CENTRAL AMERICA
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Dance like a native in Teotihuacan! Traditional Aztec dancers and musicians in costume introduce you to the dance and its living legacy.
Mexico CityCrowds, cars, and cantinas. Twenty million residents clamoring all day long in the marketplaces and dancing all night long in the clubs. Few cities have the pure, tangible energy of Mexico City. Explore the past and present of this mammoth metropolis, built right on top of the capital of the Aztec empire. A licensed local guide will take you to the immense Plaza de la Constitución, the second largest square in the world after Moscow’s Red Square, whose unofficial name “el Zócalo” means “plinth” because of the never-completed statue in the center. Lining the square are the Cathedral and Palacio Nacional. The Cathedral was built between 1573 and 1813, and its architectural styles change, getting more and more ornate, as you go up. The Palacio Nacional still holds the president’s offices and a spectacular set of Diego Rivera murals — the artist depicted almost the full span of Mexican history, from the Toltecs and Aztecs to the Mexican Revolution, in amazing detail and striking, vivid colors. Nearby, the excavated Templo Mayor shows several layers of the chief Aztec temple. The Aztecs rebuilt their temples every 52 years, and there are at least seven separate structures (most of them now well below water level and not yet excavated) on this site.
National Museum of AnthropologyExplore one of the top anthropology museums in the world. Arranged in over 100,000 square feet of display space are such artifacts as massive Olmec stone heads, the tomb and skeletal remains of an 8th-century Mayan ruler, a carved jaguar with a hollow back for the hearts of human sacrifices, and the famous Aztec Calendar Stone. At the museum entrance, the rain god Tlaloc stands guard over all these treasures. City residents claim that when this statue was moved here from its original home, severe rainstorms raged and ended a citywide drought.
Ballet FolklóricoExperience a lively performance by the famous Ballet Folklorico. Discover the rich traditions of Mexican culture as you witness colorfully costumed dancers combine ballet dance with music reflective of the regions and folk music genres of Mexico.
Cook authentic tortillas with Mexican chefs. Discover the tortilla’s historic role in the local diet and its links to the Aztecs.
Travel to Puebla via Cholula. Visit an archaeological site in Cholula. Next, enjoy a tour-director led sightseeing tour of Puebla.
Experience the Monte Alban archaeological site.
Enjoy visiting an archaeological site in Mitla.
Fired Up!Work alongside local artisans to create a ceramic piece on the pottery wheel. Explore traditional design and the importance of ceramics in Mexican culture.
Explore the Regional Museum of Archaeology, the Santo Domingo Church and Cultural Center. Then travel back to Mexico City.
Class is in session. And, by that, of course we mean the endless lessons that travel brings. So, no matter if you’re out trotting the globe or at home planning your next trip, adventure is never far! These must-read blog posts open a world of learning through inspirational travel stories, destination spotlights, classroom resources, and other buzzworthy news.
When you think of Mexico, maybe you think of a tropical spring break vacation, but Mexico has so much more to offer than just fun in the sun! The country has a fascinating history, wonderful food, and...
