Colonial Treasures: San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Zacatecas and Guadalajara

This morning you will be picked up at your hotel and depart for Querétaro, The city of Queretaro is an excellent point to begin your visit of Colonial Mexico. The city has preserved its historic downtown and taken steps to beautify many areas. The Historic Monuments Zone of Queretaro was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996. The historic city center is filled with lovely colonial mansions, immaculate pedestrian walkways and quaint plazas little changed since colonial days. You will visit not only the historic downtown district but the aqueduct and the Convent of the Crosses

and historic heritage site, where many intellectuals and artists live. Here you will visit San Miguel’s iconic parish church, the Parroquia de San Miguel de Archangel, with its Holy House Chapel. In the afternoon you can enjoy a great variety of handicrafts stores, restaurants and bars. Overnight.

Today you will depart for a brief visit to the small and beautiful colonial town of Dolores Hidalgo, the cradle of Mexico’s Independence. Here in 1810, the father Don Miguel Hidalgo, began the Independence war. Also José Alfredo Jimenez, one of the most famous musician composers, was born here.

Later you will continue to spectacular Guanajuato, another cultural and historic heritage site of humanity. In the afternoon you will visit this fabulous city, full of beautiful colonial alleys and plazas. Highlights will be the University, the Juarez Theater, the Museum of Don Quixote the Museum of the Mummies, the “kissing alley” and the Diego Rivera’s house, amongst others attractions. Guanajuato’s streets and subterranean avenues are one of a kind in the country. Other attractions are the Alhóndiga de Granaditas, the Regional Museum of Guanajuato. Overnight

This morning you will head to Zacatecas, a World Cultural and Historic Heritage Site. Zacatecas is a city of enormous beauty and unabashed Mexican pride. At 8,100 feet above sea level (making it Mexico’s second highest city), Zacatecas will quite literally take your breath away. The city’s stunning architecture includes many religious and civil buildings from the colonial era. The cathedral clearly dominates the center of town. There is an outstanding Mexican baroque style found in the Cathedral and other monuments at the historical district.

As an added attraction you will descend in an aerial cable car to visit el Eden Mine. Overnight.

Now it’s on to Guadalajara, where both tequila and mariachis were born! You will take a tour of this city full of culture, history and traditions. Your tour will include its historic center, the Plaza Tapatia, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Government Palace and the Degollado Theater. Overnight.

The first stop on this tour will be Vicente Fernandez's ranch as well as the Tres Potrillos souvenir store, considered “the largest cowboy store in the world”, you will be able to visit as far as the guards allow and see a little of the interior of the ranch as well as the tomb of the esteemed artist to pay your respects; you will continue on to Patzcuaro which means in Purépecha language “the gateway to heaven”. This city is famous for its colonial beauty and originality in customs and local population. Located on the margins of Lake Patzcuaro. Among its attractions are the miraculous Basilica of Our Lady of Health, the “House of the Eleven Patios”, the historic center and the Island of Janitzio. In the portals of downtown Patzcuaro you can enjoy a variety of cafes and restaurants with typical and international dishes. Continuation to the city of Morelia and lodging.

colonial beauty and its unique traditions. A Magic Town, full of colonial charm, it also is an important craft center. Its artisans, of Purepecha origin, are famous for their beautiful creations in wood, wrought iron, basketry and embroidery. At Patzcuaro the attractions are the Basilica of Our Lady of Health, the “House of the Eleven Patios” and the historic colonial district. In the afternoon you will enjoy a wide variety of bars and restaurants which offer typical dishes and typical music at the portals of Pátzcuaro´s downtown square. Then you will continue to Morelia.

Your tour continues on to Morelia, another Cultural and Historic Heritage site, known worldwide for its magnificent colonial buildings of pink cantera stone. Your tour here will include visits to as the magnificent Morelia Cathedral, the Government Palace (originally the Tridentine Seminary of Valladolid), the Clavijero Palace, Plaza de Armas (the city's largest square), the Guadalupita Temple at San Diego Convent with its majestic Indian baroque décor, the Aqueduct and the market of typical candies, the Mercado de Dulces, also known as the Sweet Market, famous for its many sugary delights including candied coconut and sweetened fruits and vegetables, as well as traditional local handicrafts. Continue to Mexico City. Overnight.

Today is devoted to a tour of the highlights of this world class metropolis. The tour begins visiting the UNESCO designated Cultural and Historic World Heritage Site with the National Palace and its beautiful murals, painted by the famous muralist Diego Rivera, the Constitution Square or “Zocalo”, the Aztec Templo Mayor and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Touring continues with visits to Chapultepec Park and the “Zona Rosa”, a rich and vibrant district with restaurants and shops. Overnight in Mexico City.