NATURE TOUR
PILGRIMAGE TO THE GARDEN OF EDEN
"What sets this tour company apart from others is the vision of the owner. She and her colleagues share a deep love for Mexico, especially Michoacan. The tours I have been on have been spectacular; the guide's excitement is infectious. Did I mention I'll be back for more? Yes, of course!"
- Sarah (P'urepecha Meseta 2022)
PILGRIMAGE TO THE
GARDEN OF EDEN
A NATURE TOUR WITH A WILD GARDEN & A TOUCH OF HISTORY
STARTS: San Miguel & Queretaro de Santiago, Mexico
ENDS: Queretaro de Santiago & San Miguel, Mexico
DATES: Dec 8-17, 2026
DURATION: 9 Nights / 10 Days
PRICE IS BASED ON COST SHARING & DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
12-14 GUESTS: $38,180 MXN
INCLUSIONS:
Hotel x 9 nights (double occupancy), 9 Breakfasts, 1 Dinner (Drinks & Desserts are separate). All Entrance Fees and guided services are included. Life Jacket rentals are included where required. Tips are discretionary and appreciated. Please leave a room tip for your housekeepers, as it is customary in Mexico.
CURRENCY CONVERTER
TRIP OVERVIEW
The Sierra Gorda is a rugged path of canyons & cloud forests....
Most famous for 5 UNESCO protected Franciscan Mission churches, the winding path that traverses the Sierra Gorda is a stunning journey of steep mountainsides, beautiful canyons, thermal waters and lush vegetation...
that delivers weary travellers to Mexico's pristine Garden of Eden...
After suffering the sharp, bending road that cuts through this raw landscape, La Huaesteca Potosina awaits with her tropical climate, turquoise rivers, countless waterfalls, pristine swim holes and a sink-hole filled with white-collared swifts and green parakeets that fill the sky at sunset...
Our journey begins in the UNESCO city of Queretaro de Santiago...
We will meet in the UNESCO protected city of Queretaro for our welcome dinner, held at an elegant, award winning restaurant. We will make introductions and go over our tour itinerary so you can ask any pertinent questions...
and passes through Pinal de Amoles as we travel to Jalpan de Serra...
The Pueblo Magico of Pinal de Amoles is perched on the highest peaks of the Sierra Gorda, marking the divide between the wetlands of the north and arid low-lands that fall away from her edges. The town is charming, with her vibrant colours contrasting against her natural, lush surroundings...
We will spend the first two nights in the Pueblo Magico of Jalpan de Serra...
The Franciscan Mission and charming historical centre is one reason many stop in Jalpan de Serra, but the local gastronomy is yet another adventure for your palette. Some of the local treats include stews made from izote flower and nopal tuna, gorditas stuffed with beans and scrambled eggs served with coyol sauce, which is made from small red tomatoes...
to visit the Franciscan Missions that made this region so famous...
We will visit all five of the Franciscan Missions while in the area, as they are relatively short stops with intricate facades, fascinating stories and lush surroundings to explore in tandem. The missions are found in Conca, Landa, Tancoyal, Tilaco and Jalpan de Serra...
The local indigenous group of this region are La Huasteca...
The Huasteca speak ancient Huasteca city of Tancama was settled around 200 BC and is thought to have been occupied through most of the Classic period until 900 AD. During Winter Solstice, the sun aligns with Cerro Alta hill, indicating the common connection between the ancients and the cosmos. This site has 56 structures and 3 major plazas, with fantastic views of the surrounding scenery...
We will enjoy plenty of therapeutic soaking in thermal waters...
After our morning visit the Tancama, we are off to visit one of the local Franciscan Missions, before immersing ourselves into thermal, medicinal waters for the rest of the afternoon...
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
TOUR DIFFICULTY
This tour requires mobility, as we will be doing a fair amount of hiking in steep areas. For example, some places we visit will have around 300 steps in total. We will move slowly, as yours truly isn't athletic, but mobility and decent balance is still required.
APPROPRIATE GEAR
December is dry season, so you may not need rain gear but we do recommend sturdy, water resistant hiking shoes and an aqua-sock or water shoe to wear in the swimming areas. Please wear comfortable fabrics in layers, and bring at least one change of clothing that is warm for Queretaro City, where it will be chilly in the evening and morning. We also recommend bringing a collapsable walking stick, especially if you have any balance concerns or minor problems with knees or hips.
GROUP COOPERATION
Not everyone is made to travel in groups. We ask you to consider how flexible and adaptable you are, before committing to this tour. We work hard to stick to our itineraries as much as we can, due to the expectation and investment from our guests. Sometimes, we must change plans due to spontaneous closures or other unseen obstacles, such as an accident that closes the road or a sick guest who needs to stop at a clinic. We appreciate travellers who can roll with the punches and stay open-minded despite alterations that are necessary.
TOUR PACE
We try hard to keeps our tours from being too busy...
A lot of tour agencies pack in so many activities, it's hard to really enjoy any of the places visited. This tour is probably our most slow-paced trip on offer, as we have a few days with only one stop. For example, we will spend the bulk of one entire day at the Edward James Gardens, as there is also a swimming hole there. We can explore the park and swim to cool-off, then when everyone is satisfied with their explorations, we will head to the town to enjoy people watching and browsing through the boutique shops...
and caution our guests that this tour is really meant for water-babies...
We will spend a full day swimming at Puente de Dios and another at Cascadas de Tamasopo, both being nature parks with beautiful waterfalls and pristine water. For guests who don't necessarily want to swim for the day, there will be lots of flowers and birds to observe, or you could relax and read a book. Our trip through the Mission Churches is faster-paced with plenty of history, including the archaeological site, but the latter part of this tour is designed for deep rest and relaxation. If you don't like swimming or extended excursions in nature, but still want to see the Mission churches, please contact us about planning a tour that caters to your interests!
OTHER ACTIVITIES
The Tamul Waterfall will take your breath away...
We will spend a day visiting the Tamul Waterfall, which involves a boat ride to the stunning view pictured above. From there, we will head to a cave where we can swim and relax in this beautiful, lush scenery...
and the green parakeets at sunset are a bucket-list experience...
We will visit an amazing cave that is home to thousands of white-collared swifts and green parakeets during sunset. The birds depart the cave in early morning, returning at sunset in swarms across the sky, as they gather to head back into the cave for nightfall. We will not be repelling into the cave, but will have harness ropes for those who wish to get close to the edge...
HOW TO BOOK YOUR TOUR
A 25% non-refundable deposit confirms your seat...
Unless we must cancel this tour, your 25% deposit is non-refundable and is what confirms your seat for this experience. Please do not book your flights until we confirm the tour is going ahead. We will be collecting deposits over the next two weeks, confirming by April 25 (hopefully before!).
WHY DO WE HAVE SUCH A STRICT RESERVATION POLICY COMPARED TO CORPORATE TRAVEL COMPANIES?
As sole proprietor of a small business, I cannot afford the fall-out of guests who are noncommittal. Recently, we had 3 guests who verbally committed to our Chiapas tour only to change their minds within a few days for non-emergency reasons, leaving me with unfair and substantial financial loss. I was obligated to the 3 guests who had not only paid deposits, but who had also booked their flights. Unfortunately, this has happened far too many times for me to keep working on trust, which is why I now require a deposit in order to confirm your seat.
So if you are committed and ready to travel, please contact us but do not book your flight until we have confirmed that we actually have a minimum of 10 guests!
What is expected after the tour and flights are confirmed...
Once your deposit is paid and tour is confirmed, I require another 25% deposit so I can pay deposits for hotels, van rental and other expenses.
The balance is due in full upon arrival. If you prefer to pay the balance with a credit card, I need to invoice you two weeks in advance, as it takes 10 business days for the deposit to enter my account. If you are paying with cash, we only accept Mexican Pesos, as exchanging foreign cash costs us nearly 20%.
PAYMENT METHODS
Our preferred payment method is WISE, formerly Transferwise...
If you do not have a WISE account, please click here to start an account. We recommend using your smart phone, as it's easier to upload ID and verify the account. You will need your standard banking information to connect your bank account to the transfer app. Once your account is open, you need to transfer money from your bank into the WISE account in order to make payments.
When you are ready to pay, simply email me for a payment link. The beauty of WISE is that I can request the payment in Pesos, so the exchange isn't messy.
Please Note: If you use my referral to sign up for your account, your first transaction is discounted.
Just click on this link to get started: https://wise.com/invite/ihpc/jenniferb907
We can also accept Interac Transfers to our Canadian or Mexican accounts...
If you do not have a WISE account, we can also accept traditional wire transfers to our Canadian or Mexican bank accounts. Please email us for deposit information.
Canadians can e-transfer us through a simple email transfer...
If you have a Canadian bank account, we can accept an e-transfer to coppermoontravels@protonmail.com
Or you can pay 5% to use Stripe if you are paying with a credit card...
As all other payment methods do not cost us any processing fees, we do not add them into our prices. If you are using a credit card, we must charge 5% to cover their processing fees. If you are paying with a credit card, please click on the link below to make your payment!
The amount is in Mexican Pesos
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR
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Mayo Cultural Dancing & Medicines
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Mayo Ceramics Demo & Traditional Lunch
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Birding on Rio Fuerte
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El Chepe Express Train (First Class)
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Basket Weaving Class with Raramuri Women
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Hiking on the Canyon Rim
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Tram Car Ride Across Copper Canyon
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Cusarare Mission Church & Museum
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Raramuri Rituals in Batopilas Canyon
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Visit Church of Satevo
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Ex-Hacienda San Miguel
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Raramuri Rituals on the Canyon Rim
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San Ignacio Mission & Valley of Hongos & Frogs
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Rowing on Lake Arereko
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Mata Ortiz Ceramics (Direct Shopping from Artisans)
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Ancient Archaeological Site of Paquime
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Ancient Archaeological Site of Cuevo de Olla
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR
Queretaro City
Pinal de Amoles
Hot Springs & Ancient Tree
Conca Mission
Landa Mission
Tilaco Mission
Tancoyal Mission
Jalpan de Serra Mission
Tancama Archaeological Site
Edward James Garden
Cueva de Huashuas
Tamul Waterfall
Puente De Dios Waterfall
Tamasopo Waterfall
Queretaro De Santiago x 1 Night
Jalpan de Serra x 2 Nights
Xilitla x 3 Nights
Tamasopo x 3 Nights
This trip departs from San Miguel de Allende & Queretaro
If you live in San Miguel de Allende, the van is leaving from there, which means you can jump aboard in the morning and meet the rest of the group in Queretaro City. Upon returning, we will drive to Queretaro City & San Miguel de Allende on the way back...
We recommend arriving early and leaving late if it's your first time....
If you are coming from outside of this region, we highly recommend arriving early or leaving late. San Miguel de Allende is a rich and luxurious city with glorious colours abound, fabulous restaurants, high end galleries, cobblestone streets, romantic views and a stunning historical centre. Queretaro is a larger city boasting incredible history, museums, an aqueduct, beautiful architecture and more. It's hard not to fall in love...
QUESTIONS?
Please do not hesitate to contact Jennifer if you have any questions or would like to schedule this tour at a different time for a private group.
Email: coppermoontravels@protonmail.com
WhatsApp: +52 443 639 2782 (Please text first)
