Mexico

Mexico unfolds as a land of layered stories and vibrant encounters, beginning in its capital where a private historian guides you through Mexico City’s mosaic of epochs, from Aztec ruins uncovered beneath the streets to colonial palaces that rise around the Zócalo, from Diego Rivera’s vast murals capturing the struggles and triumphs of a nation to the imperial halls of Chapultepec Castle, crowned with views that sweep across a metropolis whose lights flicker alive by evening; lunch in a hidden courtyard introduces you to the richness of mole and mezcal, flavors that linger as much as the city’s pulse. To the east, dawn reveals the sacred stones of Chichén Itzá, where pyramids and ball courts stand as testaments to Maya genius, their serpent shadows and echoes brought to life by a private archaeologist before you descend into a turquoise cenote hidden beneath limestone, the cool waters wrapping you in silence once thought to be portals to the underworld; a hacienda lunch grounds the day in timeless tradition. In a rustic kitchen filled with clay pots and chile smoke, a chef leads you through Mexico’s culinary soul—roasting peppers on open flame, grinding cacao on stone, folding tortillas by hand—each dish carrying the imprints of Mayan, Spanish, and indigenous heritage; tamales, chocolate mole, and smoky mezcal are shared at a wooden table where food becomes history told through taste. In Coyoacán, the cobalt walls of Casa Azul open into Frida Kahlo’s world, your private curator revealing intimate stories as you trace her fiery canvases before wandering art-filled streets alive with galleries, murals, and markets brimming with flowers, crafts, and the music of mariachi bands; the day closes with a dinner inspired by Frida’s own recipes, a merging of art, food, and spirit in a single celebration. In Oaxaca, the Day of the Dead immerses you in a luminous festival where homes glow with ofrendas, marigolds, and candles, where you walk in procession with painted calavera faces, hear laughter and song as families welcome spirits home, and dine in a candlelit courtyard thick with incense and legend, straddling for a night the delicate line between the living and the departed. On the Riviera Maya, the rhythm slows aboard a private catamaran sailing across turquoise seas where dolphins leap in the wake, snorkeling reveals coral gardens alive with color, and a chef prepares ceviche and grilled fish paired with chilled tequila cocktails; anchored in a secluded cove, you rest in a hammock strung between palms, the horizon gold with sunset, the sea humming softly in rhythm, and the simple perfection of Mexico distilled into a single, unforgettable moment.