- Most Popular
- 9 hours
- Beyond the city, Iconic sites
- Ages 6+
Go beyond the usual tourist bus experience on this tour that takes you out of Mexico City to see Teotihuacan pyramids and more.
Quick Details
- See the numerous temples and churches that form the beautiful Shrine of Guadalupe.
- View the sacred image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a significant part of Mexican history for more than 400 years.
- Explore the holy city of Teotihuacan, one of the most important archaeological sites in the world.
- Visit with local families to learn how they use ancient knowledge to preserve the culture of Teotihuacan.
Sacred Shrines and Ancient Pyramids
From sacred shrines to ancient pyramids, join us for a fascinating ride through the rich history and culture of Mexico. Go back in time and get to know Mexico City in a way that many visitors don’t get to experience, meeting locals and seeing some of the city’s most interesting sights along the way.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, entrance fees to sites, public transportation fares, family dinner.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Schedule Details
- Duration: 11 hours
- Meeting point: Bellas Artes
- Starting time: 7:30 a.m.
- Ending point: Palace of Fine Arts
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Get ready to discover more than 2,000 years of history and learn about the foundations of Mexico City on this fascinating cultural tour led by a passionate local guide. Our first stop is the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (also called the Shrine of Guadalupe), where the original image of the Virgin of Guadalupe is housed. This is one of the most important pilgrimage sites of Catholicism in the world, so don’t be surprised if you see people arriving on bicycles or walking in processions en route to the sacred site.
We get into the details about why this spot is so special on the tour, but in a nutshell, the church in question was built near the hill of Tepeyac, where Our Lady of Guadalupe (also known as the Virgin Mary) is believed to have appeared to Saint Juan Diego. The basilica houses the original cloak of Juan Diego, which holds the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. During your visit, you have the opportunity to see the original image of Guadalupe for yourself, visited by millions of people each year.
Our historical and cultural journey continues north to the holy city of Teotihuacan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-see for anyone visiting Mexico City. The beauty and majesty of this place are truly unique, and the sheer size of the ancient Mesoamerican city is awe-inspiring. There is still a shroud of mystery surrounding Teotihuacan (which means “place where gods were born”), making it all the more exciting to experience. The towering pyramids are waiting for you; climb them and see the beauty of what once was the most powerful and largest city of pre-Aztec central Mexico.
Save some energy for a visit to the homes of some families in the town next to Teotihuacan. These families have been developing some of the ancient techniques once used in the mighty culture of Teotihuacan, including the use of obsidian stone. The stone, a naturally formed volcanic glass, was widely used by the ancient people of Teotihuacan, and today is transformed by local artisans into beautiful pieces of art.
In addition to working with obsidian, locals are also bringing back historic ways of cooking, in particular, the use of xoconostle (the fruit of the nopal cactus, also called tuna). Locals use it to create some wonderful desserts, chips, marmalades, and liquors that you can taste when you enjoy dinner with a local family.
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Mr. Lukas V. from Czech Republic travelled on 08 Feb 2019
Amazing experience. Balam was an awesome guide!
Mr. John S. from USA travelled on 31 Dec 2018
Both guides were excellent, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. It was a great experience. My only suggestion would be to allow some sort of lunch for this particular trip combination. It was a long time between breakfast and the final dinner. Thankfully, our guide provided us with some traditional snacks for the bus ride which was greatly appreciated.
Ms. Ellen C. from USA travelled on 25 Jun 2018
Rodrigo and Alfonso were both excellent guides. Very different styles, but both incredibly friendly, informative, and engaging.
Mr. Gustavo G. from Mexico travelled on 16 Jun 2018
Amazing tour! At the first, Pilar took us to the Shrine of Guadalupe where she gave us a lot of great information about the story of the Lady of Guadalupe and all the interesting facts that happened through the Mexican history. Then, Ady, the next guide in my adventure took us to Teotihuacan where we had de chance to have access to the ancient piramids and private places for the teotihacans (I climbed the tallest pyramid, such a challenge!) The best: trying pulque, mezcal and tequila, seen great artisan handwork in obsidian en then the family dinner in the nearest town! Would do it again!