Fresh from our Central Mexican adventure, Dale of The Maritime Explorer shares his thoughts on Coyoacan Mexico City's oldest neighbourhood.
Mexico City with a metropolitan population of over 21 million is the largest city in the Western Hemisphere and the largest Spanish speaking city in the world. Not surprisingly it has dozens of distinct neighbourhoods just like New York City, Toronto or Los Angeles. Many of these neighbourhoods hold little of interest to the average tourist, but others are off the beaten track destinations that are as interesting to visit as the main sites in the Centro Histórico. One of the best is located well to the south side of the metropolis in what was for centuries an independent small city that was actually the first Spanish capital of New Spain. Here’s why a visit to Coyoacan is well worth at least half a day for anyone interested in seeing something other than just the usual ‘top ten’ sites of Mexico City.
Why you should book a Central Mexico tour
Ever wondered what a trip to Mexico, the real Mexico, is like? Lucky for us, Dale of The Maritime Explorer just returned from a Central Mexico tour adventure and has provided nine reasons why you should go. Read on.
Alison and I have just returned from the inaugural Adventures Abroad tour of Central Mexico with veteran tour guide Victor Romagnoli, featuring the Day of the Dead festivities. All I can say is that it was eye-opening in every sense of the word and although I’ve travelled enough to know that one’s impressions of a country before ever being there are seldom accurate, this was never so apparent as on this trip.
India Tours – A Land Like No Other
India is home to nearly 1.3 billion people, the second largest on Earth, and the seventh largest in terms of area. Its landscape is beautiful and varied, from the western camel routes, dusty and desolate, to the massive Himalaya Mountains in the north, the lush, tropical forests deep in India’s south, and its eastern spiritual rivers, of which the Ganges is the most well known. Our India tours explore this complex, colourful and energetic country.
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments are various Jain, Buddhist and Hindu temples built between 950 and 1050 AD in Madhya Pradesh, and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You’ll find India in South Asia, tucked in between Pakistan to the west and Bangladesh to the east, Nepal and China to the North. To its south, India is blessed with abundant coastline, surrounded by the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal. The roots of history run deep in India, with archaeological evidence indicating the region has been inhabited for more than 30,000 years.
Japan Group Tours – Modern But With Respect For The Past
Our Japan group tours reveal a country that is a complex mix of ancient traditions, and ultra modern, where glass-clad skyscrapers might have a room full of tatami mats, ready to host a tea ceremony, accessed by a wooden door.
The bullet train is a great way to get around Japan quickly, as it reaches speeds of up to 320 kilometres per hour! In the background you see Mount Fuji, one of Japan’s Three Holy Mountains. This dormant volcano last erupted in 1708.
Inhabited for thousands of years, Japan’s early history is probably best known for the samurai culture which developed there. The rivalries in the noble classes were fought with samurai. For 265 years the Tokugawa Shogunate was housed inside the Edo-jo Castle, where many battles took place.
Ecuador Tours – Experience the Galapagos Islands
There’s no doubt the most popular part of our Ecuador tours are the Galapagos Islands, but they’re far from mainland Ecuador, at around 1,000 kilometres west of this South American country.
The tortoises living on the Galapagos Islands are the largest species on Earth, growing up to 900+ pounds and live 100+ years!
This natural marvel consists of an archipelago of hundreds of islands, with 12 of them being quite large, and the rest being fragmented volcanic islands. Charles Darwin’s visit of 1835 brought international attention to the island, which is an absolute must-see for anyone who loves wildlife. The Galapagos were the inspiration for his early theories of evolution and his book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
South Korea Tours – Dynamic & Traditional
Our South Korea tours typically start in Seoul, a modern metropolis that has spilled over its 600-year-old city walls and grown to a population of 25 million. Its residents are part of a progressive Asian culture with deep respect for its past and traditions.
The beautiful Jeju Island is one of South Korea’s most popular vacation spots, whether for simple vacations or for honeymooners. It is home to a dormant volcano (South Korea’s tallest mountain) and the world’s longest lava tube (Manjang Cave).
Illustrating the juxtaposition of past and present is Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Joseon Dynasty’s sprawling residence, which had been the seat of Korea’s government for almost 500 years. Now, the tranquil setting of the Palace is set against Seoul’s tall skyline and frenetic pace.
