Hello, Mexico!
We will start our acquaintance with Mexico in its capital, one of the largest and most populous cities in the world – Mexico City!
We leave our belongings at the hotel and head to the heart of the huge metropolis, to the main square of the capital – Constitution Square.
The largest area of Latin America has a rectangular shape. It is surrounded by the country’s largest buildings: the presidential palace, the cathedral, and the old city hall. In the evenings, shamans can be seen on the square practicing karma cleansing rituals on tourists.
After lunch, we will go to the Museum of Anthropology. The museum houses a unique collection of pre-Columbian artifacts found in Mexico: an Aztec calendar in the form of a huge stone, funeral masks and ancient idols, treasures of the Mayan civilization found in the ancient cities of Chichen Itza and Palenque.
Today we have an early start. We are going to Teotihuacan, a city built by the gods themselves!
This is exactly what the Aztecs thought when they found this abandoned city. To this day, it is not known for certain who built it and when. The size of the city and the scale of its construction are very impressive even in our time. Of all the buildings in the city, two large pyramids stand out – the pyramids of the Moon and the Sun. Of all the buildings in the city, two large pyramids stand out – the pyramids of the Moon and the Sun.
In the evening, we return to Mexico City and head to Garibaldi Square to drink pulque and try tacos to the music of mariachi.
After breakfast, we head to the foot of the second highest mountain in Mexico, one of the most active volcanoes in the world – Popocatepetl. Today we will do a short trek to the neighboring extinct volcano Istaxihuatl (5230 m), which offers gorgeous views of Popocatepetl and the surrounding area.
These volcanoes are named after the heroes of the legend of the brave war of Popocatepetli and Princess Istaxiuatl. According to legend, the lovers could not be together and committed suicide. Even the gods were surprised by the power of their love, so they turned the lovers into two volcanoes so that they could be with each other forever.
On the way back, we will have an outdoor lunch in a bright cafe.
In the evening we return to Mexico City.
Flight to Cancun and transfer to the hotel.
After a busy first few days, today we will finally reach the white beaches of Cancun. We will spend the New Year’s Eve “preparation” on the beach and in the evening, after a festive dinner, we will go to a New Year’s Eve party!
Today is a “day of silence.” We are resting after a loud celebration. You can buy souvenirs, go shopping, go to the beach, or spend the day by the pool with cocktails.
Beach vacations are good, but Cancun is known for more than that. There are a dozen of the coolest amusement parks around the city, and the best of them is Xcaret. Yes, this is a tourist destination and we don’t usually visit such places, but this park will be an exception.
Today we will be able to immerse ourselves in Mayan culture and swim with dolphins and manatees. We will see a traditional Mexican village, ride a jet boat, see giant turtles, swim through an underground river and, of course, swim in the ocean! And that’s not all.
An alternative version of the program today is a vacation on the beach.
In the evening, we return to Cancun to have dinner at a classic Brazilian churrasqueria.
We are heading towards one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World – the abandoned Mayan city of Chichen Itza. It is because of this ancient site that curious tourists take tours to Mexico. This city was founded in 455 AD and was the capital of the Maya. Here we will have half a day to explore the city with a guide.
After lunch, we will see one of the most beautiful places on the planet – the Ik-Kul karst sinkhole! The height of the vertical walls from the water level to the ground surface is about 25 m (like an 8-storey building), and 45 m to the bottom (15 floors). The water is so clear that on a sunny day you can see the stones lying there and miniature black carps floating. There is a beach and jumping platforms below. We will have free time to bathe in the sacred senate.
In the evening we return to the hotel.
Today, after several active days of excursions, we will be able to relax a bit. We will enjoy the white beaches and turquoise water of the Caribbean coast.
If you wish, in the morning you can visit the Museum of Underwater Sculptures, which is located near the coast of Cancun. The museum features more than 500 sculptures located at different depths right at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea. This is the largest underwater attraction in the world!
Let’s go to the Rio Lagartos Nature Reserve, one of the most striking natural attractions on the Caribbean coast.
This natural park is home to a very large variety of birds: pink flamingos, herons, eagles, and pelicans. The reserve is also home to more than 1500 crocodiles. Some specimens reach a length of up to 6 meters! We will go by boat to the mangroves to see crocodiles in the wild. Here they like to bask in the sun on the surface of the water.
Another attraction of the reserve is the pink lakes of Los Colorados. The plankton that lives in the lake gives the water a pink tint. It is what flamingos feed on, after which their plumage turns pink.
In the evening, return to Cancun.
Today is our last full day in Mexico. We will have free time to soak up the Caribbean sun on the beach, buy souvenirs and gain strength before the long flight home.
Departure to the airport.
We say goodbye to Mexico and fly home.
