Central America Highlights

Travel Just 4U's representative in Costa Rica will meet you at the airport upon arrival. They will be holding a sign with your name after you leave the secure area with your bags. 

They will escort you to your private transfer, assist you on check-in at your hotel and present you with a detailed itinerary for your experiences in Costa Rica. This is your chance to run through specific pick up times and logistics for your tours in the country. 

If you have any questions regarding your itinerary, ask them now.

Hotel Presidente San Jose City Center is located in the heart of San José and 100m from Costa Rica’s National Theater and Plaza de la Cultura. It offers free daily breakfast buffet and free WiFi access. The property features unique designed interiors.

Rooms at San Jose City Center Hotel Presidente have modern décor with an LCD flat-screen TV. The amenities available also include a laptop safe and a hairdryer.

Las Americas Restaurant is open just for breakfast, while the Azotea Calle 7 Restaurant is open just for dinners. Set on the seventh floor, the hotel gym offers impressive views of San José. There are computer terminals for guests to use in the lobby, along with currency exchange services and luggage storage.

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and head towards the Arenal area. your first stop will be at the Poas Volcano and then later the Laguna de Hule.

The Poas Volcano rises to 2,708 meters above sea level. You will be able to visit only the main crater for 20 minutes approximately. Today the volcano emits large amount of gas and water vapor from the different fumaroles that are located in the inner cone of the crater. The volcano has a constant activity so the visit is subject to restrictions and / or cancellations without prior notice. Then you will continue to the Laguna de Hule. 

This beautiful lagoon is located at the base of the Cerro Congo Volcano, 11 km from the famous Poas Volcano. This area is renowned for its excellent trekking trails due to the variety of scenery and terrain, from clay, to dirt, volcanic rock, and grasslands in a rainforest at 800 m above sea level. You will then head to your hotel. 

Set in lush tropical gardens, at the foot of Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano, Volcano Lodge & Gardens offers an outdoor pool and free Wi-Fi zone. Air-conditioned rooms have a terrace.

All our 66 rooms are Superior and non smoking, have deluxe finishes, 2 comfortable full size beds or 1 king size bed, TV/cable, telephone, air-conditioned, coffee maker, hot water shower, hairdryer and a nice terrace facing the Volcano.

Breakfast is available at the lodge and it is included on the rate. There is a bar, restaurant and snack bar. Room service is available. the Lodge also has two swimming pools for adults, two swimming pools for children and two Jacuzzis, all of them with view to the Volcano. 

You have the morning at leisure to enjoy the scenery around you. In the afternoon, you will be able to see from up close the activities of the Arenal Volcano with a hike. On this hike you will head along the trails of the Arenal Volcano National Park, and enter the tropical forest and the areas that were once devastated by the fury of the volcano.

During the walk, it is possible to observe a variety of flora and fauna typical of the area, as well as other sites of interest such as the impact craters. We will reach the lava flows of 1992; a large accumulation of solidified volcanic material ejected from the crater of this conical colossus in a period of much activity during that year. On clear days, we will have a magnificent view of the imposing Arenal colossus, the Arenal lake, the Tilarán mountain range and the Chato hill. The naturalist guide will provide valuable and interesting information about the main features of this volcano, active since 1968, and other important details of everything you will see during the tour. 

At the end of the walk, you will go by minibus, to the hot springs, where you can relax and enjoy the different pools. The natural hot springs of Tabacón Resort are 97% rainwater and 3% magma. Through the cracks in the surface, the rainwater penetrates to the heart of the earth, where the magma heats it before rising, bringing in the minerals that form the rocky stratum of our planet. Tabacón is a natural site and has five different springs, with temperatures from 25°C to 50°C.

After breakfast, you will be picked up and start the journey to Monteverde. You will transfer by regular boat transfer through the Arenal Lake which will take approximately 3 hours. This service, is a picturesque and fastest way to go to Monteverde from Arenal Volcano area. After a 30-minute ride to the dam, you will board a very comfortable and safe pontoon boat. After crossing the lake, (a 30 to 40 minutes boat ride), you will arrive to Río Chiquito, a little town at the other side. 

Arenal Lake is the largest and the most important lake in Costa Rica. It was man made in 1974 to provide hydroelectric energy for the country. The lake is also a place where you can find different kinds of resident and migratory birds; sometimes mammals such as monkeys and sloths can be seen. In addition, in a clear day, there are great views of the Arenal Volcano. The rest of the day is yours to explore Monteverde. 

Monteverde is home to one of the rarest habitats on Earth, the cloud forest, and an astounding variety of flora and fauna. The town of Monteverde, located at the south end of the cloud forest, had its beginnings in the early 1950s with the impetus of a group of Quakers from the United States, a group that came to Costa Rica attracted by its pacific inclinations and disarmament. They established themselves in the region and devoted themselves to produce milk and quality cheeses. Monteverde is located 172 kilometres northeast of San José. The climate is template and humid, with an average of 17ºC. 

Cloud Forest Lodge Monteverde offers 72 acres of primary and secondary forest, canopy tour, over 3 miles of private trails and more than 180 species of birds in a quiet and wonderful place. Boasting a garden, a terrace as well as a shared lounge, Cloud Forest Lodge Monteverde, Costa Rica, is within a 20-minute walk of Sky Adventures Monteverde and 2.9 km of Selvatura Adventure Park. Complimentary WiFi is offered. A patio with mountain views is offered in each unit.

A typical, continental or american breakfast is free at the lodge. Guests can grab a bite to eat in the in-house restaurant, which serves a variety of local dishes.

Monteverde Ecological Sanctuary is an 18-minute walk from Cloud Forest Lodge, while Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is 3.3 km from the property. 

In the morning after breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel for an adventure combo Tour in Selvatura, including a canopy tour, the suspension bridges and a visit to the butterfly garden. Selvatura Park has a canopy tour built entirely inside the cloud forest. During this tour, you will cross through the cloud forest attached to a high weight capacity cable using the best climbing gear. This tour combines the thrill of adventure with a unique view of the cloud forest. 

The tour starts up at the main dressing room where you will get geared up and will be taken to the instruction platform, for guidelines and instructions. Next you will be taken to the first platform where you will start the tour. You will cross through the forest canopy passing through three sections of cables. In between every section you are going to walk through the forest. During one of these walks you will reach the Tarzan Swing, where those with an adventurous spirit will surely get a blast. The Tarzan Swing is a side activity included in the tour where you will get the option to swing yourself through the forest while being attached to a high security rope. The canopy activity consists of 15 cables with a total length of 2 miles, 18 platforms and one Tarzan Swing.

Next, you will continue with Selvatura’s treetop walkways, which provide the best way to safely admire the cloud forest. The treetop walkways tour consists of 1.9 miles of trails. You will walk through eight bridges of various lengths, ranging between 170 feet and 560 feet. Each bridge is 5-foot-wide and has a capacity of maximal 80 people. This is the longest, safest and strongest bridge system in Costa Rica. The treetop walkways can be enjoyed by people of all ages and physical conditions as most of the trails are flat and covered with special walking blocks for better traction. 90% of the walk leads through virgin rainforest and the visitors will be able to appreciate a wide variety of flora and fauna.

You will continue this amazing tour with one of the largest butterfly gardens in Americas, with an area that is 300 feet long, 90 feet wide and 50 feet tall. A great dome structure covered by a special photothermic Saran helps to control the temperature inside the garden. A perfect temperature is necessary to enable the garden to host more than 50 different species of butterflies from different altitudes and climates found throughout Costa Rica. 

Guides will provide an interesting tour and will answer all the questions regarding these beautiful creatures. You will learn about the life-cycle of butterflies and moths and will also learn many interesting facts about butterflies in general. In addition to that you will have very close contact to the beautiful butterflies, including the blue Morpho Peleides. A visit to the butterfly garden is a great experience for people of all ages and any physical condition.

Optional: Not included in starting price.

One of the main attractions of Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is its 13-kilometer network of trails. While walking the trails, visitors are presented with a number of options. One alternative is to walk to "La Ventana" scenic overlook, where they may witness the contrasting panorama exhibited naturally by the Continental Divide, a geographical feature that traces the principal mountain ranges of Costa Rica. 

At this location, visitors can experience the force of the moisture-laden trade winds blowing in from the Atlantic coast, and witness how they descend at high velocity toward the Central Pacific and Northern coastal plains of Costa Rica. There are over 500 bird species live, including the majestic quetzal and the three-wattle bellbird, 120 species of reptiles and amphibians and more than 3000 plants among them, the highest diversity of orchids in the world. In the main building visitors will find a restaurant and a Gift Shop

This transfer will take approximately 2 hours.

Travel Just 4U's representative in Guatemala will meet you at the airport upon arrival in Guatemala City. They will be holding a sign with your name after you leave the secure area with your bags. 

They will escort you to your private transfer to Antigua (approximately 1 hour drive), assist you on check-in at your hotel and present you with a detailed itinerary for your experiences in Guatemala. This is your chance to run through specific pick up times and logistics for your tours in the country. If you have any questions regarding your itinerary, ask them now.

Just 200m from Antigua’s Central Park, Villa Meson in Exclusive Condominium offers city views, free private parking and a charming central courtyard filled with plants. Each stylish room includes free Wi-Fi.

Rooms at the Mesón de María feature elegant colonial-style décor and cable TV. All rooms have a safe, a telephone and a private bathroom with a hairdryer and free toiletries.

A free continental breakfast is served daily at Villa Meson in Exclusive Condominium. Room service is available from a local restaurant located opposite the hotel, which international restaurants can be found in the surrounding streets. Staff at the 24-hour reception can provide information about the city. Antigua Cathedral and a craft market can be found within a 5-minute walk. 

After breakfast you will be able to enjoy a private guided walking tour of Antigua. You will visit some breath taking colonial monuments and find out why this city was the bustling center of the region for the Spaniards. 

The town is protected by the surrounding eternal guards, the Volcanoes of Agua, Fuego and Acatenango. Antigua was founded in 1543, as the third capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala and partially destroyed by in 1773 by the Santa Marta Earthquakes. 

Starting at central plaza the guide will give you a general idea about the colonization, Guatemala’s history & contemporary issues. View the outside main buildings (Palacio de Capitanes, City Hall, and El Portal), visit backstage of the Cathedral & Cathedral ruins & the San Francisco church. At the end of the tour, the guide will accompany you back to your hotel to spend the rest of the day at leisure. 

The colorful colonial town of Antigua, Guatemala boasts cobblestone streets, cute cafes and volcanoes looming in the distance. This city is unarguably charming and easy to fall in love with.

It was once the capital of the country, until a volcanic eruption ruined the city and they had to move it to what is now “Guatemala city”.Antigua is a colonial style city that’s bursting in cultural, amazing views, delicious food and plenty of drinking opportunities. If you’ve always wanted to see a volcano erupt, but not be in danger, then this is the place to achieve that! here are some top things to see whilst in this amazing city:

- See Volcan Fuego Erupt
- Toast Marshmallows on Volcano Pacaya
- Handicraft shopping
- Satisfy your sweet tooth at the Chocolate Museum
- Photograph the Famous Arch
- See the city from Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint
- Tour a Coffee Farm
- Visit Caoba Farms

Optional: Not included in starting price

This morning you will be met at your hotel after breakfast for a private transfer to Pacaya volcano.

Located just outside the capital of Guatemala City, Pacaya Volcano rises to 2,552m and is one of three active volcanoes in Guatemala. After a period of dormancy, it's been active since 1965, sometimes more dramatically than at other times! 

It is about an hour drive from Antigua to the Pacaya National Park and the trailhead in the small village of San Francisco de Sales. The roughly 2 mile trail is relatively steep but well maintained and climbs steadily through farmland and pine forest before arriving on an exposed ridge offering a panoramic view of Pacaya's smoking black cone, miles of old blackened lava flows and the volcanoes to the north around Antigua and Lake Atitlan. 

The hike continues onto the barren moonscape of the lava flows where you'll be able to roast marshmallows over hot spots for a smores ala Guatemala! We'll enjoy a picnic lunch with a view of the crater from afar before returning to your hotel.

For the duration of your private tour within Guatemala you will have a private vehicle and a driver to accompany you for the duration of your Guatemala adventure. You will then have local guides for each local activity. While your local guides do speak English, the level may be slightly more basic than city based guides you will encounter on other guided tours. 

This is an amazing opportunity to interact with a local Guatemala who will be incredibly proud to show you their country on this unique road trip

After breakfast, you will meet your private driver who will be with you for the rest of your trip. They will transfer you to Chichicastenango which will take approximately 3 hours. Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you to visit the Chichicastenango market. 

Market days are held every Sunday and Thursday and draw not only the K'iche' Maya of the surrounding region, but vendors from all over Guatemala, representing many of Guatemala's linguistic groups such as Mam, Ixil, Kaqchikel among others. You will also be able to visit the church, which is important and iconic monument for the indigenous and Mayan history and witness special ceremonies.

Lunch is included at a real Mayan home, then continue your transfer for approximately 1 hour to Lake Atitlan where you will check in and have the evening at leisure. 

Hotel Atitlan is a rustic-style property offering extensive gardens and panoramic views of Atitlan Lake. It has an outdoor pool, hot tub, and a botanical garden.

The elegant rooms have wrought iron furniture, cable TV, and views of the gardens and the lake. Some units have a fireplace. The private bathroom provides free toiletries and the restaurant at Hotel Atitlan serves international-style cuisine. 

Today you will have a private tour of an indigenous village. Your local guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel and transfer you via boat to two of the twelve villages that surrounds Lake Atitlan. 

The first village is San Juan as it is famous for its naïf art galleries, town murals and natural dyes textiles. This town is set as an example of organization and tourism destination among the highlands. Its beauty and cooperatives have set it as the perfect village. 

Then, you will jump back into the boat and transfer to Santiago, a village located on the south end, home to Maximon, a pagan saint who drinks moonshine and smoke cigars. Maximon is visited every day by locals, healers and tourists asking for favors. 

Lunch is in included at a local venue, then you will transfer back to your hotel. 

Optional: Not included in starting price

This morning wake up to an impressive view over the Lake. After breakfast, you will board a boat to take you to  the local town of Santa Cruz where you will pick up your Kayaks for the day. 

You will paddle for approximately 45 minutes along delightful peninsulas admiring the shore's beautiful gardens. The views are spectacular with three stunning volcanoes, Atitlan, San Pedro, and Toliman all around you. 

After kayaking you will start the hike to Tzununa. The hike takes you several hundred feet above the ever-changing waters of Atitlan for breath taking views of the famous volcanoes. Then you will descend into the Pumpatin Canyon for a nature walk along the banks of the river. You will experience two different ecosystems as we walk from the upper lakeshore into the narrow canyon. Afterwards, you will be transferred back to your hotel via boat

Enjoy a morning at leisure and then at noon your guide will transfer you to Guatemala City Airport for your onward flight. This will take approximately 4 hours.  

This elegant hotel is located within a tropical estate, on the edge of the Petenchel and Monifata Lagoons. White-tailed deer and peccaries are bred in the grounds, and the hotel features an outdoor pool.

Villa Maya’s air-conditioned rooms have stylish décor and feature a furnished balcony with garden, forest and lagoon views. All come with private bathroom and Wi-Fi is available for a charge.

Villa Maya’s restaurant serves a varied menu of international and regional dishes, and offers a BBQ on Sundays. There is also a bar-cafeteria and room service is available.

The hotel is well located for exploring this exotic area, with its jungles filled with numerous species of bird, monkey and tropical plant. Nature trails, bike and binocular rental and horse riding are just some of the services on offer.

Today you will have a tour of the famous Tikal. Your local tour guide will meet you at the lobby to transfer you to the Tikal National Park. Your guide will show you the layout of the temples, architecture, history, some theories of why the Mayans disappeared and if you are lucky a few monkeys, parrots, macaws and toucans will be on site. 

Tikal is the city and ceremonial centre of the ancient Maya civilization and the largest urban centre in the southern Maya lowlands, it stood 19 miles (30 km) north of Lake Petén Itzá in what is now the northern part of the region of Petén, Guatemala, in a tropical rainforest. The Tikal ruins are the central attraction of Tikal National Park, which was established in the 1950s and designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. 

Tikal was first occupied as a small village in the Middle Formative Period (900–300 BCE); subsequently, in the Late Formative Period (300 BCE–100 CE), it became an important ceremonial centre with the construction of major pyramids and temples. Its heyday, however, came in the Late Classic Period (600–900 CE), with the planning and construction of its great plazas, pyramids, and palaces, the appearance of Maya hieroglyphic writing and complex systems of time-counting, and the flowering of Maya art as seen in monumental sculpture and vase painting.  

After the tour, enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the middle of the jungle. Afterwards, your driver will take you to the airport for your flight to Guatemala City. 

Travel Just 4U's representative in Mexico will meet you at the airport upon arrival. They will be holding a sign with the Travel Just 4U Logo after you leave the secure area with your bags. Please do not leave the area until you have found your driver.

They will escort you to your private transfer to Tulum (which will take approximately 1.5 hours)  and bring you to your hotel for check in. At this time they will present you with a detailed itinerary for your experiences in Mexico. This is your chance to run through specific pick up times and logistics for your tours in the country.  If you have any questions regarding your itinerary, ask them now.

For the duration of your private tour within Mexico you will have a private vehicle and a driver guide to accompany you for the duration of your Mexican adventure. While your driver guide does speak English, the level may be slightly more basic than city based guides you will encounter on other guided tours. 

This is an amazing opportunity to interact with a local Mexican who will be incredibly proud to show you their country on this unique road trip. 

Please speak to your consultant if you would like to have a driver and a guide for your private tour. 

*Note: Mandatory service fee USD $8 per room per night to be paid directly at the hotel.

Situated within Tulum National Park, this stylish hotel offers private access to a beautiful white sand beach. Each room has a veranda overlooking the tropical gardens or the Caribbean Sea.

Enjoy a complete beach experience in the eco-chic environment by spending the day at the gorgeous Beach Club. Spoil yourself savouring great food, delightful drinks, and a unique, natural vibe.

Hip Hotel Tulum is located just 1 km from the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum. The Sian-Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, which includes rainforests and coral reefs, is a 15-minute drive away.

The Hip Hotel’s beachfront bar-restaurant serves Mexican fusion cuisine and offers panoramic sea views. There is also coffee lounge with free Wi-Fi.

Rooms have simple, elegant décor and a modern bathroom. All rooms include a safe, a ceiling fan and mosquito nets. Free bottled water is also provided.

Tulum has a New Age vibe, jungle-shrouded restaurants and white sand beaches that have made it Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula hot spot. Once a sleepy off-the-grid beach town, Tulum is now a popular Mexican Caribbean vacation destination that offers countless activities and adventures for visitors. Here’s our pick of the best activities around.

Dive into the Gran Cenote: One of the advantages to being in the Yucatan Peninsula is that you’re surrounded by natural sinkholes, otherwise known as cenotes. In Tulum, you’ll be within a stone’s throw of some of the area’s most magnificent examples – El Gran Cenote, Calavera and Carwash are some of the most well known

Go swimming in the Caribbean: Yes, OK, it sounds obvious, but it’s actually one of the very best things to do in Tulum. When the ocean is calm, it’s crystal clear and you can see right down to the bottom.

Check out turtles in their natural habitat: If you’re into nature, then this is undoubtedly one of the must-do things to do when visiting Tulum. Each year from May to October, most of the coastline experiences sea turtle nesting season.

Visit the Mayan ruins: This is arguably the biggest cultural pull Tulum offers, and it’s easy to see why, as year after year tourists flock to these superbly located Mayan ruins.

Try out the ceviche at El Camello: This has long been one of Tulum’s favorite food spots due to the ridiculously fresh and flavorsome ceviche and seafood served on the daily.

Stop off at multidisciplinary museum Sfer IK: This multidisciplinary museum located in a huge sphere made from natural materials features visual artists, workshops and artist residencies focusing on interdisciplinary projects and new ways of experiencing and creating art.

Optional: Not included in starting price

You will be picked up form your hotel for this half day cenote visit. Dos Ojos  (Two Eyes Cenote) is part of a flooded cave system located north of Tulum. You will be able to experience the largest system of underwater caves and grottos on earth. The visibility through the water is amazing and snorkelling as well as diving can be practiced and the water temperature is ideal for snorkelling at a constant 24-25 degrees Celsius throughout the year 

Certified guides accompany you into the underwater world, a dreamland with crystal clear water where you can literally sense the timeless forces of nature. You will explore a stretch of 500m of the cave, which is painted in a fascinating play of light and colors and enjoy the refreshing waters of this breathtaking cenote. 

Optional: Not included in starting price 

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel for this half day shared tour. Known for its complex environment, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is a unique natural attraction to visit in Mexico. From the thick Yucatan jungle, freshwater marshes extend out through lagoons and even Mayan-built canals, all the way to a thriving barrier reef in the Carribean Sea. Perhaps it’s all of this reflective water for which the Mayans called this area “Sian Ka’an,” meaning “Origin of the Sky.” 

This excursion to the Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve starts south of Tulum. After an adventurous ride on the narrow headland, you reach the old and new bridge of Boca Paila, also called Puente de Madera - here the water of the protected lagoon meets the Caribbean Sea, and this is a place where you can regularly observe sea turtles, crocodiles, dolphins, manatees and countless bird species. 

In Paso Lagartos we take a boat to go to Punta Allen, the southernmost point of the peninsula. If the ocean current allows, there will be nothing to prevent you from taking a snorkeling trip. After lunch in Punta Allen, we return to Tulum by land. 

Your driver will pick you up from your hotel this morning for your transfer to Merida. Along the way you will visit a cenote and the famous Chichén Itzá. 

Only after two years of preparatory work by the women of Yokdzonot was the cenote of the same name reopened for the public in 2007. The oval body of water, measuring more than 100m in circumference, is characterized by 18m vertical walls that in many places are almost hidden by what seems to be curtains of thick mangrove roots. You can enjoy a refreshing swim here, but also use a zip line to glide over the cenote. Activities bring appetite, and so there is a restaurant where you can get tasteful meal. 

You will then head on towards Chichén Itzá - one of the New 7 Wonders of the World – is the best restored of Yucatan’s Mayan sites. To date, only about 30 of the many buildings buried at Chichén Itzá and overgrown by the jungle have been uncovered and restored. “El Castillo,” the most impressive building (30m), rises far beyond the site. “El Caracol” reminds us of a snail shell. The observatory was used by the Maya, among other things, for observing Venus and its orbit.

Once you have visited the site, you will jump back in the car and take the 1 hour drive to Merida to check in to your hotel and have the rest of the evening at leisure. 

Gamma Mérida El Castellano has an outdoor swimming pool with sun loungers. It is just 350m from Mérida’s main square and 16th century cathedral. On-site parking and free Wi-fi are available.

El Castellano’s rooms are classic in design with tile flooring. All rooms have cable TV and ironing facilities. The rooms are air-conditioned and have private bathrooms with amenities.

The hotel restaurant serves typical Yucatan cuisine, as well as international dishes.

Don't just stay near historic sites in Mexico - actually stay inside one when you visit the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton hotel in Mexico City - Centro Historico. Located a short walk to the Zocalo Plaza, Metropolitian Cathedral, Templo Mayor ruins, numerous museums and the busy government and business center of downtown Mexico City.

This historic hotel offers stunning architecture from the 1800s combined with modern amenities such as free high-speed internet access, only blocks from the Zocalo and Historic District of Mexico City.

Rooms offer air conditioning, desk, cable TV and private bathroom. WiFi is offered throughout. Hampton Inn & Suites Mexico City - Centro Historico features a free hot breakfast every morning. After breakfast, adults can workout in the fitness center, while the kids enjoy the game room.

Today you will have a  private full day tour to visit Teotihuacán & Acolman. Your first stop will be the huge pyramid complex of Teotihuacán. It was the first city in the “New World.” Built between 250 BC and 700 AD, its population, in its heyday, amounted to approximately 125,000 – 250,000 people in about 2,300 apartment complexes; at that time, it certainly was the largest metropolis on the American continent. Only when you walk along the mighty “Avenue of the Dead” (about 1 km long) will you become aware of the dimensions of the site. The excavations, which have been executed for many years and are still systematically continued, expanding our knowledge of this past civilization every day.

Next you will continue on to Acolman (15 minute car ride.) The former Convent of San Agustín Acolman, one of the oldest church buildings of the Conquista period, has a façade reminiscent of a fortress. Although this impression is mitigated by the Plateresque church portal, the fortification elements of the mighty 16th century building are still well recognizable. The large cloister in the larger of two atriums impresses the visitor with wonderful columns in Isabelino style and shows carefully exposed wall paintings. The open chapel with its outward layout and a fresco of St. Catarina was intended to promote the Christianization of the “infidels”, who, some state, were much more at ease in the open air than in the darkness inside the church walls.

Afterwards, you'll head back to mexico City to have a tour of the center with a visit of the presidential palace, the Zócalo and the cathedral. Surrounded by the twin volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, there are more than 25 million people are today living in Mexico City. You will then have the evening at leisure. 

Your guide will collect you from your hotel for a tour of the historic silver town of Taxco, a listed heritage. Located at an altitude of 1,660m in the lush vegetation of the mountains of Guerrero, it is known mainly for the old silver mines and the magnificent Santa Prisca Church. Besides the Silver Museum with exhibits on the history of the precious metal in Mexico and the development of the silversmith's art, you'll visit the artfully decorated Santa Prisca Church, built entirely in Churrigueresque Baroque.

From here you will continue on for 90 minutes to the town of Cuernavaca. Besides the cathedral of Cuernavaca, you'll visit the famous Borda Gardens with their interesting fountains. Later you will admire the famous Rivera frescoes in the Palace of Cortés; the building itself is one of the first examples of Spanish secular buildings in the New World. On the horizon you see the white summits of the volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl before returning to Mexico City. 

Today you will be able to visit both the Anthropological Museum and the museum Dolores Olmedo Patiño as well as the floating gardens of Xochimilco. 

The Museo Nacional de Antropología is the most frequented museum in Mexico. It has 12 exhibition halls, each of which is dedicated to a different pre-Columbian civilization of Mexico and which total an area of nearly 80,000-m². Designed in 1964 by a team led by architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, the monumental construction impresses its visitors especially with a mighty pillar in the patio that supports a huge concrete umbrella. Discover the civilizations of the Olmec, Toltec, Aztecs and Maya, among many others.

From here you will then head to Xochimilco to visit the floatign gardens and museum. Xochimilco is a district in the south of Mexico City and known for its floating gardens that the Aztecs created on Lake Texcoco to supply victuals to its capital. The channels of the “Huertos Flotantes” have a total length of more than 150 km. The gardens were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and are popular with both the inhabitants of Mexico City and tourists. You will board a small boat to be able to get to know the gardens.

Afterwards you will visit the museum Dolores Olmedo Patiño. Here you find important works of Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Angelina Beloff and Fernando Gamboa. Olmedo owned a successful construction company and was a loyal patron of the mentioned artists. 1992 she handed the hacienda over to the “people of Mexico.”

Mexico City offers both modern and historic attractions for visitors. Some our our recommended key spots are listed below. 

• Walk around the Zocalo (the main square)
• Explore the beautiful park Bosque de Chapultepec
• Visit the Palacio de Bellas Artes
• Wander through boutiques in La Condesa
• Eat your way through the city at taco stands, small corner shops or world class dining.