Lonely Planet Experiences: Hidden Mexico City
Mexico City, Mexico
From USD 64.00
Office phone number: +52 55 1632 0847



Lonely Planet Experiences: Hidden Mexico City
Mexico City, Mexico





Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.

Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Take a trip through time, covering 700 years in one day! From Aztecs to art, we’ll uncover little-known facts on this full-day tour, and explore the past, present, and future of the biggest city in the Americas.
Experience the best travel stories for yourself. Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this city adventure hand-picked by the world's leading travel publisher. Lonely Planet Experiences powered by Urban Adventures bring stories to life in the best-loved cities around the globe.
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Highlights
- Discover the remains of an ancient Aztec city located under modern Mexico City
- Visit iconic sites like the Metropolitan Cathedral, the biggest cathedral on the continent
- Explore one of the most exotic markets in the city and shop for local snacks and specialities
- Learn about the beautiful Fine Art Palace while enjoying a local dessert and coffee
- See a beautiful piece of art painted by a renowned Mexican artist
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destinations guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- On this tour you will visit important cultural sites, including Templo Mayor (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Metropolitan Cathedral, and Fine Art Palace. The tour includes entrance fees for these important landmarks, which helps preserve local cultural heritage.
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Schedule details
- Duration: Approximately 7 hours
- Meeting point:
Hostel Mundo Joven Catedral, Calle República de Guatemala 4, Cuauhtémoc, Centro Histórico, 06020 Ciudad de México, D.F. We’ll meet behind the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, on a pedestrian-only street.
https://goo.gl/maps/ja9Gtd2syM32
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 9.00 AM
- Ending point:
Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes)
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, entrance fees, public transportation, samples of local products.
Exclusions: Lunch, drinks, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Mexico City holds a lot of stories — some 700 years’ worth of them, in fact! This Mexico City tour will walk you through the city’s past and present, with some insight into where its future is going.
But first, we have to start — where else? — at the beginning! We’ll tell you the legend behind this big city and you’ll get to understand what culture shock the Spaniards must have experienced when they first arrived to this part of America.
We’ll then jump through time into the conquest years, as we explore city streets and visit one of the most important buildings from the colonial period. We’ll learn how native traditions changed, and how the Aztec gods were replaced by a new religion previously unknown to the locals in this land.
From there, we’ll skip from colonial times into modern-day Mexico City, and travel like a local, riding the subway to a community market. Along the way, your guide will share with you some facts about public transit in one of the biggest cities in the world.
Our transit trip will lead us to one of the most exotic markets in town. Here you’ll get to try a few samples, and if you find something you love, you’re welcome to order more — we’ll help you navigate all the exciting snacks on display!
We’ll then grab some dessert and coffee or tea over at the Fine Arts Palace (Palacio de Bellas Artes), a gorgeous building that has gone from being a colonial-era convent into a modern-day display of Mexican arts and culture. We’ll finish our tour here — 700 years wrapped up into one epic day!
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, entrance fees, public transportation, samples of local products.
Exclusions: Lunch, drinks, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: We recommend dressing comfortably and wearing comfortable walking shoes. Bring a light jacket or sweater and, during the rainy season (May to September), we recommend bringing a raincoat or umbrella. Leave your valuables, such as passports and credit cards, in the hotel and only bring a small amount of spending cash. Keep large cameras discreetly stored in a backpack.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: Travelers under 12 years of age are not permitted to join this tour.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +52 55 1632 0847
Email address: info@mexicocityurbanadventures.com
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