DAY 4 • Mexico City • National Museum of Anthropology • Boat ride in Xochimilco
Visit Mexico City’ s National Museum of Anthropology this morning. Showcasing artifacts from all of Mexico’ s indigenous civilizations— including Aztec, Mixtec, Zapotec, and Maya— the museum is also home to the famed Aztec Calendar, a 12-foot, 25-ton, carved basalt stone slab, dating to the late 1400s. This afternoon, visit the magical floating world of Xochimilco, a rarified town Spanish conquistadors called“ the Venice of the New World,” now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a ride along the canals aboard a colorful, traditional boat before returning to our hotel in Mexico City Meals: B, D | Barcelo Mexico Reforma Hotel or similar
DAY 5 • Mexico City • Transfer to Puebla Bid adios to Mexico City this morning as you begin your journey to Puebla. Upon arrival this afternoon, enjoy a short orientation walk followed by an included dinner at a local restaurant. Meals: B, D | NH Puebla Centro Historico or similar
DAY 6 • Puebla Explore the city of Puebla this morning. Highlights include the baroque Capilla del Rosario, or Rosary Chapel bedecked in gold leaf from floor to ceiling; the Barrio del Artista, or Artists’ Quarter, a city block handed over to local artists in the mid-20th century as a place to practice their trade and sell their wares; and
Calle de los Dulces, or Sweets Street, a threeblock stretch of the city lined with dulcerias( candy shops). Your tour concludes at Capilla del Rosario, or Rosary Chapel, of the Church of Santo Domingo in the city center. Meals: B, D | NH Puebla Centro Historico or similar
DAY 7 • Puebla • Transfer to Oaxaca Depart Puebla after breakfast and begin your overland transfer to Oaxaca, traversing a scenic landscape of desert vegetation and gentle hills undulating in the background. A boxed lunch will be provided along the way, and we should arrive in Oaxaca by mid-afternoon. Dinner is included at your hotel this evening. Meals: B, L, D | Holiday Inn Express Oaxaca Centro
Historico Hotel or similar
DAY 8 • Mitla • Oaxaca Explore the pre-Hispanic city of Mitla this morning, an ancient Zapotec religious and ceremonial location and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, enjoy a walking tour of Oaxaca this afternoon, a Spanish colonial-era gem with deep indigenous roots. Highlights include Oaxaca’ s zocalo, or main square; and Santo Domingo Church, whose simple 17th-century façade belies the lavishly decorated baroque interior within. Meals: B, L | Holiday Inn Express Oaxaca Centro
Historico Hotel or similar
1-800-221-2610 • www. gct. com / mex 113