Journeys: Discover Mexico

You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

Sit down and enjoy a demonstration from a talented chef, who will teach you how a few typical regional dishes are prepared while offering further details about Mexican cuisine. The demonstration will be an hour and a half and the experience concludes with a group dinner featuring the plates you learned about from the chef.

The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your Expedition Leader will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.

Enjoy a magical morning in Xochimilco, a 3.5-hour experience that begins at sunrise. Glide through the canals in a canoe, surrounded by the mesmerizing light of dawn, as you explore the traditional chinampas. Taste delicious chinamper cuisine, visit cultivated chinampas, and discover the axolotl reserve, endemic to the region. This sunrise journey connects you deeply with the ecological and cultural richness of the area, offering insights into traditional agriculture and species conservation. It’s a responsible and inspiring way to start your day, supporting local communities and learning about their traditions while immersing yourself in nature’s beauty and the magic of dawn.

Get the lay of the land during a walking tour of Mexico City with your Expedition Leader, and visit the historic centre (known as the zócalo) of the city.

Take advantage of free time to get out and explore this amazing city and its surroundings. Opt to tour one of museums in the area.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Visit the ruins of Teotihuacán (meaning ‘the place where gods were born’), northeast of Mexico City. This ruin site dates back to 100AD and has the impressive Avenue of the Dead, Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon. Excavations are still underway at these ruins in the present day. These structures are so massive that the inside of the Pyramid of the Sun for example – has never been entirely explored. Bring water, wear a hat and solid walking shoes, and climb the pyramids to learn all about this pre-Columbian Mesoamerican city. Don't forget to stop by the museum too!

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Visit the famed "Blue House" where Frida Kahlo was born, lived and died. Her lifelong home is open to those looking to learn more about or see what life was like for the celebrated artist. The museum consists of ten rooms throughout the home, each filled with original furniture from when she lived there with her husband Diego Rivera, and personal items of Frida's from letters, art materials, original works of art, to handcrafted kitchenwares.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Puebla is known for many things, such as pottery, colonial architecture and great food. Let your Expedition Leader guide you on a short walk through the city to point out the essentials like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs.

There's something for everyone in Puebla. Spend some time in the city's central square, the Zócalo to see the beautiful Puebla Cathedral or search for some beautiful Mexican souvenirs to bring home.

Spend time with a local artist to discover the historical and cultural significance of Talavera pottery dating back to the 16th century. Witness the process from clay to creation, learning about its uses from tableware to tiles and hearing about the purpose behind the colours chosen. Watch close to a hundred artisans working as they go through each stage of production. End the tour with a visit to a small museum of contemporary ceramic art.

There's something for everyone in Puebla. Spend some time at the Cholula Ruins, head out on a stroll around the city's central square, or search for some beautiful Mexican souvenirs to bring home. You have half the day at your leisure, discover the city as you wish.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Go on a Expedition Leader led walk through the colonial city of Oaxaca. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs.

The Zapotec site of Monte Albán dates back to 500 BC and features platforms, pyramids, plazas, and a ball court sitting on a leveled mountaintop some 10km (5 mi) from Oaxaca. Enjoy the 360-degree views, see Olmec carvings, and be sure to visit the museum to see artifacts and stele excavated in the early 20th century.

Alebrijes were created by a Mexican artisan named Pedro Linares who was known for making piñatas and carnival masks. After falling ill and hallucinating crazy figures and creatures inside his mind, the artist decided to bring what he saw to life by creating the small figurines we know as Alebrijes. Often made of a mash-up between animals, these figurines are now made by Oaxacan artisans out of wood and then painted with vibrant pigments and lots of patterns. Learn more about how these figurines integrated themselves into Oaxacan/Mexican folklore and how the craft expanded from originally being made from cardboard to now being carved from Copal wood. Meet a local artisan and speak with them, ask any questions the group may have and to learn more about how the Alebrijes are crafted. Then enjoy an authentic Oaxacan lunch at Zoológico Mágico. Here, you'll see why a meal is more than food -- it's a celebration of Oaxaca's vibrant traditions, brought to life. Each dish is a tribute to their heritage, featuring iconic plates like mole negro.

Immerse yourself in the tradition of mezcal with a Mezcal Tasting at the Mezcal Real Minero cooperative in Santa Catarina Minas. The experience includes a tasting of 4 mezcals in the aging room, crafted sustainably and with local stories shared by the community women. This experience supports environmental conservation, women’s empowerment, quality education and responsible tourism, enriching both cultural and economic aspects of the community.

Choose to put your feet up after a long day or to head out and explore the nightlife.

Spend a full free day in Oaxaca! Choose between optionals in the area like a day trip to Hierve el Agua or Mitla Ruins.

Expertly shown in an episode of National Geographic’s, “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted”, the delicious, local cuisine of Oaxaca is finally getting the spotlight it deserves. In a city often described as Mexico’s food capital, some of the best foodie experiences are still found on the streets in the form of antojitos, and intriguing stories from long-time residents of the city. Explore the culinary delights of Oaxaca with this exclusive foodie experience. With our local host attend a tortilla-making workshop. Then visit the home of a local family and taste an array of local cuisine, learn traditional cooking methods, and discuss the food culture in Oaxaca.