| Mexico Vacations - Archaelogy and Magic Guided Tour |
ARCHAEOLOGY AND MAGIC GUIDED TOUR
(min 2 Pax)
11 days / 10 nights
DAILY DEPARTURE
Arrival
transfer to the hotel. |
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City tour - Shrine
of Guadalupe - Pyramids of Teotihuacan. During the morning visit the main
streets and avenues of Mexico City. Visit to the main square (called Zocalo,
the National Palace in which you will admire the magnificent frescoes of
Diego Rivera (closed on sundays). The frescoes narrate with images the most
important events of our history during three centuries. We will see the
ruins of the main temple of the Aztecs as well as the Cathedral. Then, you
will make a stop in a handicraft center. On to Chapultepec Park, residential
area, where you will see the homes of famous artists. In the afternoon, on
the way to the sanctuary of Guadalupe short stop by the "Plaza de las 3
Culturas", where you see 3 different periods in the history of mexico
represented by 3 different kind of buildings: an archeological site, a
catholic church and a modern building of foreign affairs ministry.
We continue our
tour to the Basilica, where you will see the original image of the virgin
mary appeard on a simple piece of fabric belonging to the indian juan diego.
You will see both basilicas, the one of the XVIII century and the one
devoted to the virgin almost three decades ago. On a modern highway we will
reach the site of Teotihuacan "where men become gods" during your tour you
will have the time and opportunity to climb the amazing Pyramids of the Sun
and the Moon as well as to visit the Palace of Quetzal-Butterfly, the
Feather-Snake-temple and the Avenue of the Death as well as the Citadel. (10
hrs) |
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Transfer to the
airport. Flight to Oaxaca. Arrival transfer. Continue with visit to the
archeological site of Monte Alban. This archaeological site was one of the
first cities constructed in America. Founded in 800 a.c. arqueologists have
determined different construction periods. In the 3rd century of our era
Monte Alban reached its height with an extension of almost 7 square kms and
a population about 25,000 inhabitants. From its amazing location on the top
of a mountain, the Zapotecs took control of the central valleys in all
concernings the economy, politics and religion of the area. Its culture
reached noticeable progress in the sciences and arts like: arquitecture,
astronomy, medicine and engineering. During the visit you will see the Ball
Court, the Palace, the Observatory, the famous Dancers carved on stone
stelaes and the tombs 7 and 104 of this huge complex, which are some of the
most important structures in this site. (duration of visit: 04 hrs) |
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Mitla - Tule tree
- City visit Oaxaca. Mitla was the most important city in Oaxaca in the
Postclassic Era and is undoubtely a very good exemple of the most advanced
arquitecture in Mesoamerica. Mitla is an interesting and particular case in
mexican archeology since the site is surrounded by the present village of
San Pablo de Mitla and this is a living proof of a place which has been
inhabitated since the prehistoric time. Its magnificent buildings were
constructed in the X century d.c. when the city became an important cultural
and political center. Its constructions prove the high level of techniques
and sofistication of the Mixtec people. / Tule tree. The impressive tree
belongs to the Cypress family. It is over 2000 years old. Its height is 42
meters and its perimeter is almost 58 meters.
The city was
founded in the heart of a wide valley at 1500 meters over sea level. Santo
Domingo church with its adjacent Dominican Exconvent. The interior of the
church is a masterpiece of mexican baroque and rococo. The exconvent is at
present the Regional Museum and houses magnificent sculptures among other
objetcts of the zapotec and mixtec cultures, including the treasure and
findings of tomb no. 7 from Monte Alban. The main square is surrounded by
ancient buildings like the Governor's Palace provided with elegant porticos.
The solid construction of the Cathedral is a good exemple that the buildings
in Oaxaca had to be constructed to resist the centuries. Low and massive, it
had to suffer various constructive and restauration stages. Its main facade
made out of green quarry shows a rich variety of baroque ornaments. Juarez
Market is like a huge showroom of the oaxaque? cuisine. The exceptional variety
of products yield an incredible mixture of colors
and aromas. |
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Departure
transfer. Flight to Villahermosa (flight ticket not included). Arrival
transfer to the hotel. |
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Visit in the
morning to the archeological site of Palenque, one of the most interesting
mayan cities from the classic era. Lunch included. Afterwards transfer back
to the airport of Villahermosa. Flight Villahermosa - Merida. Arrival and
transfer to the hotel. |
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Morning at
leisure. At 13:00 transfer to Uxmal . Visit to the archeological site, which
is located at 80 kms south of Merida. It is considered undoubtely as one of
the most beautiful mayan ruins cities. The dimensions of its buildings and
the fine carvings of its facades is astonishing. According to a legend, the
big pyramid of the dwarf was made in only one night. In uxmal you can
observe the purest mayan architecture without foreign influences, such as
the one of the Toltecs in Chichen Itza. The date of foundation of Uxmal is
not exactly known, but it is estimated around the V or VI century of our
era.an example of pure Puuc-Style in its buildings like the Pyramid of the
Magician. Light and sound show in the evening. Dinner included. Back to
Merida. (08 hrs) |
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Early departure
and two and a half hours transfer to the archeological site of Chichen Itza.
Visit of historical site to see the ancient buildings like: the Observatory,
the 70 feet height Pyramid of Kukulkan, the Jaguar Temple, the Sacred Well
and the Ball Court among others. Lunch included. On to Cancun. Transfer to
your hotel. (10 hrs) |
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Departure transfer
to the airport. |
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Note: Airline
tickets are not included in the rate
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