The Mad Englishman’s Gardens

TAMPICO-VALLES

4 DAYS (Snack)                                             $225 PER PERSON

This tour is fantastic! Great seafood in the tropical port of Tampico on the Gulf of Mexico. Then lush, tropical foliage! Colorful Indian markets! Stay downtown in Valles and visit the local bakery also serving coffee to your taste.  Perhaps have them grind and blend it to take home.  Your tour will take you to the bustling port city of Tampico, to the Indian markets of the Huastecas region and to the capital city of Cd. Victoria.  The scenery will be just as diverse from grain fields to cattle ranches, from cotton fields to avocado and mango orchards.  A real kaleidoscope of nature with history and culture an added plus.  Come join in for a relaxing and educational four day weekend.

DAY 1 - After leaving the Rio Grande Valley, we travel through a rich sorghum growing area to San Fernando, through cattle raising country to Soto La Marina, then through fields of onions, tomatoes, peppers, and garbanzos into the bustling seaport city of Tampico,  where it seems all the world must meet.  Our hotel is one half block from the  recently remodeled main square - a great place to people watch. After your welcome at the hotel, visit the Plaza de La Libertad with restored buildings sporting lacy wrought iron balconies shipped from New Orleans. Back at the main square, you will probably meet many young people eager to practice their English.  Overnight at the Mansion Real  in Tampico.

DAY 2 - Explore Tampico, the 12th largest city in Mexico. Visit the Cathedral,  the main port and Maritime Custom House(depends on permission from the Port Authorities).   Actually there are three different ports moving petroleum, cement, and general merchandise down the Panuco River to the Gulf and beyond. Drive by the Carpinter’s Lagoon en route to the beach where you can wiggle your toes in the sand. Jo will treat you to a special surprise before lunch.   After lunch, cross the Panuco River on the tallest bridge in Mexico for a panoramic view of the Tampico harbor outlined by tall swaying coconut palms.  En route to Valles, visit the ruins near the town of Tamuin. Arrive at our hotel in time to explore the grounds and admire the tropical plants. The green area around the pool is especially refreshing. Overnight at the Hotel Mision in Cd. Valles. 

DAY 3 - Sunday is market day at many  nearby Indian villages in the surrounding mountains.  Follow the Pan American Highway detouring to Tacanowitz, where you may see Totonacan Indian women wearing brightly colored  headpieces.  Interesting sights greet you such as fertile eggs, boiled roots of Spanish daggers (yucca) , all types of medicinal herbs, dried beans of all colors and coffee beans both regular and decaf  - all spread out for your perusal.  Climb higher through beautiful forests to  Xilitla, also celebrating their market day.  Visit nearby the gardens of Sir Edward James, the "mad Englishman", who fancied himself an architect.  Much of his philosophy is displayed in his gardens and in buildings that have stairways leading to nowhere!  Verdant growth twines around many of his sculptures.  You will enjoy an included snack on the banks of a peaceful, clear bubbly stream before returning to Valles for a late lunch.  On our return to Valles, a roadside stand will tempt you with orange blossom honey and honey liqueur.  Go with your guide to visit Taninul and a museum housing Huastecan artifacts.  Overnight at the Hotel Mision in  Cd. Valles.                                         Snack                                                                                                                                                                        

DAY 4 - Nobody  ever wants to leave this tropical paradise but today we must start home. Travel past sugarcane fields and mango and orange orchards  stopping at a primitive sugar mill where you can buy honey and brown sugar cones to sweeten your coffee back home.  On to Cd. Victoria, state capital of Tamaulipas, for our lunch break.  Catch fleeting glimpses of  man made Lake Guerrero crossing back into the Rio Grande Valley around 6:30p.m.

PRICE PER PERSON                          DEPARTURE DATES                   

Single    - $289                                                          January 30, 2004

Double   - $225                                                          February 20, 2004

Triple     - $215                                                          March 12, 2004

Departs from Brownsville at 6:00a.m.; from Harlingen at 6:30a.m.; from Weslaco at 7:00a.m.; from McAllen at 7:30a.m.; and from Mission at 8:00a.m.

Currently there is NO CHARGE for the Mexican Visa on Land Tours of 7 days or less.