Immersion Challenge – The Authentic Mexico

Day 1 : Mexico

Welcome to Mexico City!

Arrive in the sprawling city of México.

Meet your driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight at Hotel Punto MX.

Includes: arrival transfer, buffet breakfast, room.

Day 2 : Mexico

Tour of Mexico City
After breakfast, departure for a tour of the city, including the Zocalo, one of the largest squares in the world.

The continent’s largest cathedral stands before you. Its three naves are home to numerous chapels dripping with gold, including the “Chapel of Forgiveness”. This building stands on the exact spot where the great Aztec temple known as “Teocalli” once stood.

Next, you’ll head for the National Palace, seat of the President. It stands on the site of Moctezuma’s Palace, and features frescoes painted by Diego Rivera, the famous Mexican muralist. Then on to the Temple Mayor (exterior only), a vestige of the ancient Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan…a pre-Columbian temple in the middle of an urban jungle – surprising!

In the late morning, you’ll head to the south-east of the city. Here, you can enjoy lunch (to be paid for on site) aboard the Xochimilco boats, where you’ll enjoy the festive colors and flavors of Mexico.

Cultural history in Coyoacan

Then visit the small bohemian village of Coyoacan, still home to many artists. You’ll visit the Frida Kahlo Museum, where the Mexican painter’s imprint is still palpable. Around the corner, you’ll find Leon Trotsky’s house, where the exiled Russian lived for the 3 years leading up to his assassination.

Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

Evening suggestions (please contact us):

– Lucha libre show, a very popular sport in Mexico, in the capital’s main arena…. great atmosphere guaranteed! (only Tuesdays at 7.30pm, Fridays at 8.30pm and Sundays at 5pm).

– Ballet Folklórico (Wednesday and Sunday only – 8.30pm)

Overnight at Hotel Punto MX.

Day 3 : Mexico

Tour of the outskirts of Mexico City

Departure by private transport for a tour of the outskirts of Mexico City.

North of the city, you’ll visit the 17th-century Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a major pilgrimage site for Catholics from all over the world and the most important religious site in Latin America. You’ll also discover the ancient basilica, which gently sinks into the ground. It houses a reproduction of the Black Madonna, which stands behind the choir inside the new basilica.

Then on to the Teotihuacan site. You’ll notice two major monuments, the Pyramids of the Moon and the Sun; the Temple of Quetzalcóatl, famous for its feathered serpent, as well as the Temple of the Feathered Snails and the Palace of the Jaguars. The “City of the Gods” dates back to the 7th century and, with its 200,000 inhabitants, was probably the most populous city in the world at the time.

Return to Mexico City.

Overnight at Hotel Punto MX.

Day 4 : Oaxaca

Heading for Oaxaca

Departure from the hotel by private transport 4 hours before take-off time for transfer to the airport.

Domestic flight Mexico – Oaxaca. Not included.

Arrival in Oaxaca and transfer to our hotel.

Leave your luggage behind and set off on a free tour of the city: the Zocalo, Santo Domingo Cathedral, Benito Juarez’s house… Nestled in a valley in the heart of the Sierra Madre del Sur, the city of Oaxaca is characterized by intense artistic vitality, rich craftsmanship and cultural activities. It is also home to major fairs and festivals, representing the richness and diversity of its culture, rooted in the depths of its traditions and customs. The art of Oaxaca is a cultural standard-bearer for Mexico at home and abroad. The colorful folklore, music, dance and cuisine speak to you of the age-old art of living inherited from their ancestors.

Overnight at Hotel El Diablo y la Sandia.

Day 5 : Oaxaca

Discovering the crafts of Oaxaca
You’ll head south to the village of San Bartolo Coyotepec, famous for its black pottery. Then off to Santa Maria el Tule, home to a colorful 17th-century church and a 2,000-year-old giant cypress, a rare species in danger of extinction. The trunk measures 42 meters and has a circumference of 52 meters. The tree is a protected national monument.

Mitla, city of the dead
You continue your journey to visit Mitla, the Zapotec-speaking city of the dead, once one of the region’s main ceremonial centers. At the end of the day, you’ll join a family of weavers in the village of Teotitlan del Valle, who will explain their work to you, and where you’ll learn the secrets of natural dyeing “made in Mexico”.

Return to Oaxaca at the end of the day.

Day 6 : Oaxaca

Monte Alban, Oaxaca’s finest panorama

After breakfast, departure for a visit to the prestigious Zapotec site of Monte Alban, situated at an altitude of 2,000 metres and offering spectacular views over the entire valley. The site was first occupied by the Zapotecs who, thanks to what they had inherited from the Olmec civilization, developed hieroglyphic writing, a calendar, a numbering system and astronomical observation methods.

Monte Alban is renowned for its harmonious architecture, remarkable stone carvings, sumptuous tombs and astronomical observatory, said to be the oldest in Mesoamerica.

This lunchtime, you’ll discover Oaxaca’s gastronomy. On the program: shopping at the market to pick up the ingredients for your dishes, preparation of your lunch always accompanied by your local chef, then the best for last… the tasting!

Overnight at Hotel El Diablo y la Sandia.

Day 7 : Pueblos Mancomunados

Ready for the challenge?

The experience begins in Oaxaca City, heading for the pueblo macomunado of Capulalpam de Méndez, located in the Sierra Norte de Oaxaca (estimated journey time: 1 h 45).

The pueblos Mancomunados are eight villages, scattered over 2900 hectares of the Sierra Norte, descended from Zapotecos, Chinantecos and Mixes groups and administered under the Usos y Costumbres system, a quasi-political autonomy practised by indigenous communities in the state of Oaxaca. Under this system, tasks, decisions, projects and benefits are shared. This is how the tourism project was born, and how its operating principles are organized: cabins, bicycles, buses, all equipment belongs to the eight villages, and all profits are reinvested in community needs.

On arrival in the community, you’ll meet your local guide who will lead you on the hike to “Los Molinos”. The hike begins in the hut area, you take the trail to the viewpoint, after enjoying an incredible view, you continue downhill until you meet the tributary of the Los Molinos River. Continue along the banks of the river, enjoying the beauty of the landscape until you reach the Los Molinos Recreation Center. You’ll have time to swim in the river, weather permitting, and then sample the local gastronomy at the Los Molinos restaurant.

Walking distance: 6 to 8 km

In the afternoon, you’ll visit the white-tailed deer UMA, where you’ll learn about the community’s conservation efforts, then head to the cabin area.

Overnight in a cabin.

Day 8 : Oaxaca

Ready for the challenge?

With the first rays of the sun, a new day welcomes you, it’s time to pack the backpacks and head down to the dining room where a nutritious breakfast awaits.

You’ll meet your local guide after breakfast, to begin your hike along the “El Embudo” road, the hike begins with a visit to the “Los Sabinos” park, a historic site for the community, continuing along the old royal road that leads to the corner, to the “Las Pavas” creek, an area of high conservation value for the community. Without doubt, a hike that will allow us to enjoy the unmissable landscapes of the Sierra Norte. Of course, this hike also gives you the chance to chat with your guide and learn more about the medicinal plants used in the community.

Trail distance: 18 km

Estimated walking time: 5 to 6 hours

Return to camp for another taste of the local cuisine, pack up and head back to Oaxaca.

Day 9 : Puerto Escondido

Puerto Escondido

Early morning, departure from the hotel for a transition day to reach Puerto Escondido.

The route keeps its promise: 280 km of narrow road winding through the heart of the Sierra Madre. You pass through countless villages of crude shacks with corrugated iron roofs, clinging to the mountainside. Arrival in Puerto Escondido in the afternoon.

Overnight at Hotel Santa Fe.

Day 10 : Puerto Escondido

Puerto Escondido

Free day in Puerto Escondido.

We suggest you discover this Mexican paradise, with its beautiful sun-drenched beaches that attract visitors from Mexico and all over the world.

We can suggest several activities in the vicinity (please consult us):

-Dolphin watching at sunrise.
-Release of baby turtles.
-Bioluminescence at Manialtepec lagoon.
-Horseback riding and thermal waters.
-and much more…

Overnight at Hotel Santa Fe.

Day 11 : Chacahua

Ready for the challenge?

In the late morning, your driver will pick you up and take you to meet your hosts in the Afro-Mexican community of Chacahua. The 14,000-hectare Chacahua National Park includes two huge brackish mangrove lagoons and two pristine beaches. It is home to some 153 species of birds, including magpies, black eagles, woodpeckers, chachalacas, calandrias, white herons and ospreys, as well as a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial plants.

You’ll spend the day getting to know the community, as well as making jam with the women of the Afro-Mexicano collective.

This evening, you’ll dine with a family from the community before relaxing around a fire on the beach.

African-influenced dishes are the norm: exotic meats, tichindas and battered bananas.

You’ll spend a peaceful night in the small community hotel.

Day 12 : Chacahua

Ready for the challenge?

Start the day with breakfast on the beach, before setting off on a sunrise hike with panoramic sea views.

You’ll see birds and, with a bit of luck, dolphins and/or whales.

The hike ends with free time on the pristine beach. If you prefer fresh water, you can also swim in the river.

You’ve earned a hearty lunch in the community.

This afternoon, you can do as many activities as you like, but we recommend spending time with the community’s children on educational projects.

Dinner with the community and overnight at the community hotel.

Day 13 : Chacahua

Prêt pour le défi ?

Petit-déjeuner sur la plage.

Aujourd’hui nous vous proposons plusieurs activités au choix au sein de la communauté :

– Agriculture et récolte de noix de coco.

– Menuiserie.

– Expérience gastronomique du mole de Oaxaca.

– Excursion nocturne en bateau pour observer et photographier la bioluminescence des lagunes de Chacahua… un phénomène naturel inoubliable.

Dîner et nuit dans la communauté.

Day 14 : Puerto Escondido

End of the challenge

This morning, after breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to the community and thank its inhabitants for their warm welcome.

Your driver will then take you to Puerto Escondido airport for your return flight.

¡ Adios Oaxaca!