Day 1: Arrival
Oaxaca, arrive anytime. You will be met at the airport and brought to the hotel or to your host family. At 8pm we will gather to have a drink, meet your fellow travelers and have an informal briefing on what to expect in the days ahead.

Day 2: Walking Oaxaca
Oaxaca is gorgeous! The best way to explore it is by foot. So, our orientation walk will do just that. We'll stroll through the Zocalo, stop for an ice cream in a leafy square near the Virgen de la Soledad church, visit the ornate Santo Domingo, and absorb the colonial Spanish atmosphere.

This evening Lucero is our host at her Oaxacan estate for a talk with a local expert on the meaning and history of the Gueleguetza.

Day 3: Gueleguetza Celebration
From morning til night we will live the Guelaguetza today! Our private transport will take us to the amphitheater for the performance in the morning. We descend in the early afternoon and have the option (groups decides) to return for more performances in the evening. This festival is one of Mexico's most famous and colorful celebrations

Day 4: Crafts Villages
Oaxaca is surrounded by indigenous villages where a variety of unique crafts are made - some exclusively in this region. We will visit Sto. Tomas Jalietza (weaving), San Martin Tilcajete (Alebrijes - the whimsical fantasy creatures made from wood), San Bartolo Coyotopec (black pottery with a demonstration), and if there is time, a visit to a Cochinia farm - a natural red dye made from a parasite that grows on the Nopal cactus - bizarre and fascinating!

Day 5: Monte Alban
Monte Alban, the grand Zapotec ceremonial center, is said to possess a mysterious energy. Well, it certains possesses a sublime beauty and the best time to enjoy it is the morning. Our private transport will assure that we have all the time we desire to explore this special place.

We return to Oaxaca where the afternoon is free to explore on your own.

Day 6: Free morning Oaxaca
The morning is free to explore on your own. We will meet for lunch and then travel to Mexico City by luxury bus (6 hours).

Day 7: Murals, Museums, Music
Starting in the Zocalo, the heart of Mexico City and just a few blocks from our hotel, we craft our own 'mural walk' seeing some impressive works by Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Jose Clemente Orozco and some of their illustrious contemporaries. Today is all about art, so after a brunch in Los Azulejos, itself a masterpiece of architecture, we'll visit the Museum of Anthropology, considered one of the world's most outstanding.

(Those of you traveling on option 2 will be met at the airport this evening in Mexico City and brought to the hotel to join the group)

Tonight we bring it back down to earth, zooming in on some great working class entertainment. One of Mexico's favorite pastimes - and a family affair - is the Lucha Libre, Mexico version of professional wrestling. Optional of course, but highly recommended for those who want to see a different side of Mexico City's nightlife. After the 'lucha', we'll head to Plaza Garibaldi to finish the evening with music. There are hundreds of mariachi bands that rotate in and out of Plaza Garibaldi, entertaining crowds 24 hours a day.

Day 8: San Angel and Coyoacan
Even with 20,000,000 residents, Mexico City still retains pockets of calm. The Saturday art market of San Angel with surround us with cobblestones, cafes and high quality art produced by local talents. Later in the day we'll move to Coyoacan with a distinctly bohemian atmosphere, lots of street entertainers and full of bars and great take-away coffee places!

Day 9: Spectator Sports Sunday
It is Sunday, after all, so we let you dictate today's pace. Everyone will start the day together with a gourmet breakfast overlooking the Zocalo, one of the largest open plazas in the world. With a full stomach, you can contemplate the following: our trip leader will introduce those so inclined to the electric atmosphere of Mexican soccer at one of Latin America's greatest stadiums - Azteca (seasonal). Even if you are not a soccer fan, feeling the energy at the stadium is a worthwhile experience.

Alternately, you can stroll the Zona Rosa for some great shopping (independent) and then head to adjoining Condesa for a coffee at one of the many sidewalk cafes. In the evening, we will take those interested to the Ballet Folklorico at Bellas Artes. Although this dance extravaganza is produced mostly for tourists, both the building and the show are quite beautiful.

(Those of you finishing your journey today will be taken to the airport at any time for your flight home.)

Day 10: Chiapas, El canon del Sumidero
After a morning flight to TuxtlaGutierrez in Chiapas, we head by private transport to San Cristobal de las Casas, stopping off en route for a boat ride through El Canon del Sumidero, a dramatic canyon those immense verdant walls are a feast for the senses. San Cristobal painstakingly preserves its Spanish colonial feel and is considered by some the most pleasant town in Mexico.