Day of the Dead 2010 in Pátzcuaro

“Mexico City Extension” (Before the Day of the Dead)	Oct 27 & 28	$400
“Our Classic Adventure”	Oct 30 - Nov 7	$1495
“Seeing The Day Of The Dead With A Sketchbook”	Oct 30 - Nov 7	$1595
Pueblos Mágicos: “Pátzcuaro, Morelia & Guanajuato”	Nov 6 - 14	$1495

The Day of the Dead in Pátzcuaro, Michoacán is México’s premier cultural celebration. In addition, the Lake Pátzcuaro area is one of Latin America’s most physically diverse and historically interesting regions. On this adventure packed journey, we explore exotic volcanic highlands with remote native villages, lush tropical hideaways, impressive ancient ruins, and lovely 16th century colonial towns. Festivities abound. We also browse the fabulous local craft markets and savor delicious gourmet Mexican cuisine. On the Night of the Dead, we enjoy lively and colorful festivals in a number of traditional villages where, in the graveyards, we experience a fantastic array of enchanting candlelight and brilliant flowers.

Day Of The Dead: “Our Classic Adventure” Sample Itinerary

The purpose of this sample itinerary is to give you a good idea of the kinds of activities that you can expect on our Day of the Dead program. Although you will do many of these activities, they may not take place on the day listed here, and depending on your choices, you will probably choose to do other excursions not listed here. The Pátzcuaro area is a fantastic labyrinth of “Magic Towns,” archeological ruins, natural areas, and historical points of interest. At the beginning of the program, you will receive an “itinerary packet” from which you will develop your personal itinerary.

Mexico City Extension

Tues	Those who are participating in the “Mexico City Extension” arrive in Mexico City in the afternoon.
Wed	Explore the massive ruins at Teotihuacan. After lunch, we’ll visit the Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, México’s patron Saint.
Thur	Explore the area of México’s National Plaza - the Zócalo including the National Cathedral, National Palace with its famed Diego Rivera Murals, and see the ruins of the “Plaza Mayor” along with its interesting museum.

The Day Of The Dead Program

Thur	Some fly to Mexico City arriving Thursday afternoon, spend the night, and travel by bus with “ATI Escort” Friday from Mexico City to Pátzcuaro, Michoacán arriving in the late afternoon.
Fri	Some fly to Morelia, Michoacán arriving Friday night or early Saturday morning and travel with “ATI Escort” from Morelia airport to Pátzcuaro.
Sat	Program Orientation: regions/activities/choices/safety/etc. Explore Pátzcuaro- “the walking tour.” Optional Culture & History Presentation: Archaeology/Conquest/Early Colonial Period.
Sun	Lake Pátzcuaro & Janitzio Island/Hike the El Estribo Volcano.
Mon	Flower & Craft Markets/Night of the Dead : Pre-Columbian Ruins & Early Colony/ Music/Dance/Cemeteries/Visits to other villages. Optional Culture & History Presentations (Done on location in Tzintzuntzan) including more archaeology & history plus the Day of the Dead.
Tues	Day of the Dead: Local cemetery visits/Relax/Optional excursions to other villages.
Wed	Indian Villages of the Purépecha Sierra/Visit volcanic wasteland & church destroyed by lava/Optional horse back ride to and climb of Paricutín Volcano.
Thur	Visit lovely towns of the Tropical Slope/Walk & swim in tropical paradise.
Fri	Archaeological ruins/Fountains & waterfalls.
Sat	Santa Clara Del Cobre- the copperware town/Enjoy Pátzcuaro/Shopping/Celebration.
Sun	Some travel to Morelia airport with “ATI Escort” and fly home. Others stay on for a magic journey to 4 “pueblos mágicos” & 4 “world heritage sites” on the Pueblos Mágicos: Pátzcuaro, Morelia, & Guanajuato. Others travel to Mexico City with “ATI Escort” where some fly home late Sunday. Others spend night in Mexico City to enjoy the afternoon at the Museum of Anthropology, dinner, and maybe attend the famed “Ballet Foklórico de México.”
Mon	Some fly home from Mexico City.

After the Day of the Dead in Mexico City:
If you decide to travel through Mexico City to and from your Day of the Dead program, on your return, we recommend that you spend Sunday night in Mexico City and fly home Monday. Do this both to break up your travel, and take advantage of several Sunday afternoon activities. You can visit the magnificent National Museum of Anthropology on Sunday afternoon. You may also choose to go to the famous Ballet Folklórico de México on Sunday evening. These activities take place after your Day of the Dead program and you do them at your own expense.

Add A Trip!

Add another ATI program! Many of our adventures are often preceded or followed by other ATI programs. In most cases, if you do consecutive trips, you can take $100 off the price of the second one!

Add A Trip Before:	“Mexico City Extension”	No discounts apply
Add A Trip After:	“Pueblos Mágicos: “Pátzcuaro, Morelia & Guanajuato”	Subtract $100

Add A Day Or More!

Most of our adventures are designed to last one week- 8 or 9 days. However, some people want to extend their relaxing vacation by coming before or staying after our program. Most of our trips can accommodate such desires. You can add a day or two, a week, or a month! For a modest fee we will help you with the details so that you can enjoy more time in a great adventure destination. In most cases, if you “Add A Day Or More,” you are not participating in an ATI program.

Day Of The Dead: Add time in Pátzcuaro, Morelia or Mexico City before or after.

Pueblos Mágicos: Add time in Pátzcuaro or Morelia before, or in Guanajuato after.

Arrival and Departure Information

Day of the Dead (Saturday morning, Oct. 30 to Sunday morning, Nov. 7 2010)

Each program has specific “arrival and departure windows” concerning when and where you must meet your ATI representative at the beginning of your trip, as well as when and from where you will be able to depart. Please closely coordinate the details of your travel with ATI, and do not buy your airline tickets until you have been given official ATI approval. You will need to make your own travel arrangements. Please call ATI to get oriented to travel for this program.

Morelia, Michoacán? or Mexico City?

Your Day of the Dead program officially begins in Pátzcuaro on Saturday morning, October 30, and ends in Pátzcuaro on Sunday morning, November 7. However, your exact arrival and departure dates and times will vary depending on whether you travel to Morelia or Mexico City. Therefore, you need to decide now, whether you will be traveling to Morelia or Mexico City. Here is the general idea:

Morelia (MLM): Arrive Friday or Saturday / Depart Sunday

Traveling to Morelia is more expensive, but requires less time.

Arrival Window:

Arrive Morelia Friday evening, October 29 (or early Saturday morning, Oct. 30).
In either case, if you arrive within the window, an ATI representative will be at the airport in Morelia to meet you and transport you about 1 1/2 hours to Pátzcuaro. The hotel Friday night is included.

Departure Window:

Depart Morelia early Sunday morning, November 7. If you depart within the window, an ATI representative will transport you to the airport.

Mexico City (MEX):Arrive Thursday / Depart Monday (or depart Sunday)

Traveling in and out of Mexico City is less expensive, but requires more time. Also, many airlines fly to Mexico City (MEX), so the chance of using frequent flier miles is much better than Morelia. If you arrive and depart within the stated travel windows, this travel option enables you to fly in and out of Mexico City, and to participate in the “ATI Mexico City Escort” to and from Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, by bus under our supervision. However, this escort is not included in your ATI program, and you must pay the costs. It’s cheap. We anticipate about $145 U.S. round-trip.

Arrival Window:

Arrive Mexico City Thursday mid to late afternoon, Oct. 28. We meet you at the airport, then assist you to the hotel in Mexico City. (Or arrive very early Friday morning, Oct. 29. If you arrive early Friday morning, you must come to the hotel on your own.)
Friday morning, we travel to the bus station, then bus to Pátzcuaro, Michoacán. The bus trip takes about 4 hours to Morelia, and another 1.5 hours or so to Pátzcuaro.
If you are participating in the “Mexico City Extension,” you arrive Tuesday mid to late afternoon, Oct. 26.

Departure Window:

Depart Mexico City Monday, November 8 (or Sunday afternoon, November 7, after 4 PM!).
We leave Michoacán early Sunday morning, Nov. 7 and bus to Mexico City.
We arrive in Mexico City by 1:00 P.M.
If you must return to the U.S. on Sunday, you go directly to the airport. Do not plan to depart before 4:00 PM!
We recommend that you spend Sunday night in Mexico City and visit the famous National Museum of Anthropology on Sunday afternoon. You may also choose to go to the spectacular “Ballet Folklórico de Mexico” Sunday evening, or do other things.
Monday, Nov. 8, you travel to the airport and return home.

Pueblos Mágicos: “Pátzcuaro, Morelia, & Guanajuato.”

If you are doing the “Pueblos Mágicos” program after the Day of the Dead, you will depart from the Leon/Bajío airport (BJX) on Sunday, Nov. 14 and travel either directly to the U.S., or back to Mexico City.