After breakfast, we will have a two-hour Spanish class in the garden to go over useful vocabulary and some basic history of Mexico City. From there, we will start a day of adventure! 

Get ready for a bike tour of Paseo de la Reforma and Chapultepec Park with a stop at Chapultepec Castle and the National History Museum. Every Sunday, Mexico City shuts down major streets to cars and opens them up to the public. They call this “Muévete en Bici” which translates to “move with your bike.” As a visitor, this is a unique time to explore the city and get some exercise!

After a leisurely bike ride, we will enjoy our favorite tacos al pastor at El Tizoncito before enjoying a few hours of downtime to rest and get freshened up for an evening at the ballet! We will be having a late dinner after the ballet so we recommend eating a big lunch!

After a stunning performance at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, we will head out for churros and late-night snacks! 

After breakfast and a quick  1-hour Spanish class, we will drive to Xochimilco on the southern end of CDMX. Here we will float down the river on colorfully painted boats known as trajineras. Not only will we appreciate onboard mariachis and marimba music and floating food vendors, but we will also learn more about pre-hispanic CDMX.

What we know today as CDMX was once a large Aztec city that was comprised of an intricate series of man-made islands, or “chinampas,” and canals on what used to be el Lago Texcoco. The lake was later drained and filled in by the Spaniards who then began to build the historic buildings we see today. Xochimilco is one of the last remaining places where you can get a feel for what the area was like prior to the Conquista. 

Upon finishing our boat ride we will drive over to the beautiful neighborhood of Coyoacán. A quirky and intellectual neighborhood blended with the independent character that comes from the area’s history as a village apart from the larger city makes Coyoacán a favorite among many visitors. Here we will enjoy lunch followed by a visit to the neighborhood and a stop at Servin Ceramic. There we will meet our friend Brenda and learn about her family’s pottery business! We highly recommend taking a piece home with you as their handmade items are truly stunning and unique! 

Finally, we'll visit the Frida Kahlo Museum, a historic house and art museum dedicated to the life and work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

After breakfast, we will enjoy a two-hour Spanish class before heading down to the historic center for a guided walking tour. 

On our walking tour of the Historic Center, our fabulous local guide, Daniel will lead us through one of CDMX’s most iconic areas. Here we will check out some of the most fascinating points such as the Zocálo, Templo Mayor (Aztec temple), the Cathedral, a street dedicated solely to weddings and quinceañera gowns, a three-story bakery, the Palacio Nacional (awesome Diego Rivera mural inside), the gorgeous golden post office and mucho más! 

You will then have some free time to explore the historic center on your own before we regroup and head to dinner at Roldán 37. Here we will enjoy a delicious dinner and cooking demonstration prepared by Chef Rómulo Mendoza in his family’s beautiful historic home! 

After breakfast and a one-hour Spanish class, we will make our journey outside of Mexico City to visit the Teotihuacán pyramids! This complex of majestic temples is known for its two massive pyramids that are commonly referred to as the Pirámide del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun) and Pirámide de la Luna (Pyramid of the Moon). On our tour of this important archaeological site, we will dive deeper into Mexico City’s history and civilization prior to the Spanish invasion and how it relates to the rest of México and other Mesoamerican countries. 

After burning off some calories under the sun at Teotihuacán we will grab a tasty lunch nearby before returning to the city, first making a stop at the Basilica! 

The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Roman Catholic church, basilica, and the national shrine of Mexico. Located in the north of Mexico City, the Basilica houses the cloak containing the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The grounds alone are beautiful and photo-worthy, and Mexico’s strong ties to Catholicism, and primarily to the Virgin Mary, are also fascinating, making this stop well worth it!  

Once back at the hotel, everybody can enjoy a free evening to rest or explore and enjoy the city on their own! If you want to have dinner or plan an activity with your tour leaders they are happy to hang out with you or provide recommendations for things to do independently if you prefer! 

After breakfast, we will enjoy two hours of Spanish classes before touring two incredible Mexico City markets! 

Mercado Jamaica is a bustling market and one of the principal ones in the city for fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants in the city. On this tour, you’ll learn about the area’s history and will also try many of Mexico’s unique ingredients and flavors that make their cuisine so tasty and unparalleled. 

After our guided food tour of Mercado Jamaica, we will stop at the artisanal market La Ciudadela, which will be the perfect opportunity to do shop shopping as this market is home to many artisan crafts as well as everyday items. If you are looking for textiles, pottery, woodworks, art, jewelry, chocolate, coffee, or pretty much anything you’re likely to find it here! If you're not as much of a shopper, have no fear, our favorite coffee shop/mezcaleria is tucked inside this market so pull up a seat for some coffee, chocolate, or mezcal. If you are feeling adventurous you can even get a beverage that has all three! 

Later that night join us for an optional group dinner and an evening of music and salsa dancing at Mama Rumba! 

After breakfast and a two hour Spanish class, you'll have a free day to explore the city on your own or join your Program Directors on a laid-back tour of the trendy La Condesa and La Roma neighborhoods. 

At night, we will join together for a final farewell dinner to celebrate lessons learned, and new friendships and memories made! 

After breakfast, you will be shuttled to the airport in order to catch your return flight home!