state. Continue to Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city and birthplace of el jarabe tapatío, the Mexican hat dance. In this land of fiestas and siestas, enjoy a leisurely lunch on your own. In Tlaquepaque, home of the area's skilled potters and ceramics, browse through over 300 shops and boutiques while listening to live mariachi music. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner. CROWN PLAZA HOTEL.
Return home
Sunday Dec. 29 B
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home. Thank you for sharing a Spanish holiday with us in the colonial cities of Mexico. Travel with us again soon.
LAND TOUR RATE per person is $1695 twin, $2115 single and $1625 triple (twin with roll-away) basis, without airfare.
AIRFARE is additional.
TAXES: Mexico departure taxes, approximately $12 per person, are additional and paid directly to Maupintour.
RESERVATION DEPOSIT per person is $350 plus (optional) $100 per person fee for Tour Cancellation Protection.
FULL REFUND when you participate in the Tour Cancellation Protection Plan.
Please see the For Your Information section.
Maximum elevation: 10,000 feet Average temperature: Hi 66, Low 43
TOUR NUMBER: NSM-447