This was a fabulous way to see Mexico City for the first time! Our tour guide Santiago was a pleasure to be with! We thoroughly enjoyed the history and wonderful stories. Highly recommended!!
CENTRO HISTORICO MEXICO CITY - 5 HOUR MUST-SEE HIGHLIGHTS TOUR
Your first time in Mexico City?
Start it right with an intelligent guided introduction.
This is the safest, most relaxing way to explore the must-see cultural & historic highlights of the historic center of Mexico City.
In this compact 5hour round-trip tour of Centro Histórico and The Zocalo, you'll learn about México City's incredible history and how it affects its people today.
With a private guide & chauffeured hotel pick-up/drop-off, the maze of Mexico City simply couldn't be easier!!
Table of Contents
Think of this tour as your passport to becoming a literate, informed visitor to Mexico City (whilst you metaphorically have your nails painted!)
This essential introductory tour to Mexico City's Center will become like a Rosetta Stone for understanding all that you see and do for the rest of your stay.
The Aztecs, the Conquistadors, Diego Rivera, and eclectic Neo-colonial & Deco architecture.
We show you where the best examples are hiding during your private tour of downtown Centro.
Javier was most knowledgeable and provided us with the history of the areas we visited as well as introducing us to sights, sounds and tastes of modern life in Mexico City. The tour was a delightful introduction to Mexico City by someone who clearly knows and loves the city.
MEET YOUR MEXICO CITY ZOCALO CULTURE & HISTORY GUIDES
Our cultural & historic guides are licensed, knowledgeable, and have personality!
Our Javier, Cesar and Gabriel each have over 20 years experience guiding in Mexico City. They have personality. They are NOT cardboard cut-out guides delivering robot speeches. They know their job is to give you solid information on anything and everything that interests you, be it a random question about why there are so many organ grinders in Centro Histórico, or whether the Aztecs ever met the Mayans, BUT they also know that people don't want to be talked at all day long! That is to say, the overall flow and feeling of the tour is as important as the number of facts you acquire.
Javier and clients pause for Mexican style hot chocolate.
Our guides understand that giving you the chance to pause, and observe, and absorb are important too. That's why they are on the Stylewalk MX team.
Anyone can churn out facts, but these guys are cool. They are real people, with real lives. They love their city, but they are not in love with the sound of their own voices! They are flexible to YOUR needs. The focus is YOU and YOUR experience. We call it being professional. You would call it relaxing, informative, and fun.
Javier has over twenty years experience as a professional cultural & historic guide. He is up-to-date on new research & discoveries.
Javier Tapia is our Head of Transport and Cultural Tours. Javier is a professional licensed guide (officially authorised by the Mexican Government) and has been working as a tour guide in his hometown of Mexico City for over 20 years. He has a really great attitude, his tours always have great flow and he is highly respected in the tour community as the Treasurer of the Tourist Guides Union, located in Centro Histórico Mexico City.
When Javier is not on tour, he is found out walking his SIX (!) dogs, or going for a country cruise on one of his luxury Harley Davidsons (yes, like all fanatics, he collects them!)>
Cesar has been working as a licensed guide since 2002. He is the master of making any tour flow smoothly.
César Tapia is Javier Tapia's younger brother. César has been working as a professional licensed guide (officially authorised by the Mexican Government) alongside Javier since 2002.
César is best known for his great sense of humour, his readiness to adapt to any situation, and his deep passion for Mexican history. When he is not on the job, he loves to take his dog for a walk and, like Javier, he has a definite soft spot for taking his cruiser style motorbikes out for a spin in the country.
We don't lecture,
but you will come out A LOT smarter!
Our visitors love Santiago SNR for his winning combo of personality and knowledge.
Santiago is our oldest and most experienced guide. Don't let his age fool you. He has the physical and mental stamina of the Energizer bunny. Not that he has anything to prove. If you want get take your time to get more in-depth into local history, or you are travelling with a family that takes things slowly, Santiago adjusts to you. Santiago loves meeting new people and he loves his city, so being a guide is the perfect job for him. It's just as well he discovered that so early on in life. We think it's kept him in great shape!
Santiago is particularly loved by our GLBTi visitors, who like his professionalism and non-judgement.
Yup, you guessed it! Santiago Jnr learned the ropes from his dad, Santiago Guerrero (see above), and frankly there is no better person in the world he could have learned from! Santiago Jnr has over 25 years experience as a guide. He specializes in pre-hispanic and colonial history and is adored by our visitors who have toured with him.
As an official licensed guide, Carlos has over 30 years experience providing tours for the St Regis, Hyatt Regency and the Four Seasons. Another history buff and collector of strange and interesting facts, he never stops researching new findings in the city or exploring new options for his return clients.. You should also ask him how many Harleys he owns. Or maybe ask him about where he took David Bowie. back in the day....
No maps, no taxis, no language problems! Seeing the historic center of Mexico City is easy with a private guide.
Your guide can help you order a the right drink at the famous La Opera Cafe
PRICES: MUST SEE MEXICO CITY TOUR
This is a private 5 hour tour focuses on the must-see highlights of the Zocalo Mexico City, Cathedral, National Palace and its surrounds . It is 100% private. You don't share your tour with anyone else.
Total for a 1 - 4 person group = US $299
Total for a 5 - 7 person group = US $398
Total for a 8 -11 person group = US $489
*Prices are in US dollars & don't include tax.
**We recommend contacting your bank BEFORE trying to book.
Overseas banks frequently have a block or high alert for any payments linked to Mexico.
Prehispanic meets Deco in Centro HIstórico. Architecture & design buffs will love this!
Discover the cornerstones of Mexico City's pre-hispanic and colonial history in one compact session. Centro Histórico Mexico City has all of these things in one compact area!
if you want to include Mexican crafts, let us know!
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A PRIVATE TOUR OF CENTRO HISTORICO MEXICO CITY
Be securely guided through the most important channels of Mexican history and culture. Safely and intelligently.
Great anthropological artefacts and architecture can be found in Centro Historico.
Most visitors to Mexico City find Centro Histórico the perfect way to understand the massive realms of colonial and prehispanic history that make the city what it is today. We are so fortunate that downtown Mexico City offers us a fabulous collection of culturally and historic significant sites concentrated in one compact area. These are easily accessed on foot and provide us with the perfect overview of Mexico's fascinating and multi-layered past.
We have spent alot of time designing our 5 hour tour of Centro Histórico as the perfect hosted introduction to Mexico City. You'll see the most important buildings and archeological sites with educated insight and relaxed poise. The Aztecs, Conquisatdors, the Mixtecas, Diego Rivera murals and neo-colonial & deco architecture are all found here!
With this tour, you'll have the comfort and security of your hotel or Airbnb pick-up and drop-off in luxury private transport, so that every step of the way is 100% taken care of!
Stop for tried 'n tested snacks & drinks whenever you want!
Diego Rivera's history of Mexico unfolds in this Centro Historico stairwell.
The Cathedral, The Zocalo, The National Palace, Bellas Artes Palace and the UNESCO Templo Mayor archeological site are the visually fabulous.
Once you know their stories, then you'll really fall in love with Mexico City!
We have spent alot of time designing our 5 hour tour of Centro Histórico as the perfect hosted introduction to Mexico City. You'll see the most important buildings and archeological sites with educated insight and relaxed poise. The Aztecs, Conquisatdors, the Mixtecas, Diego Rivera murals and neo-colonial & deco architecture are all found here!
With this tour, you'll have the comfort and security of your hotel or Airbnb pick-up and drop-off in luxury private transport, so that every step of the way is 100% taken care of!
With the Spanish Conquerors came Catholicism.
A shaman cleansing, anyone?
Yup, you're now in Mexico City!
(Our guide's) passion for Mexican culture and history was so contagious. He brought buildings and murals alive for us as we toured places like the Catedral Metropolitana and the Palacio Nacional de Mexico.
He also walked us through the city streets, discussing the history and cultural influences of buildings and streets through the eyes of a person who has experienced much of the changing political and social climate.....
WHY WE RECOMMEND YOU VISIT THE HISTORIC CENTER OF MEXICO CITY WITH A GUIDE (and not on your own)
Centro Histórico is a treasure trove, but Mexico City is a little complex.....
What you need to know about downtown Mexico City is that it is hectic and full of people! BUT you HAVE TO see it. It's a fact. If you don't see the seat of the 8 Aztec empires for yourself, you'll only get half the picture. No matter where you go you'll be missing the wikipedia that sits behind the why and how of everything.
If you have help, you will be able to see downtown as the very blueprint where most of Mexico's Conquistador history took place. This is the tour to OPEN your eyes as to how Mexico was formed as a country and a nation.
Detail of a 17 century colonial interior.
So getting back to that hectic thing. There are many things we recommend you do on your own in Mexico City. Seeing downtown without a guide is NOT one of them. Your guide helps the importance of these cultural sites come alive. And importantly, your guide makes things calm, they help you navigate your way through the masses, they find an appropriate place to talk to explain what you are seeing, and they ensure you are safe, and well taken care of.
We did 2 days of tours with Cesar and we had a great time. He arrived at our location early and gave us a lot of information before even arriving to each destination without being overwhelming (as many guides can be at times).
ITINERARY: MUST-SEE CENTRO HISTÓRICO MEXICO CITY
- Hotel pick-up* in luxury transport
- Your guide-driver checks in with you about what you may have already seen in Centro and asks if you have any new requests.
- Your chance to get some great photos and learn about sites such as the Cathedral, The Zocalo Plaza, The National Palace, and the Templo Mayor.
- Ask Q's, be curious about anything, learn some expert history and culture in an easy-going, approachable way.
- Stop for photos, a coffee break, tacos, a cold beer, whenever you want!
- Hotel drop-off in luxury transport.
Hotel pick-up & drop-off applies to all main hotel & Air Bnbs in the central neighbourhoods of Roma, Juarez, Cuauhtémoc, Condesa, Polanco, and Centro. If you are outside of these areas, please advise us.
Discover the hidden riches with your private guide.
We do not include museum tickets or entrance fees in our tour prices so that you are NOT obliged to see any attractions in particular.
We respect your time & your preferences.
READ OUR TRIPADVISOR REVIEWS
We are established professional guides.
We take our job seriously.
There are over 100 glowing TripAdvisor shout-outs to prove it!
HOW DO I BOOK? (AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS?)
Your booking is reserved via our secure online booking platform.
Here's what to expect...
- Click on the orange booking button.
- Identify which tour slots are available in our live bookings calendar.
- Remember these are private tours. Once you book a timeslot, the tours is yours and yours alone.
- Reserve your preferred time/day with our secure online payment gateway.
- Receive an instant booking confirmation! Your tour is 100% yours!
- You'll receive detailed info about your private guide and their mobile number (via email.)
- The day of your tour, your guide picks you up from your accomodation at the agreed time and you head off together to see the highlights of the historic center of Mexico City.
If you need to change the day or time of your tour after booking, just let us know!
Quick Recap
GUEST REVIEWS
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Must-See Centro Tour Mexico City | Private Guide & Driver
Average rating: 9 reviews
May 23, 2019
Santiago took us on a walking tour (sic...of downtown) showing us significant architectural buildings on our way to the Palacio de Bellas Artes where he showed us the incredible murals and discussed them with us. He then took us to the Museum of Anthropology where his knowledge of the history of Mexico’s indigenous people made the museum come to life. The depth of his knowledge was so incredible and each artifact he showed us had a very interesting story. Our 11 year old loved walking and talking with Santiago and he learned so much!! He said it was better than sitting in a classroom. Afterwards Santiago and a driver returned us to our hotel.
Jun 26, 2018
Jun 26, 2018
Our tour of the historic center of Mexico City was thorough, comprehensive, and totally exceeded our expectations. Javier is the most knowledgeable historian and we couldn’t have been happier! Prompt, courteous, respectful, and knowledgeable the entire 5 hours. Not to mention, the best driver ever! Oh, and if you’re thinking of renting a car while visiting Mexico City, my recommendation is to definitely consider letting the locals do it for you 🙂
May 18, 2018
A great way to begin to know Mexico City! By now, you might be wondering "how, where do I start?" I suggest you start with this tour, with this company. Javier was our guide for the day and I couldn't have asked for a better guide! It was like being with your long lost cousin! Not only did he have incredible knowledge about the sites, but gave us an inside glimpse into the historical area (Sanborns, other building that have undergone transformation(). Be sure to ask fro Xavier and don't forget to ask him what the "yellow line" next to the Cathedral means!
Mar 31, 2018
This was a great tour. The guide came in a nice car and took us around to see everything that we wanted to see and things that we didn't know that we wanted to see. Thanks!
Mar 31, 2018
Javier our tour guide was fantastic, He was very informed and made the experience for us incredible. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see the heart of the historic city.
Jun 5, 2017
We spent 8 hours with Cesar touring Frida Kahlo's house/museum, Diego and Frida's studios, and Xochimilco. We were thoroughly impressed with Cesar's knowledge of Mexican politics, history, and art. He really enriched our visit to Mexico City.
Jun 21, 2016
Laura arranged a three-part tour for me, my wife and teenage daughters, and it was all perfect! Arnoldo was our guide in the historic center of the city. His passion for Mexican culture and history was so contagious. He brought buildings and murals alive for us as we toured places like the Catedral Metropolitana and the Palacio Nacional de Mexico. He also walked us through the city streets, discussing the history and cultural influences of buildings and streets through the eyes of a person who has experienced much of the changing political and social climate of the last fifty to sixty years himself.
Next Laura arranged a street art tour with Claudio Remix. Wow! Claudio took us to places we would never have been able to find on our own, and he also discussed the social and political side of the street art culture as well. Claudio's interaction with us was a perfectly balanced mix of humor, enthusiasm and education. He challenged us to apply things he was teaching us, to be able to better understand and interpret street art on our own.
Finally, Laura guided us through La Roma...it was like having your best friend hosting you for an afternoon in their neighborhood! Laura's overview of the history and architecture of La Roma was a perfect introduction to our visit. Walking around La Roma, Laura took us to brand new boutiques, old craftsman shops and pop-up shopping areas. Laura gave us the opportunity to see what we wanted to see or to pass on certain options that she presented to us. We learned and saw so much with our new friend Laura. Also, at the end of the tour, she recommended several restaurants and called them to see who was open.
If you want to see Mexico in a very personal, casual and fun way, you MUST contact Laura! We made three new friends who all showed us their personal Mexico City, and it was perfect!
Feb 9, 2015
Laura put together a personalized street art tour through Mexico City for my husband and I. From my first contact email to the last second with Laura, all was perfect. She answered all our questions beforehand, making sure we felt that this was indeed personal and not just another tour.
The tour in itself: not only did we get to see great pieces of street art, we also got in depth explanations from Laura and we even got to see a street art piece "in the making" (a bit of luck there!!) This tour is definitely one of the highlights of our two-week holidays through Mexico.
If you're looking for something different, personalized and fun, do not hesitate. Laura will make it happen!
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