HE DEFINITIVE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE


An example: Casterbridge in Mexico
It is difficult to do justice to any country in the course of a week or two week educational tour. This is particularly relevant when you consider the diversity in landscapes and the variety of major tourist attractions in a country like Mexico. Here we have everything from the bustling metropolis of Mexico City, to the sandy white beaches in Cancun, and monuments from Ancient Civilizations, blended with Spanish colonial structures and modern painting and buildings.

A Casterbridge Tour can be radically different from many people's concept of a 'normal tour,' which can entail large amounts of time sitting on a bus and watching the sights go by or idling away another 'Day at Leisure.' Quite to the contrary, Casterbridge provides a well planned balance of Educational, Cultural and Recreational activities and all admission and excursion costs are always included in the tour package. We also make a careful selection of hotel and dining experiences, with an emphasis on authentic charm and character.

Our combination of excursions and accommodations are designed to produce a 'Definitive Cultural Experience' in every country that we visit and as an example, here is a sample itinerary of a trip we can operate to Mexico, as we endeavour to provide you with the 'Definitive Experience.'

"THE ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS OF MEXICO"

DAY 1 DEPARTURE FROM USA- ARRIVE MEXICO CITY (4 NIGHTS)
Enjoy full service on your scheduled flight to Mexico City. Upon our arrival, we will be met at the airport by our tour manager/guide (English speaking) and transferred to our hotel in Mexico City.

DAY 2 MEXICO CITY (THE ZOCALO)
This morning we will explore the heart of Mexico City, the section of the city known as the Zocalo, which is the historic center and features the Plaza de la Constitucion, the third largest square in the world. Our morning commences with a visit to the Templo Mayor, sight of the great Aztec temple, which stood at the heart of Tenochtitlan. Our visit will include a tour of the excavations and the museum. We continue with a visit to the Cathedral Metropolitana, the biggest church in Latin America, and the heart of the world's largest Catholic diocese. Next we make a brief visit to the Palacio Nacional, which is highlighted by the great mural by Diego Rivera painted above its main staircase and along two walls of the courtyard. This spectacular mural, painted between 1929 and 1935 in the aftermath of the Revolution, illustrates Rivera's view of the history of Mexico. Our afternoon commences with a visit to the Museo Mural Diego Rivera, a small two-story gallery built around one of Rivera's masterpieces, the mural Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda Central. Painted in 1947 for the dining room of the nearby Hotel Prado, the mural combines the history of Mexico, with the dreams of its protagonists and Rivera himself.

DAY 3 DAY TRIP TO TEOTIHUACAN & TEPOTZOLAN
This morning we will explore Teotihuacan, one of most impressive cities of the ancient world, which was founded before the Christian era, and once housed up to 125,000 people. The founders of the city is still a mystery, but many civilizations held it sacred, including the Aztecs, who believed it was built by giants. We will enjoy a guided tour of the Ancient Remains including: the Avenue of the Dead, The Temple of Quetzalcoatl, the Pyramid of the Sun, the Palace of Tepantitla, the Quetzalpapalotl Palace Complex, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Museum. This afternoon we continue to Tepotzolan, a quaint village, where we will visit the Museo Nacional del Virreinato. This stunning museum, originally a Jesuit college, houses the most complete collection of colonial art and artifacts in Mexico, focusing on the vice regal era. Our visit will also include the attached Iglesia de San Francisco Javier, one of the finest Baroque churches in the country, famous for the richly decorated Churrigueresque façade and tower, the exuberant gold altars, a trio of unusual chapels and the Miguel Cabrera murals in the chancel and cross vaults. We return to Mexico City for the evening.

DAY 4 MEXICO CITY (BOSQUE DE CHAPULTEPEC)
Today we explore the Bosque de Chapultepec, a public park since the 16th century, which is also home to several of Mexico's finest museums. We begin with a visit to the Museo Nacional de Antropologia, a vast and airy museum, which houses a spectacular collection of finds from Mexico's pre-Columbian cultures, including the Teotihuacan, the Toltecs, the Oaxaca, the Maya and the Aztecs. We continue with a visit to the Castillo de Chapultepec, a castle begun in the 18th century, sight of a fierce battle against the Americans in 1847, and the palace of Emperor Maximilian. Today the castle houses the Museo Nacional de Historia, which covers Mexican history from the Conquest to the Revolution. The remainder of the afternoon will be free to explore the magnificent Park, which includes tree-shaded paths, Mexican snacks, a zoo, a boating lake, and open-air entertainment.

DAY 5 DAY TRIP TO CUERNAVACA
Today we will journey to nearby Cuernavaca, inhabited since 1200 BC, and one of the oldest cities in Mexico. We begin our day with a visit to the Palacio de Cortes, built by the Spanish on the site of the Aztec pyramids they destroyed. Originally the residence of the conquistador Cortes, today the palace houses a series of murals by Diego Rivera, which depict Mexico's history from the Conquest to the Revolution, as well as artifacts from the region. We continue with a visit to the fortress-like Catedral de la Asuncion, dating from the 1520s, and housing Murals that indicate a far eastern influence. In addition, the cathedral also houses the Museo Robert Brady, with an extensive collection of art and crafts by Brady, as well as works by Frida Kahlo and Rufino Tamayo. Our afternoon will conclude with a visit to the Taller Siqueiros, which is dedicated to the work of this great Mexican muralist. We return to Mexico City for the evening.

DAY 6 GUADALUPE & XOCHIMILCO - FLIGHT TO MERIDA (2 NIGHTS)
This morning we will explore areas on the outskirts of central Mexico City. We begin with a visit to the Basilica de Guadalupe, the richest and most visited Catholic shrine in all the Americas. The complex of buildings was built on the spot where a brown-skinned Virgin Mary appeared to Indian Juan Diego in 1531. We will explore the complex of buildings, including the Antigua Basilica, the modern church, the Capilla del Pocito and the Capilla de Indios, where Juan Diego lived after the Virgin's appearance. Our day continues in Xochimilco, the only part of Mexico City to still have the canals and semi-floating flower and vegetable gardens, or chinampas, built by the Aztecs. We will take a Ride on one of the Flower-decked Punts, piloted by a local boatman. Late this afternoon we will take a flight to Merida, our base for the next two evenings.

DAY 7 DAY TRIP TO UXMAL & KABAH
Today we begin with a visit to Uxmal, south of Mérida, where the elaborate stuccowork and detailed façades, have led to a comparison of the city with Rome. Among the fine stonework that we will be visiting are the entwined serpents in the Nun's Quadrangle, the House of Pigeons and the Ball Court. Our visit will also include the Pyramid of the Magician and the Governor's Palace. We conclude the afternoon with a visit to the Kabah Maya Site, which is still being excavated and "restored." There is a very large unexcavated pyramid at Kabah, which we will view, before returning to Merida for the evening.

DAY 8 DAY TRIP TO CHICHEN-ITZA - MERIDA - XCARET (2 NIGHTS)
Today we visit the famous archaeological and UNESCO World Heritage site of Chichén-Itzá. Our day will include visits to the Pyramid of Kukulcan (El Castillo), where one can find the 'Red tiger with jade eyes'; the snaking columns of the Temple of the Warriors, a ball court in perfect condition; El Caracol (the observatory); the Caves of Balankanche; and the Sacred Cenote (where bejewelled young girls were thrown into the well as sacrifices to the rain god Chac). We continue to Xcaret for the evening. (Subject to avaialbility, we will stay in beach bungalows)

DAY 9 TULUM & XEL-HA PARK
This morning we will visit the walled fortress of Tulum, which has been described as one of the most dramatic sites of the pre-Hispanic world. Perched atop rugged cliffs on the coast, this last outpost of the Maya civilization commands a breathtaking view of the Caribbean. Settlements date from AD 900-1500, and our visit will include the Temple of the Descending God, El Castillo and the Temple of the Frescoes. Our day continues to Xel-ha Park, where we can snorkel and luxuriate in its warm waters, swimming among its brilliant fish. Xel-Ha (shell-hah) is a swimmers' paradise, with no threat of undertow or pollution, it is a beautiful, completely calm cove. We return to Xcaret for our final evening.

DAY 10 DEPARTURE FROM CANCUN
Your enjoyable and rewarding tour comes to an end as you return to the airport for the flight back home.


You have just travelled through history on a Casterbridge Tour of Mexico and we can offer similar programs in a wide range of countries both in Europe and around the World. This is an example of the mix of educational, cultural and recreational experiences that we aim to provide on every Casterbridge Tour that we operate.

Call us now on 1-800-522-2398 or register on-line so we can prepare a 'Definitive Experience' itinerary for the country of your choice.