EXCURSIONS On Monday 27 July there will be the opportunity to take an excursion to see some typical Mexican cities and cultural heritage. You can find details of all the excursions below. Participants are also welcome to stay in the venue to rest, relax by one of the pools, play sport and perhaps meet with each other over a cup of coffee. Depending on your excursion choice there may be an opportunity to do some shopping, so you may also want to bring some money to spend on souvenirs. For those who choose the hiking tour in the mountains do bring good shoes, sun cream and a sun hat. A packed lunch will be provided. If you choose to stay at the venue, there will a Mexican folk festival, including a chance to taste food from different regions, enjoy song and dance, and browse handcrafts available for sale. COSTS AND SPENDING MONEY All the excursions have been subsidised by IFES. That means that some of the tours are made available at no additional cost to you, though some tours will require a small contribution of approximately US$10 US$30, to cover the entrance fee for certain sites. The price for each tour can be found at the end of each excursion description. Please be prepared to pay the amount necessary for your chosen excursion in US dollars (USD) at the excursions desk during on-site registration when you arrive at World Assembly. During the tours there will be time to take photographs, and also to buy crafts and other gifts, so please bring extra money for that. Each tour has a colour associated with it to help you find the location from which you will depart on the excursion day. If you have any questions about the excursions, please email worldassemblytours@hotmail.com.
TOUR 1: CUERNAVACA The city of eternal spring. In this tour of history and culture, we will visit the city of Cuernavaca. We will tour on the Palace of Cortés, former residence of the conqueror of Mexico. We will also visit the Cathedral of Cuernavaca, the first monastery built in Cuernavaca and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will also visit the Eiffel Kiosk - an Art Nouveau style piece created by Gustave Eiffel and the Casona Spencer, a cultural centre of great importance. TOUR COLOUR: RED PRICE: US$ 15 TOUR 2: MONASTERIES ROUTE The people at the foot of the volcano. In this tour of historical and cultural character we will visit three monasteries, one of which is the oldest in Mexico, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. We will visit the monastery of Zacualpan, a town famous for preserving the tradition of exchanging goods without money known as bartering. We will also visit Yecapixtla monastery, known for a special food dish called Cecina of Yecapixtla, and Atlatlahucan monastery, where the Latin language is retained for religious activities. TOUR COLOUR: PINK TOUR 3: TAXCO The Silver City. In this recreational tour we will visit the magical town of Taxco. We will visit the workshops and stores of the silversmiths, where the transformation of metal into jewellery brought fame and prestige to Taxco. The church of Santa Prisca, is a baroque church covered in gold and silver and is considered one of the most beautiful and important of Mexico. The House Jose de la Borda was the residence of the miner Jose de la Borda who discovered Taxco mines and was the richest man in Mexico. The William Spratling Museum was the home of the English silversmith who taught the art of jewellery making to the people of Taxco. TOUR COLOUR: SILVER
TOUR 4: THE XOCHICALCO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE AND GARDENS OF MEXICO In the place of the house of flowers. In this archaeological and recreational tour we will visit Xochicalco and Gardens of Mexico. Xochicalco was one of the most important archaeological sites in the center of the country. In our tour we will see the flagship buildings like the feathered serpent pyramid or the solar observatory, which is the last underground prehispanic observatory in Mexico. Gardens of Mexico is the world's largest floral park, where we will visit seven uniquely themed gardens. TOUR COLOUR: BLUE PRICE: US$ 30 TOUR 5: ECOTOURISM TOUR IN TEPOZTLAN Walking and mountain adventure. In this adventure and nature tour we will visit the magical town of Tepoztlan, known for its legends and traditions. We will walk through the mountains in an ecological trail to reach the archaeological site of Tepozteco at the top of the mountain. We will enjoy fresh air in nature and a panoramic view of the valley. We will visit the historic centre of Tepoztlan famous for its legends and traditions. TOUR COLOUR: GREEN TOUR 6: THE ZAPATA ROUTE An historical tour of the Mexican Revolution. In this historical and cultural tour we will visit some places that played a significant role in the Mexican Revolution of 1910 in Morelos. We will see the places transited in the search for justice and freedom for the peasants of Mexico by the leader revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, to understand his ideals and the impact of their participation in the history of Mexico. We will visit the Hacienda of Cuauixtla, the largest and most important of Morelos, the old train station in Cuautla, where the locomotive is the only steam engine in operation in Mexico. TOUR COLOUR: TURQUOISE
TOUR 7: UNIVERSITY, TEOPANZOLCO AND CUERNAVACA The lifestyle of students in Mexico. In this academic and recreational tour we will visit the Autonomous University of Morelos, the Teopanzolco archaeological site and the centre of the city of Cuernavaca. We will visit the central campus of the university and we will tour their facilities. It will be an opportunity to see the lifestyle of Mexican students. Also, we will visit the archaeological site of Teopanzolco, the last Aztec stronghold conquered in Morelos by Spanish soldiers. We will finish the tour in the historic centre of Cuernavaca, considered the third oldest city in Mexico. TOUR COLOUR: ORANGE PRICE: US$ 10 TOUR 8: WALKING TOUR IN CUAUTLA The heroic city of history and culture. The city of Cuautla has been the scene of several events that shaped the Mexican national identity like the independence war, the French army invasion and the Mexican revolution. Our visit will include the monastery of San Diego, a site used as a hospital during the battle of the Siege of Cuautla in the war of independence. We will also visit the monastery of Santo Domingo, which is distinguished because it contains indigenous and colonial art, and the city hall of Cuautla, one important place used as a headquarters during the Mexican Revolution. TOUR COLOUR: VIOLET TOUR 9: WALKING TOUR IN TEPOZTLAN A magical town. On our visit to the magical town of Tepoztlan we will see the monastery of the Nativity Virgin - built in the sixteenth century and the first colonial building in Tepoztlan. We will see the traditions and practices around the development of murals made of seeds and the dances of the chinelos, a cultural character of Morelos. Tepoztlan is considered a very cosmopolitan meeting place but with a strong relation with the ancient past. One example of that is the gourmet market where still serve pre- Hispanic food. We will have free time to take pictures and make purchases in the craft market. TOUR COLOUR: YELLOW
TOUR 10: WALKING TOUR IN TLAYACAPAN The place of mud and crafts. In this recreational and cultural tour we will visit the magical town of Tlayacapan. On our visit we will see the monastery of St. John the Baptist, a monument from the sixteenth century and one of the first colonial buildings. We will visit a workshop to see the traditional techniques of the development of the ceramics and we will see the craft market. We will have free time to take pictures and make purchases in the craft market Tlayacapan. TOUR COLOUR: BROWN MEXICAN FOLKLORE EXHIBIT At the same time as the excursions, for those who prefer to stay at the Club Dorado s, there will be a Mexican Folklore Exhibit. This exhibit divided into three areas: a gastronomic pavilion; an artisanal pavilion, where the main crafts from five regions of Morelos as well as from some other parts of the country will be showcased; and a series of regional artistic performances by local artists and special guests.