Mexico City

Prices (USD): $450 USD

Overview

Discover another facet of Mexico with an unforgettable two-day trip to the nation's capital. Rich in history and traditions, sophisticated and vibrant, Mexico City is one of the world's greatest cities and is the site of the most important shrine in the Americas, the Basilica de Guadalupe.
Dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, the brown-skinned Madonna who is the patron saint of Mexico, the Basilica is visited by millions of pilgrims each year and is second only to St. Peter's in Rome.
Embark on your own journey of faith as you follow in the footsteps of Juan Diego, the humble Mexican Indian who first saw a vision of the Virgin in 1531 on the hill known as Cerro Tepeyac, and learn about the role she played in uniting the nation and her place in Mexican life.
During your first day in Mexico City, you'll learn all about the Virgin of Guadalupe and will visit three different locations associated with her story: the Basilica de Guadalupe, the Cerro de Tepeyac and the Plaza de Tres Culturas in Tlatelolco.
The Plaza of Three Cultures was named for its Aztec ruins, the colonial church Templo de Santiago Tlatelolco and the modern Foreign Office building that overlooks the square.
The church was the seat of the first Archbishop of Mexico, Fray Juan de Zumárraga, and the cleric that Juan Diego visited with his news of the Virgin's appearance.
There will be time for shopping, dining and more sightseeing on your own in the afternoon and evening. The following day, you'll tour the historic heart of the city, the Zocalo or Main Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built on the site of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlán.
Landmarks in this area include the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace (murals by famous Mexican painter Diego Rivera) and the Templo Mayor, the vestiges of the principal Aztec pyramid, dating from 1319. Also included in the trip are Plaza Santo Domingo, a square built in 1576, Rosario Chapel and the Church of San Hipolito.
Then it's on to the Zona Rosa shopping district and a drive through the upscale Chapultepec residential area and along some of the city's most famous avenues will take you to Coyoacán. This charming barrio or neighborhood of small squares, mansions, museums, churches and convents dates from the Colonial period and is rich in history.
After the fall of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán, it was Hernán Cortés' stronghold and he used it to tighten his grip on Mexico and conquer new lands. Overlooking the main square, San Juan Bautista Church dates from the 16th century and is famous for its sacred paintings. There will be time for lunch and shopping for crafts in the main square.
Other sites of interest in Coyoacán include the National Museum of Popular Culture, the Frida Kahlo and Leon Trotsky Museums and the Anahuacalli, a museum designed by Diego Rivera to house his own collection of pre-Hispanic art and an exhibit of some of his own work