Mexico City is the capital city of the nation of Mexico, is one of the largest cities in the world, and is the oldest metropolis on the American continent as it was the capital of the Aztec Empire.  Mexico City sits perched atop the Valley of Mexico at about 2,240 meters (7,392 feet) above sea level.  Surrounded on most sides by towering volcanoes, which rise up to 4,000 to 5,500 meters (13,000 to 18,000 feet) above sea level, Mexico city has some stunning scenery and landscape.  The nation’s capital has some of the best weather in the world with an average temperature of 22º C (72º F).

Once known as the City of Palaces, Mexico City is steeped in history. The Centro Historico (Historic Center) has some beautiful buildings such as the Spanish-era Catedral Metropolitano (Metropolitan Cathedral), considered to be one of the most important architectural structures in the Western Hemisphere, the Palacio Nacional (National Palace), which display Mexico’s colorful history through spectacular murals by the famous artist Diego Rivera, and the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts), a stunning white marble theater, which hosts the city’s most important cultural events. Xochimilco Ecological Park, known as the Venice of Mexico due to its beautiful canals, offers flower-painted boat tours of the canals and floating gardens. This Historic Centre in Mexico City was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

Mexico City has some famous landmarks, such as the ancient temple ruins of the Templo Mayor, and the Paseo de la Reforma, an elegant avenue modeled on the Champs-Élysées in Paris which stretches 28.8 km (18 miles) across Mexico City, with its well-known golden Angel of Independence statue. The Basilica de Guadalupe, which houses the image of Our Lady of Guadelupe, the most religious image in Mexico, is one of the most visited basilicas in the world, second only to Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City

Other attractions in Mexico City include the Museo Nacional de Antropologia (a world-class anthropology museum) which houses the Aztec Calendar Stone, the Museo Nacional de Arte (The National Art Museum), and the Museo Nacional de Historia, located in the Chapultepec Palace where you can see an amazing exhibit that chronicles the nation’s history and art, from the pre-Hispanic era to present day.

Mexico City is a cosmopolitan of old traditions and modern luxuries.  In the Coyoacan and San Angel neighborhoods you can experience shopping at bazaars and crafts markets, or visit the exclusive boutiques and shopping centers in the upmarket areas of Santa Fe and Polanco. For culinary delights there are a number of stunningly restored Haciendas, in all their Mexican glory, which have been transformed into world class restaurants, such as the San Angel Inn, the Hacienda de los Morales, and the Hacienda de Tlalpan.

Valle de Bravo is located 67 km (41 mi) east of Toluca, the capital of the State of Mexico, and 145 km (90 mi) from Mexico City, with a temperate semi-humid climate, and an average year-round temperature of 17º C (63º F).

An important tourist destination, Valle de Bravo is a magical town surrounded by mountains with an excellent selection of top quality hotels, restaurants, and golf courses. There is a man-made lake, popular for water skiing, sailing, kayaking and fishing.  With quaint cobblestone streets lined with white stucco houses with wrought iron balconies and red tile roofs, Valle de Bravo offers crafts market, numerous boutiques, art galleries, and delicious Mexican cuisine.  The city also has a beautiful church, the Parroquia de San Francisco (San Francisco Parish Church), with an original 16^th-century bell on the building.

Located in the surrounding areas of Valle de Bravo are the Santuario de la Mariposa Monarca (Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary). which becomes the monarch butterflies’ nesting grounds from November through March, the Parque Natural Bosencheve (Bosencheve Nature Park) and the Reserva de Monte Alto (Monte Alto Reserve), both ideal for mountain and rock climbing, mountain biking and cycling, camping, hang gliding, and paragliding.

Toluca, the capital of the State of Mexico, is located at an altitude of 2680 meters (8,844 feet) above sea level, making it the highest city in Mexico.  Lying 65 km (40 mi) west of Mexico City, Toluca has an average temperature of 18º C (64º F).

Toluca is a dynamic city with an eclectic mix of the traditional and modern.  An important industrial centre, most well known for its large automotive industry, and its high quality educational facilities, Toluca is also known as La Bella (The Beautiful One) due to the French neoclassical architecture.  The Portales and the Cathedral, considered one of the city's most important artistic expressions from Mexico’s colonial period, are beautiful examples of this architecture. Toluca’s culture and tradition can be experienced at the many museums in the city including the Centro Cultural Mexiquense, and the botanical gardens at the Cosmovitral offer a unique and enjoyable experience, and is home to one of the largest stained glass artworks in the world.

Surrounded by stunning natural beauty, the Parque Nacional Insurgente Miguel Hidalgo, known as La Marquesa, offers a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities. The Nevado de Toluca, Mexico’s 4^th highest peak, is an extinct volcano, and is another popular tourist destination due to the accessibility of the volcano’s peak via car and the breathtaking views from the top. The nearby town of Metepec is famous for its talented artists, in particular the master craftsmen who make the popular Arboles de la Vida (Trees of Life) ceramics.

Teotihuacan, loosely translated to mean the ‘birthplace of the gods’, is an important archaeological site in the State of Mexico, and was, at its height in the 1^st millennium AD, the largest city in the Americas.  It lies 48 km (30 mi) northeast of Mexico City.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, Teotihuacan covers an area of 83 sq km, and is home to some of the most important pre-Hispanic ruins in the Americas, prided on their monumental architecture, masterful urban planning and layout, and the strong religious and political influences that the city held over other emerging cities in its time. It is one of Mexico’s most visited archaeological sites.

The layout of the ancient city is based around the broad central ‘Avenue of the Dead’, which is flanked by the magnificent ceremonial structures of the two immense Piramides del Sol y Luna (Pyramids of the Sun and Moon). There are other structures, such as the Patio de los Jaguares (Patio of the Jaguars), the ruined Templo de Quetzalcoatl (Temple of the Feathered Serpent), the Palacio de la Ciudadela (Palace of the Citadel), and the Palacio de Quetzalcoatl (Palace of Quetzalcoatl), which make up the ‘Citadel’, which was the original political and religious centre of the city. Many of the structures are adorned with remarkably well-preserved murals.

During your visit to Teotihuacan, you can visit the museum and the Centro de Estudios Teotihuacan (Teotihuacan Research Center), which are dedicated to promoting the knowledge and study of Teotihuacan’s ancient cultures and traditions.

When visiting Teotihuacan, most visitors stay in the nearby town of San Juan Teotihuacan, which has a variety of hotels and restaurant, cafes and bars offering quality service and great local food.