Day 1 – Arrive Mexico City. Transfer to Querétaro City, capitol of Querétaro State. UNESCO has declared beautiful Querétaro part of “The Patrimony of Humankind.” After settling into our hotel, we'll enjoy a Fiesta de Bienvenida. http://www.tourbymexico.com/quere/quere/quere.htm
Day 5 - Tour Jalpan de Serra – the first Mission established by Franciscan Friar Junípero Serra (who subsequently founded the 23 California Missions, from San Diego in the south to Santa Rosa in the north. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13730b.htm) Friends from El Ranchito will show us around.
Day 7 - Return to Jalpan.
Day 8 – Travel to Xilitla. Visit a coffee farm and visit Las Pozas, a fantastic $5 million dollar palace built by eccentric Scotsman Edward James (an "illegitimate" son of Edward VII?). Although some buildings are well maintained, part of this sprawling complex is being reclaimed by surrounding jungle. http://www.afsc.org/latinamerica/int/mexxililtla.htm
Day 11 - Visit town of Pinal de Amoles, Misión Bucareli (a Junípero Serra mission church), and an outlying river whose magnificent waterfall is higher than Niagara.
Day 12 - 16 – Travel to El Ranchito. Students will live with El Ranchito families. During our stay, we will participate in the daily life of El Ranchito, eating together, hiking together, visiting the fields together and “working” with farm animals. Students will join host children to play soccer, basketball, baseball, card games and board games together. Enjoy barbacoa baked underground. Get to know outlying hamlets. Undertake a service project: e.g., plant avocado trees.
Day 16 - Leave El Ranchito for Queretaro City. Spend leisurely afternoon, ambling about town..
Day 18 - Continued exploration of San Miguel, perhaps the most lovely colonial town in the New World.
Day 21 – Travel to Mexico City airport for return journey to United States.
Cost:
The above itinerary costs $2050.00 per person. This "turnkey" cost includes all expenses except incidental purchases, souvenirs and airfare.
By making changes in the above itinerary -- for example, by eliminating two "side trips" and spending relatively more time in El Ranchito -- the "turnkey" cost would be $1875.00.
Round trip airfare should be available for less than $500.00, perhaps as little as $450.00. However, the rising cost of jet fuel introduces a measure of uncertainty.
For more information please contact
Alan Archibald
