Central Mexico: Oaxaca to Mexico City

In the heart of Mexico lies Oaxaca, a land rich with indigenous cultures and incredible food, often considered to be the gastronomical heartland of the country. As you make your way into the city from the airport, savour the sights, sounds and smells of this vibrant and ancient metropolis. We welcome you to Mexico, and invite you to indulge in the traditions and flavours that make the country so unique.

Arrive to Oaxaca at any time and transfer to the hotel. Meet your fellow group members at the welcome meeting in the evening and get all the important information about the adventure ahead. Afterwards, head to a nearby restaurant for a delicious welcome dinner with new friends.

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

ACTIVITY: EVENING Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Oaxaca's rich history and architecture is on full display with picturesque plazas, churches and charming cafes and restaurants around every corner. The valley and environs of Oaxaca have been inhabited for tens of thousands of years and has a wealth of fascinating archaeological sites which all tell their own stories about the Oaxaca's past and about how it has evolved into what it is today.

Take a morning historical tour of Oaxaca on foot and by vehicle with a local guide before visiting the Monte Albán archaeological site. Have a delicious lunch at a typical restaurant as an introduction to the regional cuisine before a free afternoon for individual exploration. Enjoy a free evening to choose from one of the many great restaurants or join the CEO at their local favourite.

ACTIVITY: Set off on a walking tour of charming Oaxaca, rich with history and culture. See the Santo Domingo Cultural Centre, walk through the zocalo and the famous 20th of November market where you can opt to sample some delicious Oaxacan foods along the way such as mole, tlayudas or chapulines. Transfer to the nearby archaeological site of Monte Albán, a Zapotec site dating back to 500 BC which features platforms, pyramids, plazas, and a ball court sitting on a leveled mountaintop. 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.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Oaxaca is all yours this afternoon. Try optional activities in the area like exploring Oaxaca's plazas, shops, and cafes.

Feel the breeze on your face as you pedal through farmland and agave plantations, a plant that has become a symbol of Mexico's famous spirits – tequila and mezcal. Indigenous communities have thrived in these parts and have held the agave plant sacred, as well as the imposing petrified waterfall of Hierve el Agua which is the crowning jewel of your ride.

Head out on a biking excursion from Santa Maria del Tule to Hierve el Agua petrified waterfall with time for swimming and lunch, then stop at a local agave farm for mezcal tastings on the way back to Oaxaca. Free evening with dinner on your own or with the CEO.

ACTIVITY: Pedal through the valleys of Oaxaca from Santa Maria del Tule to Tlacolula. Drive around 30 minutes from Oaxaca City to the start of the biking portion. Listen to a safety briefing and begin the route through farm fields, agave plantations, and small Zapotec villages with mountain views, glimpsing daily life in Oaxaca. Once in Tlacolula de Matamoros the bikes will be put away and a 1-hour drive to Hierve el Agua will commence.

ACTIVITY: The Valley of Oaxaca is renowned as the birthplace of mezcal. Not to be confused with tequila, this distilled liquor is made in small batches from a variety of species of agave (spiky green plants that look like the tops of pineapples). Visit and Agave farm, learn about the process and sample different types, including white un-aged mezcal (often sold with an agave larva inside), along with “reposado” and “añejo” (aged) batches. Grab a slice of orange that's coated in salt and mixed with chili and ground worms. Now, it’s time to sip and enjoy.

ACTIVITY: Travel to Hierve del Agua. This stunning natural formation consists of a series of mineral pools near the edge of a cliff. Over thousands of years, the heavily calcified water has flowed over the cliff, leaving mineral deposits as it does. The result is known as a "petrified waterfall" – nearly white rock formations that resembles a cascading fall. Enjoy time to explore the area and go for a swim in one of the mineral pools, and sit down for a traditional lunch on site.

Nestled amongst mountains and active volcanoes, Puebla is a feast for the senses. Marvel at 15th century architecture as you wander the cobblestone streets of the historical centre and get wafts of delicious aromas around every corner. Famous also for its beautiful and unique talavera pottery, Puebla is a treat to explore and to taste, with the delectable and essential mole poblano standing out as the region's flagship dish.

Travel from Oaxaca to Puebla and take an orientation walk with the CEO of the historical centre, including a visit to a talavera pottery workshop before lunch at a local restaurant. In the evening, enjoy a mole demonstration and dinner.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery as you journey to your next destination.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Spend a free afternoon enjoying Puebla on your own. Opt to visit Cholula, the city's churches, or wander the markets sample local treats.

ACTIVITY: The route will vary for each tour, allowing our CEOs to share their personal favourites. You can expect to see the zócalo, artisans' market and visit the historic buildings within centre of this World Heritage city, as well as gain entrance to the Talavera studio and workshop.

ACTIVITY: Learn to make the traditional sauce of mole, made with an assortment of chilis and chocolate. Sample your mouth-watering creation when you're done and sit down for an included group dinner at the hotel.

Gliding along the ancient canals of Xochimilco on a traditional 'trajinera' boat is a multi-sensory and quintessentially Mexican experience. The brightly-coloured boats pass by with everything from local families, to mariachi bands to vendors selling tacos or flowers. Many of these aspects of traditional popular culture also served as an influence in the artwork of Frida Kahlo, one of Mexico's most famous artists who grew up in the nearby neighbourhood of Coyoacán, in Mexico City's southern reaches.Drive to Mexico City and take a boat trip along the Xochimilco canals before visiting the Casa Azul, which was home to Frida Kahlo and now houses a museum of her work and story. Free evening with dinner on your own or with the CEO.TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery as you journey to your next destination.ACTIVITY: Take on the famous canals of Xochimilco in a vibrant coloured gondola boat past vendors, mariachi bands and local artisans. Feel the vibes of the music around you as locals shop in the floating markets and hopefully you'll find something to bring back home too.TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.ACTIVITY: 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.FREE TIME: EVENING Spend a free evening in Mexico City and grab dinner on your own.

The history of the ancient Aztecs permeates all aspects of Mexico City in its architecture, traditions and food. Whatever your interest, you will have the opportunity to visit the massive pyramids of Teotihuacán or to stay in the city dig deeper into what makes the bustling metropolis one of the world's most interesting cities.

Choose either a half-day visit to the Teotihuacán archaeological site or take a historical and food tour of Mexico City. Enjoy a free afternoon to continue exploring or to visit one of the many excellent museums before a farewell dinner in the evening.

ACTIVITY: Option 1: Enjoy a half-day visit to the archaeological site, Teotihuacán. Bring water, wear a hat, 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!

Option 2: Partake in a culinary-focused tour of Mexico City with a visit to a market with lots of stops for food sampling as you walk. Fill up on the local flavours and get to know what daily community life is like in the city.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Spend the afternoon on your own. Opt to visit museums or other monuments. Then come back together with the group for an included dinner this evening.

Although the tour finishes today, Mexico will live on in your memory, beckoning you to return someday.

Depart Mexico City at any time.

ACTIVITY: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.