Oaxaca and Chiapas
Oaxaca and Chiapas
Oaxaca and Chiapas
13 Days Starting in Mexico City, Mexico and ending in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chis., Mexico
Visiting: Mexico City, Puebla, Cholula, Oaxaca, San Bartolo Coyotepec, San Martín Tilcajete, Monte Albán, Santa Maria El Tule, Tehuantepec, Teotitlan Del Valle, San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapa de Corzo, Chamula, Zinacantán, Comitán, Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Tour operator:
Tour code:
12574
Group Type:
Private
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Group size:
2 - 99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Activities:
Tour Overview
You will discover two of the most typical and authentic regions of Mexico, with an ancestral culture still very present. You will come into contact with the descendants of the Tzotziles and Zapotecs. You will pass through roads with incredible landscapes.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival In Mexico And Direction Teotihuacan
Location: Mexico City
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Villas Teotihuacan
Welcome to Mexico! You have finally arrived. You will take possession of your vehicle and leave to sleep near the site of Teotihuacan. Be careful on the road!
Day 2 : Direction Puebla
Location: Puebla
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: San Pedro
Free day in Puebla. You will start with a visit to the Zocalo or Plaza de Armas, its cathedral and its neoclassical Municipal Palace. Not far from the Zocalo is the incredible Palafoxiana Library, the first public library in America. Next, you will reach the Callejon de los Sapos, the stronghold of antique dealers and the talavera, the typical pottery of the region. This street leads to a square surrounded by incredible houses from the Viceroyalty period, where you will find a second-hand market every Saturday and Sunday. In the same square, you won't have any trouble locating the emblematic La Pasita bar, serving the drink of the same name, made from grape liqueur and eaten with a piece of cheese. To continue with the local specialties, you will go to the street of the confectioners (Avenida 6 Oriente) to taste the camotes, tortitas, alegrias, rompope, alfeñique... At the end of the day, stroll through the artists' quarter where there is a quiet, bohemian atmosphere. For a different experience, take a ride on the cable car. Then walk through the park of the historical area of the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe and relive the battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, when the French troops sent by Napoleon III were defeated by the Mexicans.
Day 3 : Cholula
Location: Cholula
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: San Pedro
This morning you will leave Puebla and travel to the magical town of Cholula, considered one of the oldest cities in America. You will walk through the colourful streets of this student town and see the Great Pyramid in the distance, which you will reach. At the top of the pyramid is the church of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, built by the Spanish. An incredible view of the city and the Popocatepetl, Iztaccihuatl, Citlaltepetl and Malinche volcanoes. On the way back down, you can visit the archaeological site. At the end of the day, you will reach Puebla, where you can enjoy the lively and warm atmosphere of San Pedro Cholula in the evening.
Driving directions: Puebla - Cholula 20km (40min)
Day 4 : Direction Oaxaca
Location: Oaxaca
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: La Noria
This morning, you take the road to Oaxaca, a city rooted in tradition and spared from the aggressions of industrial modernism. On the way, you will make a stop in the middle of the countless cactus fields. Afternoon free to visit the historic centre of the city, including the Santo Domingo convent, which houses one of the most beautiful churches in Mexico. You can make a diversion to the house of Benito Juarez, the country's first and most emblematic mestizo president, nicknamed "America's Worthy". You will finish by visiting the local market, one of the most lively and colourful in Mexico City, with its intoxicating scents of unknown spices and the shimmering colours of silky fabrics. You can taste grilled grasshoppers, the famous "chapulines", accompanied by a glass of mezcal.
Drive: Puebla - Oaxaca 340km (4h15)
Day 5 : Oaxacan Handicrafts
Location: San Bartolo Coyotepec, San Martín Tilcajete
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: La Noria
This morning you will head to San Bartolo Coyotepec where many families make their living from black clay pottery or "barro negro". You will continue to the village of San Martin Tilcajete to discover the local crafts. Indeed, this township of the great valley of Oaxaca is famous for its manufacture of alebrijes, wooden figurines carved in copal and painted with multiple colours.
Driving directions: Oaxaca - San Bartolo Coyotepec 20km (35min) / San Bartolo Coyotepec - San Martin Tilcajete 15km (20min) / San Martin Tilcajete - Oaxaca 35km (1h)
Day 6 : On The Zapotec Road
Location: Monte Albán
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: La Noria
Departure for the archaeological site of Monte Alban (the white mountain), the most fascinating in the state of Oaxaca. This great Zapotec ceremonial centre stands on a vast esplanade at an altitude of 2000m. You will be amazed by these grandiose ruins that dominate the valley. Return to Oaxaca to discover one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Mexico. Stroll through the historic centre of the city and don't miss the typical market and the Santo Domingo convent, which houses one of the most beautiful churches in Mexico. Enjoy one of the many culinary specialities with a glass of mezcal. If you want to learn more about this typical drink, visit the Mezcaloteca, dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of traditional mezcals.
Driving directions: Oaxaca - Monte Alban 10km (25min)
Day 7 : Pueblos Mancomunados And Sierra
Location: Oaxaca
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: La Noria
Today you will go to the Sierra Norte, to discover the "mancomunados" villages where you will be welcomed by the inhabitants and will share privileged and unique moments with them. To get there, you must go through one of the ecotourism centres located in San Miguel Amatlan, Latuvi, La Neveria, Benito Juarez, Cuajimoloyas or Llano Grande. Hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking are available to explore the Sierra, depending on your level.
Driving directions: Oaxaca - San Miguel Amatlan 70km (1h40) / Oaxaca - Latuvi 55km (1h30) / Oaxaca - La Neveria 55km (1h50) / Oaxaca - Benito Juarez 60km (1h30) / Oaxaca - Cuajimoloyas 60km (1h30) / Oaxaca - Llano Grande 70km (1h45)
Day 8 : Archaeological Site, Petrified Waterfalls And Direction Chiapas
Location: Santa Maria El Tule, Tehuantepec, Teotitlan Del Valle
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Calli
Today you will visit the archaeological site of Mitla. After the fall of Monte Albán in 750 AD, Mitla served as the new political and religious centre of the Zapotecs, which they called "Lyobaan" meaning "place of rest". The latter built palaces and monuments before the Mixtecs moved in, renaming the site "Mictlán", the place of the dead. Continue to Hierve el Agua, one of the most visited natural thermal baths in Mexico. Characterized by turquoise pools and petrified waterfalls on the edge of the ravine, it is the ideal place to take unforgettable photos. In the early afternoon, you will leave for the Isthmus of Tehuantepec where you will spend the night.
Driving directions: Oaxaca - Mitla 45km (1h) / Mitla - Hierve el Agua 20km (50min) / Hierve el Agua - Tehuantepec 235km (4h10)
Day 9 : Sumidero Canyon And San Cristobal
Location: San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapa de Corzo
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Parador Margarita
You leave in the early morning for Chiapas and the magical village of Chiapa de Corzo. You descend to the river and embark on a tour of the famous Sumidero Canyon. An impressive geological fault over 30 million years old, the Sumidero Canyon is a true natural beauty today. This place is emblematic for the inhabitants of Chiapas as it was the scene of the battle between the Spanish and Chiapanecos. Legend has it that the Indians preferred to jump into the depths of the Sumidero rather than be subjected to the invaders. Today, the walls are 1000 metres high. Arrival at the end of the day in San Cristobal de las Casas. Situated at an altitude of over 2000m, it is a city of undeniable charm and cultural and natural diversity, which has earned it the title of "pueblo magico". San Cristobal was one of the first cities built in the region. For many years it had different names and since 1848 it has been called San Cristobal de las Casas: "San Cristobal" in honour of the patron saint of travellers and "las Casas" for Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, the first bishop of the city who fought to abolish Indian slavery. Between ancient churches, indigenous markets, misty mountains, national parks and waterfalls, this region has a bewitching charm.
Driving directions: Tehuantepec - Chiapa de Corzo 320km (4h25) / Chiapa de Corzo - San Cristobal de las Casas 55km (1h)
Day 10 : Tzotziles Villages
Location: Chamula, Zinacantán
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Parador Margarita
This morning, you will drive to San Juan Chamula and then to Zinacantan. You will get to know these two emblematic Tzotzil villages of Chiapas, with magnificent churches and customs that are still strongly marked. You will discover their tumultuous history, their resistance, their beliefs, their traditional clothing and their crafts. Beware of taking pictures, often refused by the villagers, especially in the churches where it is forbidden. Free afternoon to stroll through the streets of the "magic village" of San Cristobal de las Casas. Among the most popular tourist sites: the baroque cathedral built in 1528, the temple of San Nicolas, one of the first to be dedicated exclusively to the natives, built at the end of the 17th century, and the famous Plaza Mayor, known by its inhabitants as "the park".
Driving directions: San Cristobal de las Casas - San Juan Chamula 10km (30min) / San Juan Chamula - Zinacantan 10km (15min) / Zinacantan - San Cristobal de las Casas 15km (30min)
Day 11 : Refreshing Day And Swimming
Location: Comitán
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Parador Margarita
This morning you will drive early to the Montebello Lagoons National Park where you will discover about 50 small lakes with multicoloured waters. At the entrance to the park, the road splits in two. On the left, you head towards the "lagunas de colores". Along the road, five lakes, whose colours range from turquoise to emerald green, follow one another: Agua Tinta, Esmeralda, Encantada, Ensueño and Agua Azul. As a bonus, you can visit the San José cave. On the right, you will discover the laguna of Montebello (allowing you to reach a viewpoint), Cinco Lagunas (La Cañada), laguna Pojoj (the only lake where swimming is possible) and Tziscao. We continue to El Chiflón, a series of waterfalls in the middle of the forest. You will be able to bathe once again in the turquoise waters of the Chiapas torrents and enjoy the setting worthy of a child's tale. A change of scenery guaranteed!
Driving directions: San Cristobal de las Casas - Lagunas de Montebello 150km (3h) / Lagunas de Montebello - El Chiflon 90km (1h40) / El Chiflon - San Cristobal de las Casas 130km (2h30)
Day 12 : San Cristobal, Magic City Of Mexico
Location: San Cristobal de las Casas
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Parador Margarita
San Cristobal de las Casas is an obligatory stop on a trip to Chiapas. The baroque and neoclassical style of the city is breathtaking. Among the most popular sights are the baroque cathedral built in 1528, the temple of San Nicolas, one of the first to be dedicated exclusively to the indigenous people, built at the end of the 17th century, and the famous Plaza Mayor, known by its inhabitants as "the park". This square is the centre of the city's activities and was the place where water was supplied at the time. Today, it has a beautiful kiosk where you can enjoy a coffee or hot chocolate on a cool winter night, while listening to the music in the street. In San Cristobal there is also the Jade Museum. A space dedicated to exalting the beauty and history of this precious stone through sculpted pieces. The museum exhibits objects and jewellery related to the 8 main cultures present in the Mesoamerican region: Mocaye, Olmec, Teotihuacaine, Mixtec, Zapotec, Maya, Toltec and Aztec.
Day 13 : Hasta Luego Mexico !
Location: Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Drive to Tuxtla airport where you will return your vehicle. Have a good trip back!
What's Included
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Accommodation and breakfast in the following establishments or similar
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Car rental from day 1 to day 13
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Chevrolet Aveo standard or similar
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Pick up: Mexico City airport and drop off: Tuxtla airport
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Full insurance with unlimited killometrage assistance and 1 driver
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24 hour assistance from the agency on site
What's Not Included
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International flights
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National flights except if mentioned in included
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Individual equipment
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Cancellation and health and repatriation insurance
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Meals and drinks except if mentioned in included (count an average of 10€ per meal in a local restaurant)
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Activities and entrances
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Tips in restaurants or with the guides
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Personal purchases
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GPS gasoline
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tolls
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parking and other expenses related to the use of the rented car
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all that is not included in the "What the price includes" part
Check out our Q&As
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Are flights included in this tour?
No
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes
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How does Today Voyages work?
We are an Online Travel Agency, specialized in Group Vacations and Private Vacations. We have been in business for over 30 years through our sister company Go West Tours and, throughout the years, have developed an extensive network of trusted professionals around the world and a structured methodology to screen our suppliers. Today Voyages offers a selection of tours that are designed, managed and operated by our network of trusted Tour Operators and DMCs. Our database is connected with our partners so that when you make a booking with us this will immediately be received and processed by the Tour Operator.
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Where should I buy the flights to reach my destination?
Today Voyages does not sell flights directly. None of our tours come with flights included. Why? Because we prefer to give full flexibility to our valued customers to select the airlines and the booking platform they prefer. As soon as your flight is booked and confirmed, we invite you to update your flight plan within your Today Voyages booking confirmation page by entering your flight number, departure and arrival times, as well as your Passport information (if needed). None of these fields are mandatory but we highly encourage you to provide as much information as possible. This will allow us to provide you with the excellent service you are looking for.
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What is an additional excursion or tour optional?
Certain tours might show a selection of additional excursions/optional activities that you may want to add to our standard itinerary. These services are priced separately and can be added to the cart before completing the booking. We believe these optional services to contribute to making your vacation unforgettable; however, you are in no way obliged to purchase them. All our tours are awesome with our without optional services!
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What is the difference between Group Vacations and Private Vacations?
If you purchase one of our Group vacation packages, you will be escorted by a professional tour guide and will be traveling with other like-minded travelers you may not know. The group size depends on the tour you select. If you purchase one of our Private vacation packages, you will be traveling only within your group of friends. You may or may not be escorted by a professional tour guide; this depends on the type of private tour you are interested in.
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When and how will I receive the travel documents (vouchers)?
If you book one of our Group or Private tours, you will receive your travel documents via email approximately 20 days prior to travel date. If you reserve one of our Vacation Rentals, you will hear back from the property manager via email a few days prior to checking-in. We recommend checking your emails on a regular basis as this is our most reliable method of communication. If you have questions or need additional support, you can always chat with us or email us directly.
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What happens if a Group tour does not get confirmed?
It is very simple... you will be offered an alternative departure date or be refunded the full amount you pre-paid. No questions asked!
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What happens after I book?
The majority of our tours are confirmed at the time of booking. This means that, after submitting the payment online, you will receive an order confirmation email; make sure to save this email and to note down your confirmation number for any future communication with us. Some tours may be sold on a 'on request' basis. This means that for these tours we reserve the right to check the availability of your spot(s) with the Tour Operator before confirming the tour to you. As soon as you submit the payment online for a 'on request' tour you will receive an email notification that confirms your order request. Within 72 hours, you will receive either a confirmation email or a denial email. Do not worry... we will do everything we can to confirm your tour!
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Free Date Changes
Today Voyages allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 65 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Today Voyages requires a minimum deposit of 30% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of today voyages charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.