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2024 Daily Tour Itinerary
2024 Daily Tour Itinerary
Day 1 • Mexico City
Welcome to the romance of colonial Mexico. Stroll amidst architectural masterpieces and immerse yourself in the enduring charm of Mexico’s colonial cities. Visit San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Guadalajara, Queretaro, and Tequila. Marvel at the ancient ruins of Teotihuacán. Fly to Mexico City International Airport (MEX). Transfer on your own using the airport's taxi service. Rates are fixed based on city zones. Pay for your taxi ticket in advance at the booth inside the airport terminal and then go outside and stand in line for your official verified taxi. Enjoy a two-night stay at your downtown Mexico City hotel, 7,349 feet above sea level. Rooms are available for check-in after 4:00 p.m. Dinner is on your own. Join Caravan for an 8:00 p.m. welcome briefing.
Day 2 • Xochimilco, Museum of Anthropology
Morning visit to Xochimilco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a gondola ride through the floating gardens of this ancient waterway. Learn about the ingenious farming techniques perfected by the Aztecs. Lunch. Then, visit Mexico City’s world-famous National Museum of Anthropology. See the immense Aztec Calendar Stone and other priceless archaeological treasures. Dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 • Teotihuacan, Queretaro
Morning visit to Teotihuacán, one of Mexico’s grandest archaeological sites. Teotihuacán was built by the Nahua. See the majestic Pyramids of the Sun and Moon. Next, head north to Queretaro. See the 18th century roman style Aqueduct stretching nearly a mile supported by 74 grand arches. Lunch is on your own. Then, continue to romantic San Miguel de Allende for a leisurely two-night stay. Dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 • San Miguel de Allende
Discover the historic charm of San Miguel de Allende, a Mexican national monument, featuring picturesque cobblestone streets and stunning churches. Caravan provides round trip scheduled transfer to the historic main plaza. The town’s famous landmarks are close together for an easy walking experience. First, visit the main church, Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel, built in 1683, by an Indian artisan who crafted the church, replicating a French cathedral from a postcard. Next, walk to see the nearby baroque style San Francisco Church. Then, marvel at the intricately carved seashell adorning the entrance to the Temple of Our Lady of Health. Continue to the San Felipe Neri Church, with its indigenous influence. Free time to shop for arts and crafts or catch a glimpse of local life from a park bench in the main plaza. Lunch is on your own. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon at your resort hotel. Dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 • Guanajuato, Guadalajara
Morning drive to visit nearby Guanajuato, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the Pipila Monument, enjoy panoramic views of the city. The towering monument is dedicated to one of the heroes of Mexican’s Independence. Next, visit Guanajuato’s plaza, Jardin de la Union, covered by a thick canopy of Indian laurel trees. See San Diego Church, Teatro Juarez, and the striking yellow-orange colored 17th century Our Lady of Guanajuato Basilica. Lunch. Afternoon drive to Guadalajara. Founded in 1530, Guadalajara is both a historic colonial city and a thriving modern metropolis. Enjoy a relaxing three-night stay. Dinner is on your own.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6 • Guadalajara, Tlaquepaque
Morning sightseeing of colonial Guadalajara. Visit the grand historic center. See the 16th century Assumption of Our Lady Cathedral, the neoclassical Rotonda with its 17 columns, and the Degollado Theatre, built in 1865. Stroll along wide public plazas adorned with fountains. See the Orozco mural “Man of Fire” at the Museum Cabanas. Then, a short drive to Tlaquepaque. Tlaquepaque is the Aztec word for “Best of Everything”. Lunch is on your own. Free time to explore this art lover’s paradise. Walk the colorful main promenade lined with galleries. Shop for the famous leather goods of Guadalajara, including belts, wallets, and handbags. Return to your hotel. Dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 • Tequila
This morning, head west through the Sierra Madre Mountains to the town of Tequila, birthplace of the legendary drink. Visit a distillery. Learn how this flavorful beverage is made. View the various stages of the production process from fermenting to distilling and aging. Tequila can only be called Tequila if it is made from blue agave plants grown mainly in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. Stroll the festive plaza. Lunch is on your own. Return to Guadalajara. Farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 • Guadalajara
Your tour ends this morning at your hotel in Guadalajara. Breakfast is included only after 7:00 a.m. Caravan includes departure transfers on the day the tour ends from your hotel to the Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Guadalajara International Airport (GDL) in Guadalajara, Mexico, arriving at 5:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. If you wish to go at a different time or extend your stay in Mexico, you will need to transfer on your own at your own expense. Thanks for vacationing with Caravan. ¡Muchas Gracias!
Meals: Breakfast
Sightseeing Walks
Sightseeing in the Colonial Cities is beautiful but requires long walks on cobblestone and brick streets, and navigating steep steps — sometimes without handrails. Travelers should evaluate their ability to manage these walks before reserving this tour. The following are distances walked:
Day 4 = 0.7 mile; Day 5 = 0.8 mile;
Day 6 = 1.4 miles.
2024 Hotels
2024 Hotels
Accommodations in the hotels and lodges are rooms with two beds and private bath or shower. A limited number of single rooms are available. Triple rooms are usually two beds.
Days 1, 2 • Mexico City
Barcelo Mexico Reforma
Ideally located on the Paseo de la Reforma, within an easy walking distance of historic Alameda Park and Monumento a la Revolución, the tallest triumphal arch in the world. The Barcelo has an on-site coffee shop, bar/lounge and a full service restaurant. The hotel features an indoor heated pool, fitness center, and spa. Free WiFi.
Days 3, 4 • San Miguel de Allende
Real de Minas
The Hotel Real de Minas is located in San Miguel de Allende within walking distance of Juarez Park and El Jardin and the Church of San Miguel Arcángel. Real de Minas has a full service restaurant, lobby bar, and lounge. The hotel features manicured gardens, an outdoor heated pool, fitness center, tennis courts, and billiards. Beauty treatments and massage services are available at the full-service spa for a fee. Free WiFi.
Days 5, 6, 7 • Guadalajara
Barcelo Guadalajara
The Hotel Barcelo Guadalajara is located in the metropolitan Zone Expo district of Guadalajara, adjacent to the Guadalajara Convention Center. This modern hotel has an on-site restaurant and lounge. The hotel features a fitness center and an outdoor heated swimming pool. Beauty treatments and massage services are available at the full-service spa for a fee. Free WiFi.
Airport Transfers
Airport Transfers
arrival Transfers
Transfer on your own to the Barcelo Reforma Hotel (Av. Paseo de la Reforma 1) in the Centro Historico using the airport's taxi service. Rates are fixed based on city zones. Pay for your taxi ticket in advance at the booth inside the airport terminal and proceed outside to wait in line for your official verified taxi. Depending on traffic, the ride to your hotel should take approximately 30-45 minutes.
departure Transfers
This tour includes departure transfers from your hotel in Guadalajara to the Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Guadalajara International Airport (GDL) in Guadalajara, Mexico on the day the tour ends. Transfers are scheduled to arrive at the airport at 5:00 a.m, 8:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. Transfers are only available on the day the tour ends. If you wish to extend your stay in Mexico, you will need to transfer on your own, at your own expense. Please ask the hotel bellman to arrange a taxi. Expect to pay $30.00 U.S. Dollars per taxi, plus tip. The driving time from the hotel to the airport is approximately 30-60 minutes, depending on traffic.
Airfare is not included or sold by Caravan.
Passports & Visas
Passports & Visas
To enter Mexico, you will need a U.S. passport valid for 6 additional months after the date of your arrival into Mexico. Non U.S. citizens, please check passport and visa requirements. Note: If you are travelling with children under 18 years old without both parents or legal guardians, you should carry a notarized letter of authorization signed by the missing parent(s) or guardian(s). A notarized birth certificate showing only one parent, a parent’s death certificate, or a court order of child custody may also be permissible. Failure to have proper documentation could result in denial of boarding by the airline, due to international child protection laws.
Weather & Clothing
Weather & Clothing
Temperature °F (high/low) Rainfall (inches)
| Mexico City | San Miguel de Allende | Guadalajara | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp | Rain | Temp | Rain | Temp | Rain | |
| Jan | 71/44 | 0.3 | 72/42 | 0.4 | 75/41 | 0.7 |
| Feb | 74/46 | 0.2 | 75/44 | 0.3 | 79/43 | 0.5 |
| Mar | 77/49 | 0.2 | 79/48 | 0.2 | 83/46 | 0.2 |
| Apr | 79/53 | 0.5 | 83/52 | 0.3 | 87/51 | 0.1 |
| May | 80/56 | 1.5 | 84/56 | 0.9 | 88/57 | 0.6 |
| Jun | 77/57 | 4.5 | 81/58 | 3.1 | 84/61 | 4.6 |
| Jul | 74/56 | 4.9 | 78/57 | 4.2 | 79/61 | 6.8 |
| Aug | 74/56 | 4.7 | 78/57 | 3.6 | 79/60 | 5.7 |
| Sep | 73/56 | 4.6 | 77/56 | 3.1 | 79/60 | 4.4 |
| Oct | 73/52 | 2.0 | 76/51 | 1.1 | 79/54 | 1.5 |
| Nov | 72/47 | 0.4 | 75/46 | 0.3 | 78/46 | 0.4 |
| Dec | 71/44 | 0.1 | 72/42 | 0.1 | 75/42 | 0.2 |
Temperature °F (high/low) Rainfall (inches)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | ||||||||||||
| temp | 71/44 | 74/46 | 77/49 | 79/53 | 80/56 | 77/57 | 74/56 | 74/56 | 73/56 | 73/52 | 72/47 | 71/44 |
| rainfall | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 |
| San Miguel de Allende | ||||||||||||
| temp | 72/42 | 75/44 | 79/48 | 83/52 | 84/56 | 81/58 | 78/57 | 78/57 | 77/56 | 76/51 | 75/46 | 72/42 |
| rainfall | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Guadalajara | ||||||||||||
| temp | 75/41 | 79/43 | 83/46 | 87/51 | 88/57 | 84/61 | 79/61 | 79/60 | 79/60 | 79/54 | 78/46 | 75/42 |
| rainfall | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 4.6 | 6.8 | 5.7 | 4.4 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
Clothing Tips
This is a casual tour. Casual wear is suggested for sightseeing and daytime travelling. Dress code for evenings is casual. Suit jackets for men and dresses for women are not required. During the middle of the day, the sun is hot and bright. Caravan recommends shorts or light pants, a light shirt, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Also essential are comfortable, sturdy walking shoes with good treads.
Why Travel with Caravan?
Why Travel with Caravan?
Excellence Since 1952
You can trust our years of experience with tours of superb quality and excellent value. Caravan has enjoyed the same family management and ownership since 1952.
Caravan Care
For your safety, Caravan cancelled most 2020 and all 2021 tour departures and refunded 100% of all payments received. See Caravan’s Covid-19 Terms of Travel.
Caravan's Proud History
In 1965, Roger Mudd hosted a two-hour CBS TV special on Caravan Tours. This TV production took about one month to make and was so successful it inspired the 1968 romantic comedy movie “If it’s Tuesday this must be Belgium.” In the early 50’s the Mayor of Dublin presented Caravan with the Key to Dublin for bringing the first American tour to the city after WWII. Since then, Caravan has been recognized as a pioneer in travel. You can trust in our stability, experience and dedication to quality.
Great Hotels
Stay at park lodges, scenic resorts, and excellent hotels in great locations. See hotel descriptions on each tour page.
Meals
Most meals included within Latin America. For USA and Canada tours, included meals are listed on each itinerary page. Bottled water is provided on motorcoaches in Latin America.
Complete Sightseeing
Enjoy complete sightseeing with more visits, extra features, and local guides.
Fully Guided by Tour Directors
All tours conducted from start to finish by professional tour directors, who are fluent in English, experienced, and fun.
All-inclusive
Caravan includes all activities listed in the tour itinerary page. Caravan does not sell any optional activities which can add hundreds of dollars to your tour price. Your free time is scheduled in great settings where there is no need to buy additional expensive activities.
Shopping Freedom
Caravan will not bring you to overpriced shops in exchange for payments. Caravan gives you ample opportunity and time for great shopping, and the freedom to choose where and when to shop.
Great Value, Book Early
Caravan’s strong buying power gives you great vacations at prices much lower than you can find anywhere. In a typical year, most of our tours sell out quickly. Book early for the date you prefer and the best air fare.
How does Caravan Tours sell these tours for such a low cost?
Caravan delivers volume to our suppliers, who in turn reward us with their very best prices. We in turn pass these savings on to you, and you reward us by buying our tours. As volume continues to rise, we then receive even better prices from our suppliers, and we pass even greater savings on to you. This year our tours are better than ever.
Trade Association Memberships
Caravan is a member of ASTA (American Society of Travel Advisors), NTA (National Tour Association), ABA (American Bus Association), CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), and ACMA (American Catalog Association).
