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10 Day Mexico's Colonial Cities
Highlights: Mexico City, Patzcuaro, Guadalajara, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende
Trip start: Mexico City
Trip end: Mexico City
Price Range From $3,338 pp *
* GBP per person based on 2-4 people, double occupancy. Custom designed personal tour. Prices subject to change.

National Geographic Adventure Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth '98.33 Client Satisfaction Rating'

Winner National Geographic 'Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth'
2008 & 2009

Trip Summary
Map of Itinerary
Expand [+]

Discover the magic and history of Mexico's colonial gems; Patzcuaro, Guadalajara, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende and Queretaro! Step back in time to the age in history on this 10 day journey and explore the history of palaces and churches, the precision and care of making the world's finest Tequilas, ancient mummies and their tombs, museums and UNESCO sites. Experience the colonial charms of Patzcuaro before heading off to Guadalajara where you'll learn about the process of Tequila. Visit San Miguel de Allende and learn about Mexico's Colonial. All these with priavate vehicles and expert guides.

Day Activities Hotel
Day 1
Mexico City
  • Meet and Greet
  • Mexico City: Transfer - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Dinner (not included)
JW Marriott 5* (B)
Day 2
Patzcuaro
  • Breakfast (included)
  • Transfer - Morelia-Patzcuaro - Vehicle/Driver/Guide
  • Dinner (not included)
Mansion de los Suenos  (B)
Day 3
Guadalajara
  • Breakfast (included)
  • Patzcuaro: Private - City Tour (1/2 Day) - Vehicle/Driver/Guide
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Transfer - Guadalajara - Vehicle/Driver
  • Dinner (not included)
Camino Real 5* (B)
Day 4
Guadalajara
  • Breakfast (included)
  • Guadalajara: Private - Tequilla and Destileries (5hrs) - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Dinner (not included)
Camino Real 5* (B)
Day 5
Guadalajara
  • Breakfast (included)
  • Private - 1/2 d Tlaquepaque and Tonala Tour - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Dinner (not included)
Camino Real 5* (B)
Day 6
Guanajuato
  • Breakfast (included)
  • Private - 1/2 d City tour - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Transfer - Guanajuato - Vehicle/Driver
  • Dinner (not included)
Camino Real Guanajuato 5* (B)
Day 7
San Miguel de Allende
  • Breakfast (included)
  • Guanajuato: Private - City Tour & Museum of the Mummies - Vehicle/Driver/Guide
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Transfer - San Miguel de Allende - Vehicle/Driver
  • Dinner (not included)
Casa De Sierra Nevada 5* (B)
Day 8
San Miguel de Allende
  • Breakfast (included)
  • San Miguel de Allende: Optional Activities San Miguel de Allende
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Dinner (not included)
Casa De Sierra Nevada 5* (B)
Day 9
Mexico City
  • Breakfast (included)
  • Transfer - Queretaro - Mexico City - Vehicle/Driver/Guide
  • Dinner (not included)
JW Marriott 5* (B)
Day 10
Mexico City
  • Breakfast (included)
  • Mexico City: Transfer - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
Depart  
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, 1/2d = Half Day, Al = All Inclusive

Trip Options
All of our itineraries may be customized as you wish, add extra days, change a hotel, see different sights. Contact one of our expert consultants for your free, no-obligation vacation plan.

Itinerary

Day 1 Mexico City

Mexico City - The capital of Mexico stands at an altitude of 2240m (7350ft) beneath two snow-capped volcanoes, Popocatépetl and Ixtaccíhuatl. In the center of the Centro Histórico (Historic Center) is the Plaza de la Constitución, more commonly referred to as the Zócalo – the main square. The Anthropology Museum holds an enormous and absolutely fascinating collection of Pre-Hispanic artifacts. The Frida Kahlo Museum contains examples of the artist’s work. Another location worth visiting is the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. The shrine that is built around Tepeyac hill and signifies the spot where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to the Indian Juan Diego in 1531. It is now a major pilgrimage site.

Upon arrival you will be met by our local representative who will help you locate your vehicle.

Airport transfer with private vehicle and driver.

One of the premier Mexico City hotels, the JW Marriott Hotel offers luxury accommodations in the exclusive Polanco District. This flagship hotel in Mexico City D.F. is located in the heart of the business and entertainment sector; capturing the sophisticated side of Mexico City. The JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City is internationally renowned and award winning - Conde Nast readers have chosen it as the "Best Overall Hotel in Mexico and Central America" and "Best Hotel for business travelers". This famous Mexico City Hotel is within walking distance of museums, the city's financial hub, and some of Latin America's best shopping dining and night life. All of this, combined with first class service, makes the JW an impressive hotel in Mexico City for business or leisure travel.

Overnight at JW Marriott 5*.


Mexico City
Mexico City
Day 2 Patzcuaro

Pátzcuaro is a large town and municipality located in the state of Michoacán. The town was founded sometime in the 1320’s, at first becoming the capital of the Tarascan state and later its ceremonial center. After the Spanish took over, Vasco de Quiroga worked to make Pátzcuaro the capital of the New Spain, province of Michoacán, but after his death, the capital would be moved to nearby Valladolid (today Morelia). Pátzcuaro has retained its colonial and indigenous character since then, and has been named both a “Pueblo Mágico” and one of the 100 Historic World Treasure Cities by the United Nations. Patzcuaro and the lake region belong to a well-known site for Day of the Dead celebrations.

Enjoy a private guided transfer from Mexico City to Patzcuaro. En route travel through the Desert of Lions and La Marquesa National Park. Enjoy a city sightseeing tour of Morelia and continue onto Patzcuaro. Private Transfer - Full Day

La Mansion de los Sueños was built in the 17th century by Antonio de Ibarra, for whom the street (Ibarra) was also named. The house is located a short walk from Patzcuaro's main plaza. The original classic lines were changed to a neoclassic style in the renovation of 1861. In typical Patzcuaro style the 1st patio was for the family, the 2nd one was the service area, while the corridor led to the stable in the rear patio. The thick adobe walls stand on solid stone foundations. The roofs are made out of beams and split cedar. The three balconies that face Ibarra street are made of beautifully carved stone typical of the neoclassic period.

Overnight at Mansion de los Suenos .


Morelia Church
Morelia Church
Mansion de los Suenos
Mansion de los Suenos
Day 3 Guadalajara

Guadalajara, the capital city of the state of Jalisco in Mexico, is also the second largest city in the country. It is considered a colonial city, though much of it's architecture dates from the independence period.

Enjoy a half day private, guided city tour of Patzcuaro including The Library, The House of Eleven Patios, The Main Plaza and The Basilica de la Salud.

Enjoy a private transfer from Patzcuaro to Guadalajara. Approximately 6 hours in duration. (Vehicle/Driver only)

The architectural design of this horizontal complex, unique in its category, was the work of Don Luis Martínez Negrete. It takes advantage of the extensive greenery, with its 40,000 square meters (430,000 square feet) located on three hectares (7.5 acres) of gardens and recreational areas. This provides our visitors the sense of being in natural surroundings, with a sensation of freedom in the midst of an oasis of freshness and restfulness.

Decorated in contemporary Mexican style, the spacious rooms have terraces and a view of the garden. You can enjoy nature in the middle of the city.

Overnight at Camino Real 5*.


Guadalajara
Guadalajara
Patzcuaro Church
Patzcuaro Church
Room
Room
Day 4 Guadalajara

Tequila´s landscape offers the blue agave plantations and desert hills where since prehispanic times,the tequila is produced. Visit to one of the famous distilleries such as Sauza or Herradura where will be able to see the Tequila process from the agave pineapple is smashed until the liquor is bottled, and of course, a Tequila sampling is offered too.

Overnight at Camino Real 5*.


Tequila Destillery
Tequila Destillery
Day 5 Guadalajara

Take a half day private tour with vehicle and English speaking guide of Tlaquepaque town to explore the streets, full of crafts, color, pottery and folklore. The pottery village of Tlaquepaque, is one of Mexico's largest and most important arts and crafts center, hosting wares from all over the country. At present days Tlaquepaque is still rich with local tradition and art. It attracts many of Jalisco's more talented artists, and has a reputation for the quality and diversity of its wares. Many summer homes have been converted into shops, which house various crafts, art and restaurants. The heart of Tlaquepaque is El Parian, a popular place to relax for people wishing to people watch or simply sit and watch the world go by, enjoying the steady pace of life in this small town.

Overnight at Camino Real 5*.


Tlaquepaque
Tlaquepaque
Day 6 Guanajuato

The Camino Real Guanajuato Hotel was built from the ruins of a 17th century estate building called Hacienda de Beneficio de Metal de San Francisco Javier (Metal Extraction of San Francisco Javier Hacienda).
Guanajuato is a state in the central highlands of Mexico. It is named after its capital city, Guanajuato, which comes from P'urhépecha, meaning “Hill of Frogs. ”Las Ranas (“the frogs”) is a nickname for people from this state as frogs are their state animal. Guanajuato is the home state of former president Vicente Fox, muralist Diego Rivera, and singer-songwriter José Alfredo Jiménez.
After central Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico coast, Guanajuato was one of the first areas of Mexico colonized by the Spanish, in the 1520s, for its rich silver deposits. Guanajuato’s colonial architecture is well preserved along with more than 35 old churches in its capital alone.

Enjoy a half day private tour with vehicle and English speaking guide of Guadalajara. Guadalajara has contributed many essential characteristics to today’s Mexican culture. Tequila, mariachi music, broad rimmed sombreros, the Mexican hat dance and the “charreadas” (rodeos) – all originated in Guadalajara and it would be impossible to imagine Mexico without them. Besides incredible fountains, interesting sculptures and shady benches, Guadalajara’s colonial historic city centre offers many old stylish buildings and trendy shops. Whatever you would like to do, Guadalajara’s many museums, galleries, colonial buildings as well as lots of festivals offer a great variety of culture, night life and hugely rich cultural heritage.

Enjoy a private transfer to one of the most beautiful cities in all of Mexico, Guanajuato. Deemed by UNESCO to be part of the "Historic Patrimony of Humanity". (Billingual Driver only, no guide)

The Camino Real Guanajuato Hotel was built from the ruins of a 17th century estate building called Hacienda de Beneficio de Metal de San Francisco Javier (Metal Extraction of San Francisco Javier Hacienda).

Overnight at Camino Real Guanajuato 5*.


Guadalajara
Guadalajara
Camino Real
Camino Real
Day 7 San Miguel de Allende

The town was founded in 1542 by the Franciscan monk Fray Juan de San Miguel. It was an important stopover on the Antiguo Camino Real, part of the silver route from Zacatecas. The town featured prominently in the Mexican War of Independence. General Ignacio Allende, one of San Miguel's native sons, was a leading player in the war against Spain for independence. Allende, captured in battle and beheaded, is a national hero. San Miguel el Grande renamed itself "San Miguel de Allende" in 1826 in honor of his actions.

Enjoy a private guided city tour of Guanajuato including Hidalgo Market, Juarez Theatre and the Monument to the Pipila. Later explore the fascinating Museum of the Mummies. The Mummies of Guanajuato are a number of naturally mummified bodies interred during a cholera outbreak around Guanajuato, Mexico in 1833. These mummies were discovered in a cemetery located in Guanajuato, which has made the city one of the biggest tourist attractions in Mexico.

Enjoy a private transfer from Guanajuato to San Miguel de Allende. San Miguel de Allende is located in the eastern part of Guanajuato in Mexico's mountainous bajío region. The bajío (low place) is a relatively flat region about 2,000 m (7,000 ft) above sea level surrounded by mountains; it is a part of the Mexican altiplano. Approximately 1 hour.

A cluster of historic buildings at the centre of the city, this charming Orient-Express hotel offers the ultimate Mexican experience. Cool, leafy gardens, stone arches and traditional wooden doors surround pretty courtyards lit by lanterns as night falls. Peaceful though this is—especially when within the tranquil Laja Spa—just step outside and you are surrounded by San Miguel de Allende’s many colors, scents and sounds.

Overnight at Casa De Sierra Nevada 5*.


Guanajuato
Guanajuato
Casa Sierra Nevada
Casa Sierra Nevada
Day 8 San Miguel de Allende

There are many activities to enjoy during your stay in San Miguel de Allende; Authentic cooking classes,horseback riding, hiking, biking, rappelling, camping, four-wheeler (ATV), hot air ballooning and more! Be sure to pre-book your desired activity to avoid disappointment.

Overnight at Casa De Sierra Nevada 5*.


Mexican Cooking Class
Mexican Cooking Class
Day 9 Mexico City

Mexico City - The capital of Mexico stands at an altitude of 2240m (7350ft) beneath two snow-capped volcanoes, Popocatépetl and Ixtaccíhuatl. In the center of the Centro Histórico (Historic Center) is the Plaza de la Constitución, more commonly referred to as the Zócalo – the main square. The Anthropology Museum holds an enormous and absolutely fascinating collection of Pre-Hispanic artifacts. The Frida Kahlo Museum contains examples of the artist’s work. Another location worth visiting is the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. The shrine that is built around Tepeyac hill and signifies the spot where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to the Indian Juan Diego in 1531. It is now a major pilgrimage site.

Enjoy a private, guided transfer to Mexico City. En route visit the last of Mexico's colonial jewel's: Queretaro. The outstanding buildings of House of La Corregidora, the Palace of Marquise de la Villa del Villas del Aguila and the House of Count Sierra Gorda will be our main focus. Continue onto Mexico City.

Overnight at JW Marriott 5*.


Queretaro Aquaduct
Queretaro Aquaduct
Day 10 Mexico City

Airport transfer with private vehicle and driver.

Depart from the international airport - End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart .



Trip Includes
Guaranteed departure - Accommodation, Activities, Transfers, Meals, Fees where indicated as per the itinerary - Local and international traveler assistance during your tour - Specialised and personalised services

Trip Excludes
Tips - Laundry - Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages unless explicitly noted - Optional activities/extras – Visas (unless noted) - Vacation insurance

Trip Terms & Conditions

  • Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price, minimum $250). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. We accept payment via credit card, certified check, wire transfer or money order.
  • Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point unless noted on the itinerary
  • Cost increases in currency exchange, government fees, taxes, surcharges or hotel/lodge tariff increases between quote date and start date are payable by the client.
  • Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes.
  • Cancellations of confirmed bookings 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund minus a $350 (per person) administrative fee and any non-refundable paid fees (e.g. non-refundable airfare, cruise or hotel deposits). 60-89 days will be subject to loss of deposit. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to 100% of program price.
  • Payment of the program price constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions set out at www.kensingtontours.com/terms-and-conditions
  • Living Standards and practices at destination may differ from those in North America with respect to provisions of utilities, services and accommodation.