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From $4,995
OVERVIEW
In collaboration with Jewish Heritage Travel we are excited to offer this tour of Mexico.
Discover vibrant Mexico City through the lens of its Jewish heritage and people. Visit museums and active centers of Jewish culture and learn about the layers of Jewish history and contemporary life in the city that was once the center of the colonial Spanish empire. Explore ancient, pre-colonial Mexico, including the Teotihuacan pyramid and the sacred site of Templo Mayor, both World Heritage Sites.
Jewish presence in Mexico dates back to the arrival of the Spanish in 1519 and for the next two centuries, among them conversos and crypto-Jews. Although they faced persecution, some were able to maintain their Jewish identity covertly. The 19th century saw the arrival of Sephardic Jews and the 20th century brought an influx of Ashkenazi Jews from Eastern Europe. Today, around 50,000 Jewish people live in Mexico, and in 2024, the first female president, who is also Jewish, was elected.
Based in deluxe, modern accommodations in the upscale neighborhood of Polanco, you will be guided in and around Mexico City by our tour guide and our accompanying scholar, as well as experience two special talks by guest lecturers.
Departures
Duration
Highlights
Notes
Activity Level
Tailor Made
Itinerary
Program Cost: $4,995* includes:
5 nights’ accommodations at a deluxe hotel
Full breakfast daily; four lunches; two dinners
All group transportation via deluxe air-conditioned coach
All lectures, guided tours, museums and site entrance fees
*Per-person, double occupancy; single supplement: $1,295. Fees not included: gratuities: $275. Museum membership for nonmembers.
Each of our scholars are outstanding experts in their fields and play an active role in helping us design our journeys as well as accompanying us as we travel.
Jacobo Raijman was born in Mexico City, studied human resources and holds a master’s degree in outdoor education. CEO of Vivencia Educativa (Educational Experience), he has more than 35 years’ experience in the field of youth leadership and educational travel for people of all ages and has worked with more than 50 schools and embassies, as well as Jewish Federations of the US.
Ariel Goldstein was born in Uruguay, studied Latin American history in Montevideo and tourism at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. CEO of Tiyul-Jewish Journeys, he has led more than 50 tours throughout Israel, Europe, Persian Gulf, Latin America, China, India, Africa, and the US. Ariel speaks Spanish, English, Hebrew, and Portuguese and is the author of From Moses to Moisesville (2024).
Upon arrival, transfer on your own to the Hotel JW Marriott in the Polanco neighborhood, an area known for its luxury shopping and prominent cultural institutions
At 4:00, we depart to Xochimilco, an area first settled in the 9th century AD by Nahua tribes, now best known for its extensive lake and canal system built by the Aztecs and once connecting the peoples of the Valley of Mexico.
We return to the hotel for welcome remarks from our accompanying scholar and our tour leader and enjoy a welcome dinner together at the hotel.
Meals included: dinner
Accommodations: Hotel JW Marriott
We start our day with a visit to Olamí school, a new Jewish school created by the Ashkenazi and Sephardic communities. Here we will meet with high school students for a conversation about Jewish life in Mexico. We then continue with a tour of the district of Interlomas, the area where all the Jewish schools are located.
After lunch together, we visit the Centro Deportivo Israelita, the largest Jewish institution in Mexico, with 18,000 members. This is where Mexicans Jews come to for sports, to socialize, participate in cultural events, and use the library.
We return to the hotel for a lecture by a special guest speaker, “The 1910 Mexican Revolution and Jewish immigration.”
Enjoy a free evening, with dinner on your own.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodations: Hotel JW Marriott
Today begins at the Memory and Tolerance Museum, a leading human rights museum established by Mexico’s Jewish community in 2010 to promote reflection and social action through awareness. We then visit El Zócalo, a large public square with an enormous Mexican flag at its center, surrounded by the National Palace, the Supreme Court, and the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The cathedral is situated atop a former sacred precinct near the Aztec Templo Mayor (“Main Temple”), the heart of the city they knew as Tenochtitlan. The Spanish destroyed the temple in 1521 to make way for a cathedral, which was built in sections from 1573 to 1813.
We will have lunch together at a local restaurant.
Our afternoon features a walk to Synagogue Nidje Israel, an Ashkenazi synagogue built in 1941. Also known as the Historic Synagogue Justo Sierra 71, the building was restored to its full splendor in 2009 and serves both as a synagogue and cultural center of the Jewish community. During our visit a local Jewish community leader will provide a lecture for us: “Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female and Jewish President”
The evening is free for dinner on your own.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodations: Hotel JW Marriott
We start this morning with a visit to the National Museum of Anthropology, the largest and most visited museum in Mexico City, housing ancient treasures of the Olmec, Mayan, and other civilizations of pre-colonial Mexico. Here we will see a model of the former Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, now occupied by the central area of modern-day Mexico City.
We’ll enjoy lunch together at the museum, then walk to the storied Chapultepec Castle, home to the National Museum of History. The only royal castle in the Americas, once the residence of Mexican Emperor Maximilian I and his consort Empress Carlota in the mid-1800s, the castle fell into disrepair until 1939, when it was decreed as the seat of the National Museum of History.
Enjoy a free evening, with dinner on your own.
* You may optionally choose to attend the National Ballet of Mexico at the Palace of Fine Arts, an Art Nouveau construction and one of the most beautiful building of the city
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodations: Hotel JW Marriott
This morning, we drive to Teotihuacan and its famous Pyramid of the Moon, a UNESCO Heritage Site and once the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas. At its zenith, in the first half of the 1st millennium AD, Teotihuacan had a population estimated at 125,000 or more, making it at least the sixth largest city in the world during its epoch.
Teotihuacan is anthropologically significant for its complex, multi-family residential compounds, Avenue of the Dead, and a small portion of vibrant murals that have been exceptionally well-preserved. Aztecs later came across these magnificent ruins and claimed a common ancestry with that of the Teotihuacán, modifying and adopting aspects of their culture.
We return to Mexico City for a visit to the Soumaya Museum, opened in 2011 and boasting an extensive collection of European works from the 15th to the 20th centuries that include Dalí, Picasso, da Vinci, Renoir, Van Gogh, Matisse, Monet, and Rodin, as well as Mexican artists Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo. The museum also holds Mexican art, religious relics, and historical documents and coins.
Tonight, we will celebrate the end of the tour with a farewell dinner, margaritas, and mariachi at a local restaurant.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodations: Hotel JW Marriott
Transfer on your own to Mexico City International Airport in the morning for your non-stop flight to the US.
Meals included: breakfast
Payment Reserve your space with a nonrefundable deposit of $1,000 per person. Final balance is due 120 days prior to departure.
Membership Participation on these tours is a benefit for active members of JHT museum partners. During the registration process, you will be asked about your membership status with your affiliated museum. If you are not a current member, you will have a chance to activate your membership.
Participation Tour sizes are limited to 28 participants unless otherwise noted. Trips entail considerable walking including over uneven terrain. Participants need to be in good health, be able to keep up with the group, be able to experience group and cultural differences with grace. Please let us know if you have any physical conditions that may require special attention while on tour.
Cancellations All cancellations must be received by Gil Travel in writing. Cancellations received 120 days or more prior to departure: full refund less nonrefundable deposits, per person; 119–90 days prior to departure: 50% refund per person after nonrefundable deposits. 89–0 days before departure: no refund.
Trip Cancellation Insurance Gil Travel Travel strongly urges all participants to purchase travel insurance for coverage of losses necessitated by having to cancel due to illness or accident. For your convenience, we are providing a link to RoamRight, which many past participants have used. When purchasing insurance, please consider the plans carefully to familiarize yourself with what is covered. In this context, do take note that most insurance companies generally will waive exclusion for preexisting conditions only if your application is received by them within 14 days from the date of your program registration. If you have a preexisting medical condition and are interested in taking trip insurance, you should do so either with Roamright or through your own insurance agent within 14 days of registration.
Changes All rights are reserved by Gil Travel and Jewish Heritage Travel to make scholar substitutions and/or to modify the itinerary (including hotels) as needed. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate the program as planned; however, should unforeseen world events and conditions require the itinerary to be altered, Jewish Heritage Travel reserves the right to do so for the safety and best interest of the group. Any extra expenses incurred in this situation are the responsibility of the participant.
Disclaimer of Responsibility By registering for this program, participant specifically waives any and all claims of action against Gil Travel or the Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Jewish Heritage Travel office and their respective staffs for damages, loss, injury, accident, or death incurred by any person in connection with this tour. Gil Travel, The Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Jewish Heritage Travel office and their respective staffs assume no responsibility or liability in connection with the service of any train, vessel, carriage, aircraft, or other conveyance that may be used wholly or in part in the performance of their duty to the passengers. Neither will Gil Travel, the Museum of Jewish Heritage or the Jewish Heritage Travel office or their staffs be responsible for any injury, death, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity through neglect or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out the purposes for which tickets, vouchers, or coupons are issued. No responsibility is accepted for losses or expenses due to sickness, viruses, weather, strikes, wars, and other causes. In the event it becomes necessary or advisable for any reason whatsoever to alter the itinerary or arrangements, including hotels or scholars, such alterations may be made without penalty. All rights reserved to require any participant to withdraw from the tour at his/her own expense when such an action is determined by the tour staff to be in the best interest of the participant’s health and safety and that of the group in general. Prices subject to change. Cost in effect at time of registration will be honored.
Are Kosher meals available?
While we do not offer Kosher food, we offer fish and/or vegetarian options at every meal included in the trip.
How many people will be on the trip?
On average about 24 people.
What is the age group?
55+
What is the makeup of the participants?
A good mix of singles and couples.
How fit do I need to be? How much walking is there?
You should be able to walk about two miles in a day, though not all at once. Please see the itinerary of the trip(s) you are interested in to get a sense of the schedule for each day. When there is free time, some choose to stay active, others to rest.
If you prefer more activity, many of the hotels we stay in have pools and fitness facilities, and some of our trips do offer the opportunity for more physical activity.
Are the trips accessible for people with canes, walkers, or wheelchairs?
People who use a cane to aid their walking have found our trips accessible. You still need to be able to walk about two miles in a day, though not all at once. Unfortunately, accessibility can be limited in the places we travel, making it too difficult for people in wheelchairs or walkers to participate in our trips.
Is the trip Shabbat Observant?
We normally have a Shabbat dinner together be it at a hotel or restaurant and sometimes at a synagogue. We do not have programming on Saturday other than perhaps a meeting with the scholar. In some destinations we offer walking tours on Saturday. You can refer to the itinerary of your chosen trip for specifics.
When does the program actually begin?
The Itinerary and Program Details section of the trip you are interested in will indicate when to plan to arrive and depart, as well as when the program begins and ends. Every trip includes a welcome session to get oriented and meet each other, the guides, and scholars and a farewell event to celebrate, reflect, and say good-bye to our fellow travelers.
Are airport transfers included?
Airport transfers are not included. Taxis, and often other transportation options, are available from all airports.
Are meals included?
The Itinerary of the trip you are interested in will indicate which meals are included on each day. For meals on your own, suggestions are available from the concierge at the hotels we are staying in. We encourage you to explore the diversity of local and international cuisines in the places we visit.
Are the trips only for Jewish people?
While the majority of our travelers are Jewish, our trips are for anyone interested in exploring the Jewish heritage of the destinations we take you to.
I’d like to explore my genealogy at one of the places you are going to. Is that possible?
Our trips are not designed for genealogical research. If you want to undertake genealogical work, it is necessary to do this on your own and would be best to plan for an extra few days before or after one of our trips.
How much free time will I have?
Please see the itinerary of the trip(s) you are interested in for information on when free time is scheduled for exploring on your own, resting in your room, engaging in conversation with new friends, etc.
Is there Wi-Fi everywhere?
While WiFi is available in most of the world, there are regions or locations where it is not as accessible. Most of the hotels we stay at offer free WiFi.
What Museum Memberships Qualify?
Museum of Jewish Heritage New York: $54
Holocaust Museum LA: $100
Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center – Nassau County: $54
Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History: $54
*Membership # will need to be provided upon registration
Accommodation
The perfect place for relaxing and recharging, JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City flawlessly blends modern style and substance. Our luxury hotel in Mexico City boasts easy access to Chapultepec Castle on Chapultepec Hill, the National Auditorium, Teotihuacan and Xochimilco-Floating Gardens. After freshening up in our stylish marble bathrooms, order room service to enjoy breakfast in your elegant room. Fuel up with a delicious Mexican dish from our hotel restaurant, Xanat Bistro & Terraza. After a busy day in Mexico City, relax with a dip in our outdoor pool. Our health club features cardio equipment and free weights. If you’re hosting a business meeting at the hotel, be sure to reserve one of our eight stylish event spaces so you can impress your clients and colleagues. The beautiful outdoor terrace at our hotel in Polanco, Mexico City, is perfect for social events and ceremonies.
*Star rating standards vary from country to country.
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