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Best Historic Tours Of Mexico City

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As Mexico City is the largest city in North America, it comes with an equally large history. Dip a toe into Mexico City's rich story with one of these themed day tours. Whether your interest is art, architecture, colonialism or ancient history, there is a tour to enjoy. Make sure to visit the tour company's website to book your tour in advance and avoid extra stress on your vacation in Mexico.

Garibaldi Night Tour 
www.viator.com

This main city square in downtown Mexico City is called Zocalo. In the evenings, the monuments and important historical structures in the surrounding area are beautifully lit and mariachi bands play in the moonlight. Enjoy a tour of this vibrant square with a balance of history, beauty and dancing. Admission to the walking tour also includes a folkloric show at a local restaurant and a complimentary beverage. To make this tour convenient, admission also includes transportation to and from your party's hotel. How easy is that?!

Xochimilco and National University of Mexico
www.viator.com

Xochimilco is a beautiful public garden with winding veins of canals throughout. It is a UNESCO world heritage site and an absolute must-see for every tourist visiting the city. During a tour of the area, visitors will get to take a decorative boat through the historic canals and learn about the importance of the area as an agricultural center in pre-colonial times. The six-hour, guided boat tour winds through the gardens, and includes a visit to the National University of Mexico to visit its outdoor art gallery and gardens. You will also visit the bull fighting stadium and other important sites in the immediate area. If your party is staying in the nearby neighborhoods of Polcano, Reforma or downtown Mexico City, the guides will be happy to pick you up and drop you back at your hotel.

Related: Mexico City's Best Murals And Public Art

Teotihuacan Pyramids and Shrine of Guadalupe
www.viator.com

See where it all began by taking a day tour of the Teotihuacan Pyramids. Learn about the rich, vibrant and violent Aztec society that once ruled all of Mexico from these pyramids. The tour guides offer an inside look at the sun and moon pyramids, the Butterflies Temple and the Shrine of Guadalupe. It is also incredible to see the place where so many people were killed by their leaders during the infamous Aztec human sacrifices. This adds a tragic, emotional element to this place of beauty. This tour by Viator is a full-day activity that is well worth the time. The tour begins and ends at the hotel of your choice in the Reforma, Polcano and downtown neighborhoods.

Mexico City Walking Tour: The Zócalo and Centro Histórico
travel.nationalgeographic.com

While the Garibaldi Night Tour is also at the Zocalo and Centro Historico, this tour is a more classic walking tour that is perfect for families and groups that would rather see all of the sites by the light of day. This walking tour really covers the gamut of important sites including the Torre Latinoamericana, the Franz Mayer Museum, the National Palace, the Museum of Fine Arts and many other monuments. This is a great activity to do within the first day or two of arriving in Mexico City to build a context for everything else you will see and learn during your trip.

Related: Best Musical Experiences In Mexico City

Cameron Bruns is the founder of BostonGreenBlog.com and co-author of Just Us Gals Boston. She lives in Boston's North End, where her goal is to promote ethical, stylish, and sustainable lifestyle choices to all Boston residents. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.

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