October & November 2017
Day of the Dead in Michoacán is one of Mexico’s most revered and unique holidays, that combines pre-Hispanic rituals with Catholic traditions. During this time, families gather to remember their departed loved ones. It is believed that through this reflection and memory, they are kept alive!.
December 2017
On December 23, Oaxaca holds the largest radish carving contest in the world: The Night of the Radishes, where radishes weigh up to seven pounds! Primarily Nativity Scenes, the carvers now use their imagination and carve everything from famous Mexican revolutionaries…
February-2018
Veracruz, Chinantla, Oaxaca & Tehuacan, Puebla Visit the Port of Veracruz, Cempoala and the Museum of Anthropology in Xalapa! We’ll view private textile collections, and travel on an extraordinary journey to a region rarely visited in Oaxaca’s Papaloapan Basin. The natural landscape is varied…
Maíz, Mole & Mezcal:
Oaxaca has become a “hot spot” for culinary travel, yet its foods are ancestral. From native corn, to the land of mole and mezcal, Oaxaca is a place to savor with all the senses. This culinary journey will take you on a veritable historic journey, beginning with the ancestral foods, the sustenance of Mexico today, and will also showcase contemporary expressions of these heritage foods.
On this journey designed for families, we will learn about the ancient Maya and explore their former ceremonial centers, we’ll visit and interact with local Maya communities to learn of their living traditions, we will refresh in the cool blue green water of the cenotes and enjoy a combination of natural wonders, ancient Maya history, local cuisine and music and dancing.
Art, Culture & Cuisine!
On this journey of learning and discovery, we explore the history and expressions of Art in Mexico. In order to understand the vision and temperament of Diego and Frida, we will learn of History and Politics of Mexico, that is the only way to contextualize their art and lives. Get ready for your impressions of Mexico City’s Historic Center! Arriving at the grand and vast Zocalo, we’ll see the great clash of cultures in the 16th Century, that forever changed the course of Mexico’s history. We’ll also visit the Pre Hispanic site of Teotihuacan…
The Flavors & Landscapes
Wine Country, Baja Cuisine, Craft Beers and More! Baja California is a singular physical landscape, that has equally singular expressions in food and a burgeoning micro-wine industry. Given its climate and soil, the cuisine is akin to a Mediterranean one, and has been coined, “Baja Med” by Chef Miguel Angel Guerrero, one of its early and foremost protagonists…
Join us on a journey to learn about and witness one of nature’s wonders–the monarch butterfly migration. Here, in the fir trees of Michoacan at between 8,000-12,000 feet, the monarch butterflies take rest for the winter months after flying over 3,000 miles. Here, they cluster in groups on the fir trees to stay warm. During the day, they enjoy the sunshine and can be seen flying in massive groups…
We will embark on fascinating excursions to meet farmers, fishermen, and ranchers to better understand and appreciate the farm to table relationships and supply chain of uniquely Yucatecan ingredients. Visitors will visit a Yucatecan family to discover the traditional pit cooking style called pib. The culinary traditions of Yucatan are like none other!
In Puebla, the city is so iconic that sometimes Puebla the State is overlooked! Not at Tia Stephanie Tours! Recognizing that the State of Puebla has a great cultural and bio diversity, we decided to package a program that offers travelers the opportunity to experience and learn about the key natural and cultural wonders in Puebla!
December 29, 2017-January 10, 2018
Explore the ancient and living Maya of Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico! Visit the former powerful Kingdoms of Tikal and Palenque and important satellite communities such as Quirigua, Yaxchilan, Bonampak and others. This educational journey promises to be rich in historical perspectives and understanding of the Maya civilization; its legacy and living cultures of today
Bogota & Cartagena! December 2017
This special travel program is designed around the singular Expoartesanias Colombia, the largest and most important gathering and showcase of Colombia’s artisans and their art. The Expoartesanias handcraft fair, is entering its 27th year and features the finest in Colombia’s diverse traditional and contemporary craft from the entire country.
Salsa dancing is to Cali, Colombia as Tango dancing is to Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is a way of life, a lifestyle, a social mingling place and given the competitions in recent years, such as the International Salsa Competition, a path to stardom. Also, the salsa dancing in Cali is unique; it is very fast and athletic. People travel from all over the world to see and learn from the best: the salsa dancers in Cali, Colombia.
Join us on an extraordinary journey to Colombia to learn about the heritage & traditions of African Descendants of this South American country. We will explore the History and Present Day expressions from the Caribbean Coast to the Pacific. Traveling to Cartagena & vicinity, we visit a community called San Basilio Palenque, established in honor of Cimarron, liberator and martyr, Benkos Bioho…
This extraordinary journey provides an excellent overview of where South America begins! With its vast mountain chains and its fertile green valleys, you will see how this combination of latitude and altitude make it one of the world’s coffee growing centers. We will explore the fascinating world of Cali, where salsa dancing reins supreme. We also will visit the pearl of the Caribbean, the walled city of Cartagena…
Whether it’s Culture & Cuisine, Textile Traditions, Ancient Civilizations, Art History or Festivals, let us take you beyond the beach resorts. Our unique approach combines education with off the path itineraries, designed to build greater understanding of and appreciation for the richness and complexity of Mexico, Colombia and beyond. Read about our travels here:
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