Mexico Railway Romantic Trip: Variant IX - INTI Tours

Flight to Mexico and arrival in Mexico City. You will get your first impressions of the metropolis on the way to the hotel.

Start of the city tour in the morning: Past the Palace of Fine Arts "Bellas Artes" and the imposing main post office, we first go to the main square - the Zócalo. Here you will find the largest cathedral of the American continent, the seat of government Palacio Nacional and the remains of the Templo Mayor, the religious and spiritual centre of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán. Around noon, we continue through various parts of the city to the Anthropological Museum, which gives an excellent overview of ancient Mexican civilisations. The adjacent Chapultepec Park with the castle of Maximilian von Habsburg invites us for a stroll afterwards. Return to the hotel in the centre later in the afternoon.

Located about 45 km northeast of Mexico City, the pyramids of Teotihuacán are the impressive legacy of one of Mexico's largest and most important advanced civilisations, the Teotihuacán. Founded a good 2,000 years ago, the city was the most important cultural centre and the largest city in the ancient Americas (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The Aztecs later revered this place as the city of the gods. We climb the Pyramid of the Sun and Moon and marvel at the Quetzalcóatl Palace. After lunch together in a typical restaurant (not included in the price), we drive to the Basilica of Guadelupe with the Black Madonna. It is the largest pilgrimage church and one of the most important Marian shrines in the world. Millions of Mexicans always celebrate their national saint, the Virgen de Guadelupe, on 12 December. Return to the hotel in the afternoon.

Today we continue our journey to Guadalajara, the city of the national drink tequila and mariachi music. In the afternoon we arrive at our hotel. In the evening we enjoy traditional dishes and mariachi music.

In the morning, city tour through the historic city centre. Then we go to the suburb of Tlaquepaque, where some of the best artisans in the country live. We stroll through the pedestrian zone past old patio houses, watch the glassblowers and browse in the shops for handicrafts made of clay, wood, copper, ceramics or antiques. In the afternoon we return to the hotel.

Today the Tequila Express takes us to the city of Tequila, 60 km away. We pass endless agave plantations, from which the national drink has been distilled here since the 17th century. The name is said to go back to the Ticuila Indígenas, who invented the liquor. We visit the Museo de Tequila and a distillery, and stroll through the town centre with its countless liquor shops. After a tasting at the distillery, we return to Guadalajara by train in the late afternoon.

After breakfast, departure to San José del Cabo. After the reception at the airport, we drive directly to our hotel on the Pacific coast. The remaining day is at your individual disposal. Enjoy a beach day or relax at the hotel.

Trip by glass-bottom boat to the famous rock arch Los Arcos at the southern end of Baja California. On the way, you can study the diversity of Mexico's most fish-rich waters. After returning to the hotel, the beach invites you to relax.

After breakfast we drive via Todos Santos, a small artists' colony on the west coast of Baja California, to Loreto. We pass through bizarre landscape and endless cactus forests. On the way we stop at the legendary "Hotel California". After arrival in Loreto, the remaining day is at leisure.

Today we go out by boat to observe grey whales. The waters of Baja California are considered the nursery of the grey whales, which migrate every year from the icy Bering Sea to the warm Pacific waters of Mexico. On the way we meet dolphins and sea lions. In the afternoon we continue to La Paz and stay at the hotel.

The morning is at leisure. At noon we take the ferry from La Paz to Los Mochis. After arrival, we continue through agricultural land to our hotel in El Fuerte - a colonial town and starting point of our journey through the Copper Canyon.

On a spectacular train ride today, the "El Chepe" takes you through the copper canyon from El Fuerte to Creel. The journey is one of the highlights of a trip through Mexico and is one of the most beautiful train routes on earth. The Barranca del Cobre is only one of about half a dozen canyons whose rivers have dug up to 1800 metres deep into the volcanic rock of the Sierra Tarahumara and join to form the Río Fuerte. It is one of the largest canyon systems on earth. With breathtaking views, "El Chepe" winds and twists through the rugged mountains, past dizzying gorges and bizarre rock formations, over dozens of tippy bridges and through narrow tunnels. The journey leads through different vegetation zones: From the hot, subtropical Pacific coast to the cool mountain regions and cactus steppes. A unique experience. After arriving at Creel train station, we are transferred to our hotel.

Half-day excursion to the Valle de los Monjes (Monk Valley) with its slender towering rock formations and to Lake Arareko. On the way we meet the cave dwellings of the Tarahumana Indígenas, who live very scattered in the Sierra of the same name. They are one of the last indigenous peoples of northern Mexico, who once fought with all their might against colonial subjugation. Return to the hotel at noon.

Today we drive from Creel to Chihuaha. On the way visit a Menonite settlement. After arrival at the hotel, the remaining day is at leisure. Enjoy your last evening in Mexico.

Transfer to the airport and departure to Mexico City. From there it is back to Germany.

Optionally, there is the possibility of an individual bathing extension.