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Private Journeys

Explore and Relax Mexico: Silver cities to Pacific coast

12 days from £3,040pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Mexico

  • MEX_Pacific_Zihuatanejo_PlayaLaRopa_iStock_172672558

Overview & Highlights

Mexico, with its huge landscapes, offers a great road trip, travelling in a car with personal driver round the highland colonial cities. Then hop by air down to the tropical Pacific coast.

Northwest of Mexico City are crumpled ranges of gnarled, humpy but starkly beautiful hills. Here, and in the bountiful valleys of the Bajío, Spanish colonists built fortunes from the mining of precious metals, especially silver, and a necklace of prosperous towns sprung up which share a heritage of baroque churches, leafy squares and pastel-washed houses.

Each has its own character: the stately university town of Guanajuato, built in a narrow gorge, is a centre for music, theatre and dance. The impossibly picturesque cobbled streets of San Miguel de Allende overflow with character as well as galleries, boutiques and cafés. Querétaro is renowned for its impressive colonial aqueduct. Meanwhile, to the south-west of Mexico City is Taxco; the whole city is a national monument. These cities rarely feature on a first trip to Mexico, making our holiday ideal if it is your second visit and are keen to scratch a little deeper beneath the surface of this captivating country.

Begin with a couple days in Mexico City before our road trip takes you on the rugged highland colonial-cities loop. Then it's on by air to the tropical Pacific coast for beach time at Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, established resorts with wonderful beaches and a lower profile than those along the Riviera Maya.

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  • Explore Mexico City and experience its highlights
  • Discover colourful colonial towns and cities
  • Relax on the stunning Pacific coast

THE UK’S NO. 1 SPECIALIST IN TRAVEL TO LATIN AMERICA

Paul Winrow Giffin

Paul Winrow-Giffin

Travel Expert

Talk to our experts

Things to do

We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.

Accommodation

Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation . Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you’ll relax in utter comfort.

Bartolome, Galápagos

What our clients say

  • Thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Colombia, which was very well organised by JLA.

    RW, London
  • There are two moments that I wish I could return to again and again - watching the sun go down over the jagged rock formations of the Valley of the…

    DK, Dover
  • This was  a trip to remember. I have a brilliant overview of this enormous country. And was pleased to visit it before tourism takes a hold. Our brilliant tour leader…

    RP, Matlock
  • How, if at all, could your holiday have been improved? "I could not imagine that my holiday could have been better." "Cuba is changing, so go now before it's too…

    CA, London
  • Most memorable experiences: “Kaieteur Falls. Angel Falls. Both a wonderful experience. The holiday was described accurately, and your staff were always extremely helpful. I am pleased to have done it…

    PJC, Swindon
  • This trip offers so many breathtaking moments. Overall it is the variation of landscape and wealth of history that impresses and spotting varied wildlife.

    WK, Shoreham-by-Sea
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Our Expert's Opinion

This holiday in Mexico allows you to see the country at your own pace. You'll have the chance to meet local people, spend more time in beautifully restored old silver mining towns, and stay ahead of the crowds if you're following your own timetable. The benefit of this holiday is the freedom of independent travel, with the knowledge that the recommended accommodations have been carefully handpicked by us.

Paul Winrow Giffin
Paul Winrow-Giffin Travel Expert After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

Inspired by this trip

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

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Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • Millie
    Millie Davies - Travel Expert

    Having caught the travel bug as a child, Millie has travelled all over Latin America before making her home in Buenos Aires for 3 years.

  • Sallly
    Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

  • Juliet
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

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