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Mexico: Magical Towns & Monarch Butterflies

Mexico’s long history and natural beauty make it a popular destination for tourists, but many visitors never go beyond the beach resorts. Our tour brings you the cultural richness and warm hospitality of America’s southern neighbor, with visits to vibrant Mexico City as well as “Magical Towns” like San Miguel de Allende and Tequisquiapan. Nature lovers will be delighted by a trip into the jungle to see millions of Monarch butterflies in a Biosphere Reserve. You also see UNESCO World Heritage sites like Aztec-era canals and ancient stone pyramids, plus historic churches and colorful local markets. Join both Claire and Manu for this new and fascinating tour of central Mexico!  
Duration: 7 nights / 8 days
Dates: 2026: Feb 21-28
Trip starts/ends: Mexico City Airport
Activity level: 1 – Easy: exploring cities on foot, mostly paved or cobblestone, with one hike or horseback ride to see the butterflies (level 2) [more info]
Group size: min. 8 - max. 14

Highlights

* explore the highlights of Mexico City with a local guide
* visit the Casa Azul, Frida Kahlo’s former home and museum
* try some of Mexico City’s best “street food” at local markets
* ride a slow boat along the historic canals of Xochimilco* hike or horseback ride into the jungle to see Monarch butterflies 
* sample delicious local cheeses in Tequisquiapan
* take a trip to lush waterfalls and mountain pools 
* have a “tacos and tequila” tasting to learn more about these tasty treats
* spend two nights in delightful San Miguel de Allende* relax in natural thermal waters at a spa
* visit the vineyards and cellars of a local winery and then enjoy a tasting lunch
* get into the excitement at a Lucha Libre show, Mexico’s spin on professional wrestling
* shop at authentic local food and craft markets
* stay the night in charming and comfortable hotels

Trip price includes

7 nights in charming hotels; 7 breakfasts & lunches, and 4 dinners; all visits and transfers as per itinerary; tips for day-guides and visits; at least 1 bilingual guide to accompany you throughout the week.

Not included

3 dinners; drinks other than water at meals; tips for hotel cleaning staff, guide(s) and driver(s) for the week; and anything not listed in the inclusions.

ITINERARY

Days 1-2: Welcome to Mexico City!
The historic center of Mexico City is a UNESCO World Heritage site as it was built on the ruins of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital. See the Aztec-era Templo Mayor as well as colonial buildings from the Spanish colonial period. We’ll have a guided visit around the Zocalo Plaza (the largest in Latin America!), featuring the Aztec Temple, the oldest Cathedral in Latin America, some of Diego Rivera’s famous public murals, and the Bellas Artes Palace. We also take a boat ride on the canals of Xochimilco, another UNESCO World Heritage site. The canals and artificial islands were built by the Aztecs and are one of the most sustainable agricultural systems in the world. Back on land, visit the bohemian neighborhood of Coyocan and stop at the Casa Azul, former home to Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera. Have lunch at the Coyoacán Food Market and then peruse the crafts at the Artisans Market, with over 400 stalls. Enjoy the action of a Lucha Libre, Mexico’s professional wrestling that mixes sports with kitsch and spectacle as masked fighters fly through the air in choreographed routines. 
Two nights Mexico City.  

 

Days 3-5: Tequisquiapan and San Miguel de Allende
Visit Tequisquiapan, one of Mexico’s famous Magical Towns. We’ll walk through the town center past pink sandstone buildings,  showy bougainvillea, and down cobblestone streets. Stop to try some of their local cheese and visit an authentic craft market. We then transfer to San Miguel de Allende, one of Mexico’s most famous small cities. Enjoy a special “Tacos, history, legends and tequila” tour for dinner to learn more about these two local specialities! Visit Cañada de la Virgen, an ancient pyramid complex where ceremonies were conducted centuries before the arrival of the Spanish. We also visit the fabulous “La Fábrica la Aurora” art and design center. This former textile factory now houses paintings, sculptures and handmade products from local artists. Relax at one of San Miguel’s best thermal spas, then tour a local vineyard and indulge in a delicious tasting lunch. . Enjoy the various indoor and outdoor pools and work up an appetite for today’s very special lunch. We visit a vineyard and enjoy a tasting lunch featuring some of the best food, wine, and cheese of the trip. Back in San Miguel we’ll show you a few more special places and then give you free time to explore one last time on your own.
Three nights San Miguel de Allende.      

 

Days 6-7: Butterflies and Valle de Bravo
Transfer south to Valle de Bravo, another charming town set amidst lush nature. Visit the Sanctuary of Maria Ahuacatlán to see the famous Black Christ, the Main Plaza, and the Artisans Market to see art from three different Mexican ethnic groups. Take a ride to the Velo de Novia Waterfall. Then get out into nature with a hike or horse-back ride to the Herrada Monarch Butterfly Reserve. You’ll marvel at the millions of majestic orange butterflies who come here to spend the winter in hibernation before returning to North America! Afterwards, enjoy a late lunch at a floating restaurant on the lake.
Two nights Valle de Bravo.

 

Day 8: Adios, Mexico

We provide one early morning transport back to the Mexico City airport based on group travel times. 

TBD
[info on prices]
Activity Levels

Some tours have a range of activity levels through the week, where some walks may be more challenging than others, but this will give you a general idea of the type of walking/hiking involved on your tour.

1 – EASY: City walking, all or mostly paved, minimal climbing
2 – GENTLE: Moderate hills & easy terrain
3 – MODERATE: Some sustained hills with occasional steep grades on a mix of terrains
4 – HIKE: Classic hiking with rough/rocky terrain, sustained hills, and longer mileage
5 – CHALLENGING: Challenging hiking with steep climbs and descents over rocky terrain and some longer mileage

See below for more detail:

1 – EASY: City walking, all or mostly paved, with minimal climbing (though some cities may have steeper inclines). Archaeological sites may be unpaved but the grades and difficulty level is easy. TOURS: Sicily Coast-to-Coast and any “light active” version of a tour

2 – GENTLE: Moderate hills & easy terrain
The terrain is easy to navigate with packed earth or gravel roads. There are some climbs but nothing too challenging. TOURS: Tuscany, Puglia, Provence
[2+ The “plus” indicates more challenging terrain though the walks are gentle].

3 – MODERATE: Some sustained hills with occasional steep grades and rocky terrain
Here you find a mix of terrain with some steep stretches.
TOURS: Corsica, Sardinia, some of the Dolomites tours, and some hikes on the Greek Islands
[3+ The plus indicates rockier terrain or lots of stone steps (Amalfi, the Cinque Terre) or greater elevation gain/loss (the Dolomites)].

4 — HIKE: Classical hiking with rough terrain, sustained hills, and more mileage. These hikes are on a mix of rough terrain, sometimes involving steep stretches and difficult footing. TOURS: some of our hikes in Sardinia, some of the days in the Cinque Terre, some of the variants of our Dolomites tours.

5 – CHALLENGING: Longer days, challenging climbs, rocky terrain. We don’t do a lot of seriously challenging tours but we do have a Dolomites trip where we hike from hut to hut, so that’s probably the closest we get to a 5.

Info on prices

The price indicated is for a minimum of 6 people and our basic itinerary based on double occupancy (a “single supplement” covers hotel prices only, we apply no extra fees). Departures with fewer people or with upgraded hotels will have a higher price. We can organize private departures for any number of people but prices vary depending on number of participants. Please contact us for details!