We offer small, personalized guided tours to Cordoba, Orizaba, Coscomatepec, Veracruz, Tlacotalpan and Oaxaca. We specialize in people who want to move to Mexico away from the tourist traps to the more historical and much less expensive areas. We will show you affordable, safe housing in a gated community for $250.00 to $350.00 U.S, dollars per month, the markets where you will shop, good restaurants in that area and more. We also serve vacationers who want to experience the real Mexico, where historic battles took place, the river walk, palace, art museums and cable car in Orizaba. We cater to your your particular interests such as photography, dining, sightseeing or exploring this area for a future move. We are an alternative to the often late, crowded tour buses in which you have no say in the agenda, you and your wishes are the sole focus. If you are into photography we don't mind stopping or backing up for you to get that perfect shot and living locally, we know where to eat the best food such as carnitas, chicken mole and other local foods.
You leave the driving to us as you relax, see the sights, enjoy the delicious food and soak up the culture of old Mexico. There is a wide selection of inexpensive hotels in Cordoba starting at $13.00 per night for a budget hotel one block from the square to nicer ones up to $51.00 right on the scenic square. Great food is available all along the outdoor restaurants that line the square. Cordoba is famous for its locally grown gourmet coffee so you can enjoy a great cup of coffee as you listen to the xylophone and guitar players and watch the people walk by. The square has a beautiful park and is bordered by the historic church and the governmental palace. We pick you up at your hotel and take you on a tour of the interesting sites in the nearby cities and villages, then return you back to your hotel in the evening. My wife is an excellent tour guide and knows and loves her country. Cordoba offers night life as well as fine dining.
Orizaba.
The name means "Valley of Happy Waters". The fast flowing river flows through town and has a long river walk. The river walk is home to an Animal Sanctuary which allows the breeding of endangered species such as jaguar. They have over 32 species of animals to see. The cable cars leave the river walk and take you to the top of the mountain to the Cerro Del Borrego eco park where the historic battle between the French invaders and the Mexican army was fought. The Iron Palace was designed by Gustave Eiffel who designed the Eiffel Tower, then brought from Brussels, Belgium and assemebled on site with over 230,000 bolts, beginning it's construction in 1891 and inaugurating in 1894. You can sit outside and dine, sip coffee or a drink and watch the local people stream by in the Plaza de Armas. Orizaba was voted the best magic city in Mexico out of 111 cities in 2017. |
CORDOBA
In May of 1545 an African slave named Gaspar Yanga escaped and formed a band of rebels known as Maroons in the mountains of Veracruz. These Maroons mixed with the oppressed indigenous people and attacked the Spaniards traveling from Veracruz to Orizaba. The city of Cordoba was founded as a midway point to protect Spanish interests. Cordoba is currently celebrating its 400th birthday this year of 2018.
In May of 1545 an African slave named Gaspar Yanga escaped and formed a band of rebels known as Maroons in the mountains of Veracruz. These Maroons mixed with the oppressed indigenous people and attacked the Spaniards traveling from Veracruz to Orizaba. The city of Cordoba was founded as a midway point to protect Spanish interests. Cordoba is currently celebrating its 400th birthday this year of 2018.
Coscomatepec
Coscomatepec writes a beautiful page of glory during the War of Independence; At dawn on October 4, 1813, Brigadier Don Nicolás Bravo, in front of 600 men of the insurgency, breaks the siege that the Spaniards had placed in the town and lasted 33 days.A statue in his honor and a canon that was captured stand in the city square. Every Monday a huge open air market takes place with prices so low you wouldn't believe it, six ears of fresh corn for 10 pesos or fifty cents, wheel barrows loaded with fresh strawberries, delicious goat cheese, blue corn totillas and there is a bakery that has been in the same family for over ninety years, still baking the bread in a large stone oven. High in the mountains overlooking Coscomatepec is a very beautiful hotel the Rancho Santa Barbara with a stunning view of the Pico de Orizaba, the highest mountain in Mexico, very historic but each room has a Jacuzzi tub.
Coscomatepec writes a beautiful page of glory during the War of Independence; At dawn on October 4, 1813, Brigadier Don Nicolás Bravo, in front of 600 men of the insurgency, breaks the siege that the Spaniards had placed in the town and lasted 33 days.A statue in his honor and a canon that was captured stand in the city square. Every Monday a huge open air market takes place with prices so low you wouldn't believe it, six ears of fresh corn for 10 pesos or fifty cents, wheel barrows loaded with fresh strawberries, delicious goat cheese, blue corn totillas and there is a bakery that has been in the same family for over ninety years, still baking the bread in a large stone oven. High in the mountains overlooking Coscomatepec is a very beautiful hotel the Rancho Santa Barbara with a stunning view of the Pico de Orizaba, the highest mountain in Mexico, very historic but each room has a Jacuzzi tub.
Tlacotalpan
Declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1998 for its architecture and colonial-era layout. The town was established in 1550 on what was originally an island in the Papaloapan River, was an important inland port. Extremely clean, you can dine beside the fast moving river and enjoy the square, there are so many birds in the square at dusk it is unbelievable. During the Candelaria celebration there is a running with the bulls through the city.
Declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1998 for its architecture and colonial-era layout. The town was established in 1550 on what was originally an island in the Papaloapan River, was an important inland port. Extremely clean, you can dine beside the fast moving river and enjoy the square, there are so many birds in the square at dusk it is unbelievable. During the Candelaria celebration there is a running with the bulls through the city.
OAXACA
Oaxaca is a beautiful, very historic city with a true Mexico feel. There is so much to see and do from strolling the streets looking at beautiful old churches and exploring the markets of abundant food, clothing and local goods that you can't find in other places like copal and local spices. Clean air and water make it an attractive choice for a place to live. The police have been issued a stand down order from the governor about smoking marijuana in bars and some participate. The food is absolutely wonderful and the choices are abundant. The colorful alejibres or fantasy animals are amazing as are the fabrics, dresses, paintings sold on the street and much more. This trip includes a day trip to San Bartolo Coyotepec where the beautiful black clay is very inexpensive.