Discover Mexico: 12-Day Tequila Tour from Istanbul

Flight to Mexico City

We meet at Istanbul Airport at midnight. After completing passport and baggage procedures, we depart directly for Mexico City at 02:15 on Turkish Airlines flight TK 182. We arrive at 08:00 in the morning.

After passport and baggage procedures on arrival, we transfer to the city centre. We take a short panoramic walking tour through the historic area on the UNESCO World Heritage List. During the tour, we see Zócalo Square, one of the world's largest squares and the centre of the capital. After viewing the exterior of the Metropolitan Cathedral, the largest cathedral in Latin America, and the National Palace (Palacio Nacional), the presidential headquarters, we head to the hotel to rest.

In the evening, guests who wish can experience the Mariachi atmosphere around Garibaldi Square, one of the centres of Mexico's traditional music culture.

The direct flight with THY TK 182 from Istanbul (IST) to Mexico City (MEX) departs at 02:15 and arrives at 08:00.

We stay at the 4-star Hotel Regente or a similar hotel in Mexico City.

Anthropology Museum and Xochimilco

After breakfast at the hotel, we continue our tour of Mexico City.

Our first stop is the National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropología), which houses one of the world's most important archaeological collections. We explore the museum with a guide, viewing artifacts from the Aztec, Maya and other Mesoamerican civilizations. The Aztec calendar stone, the Sun Stone (Piedra del Sol), is among the museum's best-known exhibits.

In the afternoon, we head to Xochimilco, the canal district in the south of the city. Here, we take a canal tour on traditional Trajinera boats. Accompanied by Mariachi music, we observe the area's colorful surroundings as we travel along waterways dating back to Aztec times.

After the tour, we return to the hotel. Free time follows.

We spend the night at the 4-star Hotel Regente.

Teotihuacan to Puebla

After breakfast, we depart for Teotihuacan, an ancient center of civilization outside Mexico City. We explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site with commentary from our guide. We climb the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon to take in the surrounding views, then walk along the Avenue of the Dead, the ancient city's main axis. Our visit also includes the Temple of Quetzalcóatl (Feathered Serpent), which served as a ceremonial center.

After exploring this ancient settlement known as the City of the Gods, we visit a local obsidian workshop to learn about the region's pre-Aztec stoneworking tradition. We then take part in a tasting of tequila and pulque, a traditional Aztec drink made from the agave plant.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we depart for Puebla. We arrive in the late afternoon and check in at the hotel, followed by free time. An optional evening walk through Puebla's UNESCO-listed historic center is offered.

Overnight accommodation at NH Puebla Centro Histórico or a similar 4-star hotel.

On to Tequila Town

After breakfast, we leave Puebla and head to Mexico City Airport. After baggage and security procedures, we fly to Guadalajara with the local airline Aeroméxico or Volaris. On arrival, we travel by private vehicle to the town of Tequila, in the region where Mexico's tequila originated.

In this town in the state of Jalisco, surrounded by agave fields, we visit Jose Cuervo La Rojeña Distillery. The distillery belongs to one of the world's best-known tequila brands, was established in 1758 and is known as the world's oldest tequila distillery. During a tour covering every stage of production, from harvesting blue agave to bottling, we learn about the processes on site. Local commentary introduces us to mezcal and tequila culture.

After dinner at a local restaurant, we check in at the hotel. Free time follows.

The direct flight from Mexico City to Guadalajara with Aeroméxico or Volaris departs at 08:30 and arrives at 09:55.

Accommodation is at Real Inn Express Tequila or a similar 4-star hotel.

The Entre Charros Show

After breakfast, we join the Entre Charros tour, one of the oldest representatives of Mexico's traditional horsemanship and performance culture. The tour takes place at Lienzo Charro, where we learn about the techniques used by Charros, horse displays, rope skills (charrería) and traditional equipment. Guests who wish can try some basic moves. This performance, an important part of Mexican culture, was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2016.

After the tour, we head to Guadalajara city centre. We see the old square (Plaza de Armas), streets lined with colonial architecture and Guadalajara Cathedral, a symbol of the city. We then transfer to the hotel and have free time.

Accommodation at Hotel Morales Guadalajara or a similar 4-star hotel.

A Flight to Merida and Uxmal

We leave the hotel early in the morning and transfer to Guadalajara Airport. We depart on a direct flight with Volaris Airlines at 06:30 and arrive in Mérida at 08:45. We travel to the hotel by private vehicle and leave our luggage.

We then visit the ancient city of Uxmal, one of the major Maya sites on the Yucatán Peninsula. At Uxmal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we see examples of the Puuc architectural style. Our visit includes the Pyramid of the Magician (Pirámide del Adivino), with its distinctive elliptical base; the Nunnery Quadrangle (Cuadrángulo de las Monjas); the Ball Court (Juego de Pelota), where the sacred Maya ball game was played; the Great Pyramid; and the Governor's Palace (Palacio del Gobernador), which displays the detailed stonework of the Puuc style. Our guide explains the Maya civilization's advanced urban planning and symbolic architecture.

In the afternoon, we return to Mérida city centre and check in at the hotel. After a short rest, we have dinner at a local restaurant. The meal features traditional Yucatán dishes such as cochinita pibil, papadzules and sopa de lima.

We stay at Hotel El Conquistador Mérida or a similar 4-star hotel.

Chichen Itza and Valladolid

After breakfast, we depart for Chichén Itzá, the Maya civilization's most important center for science and ritual. This archaeological site is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

During our visit, we see the 24-meter-high Kukulkan (El Castillo) Pyramid. On the spring and autumn equinoxes, the shadow cast on the pyramid forms the shape of a serpent. The visit also includes the Temple of the Warriors (Templo de los Guerreros) and the Chac Mool statues, the Great Ball Court, the largest ball court in Mesoamerica, the Sacred Cenote (Cenote Sagrado), a sacred sinkhole into which sacrificial victims were cast, ceremonial grounds and the observatory. Our guide explains the stories behind these structures and the advanced achievements of Maya astronomy and architecture.

We then continue to Valladolid, one of Yucatán's colonial cities. We walk through the historic center, exploring its pastel-colored streets, San Servacio Cathedral and the area around the main square.

After checking in at the hotel, we have dinner at a restaurant serving regional dishes. Bringing together Maya and Spanish cuisines, Valladolid is one of Yucatán's leading culinary destinations.

We stay at Mesón del Marqués Valladolid or a similar 4-star hotel.

Tulum to Playa del Carmen

After breakfast in Valladolid, we set off for the Caribbean coast. Our first stop is Tulum Archaeological Site, where Maya ruins overlook the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. The site is known for its seaside location and views.

Here we see El Castillo, Tulum's tallest structure, which overlooks the ocean, the Temple Complex, and the coastal terraces with views of the Caribbean. Tulum is one of the few archaeological sites that preserve traces of the Maya civilization's coastal trade and knowledge of astronomy.

After our visit, we continue to Playa del Carmen, one of the Caribbean's liveliest coastal towns. After checking in at the hotel, you have free time. You can relax by the sea or explore the shops and cafés on 5th Avenue (Quinta Avenida). We have dinner at a local restaurant in the area's seaside setting.

Overnight accommodation is at Wyndham Garden Playa del Carmen or a similar 4-star hotel.

Free Day in Playa del Carmen

After breakfast, you have free time throughout the day. You can swim in the Caribbean Sea, relax on the beaches or stroll along the 5th Avenue shopping street.

Guests who wish can join optional tours. The Cozumel island boat tour takes you to one of the Caribbean's leading diving spots. The cenote swimming experience takes place in underground limestone pools considered sacred by the Maya. Activities in Riviera Maya include the Xcaret, Xplor and Xel-Há eco parks.

Dinner is served at the designated restaurant in a tropical coastal setting. Accommodation is at the 4-star Wyndham Garden Playa del Carmen hotel.

On to Cancun

After breakfast, we leave the hotel and travel along the Caribbean coast via Akumal, Xpu-Ha and Puerto Morelos. We arrive in Cancún after a journey of approximately 1 hour.

On our panoramic tour as we enter the city, we see the Hotel Zone, where Cancún's hotels are located, the coastline with its 22 km sandy beach along turquoise waters, the lagoon areas and the city centre.

After checking in at the hotel, you have free time. You can explore Cancún's beaches, shopping centres and restaurants during this time.

We have dinner at a local restaurant. We stay at Wyndham Garden Cancún Downtown or a similar 4-star hotel.

Overnight Flight Home

After breakfast, you have free time at the hotel. You can spend this time on the beach in Cancún, doing some last-minute shopping or relaxing.

Meet in the hotel lobby at the time set by the guide for your transfer to Cancún Airport. After baggage and passport procedures are completed, depart for Istanbul at 14:30 on Turkish Airlines flight TK 181. Refreshments are served during the flight, and the night is spent on board.

THY flight TK 181 operates directly between Cancún (CUN) and Istanbul (IST). The departure time is listed as 14:30 and the arrival time as 10:35 (+1). Overnight accommodation is on board.

Arrival in Istanbul

We land at Istanbul Airport at 10:35 local time. Our tour ends after passport control and baggage collection.

Our 12-day Grand Mexico tour, from the Aztec pyramids to the Maya ruins and from the Tequila fields to the waters of the Caribbean, ends here. Thank you for choosing us for this journey. We look forward to seeing you on your next trip.