NOTE: Specials are marked with a *

NOTE: Tour prices are Land Only rates based on per person double occupancy. Please call for triple or child occupancy rates. Taxes and fees are additional for tours that feature a cruise; port taxes are not included in the prices shown. Some dates may feature various changes in hotels, sightseeing and inclusions. Please confirm your specific itinerary at the time of booking.
Airfare is additional and is available through Collette Vacations.

02/26/2011

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12 days, 17 meals
Day 1: Mexico City, Mexico - Tour Begins
Explore Mexico's colonial cities where archaeological sites represent ancient cultures and churches, haciendas, town squares and lively mariachi bands set the stage for your adventure. Enjoy a welcome dinner.

Today dinner will be included.
Day 2: Mexico City, Mexico
Join a local expert to explore Mexico City's Centro Histórico – a UNESCO World Heritage site built atop of the ruins of Tenochtitlán. Discover the Plaza de la Constitución; visit the 16th century Metropolitan Cathedral; view the Aztec ruins of Templo Mayor and travel to Our Lady of Guadalupe pilgrimage center’s famous shrine. Enjoy a presentation on the uses of the cactus plant followed by local craftsmen demonstrating the art of stone crafting and jewellery making. Visit Teotihuacán, a city dating back to 200 BCE. Stroll the Avenue of the Dead for views of the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon. Tonight, attend a folklore ballet showcasing Mexico's dances, music and colourful costumes.

Today breakfast will be included.
Day 3: Mexico City - Querétaro - Guanajuato
Today you visit two UNESCO World Heritage sites. Travel to Querétaro, enjoying time to explore the historic centre where you find beautiful examples of Baroque architecture, restaurants and tree-lined boulevards featuring exquisite colonial buildings. Join in a special visit to El Oasis de los Niños, a foster home for local disadvantaged children. Learn how the Collette Foundation is supporting a nutrition program for the children and perhaps join them in their coloring and sing-a-long activities. Continue to captivating Guanajuato and admire the photogenic twists and turns of its famous streets.

Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Day 4: Guanajuato - Dolores Hidalgo - San Miguel de Allende - Guanajuato
Enjoy a demonstration of Talavera pottery-making at a local workshop where artisans hand-paint designs on vases and tiles. Continue to Dolores Hidalgo, the pueblo where Father Hidalgo proclaimed the independence of Mexico in 1810. A short ride brings you to charming San Miguel de Allende, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A local expert leads your leisurely-paced walking tour of this well-preserved 16th century town. Visit Atotonilco el Grande sanctuary, featuring illustrative murals. Enjoy the remainder of the day exploring San Miguel's cobblestone streets and antique shops.

Today breakfast will be included.
Day 5: Guanajuato - Zacatecas
Explore Guanajuato with a local expert. At the Alhondiga de Granaditos Museum, learn why this colonial city is considered the cornerstone of Mexico's Independence movement. Stroll the main plaza of Union Garden and Mercado Hidalgo before venturing underground to explore a network of tunnels under Guanajuato’s streets! This afternoon, travel through picturesque countryside to Zacatecas – “the city of light and color” and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Day 6: Zacatecas
Travel in a mine car to the depths of El Eden Silver Mine for a captivating tour. Then, enjoy a panoramic cable car ride from El Grillo Mountain to Bufa Hill for incredible city views. Witness how Zacatecan silversmiths fashion metal into jewellery at a local workshop. Visit the fascinating Rafael Coronel Museum with its collection of 4,000 hand-carved and painted masks. Enjoy a walking city tour featuring the Plaza de Armas and the Baroque Cathedral of Zacatecas.

Today breakfast will be included.
Day 7: Zacatecas - Tlaquepaque - Guadalajara
Travel to Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, a renowned artisan center. Enjoy time to shop, sample local cuisine and listen to mariachi bands. Visit Hospicio Cabañas, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the early 20th century, the chapel was decorated with a series of murals by José Clemente Orozco, one of the greatest Mexican muralists from the period. Enjoy a panoramic tour of Guadalajara.

Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Day 8: Guadalajara - Tequila - Guadalajara
The Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is set on 85,000 acres of blue agave fields. Visit an agave field where a local worker demonstrates the planting and cultivation of blue agave. Explore the Mundo Cuervo distillery and museum to see the process of converting the blue agave to various grades of tequila.

Today breakfast will be included.
Day 9: Guadalajara - Pátzcuaro - Morelia
This morning, visit Pátzcuaro, Michoacan, founded in 1540 and known for its grand architecture and natural beauty. Enjoy free time to mingle with locals and explore beautiful Vasco de Quiroga Square. Visit Morelia where the traditions of the Tarascan Indians are evident in their traditional attire and handicrafts.

Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Day 10: Morelia
Enjoy a leisurely-paced locally guided walking tour of Morelia's historic city centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site. View the National Palace, the 18th century aqueduct, and the Baroque-style cathedral. Your afternoon is at leisure.

Today breakfast will be included.
Day 11: Morelia - Mexico City
Return to Mexico City and tour the National Museum of Anthropology, designed by Pedro Ramirez Vasquez. A local expert brings to life engaging exhibits like the Aztec calendar stone, giant stone Olmec heads, and Maya treasures recovered from the sacred Chichen Itza. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner.

Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Day 12: Mexico City - Tour Ends
Your tour ends today in Mexico City.

Today breakfast will be included.