Foodie Weekend in Mexico City

After breakfast, our guide will pick you up from the hotel and take you to the National Museum of Anthropology, which presents a comprehensive history of the rise and fall of ancient Indian civilizations and the culture and life of the peoples of Mexico before the arrival of Europeans. Navigate through its vast halls with numerous treasures, and encounter the unmissable Stone of the Sun (or Aztec Calendar Stone). Weighing 24 tons and 3.6 meters in diameter, this disc stone with exquisite artistic carvings conveys the unique Mexican cosmology and serves as a national symbol. Once a monument dedicated by the Aztecs to the sun god, it originally adorned the walls of the Templo Mayor. The arrival of the Spanish destroyed the temple, but the stone miraculously survived.

What secrets does it hold? Let our knowledgeable guide decipher the patterns and symbols of the Aztec calendar carved on the stone. See the face of Tonatiuh, the Mexican sun god of the 5th erea, gazing outwards from the center of the stone, surrounded by patterns of wind, tiger, fire, and water, representing the four past eras. The outer circle, divided into 20 day grids with images of crocodiles, wind, and rain. This is in accordance with the Aztec solar calendar, which divides a year into 18 months of 20 days each, totaling 360 days. Five non-named days represented by blank spaces bring the total to 365, very close to our modern calendar. What a miracle that people thousands of years ago could accurately track the celestial movements and the laws of nature!
► Go for a Xochimilco Lake boat tour instead when the Museum of Anthropology is closed on Monday.

Mexico City has every turn unveiling a new wonder. Next, head to Coyoacan to visit the Frida Kahlo Museum, also known as the Blue House, to learn about the life and art of the famous Mexican female painter Frida Kahlo (1907-1954). Stepping into the cobalt-hued house where Kahlo was born and died, and where she spent most of her life, you'll get a real sense of her brilliant but tragic fate. Born with a beautiful face, she suffered fatal illnesses and frustration - Carol suffered from childhood polio, and was unfortunately disabled in a car accident at the age of 18. Despite challenges, she found solace in painting while bedridden, revealing an astonishing talent. Soon after, she met the love of her life, the renowned artist Diego Rivera, who later became her husband. Rivera guided her painting and introduced her to the world of American art, propelling Kahlo onto the international stage. Her self-portraits with unibrows were praised by Picasso as unforgettable. Kahlo’s work primarily focused on self-portraits, lonely and fragmented, a subject she was most familiar with. Huge fame could not reduce her pain. Kahlo’s marriage, divorce, and entanglements with Rivera, had greatly influenced her emotions. Admire the paintings, personal belongings and collections of Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera in the museum, and experience the passionate intensity of Kahlo’s work, where Mexican culture meets her personal struggles.
► Fee for photography in the museum is generously included.
► If it falls on a Monday when the Frida Kahlo Museum is closed, see the exterior and visit the nearby Coyoacan Market instead.

In the afternoon, let’s return to the historic center of the Old City and step around the bustling Zocalo (Plaza de la Constitución) and its circle of colonial architectural marvels, such as the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México), Templo Mayor Museum (exterior), and National Palace (Palacio Nacional). In the National Palace, you can see the monumental murals depicting the history of Mexico completed by Diego Rivera between 1929 and 1935. Our guide can escort you back to the hotel, just a 3-minute walk away, or you can stay here longer on your own. The costumed performances and exorcism cultural rituals on the square are intriguing.
► Visit the nearby Estanquillo Museum (Museo del Estanquillo) instead when the National Palace is closed on Monday.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Zocalo Central, Mexico City (4 stars) or similar

In the morning, our guide and driver will escort you for 1 hour car ride to Teotihuacan. Get awestruck by the 2,000-year-old city ruins of a civilization that flourished for hundreds of years after the Olmecs (1200 - 900 BC) and then disappeared as mysteriously as it arose. Follow our guide and try to find clues from the artifacts on display at the Teotihuacan Culture Museum (Museo de la Cultura Teotihuacana). Walk along the expansive Avenue of the Dead (Avenida de Los Muertos), worship the majestic Pyramid of the Sun (Pirámide del Sol) and Pyramid of the Moon (Pirámide de la Luna), and imagine a prosperous scene where 100,000 people once lived.

► Titbit: Did Mexican pyramid builders have connections to Chinese Shang Dynasty?
While this is still a hypothetical argument, there are some archaeological finds and academic support for the idea that the American civilizations had a potential connection to Asia. In Mexico’s Olmec Civilization (1200 - 900 BC) sites, more than 200 jade objects were found bearing inscriptions similar to those found on oracle bones from the Yin Ruins of the late Shang Dynasty (1600 - 1046 BC) in China. This raises speculation that, fleeing the Shang Dynasty’s decline, some people of China’s eastern garrison crossed the Pacific, bringing knowledge of astronomy, geography, and irrigation to the Americas. These skills could have laid the foundation for the Olmecs, considered the ancestors of later Mesoamerican civilizations like the Mayans and Aztecs. The pyramids at Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza in Mexico are believed to be used for human sacrifice and connections to sun and rain deities, sharing similarities with slave and animal sacrifices during the Shang Dynasty of China. Additionally, shared totem worship of tigers and snakes, along with other similar artifacts unearthed from both locations, further fuel the speculation of a transpacific connection. Across the vast ocean and millennia, fascinating links may exist. Can’t wait to see it with us?

► Insider Tip: Near Teotihuacan, an internet popular restaurant La Gruta deserves a photogenic visit. Tucked away in a cave, the interior boasts rainbow-like colorful decorations, creating a stunning visual experience, especially from above. If you have time and interest, you can ask the guide to take you there. Try their cactus dishes if you like, which are a hallmark of Mexican cuisine, but lunch is not recommended as we will return to the downtown for a rich culinary tour.

★ Mexican Food Tour at Colonia Roma
Your trip will culminate in Roma, Mexico City’s trendsetting neighborhood. Wear your comfortable shoes, and about 13:00, our guide will accompany you on a 2.5 km (1.5 mi) walk. Mingle with friendly locals and soak up the bohemian atmosphere as we navigate the charming alleys lined with galleries, small shops, restaurants and cafes housed in beautifully restored colonial buildings. Sample a wide variety of authentic Mexican street food and market offerings, including Tacos, the locals’ favorite Mole sauce, and the soft, flavorful Tamales. Indulge in the delights of Mexican beverages like classic mezcal, craft beer, and Mexican coffee.

After a fun-filled food and wine-tasting tour, enjoy the music of the Mexican Mariachi bands at the Garibaldi Plaza. Be escorted back to the hotel, or you can stay longer and return by yourself, taking a 15-minute walk or a 3-minute Didi car ride.

► Recommended Night Activity (not included): Mexican wrestling shows (Lucha Libre) are highly recommended for their traditional masks, lightning-fast moves, high flying skills, and heart-pounding combat atmosphere. Games are usually played at the Arena Mexico or Arena Coliseo. If you are interested, contact our travel consultant or guide to book tickets in advance.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch with wine tasting
Accommodation: Hotel Zocalo Central, Mexico City (4 stars) or similar

Enjoy a relaxing breakfast before our driver transfers you from your hotel to the airport in a private car. May your brief stay leave you with lasting memories. Have a pleasant journey home!

Meals: Breakfast

For Your Information:
If your flight is in the late afternoon or evening, you can explore Mexico City’s captivating architecture and museums on your own. The Soumaya Museum (Museo Soumaya), renowned for its modern design and engaging art exhibitions, is a popular choice. If you still have time for lunch, consider Contramar (Address: Calle de Durango 200, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc), a highly-rated restaurant known for its innovative seafood dishes like tuna tacos. It is usually crowded during lunchtime, and a reservation is recommended. If you want to extend your Mexico tour to places like Puebla, Oaxaca, or Cancun, please feel free to contact us for a customized itinerary.