Best of México City / Toluca / Cuernavaca / Taxco / Tepoztlán

Plan to gather in the lobby of our downtown México City hotel at 6:00pm to meet-up with our México historian guide. A quick overview of the coming days will be given and afterwards, we will all enjoy a nice Welcome to México Dinner.

Then we’ll go get a birds eye view of the México City lights from an observation deck of the Torre Latinoamerica Tower. 

We will sleep in México City for 3 nights.  (D)

In our first full day in México City, we’ll head out on a walking tour of the central historic area of the city.

We’ll walk along Calle Madero, the pedestrian street linking México City’s main plaza to the other downtown areas and marvel at the old churches and several buildings which were at one time, spacious private palaces.

We’ll also visit the old ornate post office, Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Palace), stroll through the oldest planned city park in the Americas, and go to a Diego Rivera Museum which houses just one huge painting. At almost 50 feet long, this intricate and colorful mural depicts historical and contemporary figures.

We’ll walk to the main plaza to visit the huge Metropolitan Cathedral, the century’s old Palacio Nacional (government palace) with its beautiful murals, and explore the partially uncovered ruins of the two great pyramids from the age of the Aztec empire. We’ll also visit the Templo Mayor Museum which showcases the archaeological artifacts found in and around this ancient city ruins site.

The evening is free to relax or go wandering.  (B,L) 

Following breakfast, our host guide will lead us into the depths of the city to experience how millions of local residents each day get around. We will board México City’s underground Metro trains which will take us from the east side to the west side of the city.

Our agenda today will be to tour Castillo de Chapultepec. This magnificent castle sits high on top of a hill on the west end of the city overlooking a huge park and in the distance, it has a commanding view of the Paseo de la Reforma. 

This castle on the hill is also the home of México’s National History Museum. This museum gives visitors an overview of the history of México from the Spanish conquest to the early 1900s. Large colorful murals and paintings were created by several prominent Mexican artists showcasing a visual adaptation of some key periods in this country’s history.

After lunch, we’ll tour some of the city in a unique and fun way; while riding on Segways. After practicing only a few minutes, everyone will feel like a pro and be ready to hit the streets, paths, and parks.

These standup 2-wheel vehicles will whisk us around the area of Paseo de la Reforma. The construction of this wide main avenue in México City was inspired by the well-known boulevard in Paris, the Champs-Élysées.

This 2½ hour tour will showcase the area around Chapultepec Park, Reforma Avenue, and the Plaza de La República.

After this fun and educational ride, we’ll return to our hotel. 

The evening is free to enjoy this century’s old capital city.  (B,L) 

This morning we’ll check out of our hotel and travel west to the small town of Metepec located in the State of México. This Pueblo Mágico is known for its artisan market where items of clay and glass are crafted locally. One of their showcased items is what is called El Arbol de la Vida or The Tree of Life. These colorful works of clay art depict characters found in a tree-like formation which represent birth, life, and death.

The Museo del Barro (clay museum) houses some beautiful examples of these Trees of Life.

We’ll also visit the Capilla del Calvario, a small 18th century chapel on a hill overlooking the town and the Ex Convent of San Juan Bautista which was built in the early 16th century by the Franciscan order.

Lunch will be at one of the many nice small restaurants located in Metepec’s downtown area.

Note that Metepec is located at over 8,600 feet above sea level which is higher than México City’s 7,400 feet. With the thinner air, walking may become a little more challenging.

Just a hop and skip away is the capital city of the State of México; Toluca. We will sleep here for 2 nights.  (B,L) 

Our exploration today begins in the main plaza of Toluca where we’ll visit the massive and impressive Toluca Cathedral.

On another side of the main plaza is the Cosmovitral Botanical Garden. This indoor garden is filled with many different plants. However, the other big attraction is the magnificent colored stained glass found throughout its large atrium. Upon entering, immediately we will encounter the “Sun Man” (Hombre Sol). This large and tall mural was constructed with ½ million small pieces of colored glass. Additionally, the ceiling is covered in stained glass showcasing the artist’s interpretation of the Milky Way Galaxy.

The Museo de Bellas Artes will also be on our itinerary of one of the places we’ll go check out. This art museum is located in a former convent and houses traveling exhibits of artwork spanning the 16th to the 19th centuries. During our visit, it will be a surprise as to what artwork we will encounter.

After lunch, a few short miles outside of the city will bring us to a small ancient archaeological site called Caliztlahuaca. One of the interesting things about this site is that one of the structures is a round pyramid temple which was built by the Aztecs in the late 15th century. While there, our guide will reveal the story behind this temple and the history of this small Aztec outpost. 

We’ll sleep in Toluca.  (B,L)

Today we’ll check out and travel to another recognized Pueblo Mágico, Malinalco.

Sitting in a valley surrounded by low mountains, the center of town has an excellent 400 year old monestary called the Ex-Convento Augustino de la Transfiguración. Inside we’ll discover a series of very ornate black & white frescos which represent the Garden of Eden.

This ex-convent is attached to the Parroquia del Divino Salvador. Both structures were built in the mid to late 1500s.

Today we will also get a little workout by walking up 426 steps to an interesting archaeological ruins site by the name of Cuauhtenchan. The uniqueness of this site is that some of the structures are actually carved into a side of a cliff. This site was used by the Aztecs to hold celebration ceremonies for their most elite warriors.

From this high vantage point there are excellent views of the town and surrounding countryside.

Later in the day, our small touring group will travel into another Mexican state, the state of Morelos. Our destination will be the city of Cuernavaca.

There we will check into our hotel near  for 2 nights. The evening is free to relax or go out to exploring.  (B,L)  

After breakfast, it will be time to explore The City of Eternal Spring. In Cuernavaca, the weather just seems to always be pleasant. Depending on the time of year its many parks and gardens are usually filled with flowering plants which thrive in the temperate weather.

Many well-to-do families from México City have houses in the suburbs of Cuernavaca to get away from the crowds, traffic, and pollution of the big city.

A plus on this day is that most of the historical locations our guide will be showing us are all within walking distance of each other. It should be noted that some of the streets have a nice incline to them.

Today we’ll get to see some of the oldest churches constructed in the Americas. They were built in the early 1500s not long after the completion of the Spanish conquest against the Aztecs.

Speaking of the Spanish invasion, the leader, Hernán Cortés built a beautiful palace which now houses a history museum.  Several murals painted by the famous Mexican painter, Diego Rivera are showcased her.

The rest of the day and evening will be free to explore or relax.  (B,L) 

After checking out, we’ll travel south into the state of Morelos to explore the extensive, well-preserved, and fortified archaeological ruins site of Xochicalco. This ancient city which sits on a hill was in its heyday back between 700 and 900 AD. It is estimated that upwards of 20,000 people had lived there at any one time. All indications show us that it was a prominent commercial trading center.

After a morning of historical exploration climbing around this ancient city, it will be time for lunch in a nearby restaurant.

Then we’ll continue our exploration journey by traveling south and west to cross into the state of Guerrero and to the small  compact colonial city of Taxco. We will sleep here for 2 nights.  (B,L)

The city of Taxco was constructed to house the miners who worked in the surrounding hills where silver was discovered in 1534 by the Spanish invaders. It quickly became a dominant location for the silver industry.

With its cobbled narrow streets without sidewalks, this colonial city is quite different from most of the other Spanish-built cities found in México. The streets twist and wind uphill and downhill as if the city was one big maze.

Today we will meet up with a local Taxco tour guide who will lead us around the city to visit several locations of interest. 

Lunch will be at a restaurant located high up on one of the hills surrounding the city. In fact, to reach it, we’ll take a gondola to get there. The views of the town below from the hotel’s veranda are spectacular.

Later, there will be time to browse around in some of the many stores selling silver items. 

We’ll sleep another night in Taxco.  (B,L) 

This morning after checking out of our hotel, a short ride will bring us to the entrance of one of the largest cave systems in the world. Grutas de Cacahuamilpa is an underground México National Park. This limestone cave is located in the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains near the Guerrero-Morelos state line.

These underground caverns consisting of limestone contain 90 giant salons (very large rooms with very tall ceilings). Twenty of these huge rooms have been lighted and open to the public.

We will go on a tour to view some of these giant salons.

Note: The constructed walking paths are lighted, smooth, and wide.

After hiking out of this underground wonderland, it will be time for lunch at a typical local restaurant.

After lunch, we’ll visit a place called, Jardines de México (Gardens of México). This park is huge! In fact, it is advertised as the largest flower park in the world.

Note: Between the underground cave and this huge botanical garden complex, prepare to enjoy a day of walking several miles.

We will have an opportunity to rest as we travel north to overnight in the México Magic Town of Tepoztlàn for the next 2 nights.  (B,L) 

The peaceful town of Tepoztlán (except on weekends when many tourists and locals descend from nearby México City to the north) sits in a highland mountain valley with a backdrop of interestingly shaped mountains which at times are partially shrouded in a mystical misty cloud cover.

Our guide who grew up not far from this town will lead us on a walking tour which will include a visit to the Ex-Convento Dominico de La Navidad, a well-preserved late 16th century structure which is still used to this day as a Catholic church. This ancient monastery has a garden area as well as a small regional museum. 

We’ll also visit some artisan galleries and meet some of the local artists.

Sitting high up on one of the mountain cliffs is a small pyramid called El Pirámide del Tepozteco. The Aztecs built this temple to honor their god who they believed would give them fertile soil and a good harvest.

The path leading up to this structure is a 1½ mile trek up 1700 feet of weathered paths and stone steps. This 1½-2 hour climb will be optional. For those of us who are up for the challenge and would like to see this pyramid, our other reward will be an excellent valley view vista. It should be noted that there are some rest areas along the uphill trail to the top for some well-deserved breaks.

For those of us who decide not to take up this adventurous endeavor, we’ll have time to stroll through the streets to explore its many small stores, have a cup of coffee at one of its many cafes, and perhaps be daring by trying some unique flavored ice creams such as carrot, cactus or avocado. Or we can just find a nice spot to sit and enjoy the weather and the laidback Mexican ambiance happening around us. 

We’ll sleep here this night.  (B,L)  

After breakfast, it will be time to continue traveling north to an interesting Barrio of México City called Coyoacán. It is actually one of the oldest neighborhoods in México City. 

Based around two large plazas located in the central part of Coyoacán, we will find quite a few restaurants, cafes, bookstores, and street food vendors. Many who have visited this barrio have remarked that it has somewhat of a “Bohemian atmosphere.”

Nearby is the Frida Kahlo Museum which is the house she lived in for most of her life and in later years, with Diego Rivera. It is also called Casa Azul because of course, the house is painted in a deep blue color. In the afternoon, we’ll tour her house to learn about the life of this famous Mexican artist and her relationship with Diego Rivera.

Later, we’ll check into a hotel near the city center of México City for 2 nights.  (B,L) 

On our final full day of touring around central México, we’ll head north to the site of one of México’s most impressive archaeological zones; to the ancient city of Teotihuacán.

Interestingly, little information has been discovered as to the culture and history of this huge complex. What archaeologists have uncovered is that the city was abandoned around 750 AD. However, as to who actually lived there and their reason for leaving is still somewhat of a mystery to this day.

Our guide will lead us on a tour of some of the highlights of this incredible ancient site.

In the evening, everyone will get together for a nice farewell dinner where we can reminisce about the past days of exploring the many interesting places we have visited in the states of Ciudad de México, Estado de México, Guerrero, and Morelos.  (B,L,D)

Our tour ends after breakfast.

There are taxis or Ubers for transportation to the México City Airport.  (B)

Buen Viaje!