Pyramids * Grand Canyons * Medieval Monastery * Mountains * Silver Mines *
Tropical Beaches * Cactuses * Cornish Pasties * Cowboys
Day 1 - Welcome to Mexico
Met & greeted at Mexico City International Airport by your CST
representative with a special VIP airport arrival service. We take a short
transfer to the 5 * hotel in Mexico City Hotel where we will stay overnight and
enjoy a welcome cocktail with canapes and later a welcome dinner before
starting our tour tomorrow morning. (Recommended inbound flight by Iberia)
Day 2 - Pachuca & the Mexico Grand Canyon
Big Ben
This morning we leave Mexico City and travel up the mountains to Pachuca City.
We drive through the city to the sound of bells of Mexico’s equivalent to Big
Ben . The English settlers in their effort to replicate some of their
homeland constructed their own clock tower here.
Grand Canyon
We continue our journey to make an awe-inspiring visit to the still relatively
unknown Pena del Aire Canyon grander than the US Grand Canyon.
Cowboys & Cactus
We have lunch at the beautiful Hacienda La Mision and savour their
unique cuisine such as palm flowers; a prehispanic delicacy, chicken consommé
with mountain mushrooms known as Soup of Wood. This is followed by an
original Cornish miners dish combined with a more Mexican side dish of cactus
leaves. We are then entertained to a typical Mexican cowboy rodeo at the
hacienda. We end the visit with a performance of traditional dancing.
Mountain Retreat & Teotihuacan Night
We travel to the rooftop of Mexico and check-into the 5* El Paraiso Hotel
located in a nature reserve of forests, rivers and waterfalls. As we enter the
area look out for Teotihuacan’s appearing from the bushes to greet you
with a special cocktail and flower garlands. Our dinner this evening will be
served by the Teotihuacan’s and there will be mystical dancing around
a bonfire. Some optional activities in the area include paintball shooting in
the forests, canopy flying and trout fishing.
Day 3 - Trout, Champagne, Pyramids, Cornish Pasties & Silver Mines
Rainbow Trout & Champagne Breakfast
A very special breakfast treat at the cult restaurant La Trucha Grilla
where Margara and her son David serve the best fresh rainbow
trout locally caught, a Tequila Sunrise cocktail and chilled champagne
to start this very special day. The restaurant offers different trout dishes
with various toppings including thermador, chilli salsa, tropical fruits etc,.
House speciality drinks are also offered such as endemic fruit and vegetable
juices.
Teotihuacan Pyramids
To experience the mysteries of the pyramids of Teotihuacan, the most
important of all in Mexico, we travel overland to the site.
The fabulous archaeological zone. Teotihuacán lies
in a mountain-ringed offshoot of the Valle de México. Site of the huge
Pirámides del Sol y de la Luna (Pyramids of the Sun and Moon), it was Mexico's
biggest ancient city and the capital of what was probably the country's largest
pre-Hispanic empire. A day here can be awesome, unless the hawkers get you
down. The site's main drag is the famous Avenue of the Dead, a monumental 2km
(1.2mi) thoroughfare lined with the former palaces of Teotihuacán's elite. To
its south is the pyramid-bedecked La Ciudadela, believed to have been the
residence of the city's supreme ruler. Enclosed within the citadel's walls is
the Quetzalcóatl Temple, with its striking serpent carvings. Heading north, the
avenue passes the world's third-largest pyramid: the aweinspiring, 70m (230ft),
248-stepped Pyramid of the Sun. The pyramid was originally painted a suitably
sun-drenched, bloody red. The avenue terminates at the Pyramid of the Moon,
flanked by the 12 temple platforms of the Plaza de la Luna. Nearby are the
beautifully frescoed Palace of the Quetzal Butterfly, the Jaguar Palace and the
Temple of the Plumed Conch Shells. Teotihuacán's most famous mural, the
Paradise of Tláloc, is in the Tepantitla Palace, a priest's residence northeast
of the Pyramids of the Sun. The site has a museum to help make sense of it all;
bring a hat, water and your walking shoes.
Cornish Miners, Cornish Pasties & Mexico’s
Silver Mines
Onto the historic mountain town of Real Del Monte where we visit the
last silver mine which was closed in 2005. One of the original Mexican miners
takes us on a guided tour of the mine. Later we see the English Cemetery
and then explore the town where we enjoy some of the different varieties of
Cornish pasties.
Sitting at a rough wooden table in a cantina, Juan
Skewes Ramirez munched away on a Cornish pasty. A short, stockily built man,
with a cream-coloured golfing cap covering his sunburned balding head, Juan
looks more like a French peasant farmer, rather than a retired Mexican silver
miner, who'd toiled for years in the bowels of the earth. Both the Cornish
pasty held in his huge meaty hands and his first surname are testament to an
era of Mexican history of which Juan is particularly proud. The surname came
from his great-grandfather, John Skewes, a tin miner who left his native
Cornwall in the 1820's to find fortune in the silver mines of the Sierra Madre
mountains.
Derelict and abandoned - Long before the Spanish conquered this
part of the Americas, the Sierra Madres had been delivering up a precious
bounty of silver and gold - but by the time Mexico's war of independence had
ended in 1810, the silver mines here were derelict and abandoned. The problem
was water - the deep mines were flooded and their Mexican owners had neither
the technology nor the expertise to exploit the remaining reserves of silver.
Setting sail - And so it was that in 1824, four ships set sail
from England with more than 100 Cornish miners and engineers and a cargo
comprising 1,500 tonnes of equipment. Having landed on Mexico's Atlantic coast,
the Cornish contingent began a 300-mile trek into the mountains. This journey
was so arduous that almost half of them perished. Undeterred, the survivors
continued, and almost a year after setting foot on Mexican soil, the caravan of
more than a thousand mules and miners marched into the town of Real Del Monte,
9,500 feet above sea level.
Like fishermen’s' shacks Mexicans
like to describe Real Del Monte as an English-style town. Its houses are
painted brightly - shades of mustard, green, terracotta, ochre, orange and
yellow glint under the clear bright blue sky. But what makes Real Del Monte
look English to Mexican eyes is the almost complete absence of flat concrete
roofs - the visiting miners liked their roofs to be pitched, and so the houses
that cling to this Mexican mountainside, have red-painted roofs made of
corrugated tin, which wouldn't look out of place on fishermen’s' shacks in
Cornwall. The Cornish Beam Engines brought by John Skewes and his compatriots
were used to pump water from the flooded mineshafts. Soon they were flourishing
again. So much so in fact that one twentieth of the world's total production of
silver over the past 500 years is said to have come from the mines in and
around Real Del Monte. But while silver has been central to the Mexican
economy, Cornwall's best remembered contributions to Mexico are in the sporting
and culinary fields.
Cornish pasties - The Cornish
miners settled quickly into Mexican society and many married locally. One of
the first skills taught to their new Mexican brides was how to bake Cornish
pasties. Soon these Mexican women had adapted this peculiarly English food icon
to suit their own palates. Fillings with chicken, tuna, beef, sausage, beans,
pineapples, and even rice pudding were tried and tested. And of course all were
finished with green peppers or hot chilli sauces. Even today, these
Mexican-style Cornish pasties are regarded as a local delicacy - every weekend,
tourists flock to Real Del Monte to marvel at the town's unique roofscape and
to enjoy plates of pasties washed down with a jug of Pulche, a pungent local
hooch, made from the leaves of the agave cactus.
Soccer - But it's for introducing soccer to Mexico, that the
Cornish tin miners are best remembered. Now a national obsession, the first
ever game of football in Latin America, was played sometime in 1825 in the
works yard of the Dolores Mine near the centre of Real Del Monte.
Fierce pride - When I described this scene to an American
correspondent in Mexico City, she replied tersely - "We won - you lost". Yet
this does not diminish the fierce pride that Juan Skewes Ramirez feels for his
English roots. On a ridge overlooking the town, lies the Cornish cemetery. This
is where Juan's forebears repose, and where he, as a direct descendant is
entitled to be buried. It's a very English-looking graveyard - only the
cultivated terraces of Nopal cactii which lie outside its walls suggest a
foreign location. As we meandered among the elaborately carved headstones, Juan
reflected on his forebears. The Cornish tin miners who came to Real Del Monte
were brave, hard-working adventurers and interested in progress," he says.
"Although I feel 100% Mexican, my Cornish blood makes me and my family a little
different." Juan's ambition is to one day meet his distant relatives. As we
said our farewells he asked a special favour. "If there are Skewes families in
England," Juan said, "tell them that their Mexican cousins would like to meet
them."
Source: John Egan, BBC News - Saturday, August 7, 1999
Medieval Banquet
The highlight of tonight is at the medieval San Francisco Monastery,
located high in the mountains of Hidalgo. As the sunsets we start with
cocktails and canapes at the entrance to the monastery. Going back in time we
enjoy a medieval banquet with spit roasts, flagons of ale and wine,
entertainment by actors in costumes of the era and musicians. Any guests who do
not comply with the monk’s instructions will suffer the consequences! After a
great night we return to our hotel.
Day 4 - Turquoise Sea, White Sand & Caribbean Sunsets
After breakfast check-out and travel to Mexico City
International Airport to board our flight to Cancun International Airport. We
transfer and check-into our 5* hotel. Time to relax and enjoy the hotels’ all
inclusive facilities and beach. Lunch and dinner included.
Cancun is an island approximately 16 miles long and
a quarter-mile wide. It is situated in the state of Quintana Roo in the
south-eastern part of Mexico off the northeast tip of the Yucatan peninsula, on
the Caribbean coast. The island is connected to the Mexican mainland by two
bridges. The famous Hotel Zone, the principal tourist area, is located on a 8
mile peninsula jutting out into the Caribbean Sea, and is where the luxury
hotels and modern shopping malls are to be found.
Day 5 - Catamaran Cruise in the Gulf of Mexico & Farewell Dinner
Following breakfast we go sailing in the Gulf of
Mexico on a catamaran and take a cruise to an island where we have a
seafood lunch. There will be time to go swimming and snorkelling over the coral
reefs. There will be an open bar and music to add to the days fun. In the
evening to celebrate our last night we will have a special farewell beach gala
dinner party on the hotels’ beach with entertainment. Everyone will be given a
souvenir gift to remind you of your Mexico trip.
Beaches & Water Sports
Cancun has some of the best beaches in the world. The beaches are,
without question, the biggest draw in Cancun with their soft, white, powdery,
sand and crystal clear, warm, turquoise water. There are eleven beaches in
Cancun, each of which has its own distinctive personality, and all of which are
open to the public. The very best beaches are at the north tip of the island.
The sand of the beaches in Cancun are made of
crushed coral rather than silica. The coral remains cool even on very hot days,
so you need not be concerned about burning your feet. Beach sandals are not
necessary.
Cancun is surrounded by crystal clear water and lies next to the largest coral
reef in the Americas. This makes it a haven for snorkellers and scuba divers.
The calm waters also offer perfect conditions for water skiing. Other popular
water sports here include parasailing and jet skiing. In addition, there is a
large modern water park in Cancun with a wave making machine, slides, and a
free fall thrill ride. Cancun's surrounding waters also offer some excellent
sport fishing and deep sea fishing for sailfish, Wahoo, dorado, marlin, grouper
and bluefin tuna.
Shopping
Cancun is a duty-free zone that has evolved into a shopper's paradise. The
Hotel Zone is dotted with large modern air-conditioned malls filled with
boutiques selling designer label merchandise and perfumes at bargain prices.
The traditional markets in Old Cancun have numerous small shops selling locally
made handicrafts, silver jewelry and colorful Yucatan hammocks. Good natured
bargaining at these smaller shops is expected.
Dining & Nightlife
Cancun has an impressive variety of restaurants catering to all tastes
and budgets. There are establishments that serve traditional Mexican dishes,
Yucantecan entrees, international gourmet cuisine, all-you-can-eat buffets,
American style fast food, etc. Dining aboard a boat on one of Cancun's many
theme dinner cruises is popular with many visitors.
Cancun is famous for its very active nightlife, which starts late and lasts into
the wee hours of the morning. Popular hot spots include El Azucar (known for
their energetic salsa band), La Boom (which draws a boisterous younger crowd),
and Christine's (known for its music videos and spectacular laser light show).
Day 6 - Adios Mexico
Breakfast and lunch at hotel. Free time or optional
activities. Check-out and transfer to Cancun Airport for our flight to Mexico
City Airport for our return flight home. There will be time for last minute
souvenir shopping at the airports duty free area. (Recommended outbound flight
by Iberia).
What’s included Day 1 - VIP airport arrival service and meet & greet
by CST representative. Welcome cocktail, canapes, dinner & drinks and one
night accommodation at a 5* hotel with breakfast the next day. Day 2 - Private
charter flight over the canyon and the pyramids (subject to weather
conditions). Lunch & drinks, entertainment and rodeo at Hacienda La Mision.
Welcome cocktail, dinner & drinks, entertainment and 2 nights accommodation
at the 5* El Paraiso Hotel with breakfast on Day 4. Day 3 – Breakfast at La
Trucha Grilla with drinks. Entrance and visit to the pyramids. City tour of
Real Del Monte and the cemetery, entrance and visit to silver mine, lunch &
drinks. Medieval banquet dinner & drinks and entertainment at San Francisco
Monastery. Day 4 – Internal flight to Cancun. Two nights accommodation at 5*
hotel on all inclusive basis. Day 5 – Catamaran cruise. Farewell beach party
dinner & drinks and entertainment. Day 6 – Internal flight to Mexico City.
All activities, meals and drinks as indicated in itinerary. Souvenir gift. All
transfers in private airconditioned luxury tour vehicles. Tour guide service,
and assistance at airports. Porterage. 24 hr emergency telephone service by CST
operations staff.
Not included International flights (recommended airline Iberia). Visas
(if required). Mexico Airport Departure & Immigration Tax. (normally
included in the international flight tickets). Medical & Travel Insurance.
Personal Expenses. Staff Gratuities. Any meals or drinks not mentioned as
included.
Acapulco Option
As an alternative to ending The Roof of Mexico Tour in Cancun you can choose to
go to Acapulco’s famous Pacific Coast beach resort.
Day 4 Acapulco - Pacific Ocean Paradise
Breakfast and lunch at hotel. Free time or optional activities. Check-out of
hotel and transfer to Mexico City Airport to board our flight to Acapulco with
Iberia*. We transfer and check-into our 5* hotel. Time to relax and enjoy the
hotels’ all inclusive facilities and beach. Dinner included.
Day 5 Catamaran Cruise & Farewell Dinner
Following breakfast we go sailing in the Pacific Ocean on a catamaran and take a
cruise to an island where we have a seafood lunch. There will be time to go
swimming and snorkelling over the coral reefs. There will be an open bar and
music to add to the days fun. In the evening to celebrate our last night we
will have a special farewell beach gala dinner party at the hotel with
entertainment. Everyone will be given a souvenir gift to remind you of your
Mexico trip.
Day 6 Adios Mexico
Breakfast and lunch at hotel. Free time or optional activities. Check-out and
transfer to Acapulco International Airport for our return flight home with
Iberia. There will be time for last minute souvenir shopping at the airports
duty free area.
What’s included Day 1 to Day 4 – As main itinerary with two
nights accommodation at 5* hotel in Acapulco on all inclusive basis. Day 5 –
Catamaran cruise. Farewell beach party dinner & drinks and entertainment.
Day 6 – Transfer to Acapulco Airport for outbound flight.
All activities, meals and drinks as indicated in itinerary. Souvenir gift. All
transfers in private airconditioned luxury tour vehicles. Tour guide service,
and assistance at airports. Porterage. 24 hr emergency telephone service by CST
operations staff.
Not included International & internal flights (recommended airline
Iberia). Visas (if required). Mexico Airport Departure & Immigration Tax.
(normally included in the international flight tickets). Medical & Travel
Insurance. Personal Expenses. Staff Gratuities. Any meals or drinks not
mentioned as included.
Acapulco is one Mexico’s most important and famous
beach resorts. It is located on the Pacific coast. It has a warm, humid climate
with temperatures ranging from 22º C (72º F) to 33º C (91º F) with sunny days
throughout the year. Among the port city’s many enticing qualities are: its
beautiful bay, one of the best in the world; the calm waters of its beaches;
the amenities offered by its well established hotel industry, which in recent
years has undergone a major revamping, especially in the Punta Diamante
neighborhood; and finally, the city’s unbeatable nightlife, which offers one of
the hottest playgrounds among Mexican vacation destinations. For those who have
never visited Acapulco, we recommend that you visit la Isla de la Roqueta
(Roqueta Island), an ideal island setting where you can either relax or enjoy
some scuba diving. You’ll also want to check out the infamous La Quebrada,
where fearless cliff divers plunge into the ocean below. If you’re looking for
a little excitement of your own, Acapulco offers bungee jumping and
parasailing, where from high above you can admire the stunning panoramic views
of the bay, the hotel zone and the surrounding mountains, in their utmost
splendor. Nearby Acapulco, you can visit the beach of Pie de la Cuesta, known
for its spectacular sunsets, or Puerto Marques, with it beautiful bay and calm
waters. Finally, don’t miss out on Barra Vieja, where you are sure to enjoy
delicious seafood dishes prepared in traditional Mexican restaurants.
Mexico is a traveller's paradise, crammed with a
multitude of opposing identities: desert landscapes, snowcapped volcanoes
ancient ruins, teeming industrialised cities, time-warped colonial towns,
glitzy resorts, lonely beaches and a world-beating collection of flora and
fauna. This mix of modern and traditional, the clichéd and the surreal, is the
key to Mexico's charm, whether your passion is throwing back margaritas,
listening to howler monkeys, surfing the Mexican Pipeline, scrambling over
Mayan ruins or expanding your Day of the Dead collection of posable skeletons.
Mexico is enjoyable year-round, but October to May is generally the most
pleasant time to visit. The May-September period can be hot and humid,
particularly in the south, and inland temperatures can approach freezing during
December-February Facilities are often heavily booked during Semana Santa (the
week before Easter) and Christmas/New Year, the peak domestic travel periods.
Mexico's climate has something for everyone: it's hot and humid along the
coastal plains, and drier and more temperate at higher elevations inland
(Guadalajara or Mexico City, for example). Try to avoid Mexico's southern coast
between July and September - the resorts are decidedly soggy and jam-packed, as
July-August is also the peak holiday months for foreign visitors.
 |
Tequila Sunrise – Recipe
2 oz. Tequila, 4 oz. Orange Juice, 1/2 oz. of Granadine.
Pour Tequila and orange juice in a highball glass over ice and stir. Trickle
grenadine on top. Best enjoyed while chilling out on a Mexican beach at sunset
and captivate the beauty of Mexico.
|
 |
Redirecting...
