Day One: Saturday, July 13, 2024

Fly into Mexico City International Airport, where an airport supervisor will greet you in the arrival hall. He will accompany you to your awaiting car, which will take you to our hotel, Sofitel Mexico City Reforma.

After a rest, we will take a private, off-hours tour of the legendary National Museum of Anthropology. This museum showcases fascinating artifacts from various cultures that once thrived in Mesoamerica and is the most visited museum in Mexico.

Following our tour, we will gather for our Welcome Dinner at one of Mexico City’s finest restaurants, Pujol.

Day Two: Sunday, July 14, 2024

Explore the grandeur of Chapultepec Castle & Museum. Discover the rich history and cultural treasures housed within its majestic walls. From its dramatic architecture to its extensive collection of art and artifacts, this iconic landmark offers a captivating journey through Mexico’s past.

For lunch, we will be dining at El Bajio Centro Historico, beloved for its delicious, home-style food and folksy charm. Then, it’s off to Mexico City’s main square, Plaza de la Constitución, known locally as the Zócalo. From ancient Aztec times to modern day Mexico, this huge square has been an important gathering place through the ages.

We then return to the hotel. Dinner is on your own.

Day Three: Monday, July 15, 2024

To start the day, your personal guide will meet you at your hotel to drive to the ancient city of Teotihuacán, “the birthplace of the gods” in Nahuatl. The Mesoamerican site is considered one of the most significant in the Americas, and is thought to have been inhabited by other peoples before the Aztecs.

We then return to Mexico City for lunch at the historic Monte Cristo Restaurant. After lunch, it’s back to the hotel for a rest before we head south of the city to visit the Frida Kahlo Museum.

Day Four: Tuesday, July 16, 2024

We bid farewell to Mexico City and board the flight to Oaxaca City. Surrounded by mountains, the city has a beautiful backdrop and rich cultural scene, from textiles and tasty tlayudas, to markets and smoky mezcal.

After checking into our hotel, the centrally located Grand Fiesta Americana Oaxaca, we will set off on a walking tour of the city with a private expert guide. Observe vibrant squares and colonial structures as we head to Oaxaca’s largest central market to learn about different handicrafts and sample local delicacies. We’ll finish up the tour with a visit to the Museum of Oaxacan Cultures.

For dinner, we will go to the celebrated Casa Oaxaca Restaurante for a meal that’s been called a gastronomic experience for all five senses.

Day Five: Wednesday, July 17, 2024

For our final day in Oaxaca, we will visit Monte Alban, one of the oldest cities of Mesoamerica, with a personal guide. After exploring this site that holds such meaning for the Zapotecs and Mixtecs, we will return to Oaxaca City, stopping en route to visit local artisans.

Our USC LAA 50^th Anniversary Adventure comes to a close with our farewell dinner at Pitiona, one of the best-known restaurants in the state capital.