Day of the Dead Festival in Oaxaca; A comprehensive exploration of the best of central Mexico: Colonial charm; Traditional cooking class; Ancient and modern history; Archaeological wonders
This one started as a one-off offering, but it went over so well we decided to make it a part of our permanent roster. This very special journey through Central Mexico is built around Mexico's Day of the Dead festivities, which we experience primarily in the charming town of Oaxaca. From there we continue to Guanajuato, Morelia, San Miguel de Allende, and Guadalajara on this comprehensive 17-day exploration.
Prices below are per person, twin-sharing costs in US Dollars (USD). Pricing does not include airfare to/from the tour and any applicable taxes. For single supplement rates and taxes (if any), please refer to below Prices & Dates table. For general information on flights to/from the tour, click here.
Select a date below to reserve your spot:
Due to hotel policies re deposits during festival time, we require a $500 per person deposit at time of reservation, and an additional $1000 per person 6 months before tour start (or at 'guarantee' if not confirmed at 6 months). After this point your deposits will become 100% non-refundable/non-transferrable.
Optional Single Supplement: $1770 USD (number of singles limited).
This tour may require a mandatory single supplement charge of $890 if you join our share program and we are unable to pair you.
Day 1 Arrive in Mexico City
Arrival in Mexico City.
Welcome to the capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. This is the country's largest city as well as its most important political, cultural, educational and financial center, and a logical place to begin our exploration of this fascinating country.
Overnight in Mexico City.
Included Meal(s): Dinner
Day 2 Mexico City Touring
This morning we'll depart for a tour of the Anthropological Museum at Chapultepec Park. The museum is considered one of the world's great museums, not only for its rich collection, but for the originality and practicality of its design. This is an excellent introduction to the astounding historical and cultural richness of Mexico.
We'll also visit the Zocalo (Plaza de la Constitución) in the heart of old Mexico City. We visit the Catedral Metropolitana, dating from 1562, taking over 250 years to complete. It reflects the most popular architectural styles from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. Inside the church you will see several chapels fashioned in the churrigueresque style -- an ornamental baroque style.
We'll also visit the adjacent Templo Mayor Museum, designed to exhibit the archaeological findings of the zone that used to be the main temple of Mexica peoples. The collection shows the political, military, and aesthetic relevance of the city that dominated Mesoamerica before the Spaniards arrived.
Next (possibly after a break for lunch), we'll visit the Palcio de Bella Artes, primarily to view the immense murals by world-famous Mexican artists dominate the top floors of this splendid white-marble palace – a concert hall and arts center commissioned by President Porfirio Díaz. Construction on the iconic building began in 1905 under Italian architect Adamo Boari, who favoured neoclassical and art nouveau styles. Through the murals we learn more about Mexico's tempestuous history.
Finbally we visit Casa Azul. A must-see attraction, Frida Kahlo's house is beautiful as well as fascinating. A visit here gives you an insight into the life of this iconic painter and her famous husband Diego Rivera, some of shose murals we saw in Bellas Artes. The garden, with its Mesoamerican pyramid, is also a sight to behold.
Overnight in Mexico City.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 3 Mexico City - Oaxaca & Monte Alban
This morning we fly south to Oaxaca.
As we enter town, there is a statue of Benito Juarez, a Zapotec lawyer from a nearby village, and Oaxaca's most famous son. Oaxaca is the capital of the state of the same name. Surrounded by green, densely forested hills, modern Oaxaca has been the site of a town since at least the time of Christ. Later, in the 15th century, it became an important Aztec town until it was captured by the Spaniards. The modern city has a Baroque flavour left over from the colonial period, and is a center of native culture and art. In the city center we will visit colonial monuments, gardens, palaces, plazas, temples, and monasteries.
This afternoon (depending on arrival timing we may head directly to the site before our hotel check-in -- your Tour Leader will advise) we visit the site of Monte Alban, visiting the site museum before walking out onto the site. Situated on a flattened mountaintop, the site affords commanding views of the Valley of Oaxaca, a stunning vista of endless mountain peaks. Monte Alban was an important religious site and today is one of the most impressive places anywhere; we stop at the ball court, the plaza, the Gallery of the Dancers, and the Observatory, considered to be the oldest in Mesoamerica.
Our visit to Oaxaca coincides with Dia de los Muertos, or 'Day of the Dead', celebrations. Each year, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, villagers throughout Mexico empty out of their homes and into local cemeteries to welcome the souls of their dearly departed. There are bouquets of marigolds and candles as far as the eye can see, and gravestones are cleaned and festooned with flowers. Families don embroidered indigenous dresses for feasts, for which they cook their deceased relatives' favourite foods. Oaxaca is one of the most spectacular places in the country to experience this annual spectacle, and the whole town and its surrounds will be festooned with décor and music and festive flavours; the special Day of the Dead street markets around town are particularly interesting and colourful.
Please note that our meal plan in Oaxaca may vary at the discretion of your Tour Leader. Because Day of the Dead festivities generally occur from sunset onward, we will likely include lunch instead of dinner in order to maximize our time at this colourful event.
Overnight in Oaxaca.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 4 Oaxaca & Day of the Dead
Today we embark upon a walking tour of Oaxaca, including the Governor's Palace, an attractive building housing several outstanding murals by Arturo Garcia Bustos (sometimes closed without notice).
Many of the Day of the Dead altars you'll see in Oaxaca are works of art. Schools and social organizations hold contests for the best altars and some of them are astonishingly intricate and beautiful. You may see paths of cempasuchil petals leading up to altars. These are believed to help the dead to find their way.
We'll also plan to head down into the crypt of the San Miguel Convent to see the way it is decorated for this night. We'll also visit the village of Xococotlan to visit the specially-decorated cemetery. Back in Oaxaca, we'll be sure to stroll about the town centre after dark in order to take in the festivities.
Overnight in Oaxaca.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5 Oaxaca: Cooking Class
Today in Oaxaca, we have the chance to know more about the wonderful unique food from this region in a half-day cooking class. Our class offers you the opportunity to learn, hands-on, the complex cuisine of Oaxaca. We will learn about the ingredients, enjoy hand-made meal preparation, mezcal tasting and, of course, enjoy the meal we prepared at the end of the class.
Balance of the afternoon to enjoy Oaxaca (due to the size of our lunch, dinner on your own this evening).
Later this evening we can re-group and take in the carnival-like parade that occurs on 01 November. The procession is well-known for its Day of the Dead comparsas, rolling crowds of musicians and costumed characters.
Overnight in Oaxaca.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6 Oaxaca & Mitla
Early this morning we travel 45 km to the fascinating site of Mitla. En route we stop at the Tule Tree, or "Taxodium Mucrunatum". In Spanish, it is called "Sabino". This extraordinary tree is supposed to be over 2,000 years old with a circumference of almost 60 metres!
We continue to Mitla, a beautiful Zapotecan site distinguished by the finely-carved and inlaid stones that form unique geometric patterns. Another feature of the site is one that ties the pre-Columbian world with that of the Spanish Conquest: a small colonial church on the site of the ruins, typical of those that the Spanish frequently built as a symbol of the new religion they were bringing to this new the land.
We depart on the road back to Oaxaca, making a stop at a Mezcal maker en route. Mezcal is a liquor made from the Maguey Agave, as opposed to Tequila, which has the Blue Agave as its primary ingredient. We will have an interesting look at Mezcal production, which is done on a small scale when compared to Tequila (produced in Jalisco State, not far from Guadalajara).
Back in Oaxaca, we visit the ex-Convento de Santo Domingo (Regional Museum or Museo se las Cultruas de Oaxaca), one of the best museums we will visit on the tour. This museum contains, among other things, the Mixtec treasures from Tomb 7 at Monte Alban. Related to the Day of the Dead, the Palacio de Gobierno is usually filled with huge sand tapestries every November 1st.
Overnight in Oaxaca.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7 Oaxaca - Puebla: Walking Tour
We have morning departure from Oaxaca for a scenic journey of about 5 hours, with stops along the way.
The various species of cactus you are seeing on the hillsides in this arid area are the Pitahaya (organpipe) cactus. It looks like what its name suggests: many shoots, and very large. The small, single-stemmed cacti, which cover the hillsides for miles around, are the Saguaro. We will make stops to view/photograph these curious plants, as well as the expansive mountain and valley views afforded by this high pass.
Upon arrival we'll embark on a walking our of Puebla. The city has a fascinating history: it is the only city in Mexico that was founded specifically for the Spanish colonialists, in 1531. As a result, the city has a distinctly European feel, with grand boulevards, Parisian-style arcades, imposing monuments and street-side cafes, but all with Mexican flair.
We will see some of the city's many ornate churches including the gold-leafed Capilla del Rosario. Also included this afternoon is the Museo de Santa Monica. This "secret convent" reflects the period when nuns and priests were forced underground -- literally -- in 1857. This convent was discovered in 1935 and later turned into a museum. The convent's entrance was through the homes of the religiously faithful through cupboards in the dining hall; today the entrance to the convent-cum-museum is still through a private home.
Overnight in Puebla.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 8 Puebla: Cacaxtla & Cholula
This morning we drive to Cacaxtla, located in what historians have named the "trade corridor". On arrival we walk approximately 800 metres to the great mound of the main pyramid. This site is particularly interesting for the colourful frescoes that date from the middle of the 7th and 8th centuries. Each of the murals relates important facts about the culture of the ancient people; one unexpected discovery is the presence of the Maya who hailed from the Yucatan some 1300 km (800 miles) away! Of particular importance is the "Battle Mural."
We then travel to the Great Pyramid of Cholula, the largest in Mexico, though it is almost all hidden inside a hill. About 10 minutes of walking through a very narrow and interesting tunnel takes us deep inside the pyramid. The pyramid is solid, but archeologists made many tunnels, most of them closed to the public, in order to see what lay beneath the massive pyramid's exterior. We continue outside the pyramid walking clockwise around the pyramidal mound, looking down on the far side at a fairly extensive site. Those with the energy might walk up to the church at the top of the pyramid hill.
Today we include lunch in the vicinity and free up your evening to take in Pueba's lively street life.
Overnight in Puebla.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
Day 9 Puebla - Teotihuacan: Site Tour
This mornng we skirt Mexico City and travel to the massive archaeological site of Teotihuacan (500 BC-AD 700). We travel through scenery of pine forests, rivers, waterfalls and magnificent mountains. En route we will pass the Popocatepetl volcano, said to be dormant, but occasionally belching forth a puff of steam! Estimated at 2.5 million years in age, this "Smoking Mountain" soars to 5452 m/17,882 feet.
Teotihuacan was the first major urban area in the New World and was named "the City of the Gods". On the site we will see the Pyramid of the Sun, which the adventurous can climb. This is the pyramid at which the cult of the famous god Quetzalcoatl began. Legend dictates that he allowed himself to be tested by bravely casting himself into a fire. He survived the fire but was transformed into a plumed serpent. Other structures on the site include the Pyramid of the Moon, the Avenue of the Dead, and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. We have a comprehensive tour of the site, including the excellent museum, before heading to the hotel.
Overnight near Teotihuacan.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10 Teotihuacan - Tula - San Miguel de Allende
This morning we travel to San Miguel via Tula, capital of the Toltecs.
Tula achieved dominance between AD 950 and 1150. According to Aztec legends it was a magnificent place -- palaces were decorated with gold, turquoise and jade. These riches were earned as tributes from conquered territories, for the Toltecs were great warriors. The greatest monuments at Tula today are the huge Atlantean statues, standing 5 m (16 feet) high on top of the Piramide de Quetzalcuatl. Originally these stone figures would have supported the roof of a temple. The pyramid on which they stand (and also other carved columns behind the Atlantes) features reliefs of warriors, snakes and crocodiles -- some traces of the original bright paint remain.
We continue to San Miguel de Allende, one of Mexico's most beautiful towns. Most of its buildings date from the 1600's and the colonial period, and new construction must follow building standards so that it fits in stylistically. The town has a flourishing artist community.
On arrival we'll have a walking tour of San Miguel, starting at El Jardin, the main plaza, and on to the house of Ignacio Allende, an attractive example of an 18th century San Miguel house. After a pause at the museum we cross to La Paracchia, the main church with its bizarre Gothic towers added in the early part of the 20th century. We then walk over to the ex-convento of La Purissimo Concepcion to see the courtyard and the hall with a strange mural by Alfonso Siquero (who was implicated in an attempt on Leon Trotsky's life). We finish with a visit to the ex-convento of San Francisco.
Overnight in San Miquel.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11 San Miguel - Guanajuato
We continue our journey through central Mexico to the Guanajuato, located in the Bajio, a central lowland plateau. Our route is scenic, and our first views of Guanajuato, located on a deep valley below, are spectacular. Guanaguato is best known as a mining town; the modern city is riddled with tunnels, many of which have been converted to auto-routes to expedite traffic around the city.
Overnight in Guanajuato.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 12 Guanajuato: City Tour
This morning we enjoy a walking tour of the cobbled streets in this colonial city which became famous from silver mining. The city is alive with music everywhere; at the Jardin de la Union bands play year-round. We visit La Compania Church, University Campus, the Diego Rivera Museum, located in the house where he was born. There are several rooms of Rivera's art and some powerful photos of a bedridden Frida Kahlo.
Alhondiga is the fortified granary where, on September 28, 1810, 260 Spanish families were massacred inside where they had taken refuge from the ‘insurgentes.’ There is a very good museum inside with some rooms with pre-Conquest artifacts, as well as several rooms dealing with colonial and revolutionary history. We visit the Municiple Market, designed by Gustav Eiffel and brought here from Europe. After a visit to the Teatro Juarez, we take the funicular to La Pepila for superb views over town. In 1989 the whole city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site to preserve its colonial character.
In the afternoon, we drive up to visit the church of San Cayetano near the Valenciana silver mine. You will have time in the afternoon to explore Guanajuato's many picturesque little plazas on your own. This is a great city for people watching! (dinner on your own this evening).
Overnight in Guanajuato.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast
Day 13 Guanajuato - Morelia: Walking Tour
Today we travel to Morelia.
Morelia has the atmosphere of a European cathedral town. Set at a bracing altitude of 1930 m (6,368 feet), it is the state capital of Michoacan and one of Mexico's most gracious cities. It rests on a gentle sloping hill overlooking the Valley of Guayangero and is another of Mexico's colonial gems -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- wonderfully restful and clean with wide boulevards, lovely squares, and shady parks. Architecturally, the city is of the 17th and 18th century Spanish colonial style, proudly displaying numerous masterfully restored mansions, churches, and civic buildings. Most are oft pink-coloured stone with lacy, delicate facades.
On arrival we will have a walking tour of Morelia, starting at the courtyard of the Collegio San Nicholas, where Miguel Hidalgo was rector in the early 19th century, and where Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon was a religious student. We walk through the Plaza de los Martires (the Zocalo) to the Cathedral, an extraordinary building that took over 100 years to build. We leave the cathedral and walk a few blocks to the Casa de Morelos, a very fine example of a Morelia house from the late 18th century and good displays regarding Mexico's War of Independence.
We then walk a few blocks to the Casa de la Cultura with its excellent Museo de las Masqueras, which exhibits masks from all over Mexcio. Our next point of interest is the Plaza Valladolid and the Casa de los Artensanias where you can see artisans working on weaving and carving and other crafts.
Overnight in Morelia.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 14 Morelia & Patzcuaro
Today we have an excursion to Patzcuaro, located 30 minutes from Morelia.
We stop en route to visit the archeological site at Tzintzuntzan, which was the Tarascan capital at the time of the conquest. The nearby village is renowned for its woodcarvers and there are a number of studios where one can admire their work. Patzcuaro's cobbled streets lie across a hillside, looking down toward a pristine lake dotted with islands. Patzcuaro is also of great interest to the history buff as it was central to the careers of two of Mexico's most diametrically opposed characters -- Nino de Guzman and Vasco de Quiroga. We will spend today enjoying this beautiful town on the edge of a mountain lake. We see the Temple of the Compania de Jesus, formerly a cathedral, as well as the mid-16th century Basilica which was made a cathedral in 1907, replacing the Temple of the Compania de Jesus.
We later return to Morelia where we overnight.
Overnight in Morelia.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 15 Morelia - Guadalajara
Today we travel to Guadalajara, the capital city of the state of Jalisco and the second largest city in the country. It is considered a colonial city, though much of its architecture dates from the independence period. It has a far more relaxed feel than Mexico City and contains many nice areas for walking. Time-permitting today, we may accomplish some of our on-foot sightseeing upon arrival (dinner on your own this evening).
Overnight in Guadalajara.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast
Day 16 Guadalajara: City Tour
Guadalajara is one of the most beautiful cities in Mexico and Latin America. Endowed with an extraordinary climate, this is the land of Mariachi, Tequila, the Instituto Cultural Cabanas (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and home to a wide culture that ranges from fine art to the height of the popular arts.
The heart of City of Roses is the Centro Historico. This is where we will learn about the foundation of this city and explore the well-preserved 16th and 17thI century architectural masterpieces of Cross Square surrounding the Metropolitan Cathedral. Visit magnificent colonial buildings like the Governor Palace, Cathedral, City hall, Liberty Square, gallery of Illustrious Jaliscians, Degollado Theater, Tapatia Plaza, the Cabanas Cultural Institute, and Liberty Market.
We'll also head out of the centre to Tlaquepaque ("Tla-Kah-Pa-Keh"), a fashionable colonial neighbourhood in the southeast of Guadalajara, was once a small village in its own right, even in pre-hispanic times. Today, it's a trendy shopping district offering fine arts and crafts, galleries, and excellent food.
Overnight in Guadalajara.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 17 Departure
Departure from Guadalajara.
BUEN VIAJE!
Included Meal(s): Breakfast
Inclusions
Breakfast daily; most dinners and some lunches (as per tour itinerary).*
All transport (including internal flight), accommodation, sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary.
Full time Tour Leader with guide support.
Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, hotel porters (if available).
Airport transfers for land & air customers.
* Please note that our meal plan in Oaxaca (and possibly elsewhere) may vary at the discretion of your Tour Leader. Because Day of the Dead festivities generally occur from sunset onward, we will likely include lunch instead of dinner on some days in order to maximize our time at this colourful event.
Exclusions
International airfare to/from the tour.
Tour Leader gratuity, most lunches and some dinners, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), and international air taxes (if applicable).
Airport transfers for Land Only customers.
Optional trip cancellation insurance.
Seasonality and Weather
This tour is offered at the coolest and most comfortable time of year on the central plateau. Conditions can vary depending on elevation, but you can plan on warm days/cool nights in most locations. In and around Mexico City (including Puebla), which are over 2000 metres, days are quite mild and nighttime can be downright chilly. Similarly, Guanajuato, also at 2000m, is very mild/comfortable to Oct/Nov with average temperature in Guanajuato 16C (61°F); afternoons can be fairly warm with average high temperatures reaching 23C (74°F).
Transport and Travel Conditions
Road transport by private air-conditioned motor coach, 15-30 seats depending on ultimate group size (see 'group size'). The country's roads are generally good though we do have some long (though scenic and interesting) travelling days with plenty of stops of interest.
Our difficulty "level 2" rating refers to our overall ambitious program, our walking tours of towns and cities and archaeological sites that are large with many stairs, possibly without handrails; short walks to dinner, and the fact that much of the trip occurs at approximately 2000 metres (6,500 ft).
Participants should also be aware that, given this is an immersive festival-related tour, some of our activities will involve actually being part of the festivities. This is not an event in which one watches from a distance, rather we will be part of the crowds and mingling with the revelers, possibly at times/in places of low light. You should be steady on your feet, watch your step, and be aware of your surroundings.
Am I suitable for this tour? Please refer to our self-assessment form.
Accommodation
Well-located, air-conditioned, upper-range (mostly 4-star) hotels with en suite toilet and bath throughout. Hotel porter service is available (see 'Inclusions') though you should be independent with your luggage. Some hotels have outdoor swimming pools, though weather conditions might be a bit on the cool side in some places.
Staff and Support
Driver/s, local guides in various locales, full time Tour Leader.
Group Size
Maximum 18 plus Tour Leader
Regions visited: North America
Countries visited: Mexico
*The red tour trail on the map does not represent the actual travel path.
The following is a list of sample hotels at some locations included on this tour. The hotels shown here are meant to provide a general sense of the standard of hotel we usually aim for; they are not necessarily confirmed for your chosen departure.
We encourage you to get trip cancellation and interruption insurance to protect against unforeseen events.
Transfers for Marco Polo Airport if arriving and departing with the group; accommodation at 3 and 4 star hotels with ensuite facilities; breakfast daily, welcome dinner and farewell dinner with wine; admissions to sites in the itinerary; comfortable coach travel with professional driver; all other transport necessary to fulfill the itinerary; professional English-speaking guides at guided sites in the itinerary; services of a professional Tour Director from arrival in Venice through departure; gratuities for drivers, local guides and the Tour Director; additional insight from Lucinda Edinberg, Hammond-Harwood House curator, who will be with us for the whole tour.
Airfare; transfers that do not coordinate with the group arrivals and departures; single supplement; mandatory travel insurance; lunches, dinners other than the two stated in the itinerary; personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls; gratuities for hotel service and porters; optional audio service.
Our aim is for every participant to fully enjoy the sites and towns we visit. Please bear in mind that you will have to negotiate getting on and off the vehicle on a regular basis, walking around sites, managing stairs in the hotels and showers over the bath. The nature of exploring the sites and historic towns we visit means there is a reasonable amount of walking involved in our daily itineraries. Should participants wish to take a day off from the tour, they are perfectly entitled to do so, if they are returning to the same hotel in the evening.
The deposit secures your place on the tour if space is available at the time of booking. Final payment is required 60 days before the tour departs. Payments are non-transferable.
The deposit is non-refundable unless the tour is cancelled by Adventures Abroad Worldwide Travel. Your trip insurance may cover your cancellation under certain conditions. It is a condition of booking that you, and all members of your party, take out comprehensive travel insurance before you join the tour and that it is adequate for your needs. Your insurance must include coverage for medical expenses, personal injury, and personal liability. We strongly recommend you also obtain coverage for loss of baggage, money and valuables, delay, curtailment, missed departure, cancellation expenses and legal expenses. You may be asked to provide your travel insurer name, contact number and policy number before you join our tour, or required coverage under the credit card used to book the tour.
A minimum of 14 paid passengers is required to run a tour. If the minimum number of bookings has not been received by 60 days prior to departure, Adventures Abroad Worldwide Travel reserves the right not to run the tour and refund all moneys paid. In no case except for reasons of war, natural disasters, fire, civil disturbances, riots, terrorist action, closure of port or airport, industrial disputes, force majeure, or similar events beyond their control will cancellation take place within 60 days of the departure date. In the event of a cancellation within 60 days under these conditions, Adventures Abroad Worldwide Travel retains the right to make a partial refund at their own discretion.
Hammond-Harwood House Association and Adventures Abroad Worldwide Tours have taken all reasonable steps to ensure that proper arrangements have been made for the tour and that the suppliers of the services are efficient and reputable. Every booking is subject to the conditions imposed by shipping, airline, rail, coach, hotel, restaurant, visitor attraction and insurance. We cannot be held liable for any loss or expenses suffered by you because of your late arrival at the start of the tour, or at any time during the tour for other than reasons within our control. Any willful damage to property is your sole responsibility, including any costs incurred due to such action or measures taken up by the various authorities or principals. Damage will be charged to you and must be paid for at that time. Adventures Abroad Worldwide Travel reserves the right to withdraw tour participation from any person at any time if their behavior is likely to affect the smooth operation of the tour or adversely affect the enjoyment or safety of other participants and shall not be under any liability to such person whatsoever. This is without any liability whatsoever on the company’s behalf for homeward travel arrangements or refund of tour costs. The decision of the Tour Director will be final. Adventures Abroad Worldwide Travel will not be held responsible for closure of sites or attractions named in the tour itinerary. Under such circumstances every endeavor will be made to find an alternative. Adventures Abroad Worldwide Travel reserves the right to substitute hotels. If a passport is lost or one of the group members is taken ill or has an accident, the Tour Director will assist to the best of their ability but must reserve the right to carry on with the tour. It may be necessary to leave the tour member to rejoin later at his/her own expense.
This is a release of legal rights – please read carefully and understand before booking.
By sending the booking form, I acknowledge that I have voluntarily agreed to participate in a travel experience (the “Tour”) offered by Hammond-Harwood House Association (“HHH”). I am aware that HHH has contracted with Adventures Abroad Worldwide Travel Ltd. (“AAWT”) to conduct, operate, provide services during, and/or manage portions of the Tour. AAWT has been selected based on experience in the travel industry and history of providing safe and gratifying tours. Even though HHH will use its best efforts to provide opportunities for educational enrichment during the Tour in a safe environment, I acknowledge that I am responsible for making my own safety decisions relating to the Tour and otherwise, and I agree to be bound by each of the following terms and conditions below:
I am aware that it is my personal decision to travel, and I am doing so voluntarily, with full knowledge of the applicable travel recommendations, restrictions, regulations, and risks with regard to travel generally, and as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic. I understand that by electing to participate in this Tour, I do so at my own risk, and I agree to accept personal responsibility for any liability, injury, loss, or damage in any way connected with my participation in the Tour.
I understand that there are certain dangers, hazards, and risks inherent with travel and in the activities included in the Tour, including but not limited to, weather, strikes, acts of God, war, quarantine, disease, civil unrest, or terrorism. I understand that my participation in the Tour may involve risk of injury and loss, both to person and to property, and, I may be subjected to potential risks, including illnesses, injuries, permanent disability, and even death. In addition, I understand that medical treatments, such as vaccines, may be required before traveling to some destinations, partaking in the Tour, and/or participating in certain Tour activities, and it is my responsibility to consult a physician and the Center for Disease Control regarding immunizations or other precautions to protect against travel related illness. I recognize that while an AAWT or HHH staff representative may assist me with obtaining medical care in event of an illness or emergency, neither AAWT nor HHH is responsible or liable for my care.
I recognize that HHH is not in the position to evaluate, and therefore cannot evaluate, whether the Tour will take place in a safe and secure environment. These are judgments that I recognize I must independently make, and I have made my own investigation of these risks, understand these risks, and assume them knowingly and willingly. I have been warned of possible travel industry bankruptcies and medical and climatic disruptions, as well as the possibility that I may be unable to travel as scheduled because of personal emergency. I understand that specific AAWT, national, state, local and/or municipal health and safety protocols will apply to my Tour. I have reviewed all applicable protocols and Tour terms and conditions provided, including terms and conditions regarding cancellations, refunds, health and safety, vaccination, and insurance, prior to finalizing my reservation. I understand and acknowledge that HHH and/or AAWT are not responsible for changes to my Tour or for losses, expenses, damages, or injuries resulting from my Tour or travel incidents related thereto.
I understand that, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, local and state governments may be enacting border, travel, and stay-at-home restrictions; and that the trajectory of the COVID-19 virus at the local, national, and international levels is unpredictable. Moreover, local health care systems in many areas of the United States either are overwhelmed or are at risk of becoming overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases. I further understand that travel can increase my chances of getting and spreading COVID-19, and that my participation in this Tour means I may be subjected to potential risks, illnesses, injuries, and even death as a result either of contracting COVID-19 or of any actions or omissions of governments, private entities, or other parties with respect to COVID-19. I responded accurately to any Assumption of Risk questions posed to me regarding health and safety guidelines (including those relating to the COVID-19 vaccine), and that it is my responsibility to follow and abide by these guidelines at all times during my Tour. I have reviewed and understand the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s travel advisories (https://www.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list/) for my destination(s), if any, and any additional pertinent information available from the World Health Organization website (https://www.who.int/) and local health authorities. With full knowledge of this information, I have made my own investigation of the risks associated with this Tour, understand these risks, and assume them knowingly and willingly.
I have been advised and understand that HHH does not provides insurance coverage or indemnification for any accident, injury, illness, damage, loss, expense or mishap suffered by any travel participant in connection with my Tour or travel arrangements. I have been required to obtain appropriate insurance coverage against these risks on my own, at a level with which I am comfortable.
I understand that HHH does not represent or act as an agent for, and cannot control the acts or omissions of AAWT, a transportation carrier, hotel, or other providers of food, goods, or services involved in the Tour. I understand that HHH is not responsible for matters that are beyond its control, and that it cannot warrant the safety or convenience of the circumstances under which I will be traveling. I understand that I am subject to the cancellation and refund policies set by AAWT and provided for the Tour in which I am enrolled, and I have carefully read such policies prior to making my reservation. I further understand that I will not receive any refunds beyond what is stated in these Terms and Conditions.
I agree that my deposit is my unconditional confirmation that I (i) have considered all risks (foreseen and unforeseen for this trip), (ii) have or will obtain adequate and proper insurance covering risks (and will provide evidence of the receipt of such insurance immediately upon request by Hammond-Harwood House Association or Adventures Abroad World Travel, Ltd., as the case may be), and (iii) will defend, indemnify and hold Hammond-Harwood House Association and Adventures Abroad World Travel, Ltd. harmless from any claim, action, suit, loss or any damages or costs and expenses of any kind or nature incurred by Hammond-Harwood House Association or Adventures Abroad World Travel, Ltd.
I agree that this agreement is to be construed under the laws of the State of Maryland (without regard to its conflicts of laws principles), which shall be the forum for any lawsuits filed against Hammond-Harwood House Association under or incident to this agreement. I agree that this agreement is to be construed under the laws of British Columbia (without regard to its conflicts of laws principles), which shall be the forum for any lawsuits filed against Adventures Abroad World Travel, Ltd. under or incident to this agreement. If any portion of the agreement is held invalid, the balance of the agreement shall, notwithstanding, continue in full legal force and effect.