Authentic cultural getaway in Mexico - Ride a hot air balloon and see one of Mexico's lesser known traditions at the foothills of a volcano

Hola traveler! 👋🏽 Who's up for a trip down the road less traveled with tons of local culture and photo opportunities? 😎 We start our adventure in Mexico City where we will fly a hot air balloon over the Teotihuacán pyramids and then visit the archeological site by foot. During our stay in the City we will go to museums and see historical architecture. Have you ever heard of the Sayones? On the foothills of the Popocatépetl volcano, during holy week there is a season in which the streets are filled with color thanks to one of the oldest traditions of the inhabitants of Tetela del Volcán: The Dance of the Sayones, characters that try to imitate, in a burlesque tone, the Roman soldiers before the crucifixion of Christ. For several days, hundreds of citizens take to the streets dressed in the costumes they make for months, wearing huge, colorful hats made from China paper. The weeks of hard work that the inhabitants invest in making the hats culminate in a burning ceremony, in which each of them sets fire to their hat. We will stay at a beautiful hotel in Zacualpan de Amilpas in the state of Morelos just 26 mins from Tetela del Volcán. At Tetela we will be able to experience and enjoy the local holy week festivities. 🇲🇽 Our journey starts in Mexico City: Day 1 Sunday: Arrive at the hotel: Located in Mexico's historic center, grab something to eat and walk around the historic center. Check in is at 3:00pm Day 2 Monday: Visit Soumaya museum and downtown Day 3 Tuesday: 🎈 We will be up early to take a hot air balloon ride over the Teotihuacán pyramids which we will then visit on foot. **The transport will collect us at 5:30am** 🚗 We leave the city to head to Zacualpan de Amilpas: Day 4 Wednesday: We will head to Zacualpan de Amilpas in the state of Morelos after breakfast. It's a 3 hour drive from Mexico City. We will relax at the gorgeous hotel and walk around town. *Check in is at 2:00 pm* Day 5 Thursday: Visit the start of the holy week festivities with a procession at noon. Explore and walk around the town and get to know Tetela del Volcán. In the afternoon we’ll head back to Zacualpan de Amilpas. Day 6 Friday: The plan is to head to Tetela del Volcán around 10:00 am. Before 11:00 am the Sayones will collect branches on their way to the church and pile them up where they will hang Judas at 11 in the morning. Later, the Sayones participate in the Vía Crucis. During the procession around the main streets of the town the Sayones carry machetes which they hit on the ground on the way to the church. Once there they will listen to the mass of Seven Words. After each word the sayones make lots of noise with their machetes. At night they participate in a procession of silence, they are the ones in charge of carrying the image of Santo Entierro, who is the patron saint of the Sayones. We can go back to Zacualpan and relax during the afternoon and return in the evening or we can spend the day in town. Day 7 Saturday: Have a late morning and enjoy the hotel which has five pools and an immersive experience. There’s also a yoga class in the immersive space at 9:00 am which is completely free! There’s also an option to experience a Temazcal (prehispanic Mexican steam and heat therapy with herbs). We will then have an early lunch and head to Tetela del Volcán around 2:00 pm and go to the Amatzinac River where we can enjoy the area and take photographs. We can then head back to Tetela for some atole ( a prehispanic traditional drink made from nixtamalized corn dough or cornstarch, diluted in water or milk, which gives it a thick texture and a particularly sweet taste). 📸 On our way back to Zacualpan de Amilpas we can visit two abandoned old haciendas which are fantastic photographic spots. (Ex Hacienda de Chicomocelo & Hacienda Cuautepec) Day 8 Sunday: Head to Tetela del Volcán after breakfast. Celebrations of Holy Week end with the last procession of the Sayones. They begin at the image of Jesús Resucitado and arrive at the Church at noon. In the external part of the church there is a straight path right in the middle of everything, where the traditional burning of hats is done. People stand on the sides of the path and carry a box of matches, then the Sayones leave the Church, run down this corridor where we will participate with the townsfolk and throw lighted matches at each one's hat, they pass as many times as necessary until his hat lights up and the Sayón takes off his hat hitting it against the floor to try to put it out, if he does not succeed, he lets it burn until there is only the wire rod left. 🔥 After the activities we will head back to Zacualpan de Amilpas and enjoy our last day at the hotel. 🚗 Day 9 Monday: Head back to Mexico City after breakfast. *Check out is at 12:00 pm* We will arrive at the our previous hotel in Mexico City around 3:30 - 4:30 in the afternoon. Day 10 Tuesday: Here is where our adventure ends. You may choose to stay in Mexico City or head to your final destination .✨ 💰 What's Included: 🏠 Accommodation #1 (4 nights in Mexico City) Hotel in Mexico’s historic center (colonial neighbourhood) Deluxe room (1 extra large double bed with private bathroom) Superb breakfast Included ☕️ Check-in- 3pm 🏠 Accommodation #2 (5 nights in Zacualpan de Amilpas) Beautiful hotel with 5 pools and immersive experience Small suite with private bathroom *Breakfast not included* 🚌 Transportation: Compact SUV to take us to all of our attractions from Wednesday to Monday. I will be your experienced driver 😎 🎈 Hot Air Balloon ride over Pyramids and Teotihuacán archeological site: . Aviation insurance per passenger . Access ticket to Pyramids of Teotihuacán . Breakfast at El Cielo Restaurant . Personalised flight certificate . Toast with the Captain . Arrival coffee break . Round transportation from Mexico City . Shared hot air balloon experience ❌ What not included in the price? - Transportation from airport to hotel and back. - Insurance (only for German and Austrian residents) - Food and drinks (we will be eating at restaurants for each meal) - Personal expenses (souvenirs, tips etc) - Gas and toll booths *we will split this* - Temazcal minimum 2 people needed ($800mxn p/p) - Wellness center at the hotel in Zacualpan de Amilpas (unique collection of facials, massages and energy therapies) 🧳 What to pack? - Comfortable shoes (we will walk a lot) - We might get some rain so a raincoat and an extra pair of shoes will come in handy - Both warm and cold weather clothes (max temp 26º / min temp 10º) - Swim suit (our hotel has five pools! towels are included)