Viva Mexico and Guatemala!

Welcome to EuropaMundo!!!.  On arrival,  transfer to hotel  and free time. You will receive information about the start of the circuit during the afternoon, or you can check the informative panels in the hotel reception area. 

IMPORTANT -  IF YOU REQUESTED ADDITIONAL NIGHTS on arrival at the hotel you will have your booking made but the guide of your trip will normally not arrive until the start of the included activities. YOUR TIME BEFORE THIS MOMENT IS THEREFORE FREE. At your hotel they can help you with all the information you need.  

NB:   The schedules you will find in this itinerary are approximate. The guide, depending on the situation and in order to improve the development of the circuit, may adjust the schedules.    

Today we have a fantastic day acquaint ourselves with Mexico. We include a  sightseeing tour of the city . We will visit the Plaza of Three Cultures, and the historic centre in which the Zócalo (main square) and its Metropolitan Cathedral stand out, the main Aztec temple, Chapultepec Park, the “Paseo de la Reforma” Avenue and the other main avenues of this impressive city. 

At the end of the visit we travel to the  BASILICA OF GUADALUPE , the most visited Catholic temple in the Americas where the Virgin of Guadalupe is found. There we will be able to explore the old basilica dating back to the 18th Century and also the modern temple. 

In the afternoon we travel to the neighbourhood of  XOCHIMILCO,  a wonderful place with its canals and semi-floating gardens. Here we include a  ride in a “trajinera” , one of the boats festooned with flowers.  

In the evening we include a transfer to the  Plaza de GARIBALDI,  with its many bars, restaurants and bars where tacos and tequila are served and the Mariachis sing.  Dinner is included in a traditional restaurant. 

Total distance by road: 380 km 
Scenery:  Pleasant mountain landscapes. 

07.30 h.-  Mexico –Departure-.  We enter the state of Michocaín and its lush, green countryside. 
12:30 h.- MORELIA  –Arrival- . The centre of the splendid capital of Michoacán is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its magnificent cathedral, large busy square and aqueduct.  Time to explore and have lunch. 
15.00 h. - Morelia –Departure- . 
16.15 h.- Pátzcuaro Lake  –Arrival-. Visit to the beautiful Pátzcuaro Lake, in the Purépecha region, where we take a  boat  to  JANITZIO Island .  After a 25-minute crossing, we reach this pretty town with its busy streets, restaurants and arts and crafts shops. Time to explore. 
18.30 h.-  We return from the island in our small boat and continue our journey.
19.00h. -  PATZCUARO , arrival to the pretty colonial town with the basilica of Our Lady of Health and the House of Eleven Patios, now an arts and crafts centre.  Accommodation in in this “magical town”.

Total distance: 350 km 
Scenery: Pretty countryside near Chapala Lake. 

08:30 h.-  Pátzcuaro –Departure-. We set out for the state of Jalisco where we visit Chapala lake, the largest natural lake in Mexico, set amidst mountains. 
13:00 h.- CHAPALA,  time to wander around and have lunch in this small tourist resort near the lake.  
15:00 h.-  Chapala  – Departure-. 

16.00 h.- TLAQUEPAQUE a rrival to this quarter, with its pretty streets filled with shops and arts and crafts centres. Free time to explore.

17.15 hrs.- Tlaquepaque. Departure. 
17.45 h.- GUADALAJARA.  –Arrival- Free time and then in the late afternoon we will go to a typical restaurant, "Casa Bariachi" where we will enjoy dinner (included)  accompanied by the songs of the Mariachis. 

In the morning we include a  visit to Guadalajara , the modern metropolis with its colonial historic centre, its cathedral, its market, its Tapatía square. We will enter the  Cabañas Hospice , declared Unesco World Heritage. After the visit, we will go on to the next town of  TEQUILA , we include entrance to the  MUNDO CUERVO distillery  and will see how this famous Mexican drink is made  (entrance and tasting included) . After this, time for a stroll and lunch in the picturesque town of Tequila. After lunch, we return to Guadalajara.

Total distance: 275 km   
09:00 h.-  Guadalajara –Departure-.  
12:45 h.-  GUANAJUATO  – Arrival-. Free time to have lunch, followed by a two-hour visit with a local guide to this beautiful university city and World Heritage Site, with its narrow, steep streets and churches. The visit ends with a trip on the funicular railway to admire the view from “el Pípila”, followed by free time. Visitors who are interested can visit the impressive “Mummies’ Museum”.
Note: The cable car to the Pipila is currently under restoration and closed to tourism. During these works we will use an alternative transportation.

Total distance: 170 km 
Scenery:  Attractive mountain scenery between Guanajuato and Dolores Hidalgo.  


08:30 h.-  Guanajuato –Departure-. We travel through impressive mountain landscapes. 
09:45 h.- DOLORES HIDALGO , the birthplace of Mexican independence. Visit to the church where the priest “Hidalgo” cried out for independence. 
11:00 h.-  Dolores Hidalgo –Departure-. 
11:45 h.-   SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE , a beautiful city with colonial architecture and cobbled streets, declared a World Heritage Site. Time to explore.  Lunch included.   
15:00 h.-  San Miguel de Allende –Departure- On the way we will visit ATOTONILCO Sanctuary, known as the “Sanctuary of God and the Fatherland”, a World Heritage Site. 
16:30 h.- QUERÉTARO  –Arrival-. Time to explore the city, with its attractive colonial centre, parade square and busy restaurants and pedestrian streets.

We travel to teotihuacan, in náhuatl “the place where men become gods”, one of the most impressive cities in the ancient world. here we admire the pyramids of the sun and the moon, entrance and tour. we continue our route to the very picturesque cholula, with its beautiful square, its tunnels under the pyramid and the picturesque sanctuary of nuestra señora de los remedios from where you can admire the magnificent panorama. time to have lunch. 

Total distance: 60 km

09.00hrs.- Visit included to OAXACA , a UNESCO World Heritage City of Aztec origin with its impressive monumental heritage, after which we go up to the site of  MONTE ALBAN , which is set deep in a 400-metre mountain above the Valley of Oaxaca –  entry tickets and visit are included.  This is the most magnificent of the Zapotec cities. We will also go to  SANTA MARIE EL TULE , together with its beautiful church, it contains a two thousand year old tree that has one of widest trunks in the world (this stop can be made on Tuesday morning en route to Tuxtla).

Free afternoon in Oaxaca, an extremely beautiful colonial city which is full of life and music in its center.

Total Distance: 505 km Paisagens: Mountains. Small towns en route.
Note: A new fast toll road is being built between Oaxaca and the Isthmus. Inauguration is expected throughout 2019.  Travel time, when open, will be reduced by approxibately one and a half hours compared to that indicated in this itinerary. 


07.00 hrs.- Oaxaca- Departure.-
08.00 hrs.- SAN PABLO VILLA DE MITLA.  Arrival.  We stop at  a  this  magical town. We allow time for a walk together to the Church of San Pablo dating back to the Sixteenth Century and through its beautiful rustic streets. 

09.00 hrs.- San Pablo. Departure.  We continue our route in the sierras of Oaxaca towards the Isthmus.  Lunch is included  en route. 

19.00 hrs.- At the end of the afternoon, we arrive in  TUXTLA GUTIERREZ,  the capital of the state of Chiapas. We will go with our guide to the Marimba Park, where we will listen to a  live group playing the Marimba,  the emblematic instrument of Chiapas.

Total Distance: 100 km
Landscapes:   spectacular 
Notes: We recommend you to take appropriate waterproof clothing for the speedboat ride.- The visit of the towns of Zinacantán and San Juan can take place on Wednesday or Thursday morning (according to opening times of the church of San Juan).

08.30 hrs.- Tuxtla - Departure.
09.00 hrs. - We will explore the  SUMDERO CANYON. Travelling by boat,  we will travel  for more than 1 hrs up this impressive canyon which is almost 1 km deep and 14 km long. 

10.45 hrs.- Sumidero Canyon.- Departure. 
11.00 hrs.- Next, we will walk through  CHIAPA DEL CORZO , a white traditional and cultural colonial site. Time for a stroll and a coffee. 

11.45 hrs.- Chiapa del Corzo. Departure. We enter into the center of the Mexican Mayan culture. We discover 2 beautiful villages inhabited by the Tzotzil Indians.
12.45 hrs.- In  ZINACANTAN  we can admire the dresses worn by the women and also their small loom workshop-shops.

13.45 hrs.- Zicacantan.- Departure.
14.15 hrs.- SAN JUAN CHAMULA  we will be surprised by their church that mixes Christianity with pre-Columbian traditions. Time for lunch.

15.45 hrs.- San Juan Chamula.- Departure.
16.15 hrs. - We continue to  SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS . Free afternoon in this beautiful colonial city founded in 1528.

Total distance:  275 km.

Landscapes:  Impressive mountainous landscapes entering Guatemala.
Note: Remember to take your passport. We enter Guatemala.  Normally, we will have to change bus at the border.

You can still enjoy some time for a stroll in San Cristobal. Would you like to go soon in the morning to a traditional food market 

10.30hrs.- San Cristobal.- Departure.  We continue our route though Chiapas.
12.15 hrs.-  COMITAN , arrival to this warm town that preserves its pre-Hispanic roots and vice-regal architecture. There will be time to have lunch. 

14.30 hrs.- Comitan.- Departure. - We continue towards  GUATEMALA. B order procedures and then our journey continues through impressive mountainous landscapes.  


18.15 hrs.- HUEHUETENANGO,  arrival to the lively departmental capital city.  Dinner is included  and accommodation.

Total Distance:  155 km.

Landscapes:  Very beautiful landscapes in the center of the Mayan world.  We cross seldom visited regions. Picturesque villages on the way. Very photogenic areas.
Note: We visited some areas where traditions and local culture are preserved. It is important to respect their traditions (especially during the celebration of the Mayan cult).


08.00 hrs.- Huehuetenango.  Departure. Fantastic section through the Mayan highlands with magnificent landscapes. 
10.00 hrs.- SANTA CRUZ DEL QUICHE. Arrival to the very lively regional capital; the altarpiece in its cathedral is extremely beautiful. 

11.00 hres.- Santa Cruz del Quiche. Departure.  
11.15 hres.- GUMARCAAJ,  arrival. We visit the archaeological site of the ancient capital of the Maya Kiche kingdom. We will visit its pyramids, learn about their ball game and explore the site where Mayan ceremonies are still held. 

12.15 hrs.- Gumarcaaj departure.  
13.00 hrs.- CHICHICASTENANGO , arrival to one of the most beautiful places in Guatemala, with its colourful market and its church. Here, the Mayan customs survive. There’s time to have lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit the  Mask Museum    and we will visit the place where Mayan ceremonies are performed with their Shamans. 

16.30hrs.- Chichicastenango- Departure. Onward journey to the beautiful Lake  ATITLAN.
 17.45 hrs.- PANAJACHEL , Time to stroll in the town with more touristic resources of the lake. Dinner included  and accommodation.

Total distance: 125 km
Landscapes:  Beautiful landscapes on the lake.

09.00 hrs- Today we take a  boat trip  through one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, which is surrounded by volcanoes and inhabited by small indigenous community settlements. By boat, we travel to  SAN PEDRO DE LA LAGUNA.  We will walk through its cobbled streets and ascend to the church’s lookout point. From San Pedro we will include a  trip in a tuc-tuc  local taxi to  SAN JUAN LA LAGUNA , where we will see a weaving workshop and cooperative. They will explain to us how the fabrics are woven and dyed in a natural way. Again by boat, we will travel to  SANTIAGO ATITLAN.  in this beautiful place we will visit the brotherhood where the Tz´utujiles venerate MAXIMON deity of Mayan roots. We will have time to walk and have lunch. We return by boat to  Panajachel 

15.00hrs- Panajachel. Departure. 
18.00 hres- GUATEMALA CITY , arriving at the end of the afternoon and free time.    

Total distance:  145 km.

Landscapes:  some very beautiful between volcanoes.
Note: Wear comfortable shoes, remember that we walk towards the crater of a volcano.

09.30 hrs.- Travelling through beautiful landscapes, we will set off for the most active volcano in Guatemala. 
12.45hrs.- On arrival at the  PACAYA VOLCANO , we will include the  entry tickets to the National Park,  and together with a guide, we will climb up towards the crater. The walking tour takes about an hour and a quarter between beautiful landscapes that begin with forests and later it becomes a field of dark lava (descending walk takes approximately one hour). Those who wish may rent a horse for a more comfortable ascent. We will have a chance to feel the heat coming off the lava.

12.45 hrs.- Pacaya Volcano departure. 
14.00 hrs .-  ANTIGUA , arrival to this wonderful  Unesco World Heritage colonial city founded in 1543. Many of whose buildings are in ruins because of the Santa Marta earthquake  suffered in this former capital city of the country in 1773. There’s time to have lunch and walk around. 

17.00 hrs.- Antigua. Departure.-
18.00hres.- Guatemala City . Before going to the hotel, we make a  brief panoramic tour  through the historic center of the city, the Constitution Square where we can appreciate the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace of Culture that was once the Govermment Palace. 

After breakfast, end of our services.