ENCHANTING MEXICO
Oaxaca & Puebla…the magic will never leave you!
10 DAYS $675 PER PERSON*
Enchanting Mexico! The magic - the people, the land, the history, the culture - all will enlighten and enrich you at every turn. From the cosmopolitan cities to the ancient pre-Hispanic pyramids, from the musical, soft tones of the language to the beautiful handcrafts. Part of its appeal is its unique ancestry - a rich blend of indigenous cultures and Spanish heritage. The state of Oaxaca, lying south of Mexico City, is considered one of the most Indian states of all Mexico. Definitely it is one of the most interesting yet least visited areas of Mexico. Come, let us be enchanted!
DAY 1 - We’re on our way to one of the most exciting destinations in all of Mexico.....Oaxaca.....beautiful, different, historical! Morning drive over a divided highway through Monterrey and Saltillo and on to San Luis Potosi for our first overnight in Mexico. Jo has a delightful musical treat in store for you. You will love it! Overnight at the Real Plaza in San Luis Potosi.
DAY 2 - Walking tour of the most interesting points in San Luis Potosi before our travels take us to Queretaro, the opal center. View the 18th century aqueducts that once carried water to the city. Visit Jo’s favorite spot, the Convent of the Cross, designed by the same Franciscan architect-monk who designed the Alamo in Texas. Time to shop in the downtown area and to enjoy lunch on your own in one of the outdoor restaurants. On we go to Mexico City, the Heart of Mexico, where your hotel is right on the edge of the Pink Zone. Overnight at the Hotel Plaza Florencia in Mexico City.
DAY 3 - After breakfast, travel through pine forests with glimpses of the two volcanos Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl in the distance. As you approach Puebla, you will see the only Volkswagen plant in the world that once produced the “bug”. A divided highway takes us over the picturesque cactus covered hills into the Valley of Oaxaca. Overnight at the Hotel Fortin Plaza in Oaxaca.
DAY 4 - Each village surrounding Oaxaca has a special art craft. Today, we will visit some of the best known ones - Ocotlan de Morelos where the Aguilar sisters produce brightly painted figurines; San Martin Tilcajete with the most whimsical wooden carved figures you can imagine; Santo Tomas de Jaliesa offering you a wonderful opportunity to buy hand woven cotton table runners, belts and mats in all colors and San Bartolo Coyotepec, well known for the black pottery made famous by Dona Rosa. On our return to Oaxaca, you will have a free afternoon to explore on your own. We suggest you visit the Regional Museum displaying the famous treasures found in Tomb 7 in Monte Alban. Overnight at the Hotel Fortin Plaza in Oaxaca.
DAY 5 - Visit the Mixtec ruins at Mitla, with intricate geometric designs, unsurpassed by any other mosaic stone work in North America. One building boasts 100,000 pieces of stones placed without mortar to form a beautiful pattern. On your return to Oaxaca, stop to view the giant cypress tree at Santa Maria del Tule, said to be the largest in the world and over 2000 years old. Visit the interesting downtown market area - look for fried ants and fried grasshoppers considered a real delicacy. Spend a pleasant afternoon seated at the outdoor tables under the arcades on the main plaza. Overnight at the Hotel Fortin Plaza in Oaxaca.
DAY 6 - Morning visit to the Zapotec ruins of Monte Alban, perched on a mountain peak 400 meters above the valley floor. Explore the ruins and glimpse the grandeur of what was once a highly organized and sophisticated society. Enjoy lunch on your own at the museum before we depart for Puebla arriving in time to visit the second largest cathedral in Mexico before checking in to our nearby hotel. You may want to walk back to the square - a wonderful place for good food, good music and good people watching. Overnight at the Holiday Inn San Leonardo in Puebla.
DAY 7 - Puebla is known for the production of onyx; blue and white talavera; cross-stitched blouses and shawls; the production of the Volkswagen “bug” and the famous battle known as Cinco de Mayo. Drive through the oldest section of Puebla stopping at one of the older markets on our way to the park high on the hillside above the city. Here we visit the Forts of Loreto, where General Zaragoza, born in what is now Texas, fought against the French in the famous battle of Cinco de Mayo. Walking tour of downtown visiting the gem of Puebla, the Rosario Chapel. Time to shop on a street where shop after shop displaying colorful pottery vie for your business. After a late lunch on your own, you will have time to explore any one of the many museums or stores in the center of town. Overnight at the Holiday Inn San Leonardo in Puebla.
DAY 8 - Our drive today will be over beautiful mountains covered with lush vegetation en route to Xalapa, the capital of the state of Veracruz. You will be able to view the Peak of Orizaba, covered year round by snow. Xalapa boasts the State University and an world renowned Archeological Museum that was designed by an American architect. Overnight at the Mision Xalapa in Xalapa.
DAY 9 - Enjoy the scenic drive through coffee “fincas” to the lovely little town of Tuxpan. Then on to Tampico where we spend our last night in Mexico at our centrally located hotel near the main plaza. Overnight at the Hotel Mansion Real in Tampico.
DAY 10 - Our last day takes us through farm and ranch land, orange and avocado orchards on our way to Cd. Victoria for a lunch break. Then homeward we go arriving at the border around 6:30p.m.
NOTE: Always ask permission before taking pictures of individuals. Many Indians in the Valley of Oaxaca do not like to be photographed.
PRICE PER PERSON* DEPARTURE DATES
Single - $899 March 2, 2004
Double - $675 July 22, 2004 (Annual Guelaguetza celebration)
Triple - $649 December 20, 2004 (Annual Night of the Radishes)
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.
*PLUS the Mexican visa fee. We will help you obtain your visa!
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