A Closer Look Tours

A Closer Look Tours Our passion is to share the history, land, and culture of Mexico with all who will join us. Find us online at acloserlooktours(dot)com.

A Closer Look Tours delivers much more than the traditional "Mexican Getaway", with tours that span throughout all of Mexico. Our all inclusive Mexico tours visit the Tarahumara Culture in Mexico's Copper Canyon, Mexico's Colonial Cities, Oaxaca, or experiencing the Legacy of the Maya in southern Mexico too name a few. Our all inclusive packages allow our passengers to enjoy classic Mexico, a un

ique experience in quaint villages, colonial cities, impressive canyons, tranquil seashores, mysterious and exciting archeological sites and heart-warming people, all of which appeal to both the sophisticated and culturally oriented traveler, as well as those simply seeking fun, relaxation and adventure. We offer guided tours deep into the Heart of Mexico, providing Tour Directors whose knowledge and passion can only be matched by those native to the country. For over 25 years, we have successfully promoted toursim to Mexico, and continue today, working closely with the Mexican Board of Tourism. Even though we offer tours throughout Mexico, we continue to be most known as the "Copper Canyon Expert", a reputation in which we take great pride. We believe our All-Inclusive Copper Canyon Tour, offers the greatest value and most memorable experience above all those offered by other Tour Operators. Our attention to detail, our pride in offering the highest customer service, and the knowledge shared by our Tour Directors, is what makes us stand out above the rest.

01/23/2025

🚨Reserve your spot today and save 10%!🚨

🦋 This could be you 😍 Join us on our 8-day small-group Monarch Butterfly adventure departing February 17, 2025. Taxes, gratuities, entry fees, accommodations, most meals, and more are included! Click below to learn more 👇🏼

🎥 Iván Díaz / Monarch Butterfly Tour

01/23/2025

📍 Palenque, Chiapas

🍃 Hidden deep in the jungles of Chiapas, Mexico, Palenque is a UNESCO World Heritage site spans over 1,780 acres, with only 10% excavated. The Temple of Inscriptions, housing the tomb of King Pakal, stands 75 feet above the forest floor. Intricate stone carvings and well-preserved stucco work adorn the structures, going visitors insights into this once mighty Mayan metropolis.

🇲🇽 For over 30 years, A Closer Look Tours has taken travelers to Mexico to experience Mexico’s culture, history, gastronomy, and folklore. Learn more about our custom small-group tours at www.acloserlooktours(dot)com 🔗

📸 Manuel Jurado

Happy  ! Today we're looking at you, chiles (CHEE -lays)! 🌶️ Chiles rellenos (ray-YAY-nose), which translates to "stuffe...
01/22/2025

Happy ! Today we're looking at you, chiles (CHEE -lays)! 🌶️

Chiles rellenos (ray-YAY-nose), which translates to "stuffed peppers," is a popular Mexican dish with roots tracing back to the colonial era. It typically consists of poblano peppers stuffed with cheese, battered, and fried. The dish is believed to have originated in Puebla, Mexico.

Here's an easy recipe to make your own.

Ingredients:

- 4 large poblano peppers
- 1 cup shredded Oaxaca or Monterey Jack cheese
- 3 eggs, separated
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- Salt to taste
- Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions:

1. Roast the poblano peppers over an open flame or under the broiler until the skin is charred. Place in a plastic bag to steam for 10 minutes, then peel off the skin.

2. Make a small slit in each pepper and carefully remove the seeds. Stuff each pepper with cheese.

3. Whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in the egg yolks, flour, and a pinch of salt.

4. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

5. Dip each stuffed pepper in the egg batter, coating it completely.

6. Carefully place the battered peppers in the hot oil and fry until golden brown on all sides, about 2-3 minutes per side.

7. Drain on paper towels and serve hot, often accompanied by salsa and a side of Mexican rice.

¡Buen provecho!

01/20/2025

🇲🇽 Mexico's traditional gastronomy, recognized by the UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, is very much alive and well. The country's current culinary landscape is a rich fusion of indigenous traditions and global influences. From the smoky mole sauces of Oaxaca to the seafood-centric dishes of the Baja Peninsula, each region offers distinct flavors. Street food staples like tacos al pastor and elotes share the stage with high-end restaurants like the Michelin-starred Pujol and Rosetta, reimagining ancient ingredients.

🇲🇽 The country boasts 34 culinary regions, each with unique specialties. Join us on an unforgettable culinary escapade in the always amazing Mexico City, where we'll explore both street eats and these Michelin-starred restaurants, among others. There is a single departure date on June 2, 2025. Message us for details or visit www.acloserlooktours(dot)com.

01/19/2025

📍 Baja California, Mexico

Every day is an adventure on our 8-day "Whales and Wine" tour! 🐋

🏜️ Explore pristine deserts
🌊 Get up close with majestic Gray Whales in their natural habitat
🍇 Savor award-winning wines in Mexico's premier wine country
🇲🇽 Immerse yourself in local culture from Tijuana to Ensenada

Limited spots are available on the March 11, 2025, departure—book today!

📸 Bacho López

📍 Baja California Sur, Mexico✨ Hard to top that sentiment...
01/18/2025

📍 Baja California Sur, Mexico

✨ Hard to top that sentiment...

01/17/2025

📍 Xochimilco, Mexico City

🚣‍♂️ One of Mexico City's most memorable experiences is an afternoon spent drifting through Xochimilco's canals on colorful trajineras, surrounded by lush floating gardens known as chinampas. As you glide past, local musicians serenade them from passing boats—including the rich, wooden tones of marimba players. 🎶

🇲🇽 For over three decades, A Closer Look Tours has been guiding visitors to Mexico to explore the nation's rich culture, historical landmarks, exquisite cuisine, and vibrant folklore. 🔗 www.acloserlooktours(dot)com

📹 Manuel Jurado

📍 El Fuerte, Sinaloa Located at the top of a hill with commanding views of El Fuerte, the Museo Mirador del Fuerte Sinal...
01/16/2025

📍 El Fuerte, Sinaloa

Located at the top of a hill with commanding views of El Fuerte, the Museo Mirador del Fuerte Sinaloa offers visitors a compact museum, designed to echo the original fort, which houses a diverse collection of artifacts, including ceramics and Mayo handicrafts. While the exhibits are intriguing, the real draw is the panoramic view from the rooftop, offering a spectacular 360-degree vista of the town below. A visit to the museum is brief but rewarding, providing both cultural insights and photo opportunities that capture the essence of El Fuerte.

This is Day 5 of our Copper Canyon small-group tour. This is slow travel at its finest. For more info, check us out at www.acloserlooktours(dot)com 💻

📍 Guadalajara, Jalisco⛪ The Templo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento in Guadalajara is a masterpiece of neo-Gothic arc...
01/15/2025

📍 Guadalajara, Jalisco

⛪ The Templo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento in Guadalajara is a masterpiece of neo-Gothic architecture. Construction began in 1897 and took 75 years to complete. Its intricate façade features delicate spires and ornate stone carvings, while the interior boasts magnificent stained-glass windows from Germany and a remarkable mechanical clock from Switzerland.

⛪ Be sure to climb the bell tower for panoramic city views or witness the clock's moving figures at 9 am, noon, and 6 pm. The church's peaceful atmosphere and architectural grandeur offer a respite from Guadalajara's bustling streets, making it a must-visit for architecture enthusiasts.

🇲🇽 Guadalajara is a stop on our custom "Colonial Cities Tour." For over 30 years, A Closer Look Tours has taken travelers to Mexico to experience Mexico’s culture, history, gastronomy, and folklore. 🔗 www.acloserlooktours(dot)com

📸 Carlos Adrián

Happy  , which is also  , which is also a day we talk about other agave spirits, because, why not? Say hello to Arre Cor...
01/14/2025

Happy , which is also , which is also a day we talk about other agave spirits, because, why not? Say hello to Arre Corazón raicilla, produced in Jalisco, which is the traditional home of raicilla production.

The name "Arre Corazón" roughly translates to "Giddy up, Heart" in English, which gives it a playful and distinctly Mexican character.

But, you ask, what is raicilla? Pronounced rah-ee-SEE-yah, Raicilla is a lesser-known Mexican spirit, similar to mezcal. It's made from agave plants, typically wild-harvested varieties that are native to the region (Jalisco, as we mentioned above) . Raicilla has been produced for centuries and is often referred to as the "moonshine of Mexico" due to its historical underground production to avoid taxation.

Much like mezcal, it's gaining ground among spirits connoisseurs. Raicillas are known for their complex, often floral or herbal notes, and can vary significantly in taste depending on the production methods and the specific region within Jalisco where the agaves are grown.

How to drink it? Much like its cousins mezcal and tequila, raicilla is pretty versatile. Here are some popular ways to enjoy raicilla:

🥃 Neat or chilled: Many enthusiasts prefer to sip raicilla straight, often served cold to appreciate its complex flavors and aromas. eat: Many enthusiasts prefer to sip raicilla straight to appreciate its complex flavors and aromas.
🥃 On the rocks: Served over ice to slightly dilute and chill the spirit.
🥃 With water or soda: A splash of still or sparkling water can open up the flavors.
🥃 In cocktails: Raicilla can replace tequila or mezcal in classic cocktails like Margaritas, Palomas, or Negronis.
🥃 With traditional accompaniments: In Mexico, it's often served with orange slices and sal de gusano (worm salt).
🥃 Regional variations: In Nayarit, a state north of Jalisco, raicilla is often served with frozen grapefruit and salt.

The more you know! ¡Salud!

01/13/2025

📍 Celestún Biosphere Reserve, Yucatán

C’est la vie en rose! 🌸

🦩 The Celestún Biosphere Reserve, a 146,000-acre coastal wetland in Yucatán, Mexico, is hone to over 300 bird species—including massive flamingo colonies, with flocks of up to 35,000 painting the landscape pink.

🦩 The reserve has mangroves, coastal dunes, and tropical forests, and in addition to these pink beauties, you can spot crocodiles in the estuary and even witness sea turtles nesting on pristine beaches.

🇲🇽 For over 30 years, A Closer Look Tours has taken travelers to Mexico for authentic experiences and unforgettable journeys. 🔗 www.acloserlooktours(dot)com

📹 Edel Hernández

📍Parque de Aventura Barrancas del Cobre, Chihuahua❄️ On day 4 we're in Posada Barrancas at the Adventure Park—and the vi...
01/12/2025

📍Parque de Aventura Barrancas del Cobre, Chihuahua

❄️ On day 4 we're in Posada Barrancas at the Adventure Park—and the view of the Copper Canyon after a dusting of snow is unparalleled.

🇲🇽 For over 30 years, A Closer Look Tours has taken travelers to Mexico to experience Mexico’s culture, history, gastronomy, and folklore. 🏔️ We have two more departures this Spring (February 10 and March 31), secure your spot today!

🔗 www.acloserlooktours(dot)com

📸 Jared Castellanos

✨ Explore, mindfully...🇲🇽 For over three decades, A Closer Look Tours has been encouraging slow travel to Mexico to expl...
01/10/2025

✨ Explore, mindfully...

🇲🇽 For over three decades, A Closer Look Tours has been encouraging slow travel to Mexico to explore the nation's extraordinary culture, historical landmarks, exquisite cuisine, and vibrant folklore. 🔗 www.acloserlooktours(dot)com

📍 Catedral Metropolitana, CDMXMexico City's Zócalo is the historic heart of this massive metropolis, and the Catedral Me...
01/09/2025

📍 Catedral Metropolitana, CDMX

Mexico City's Zócalo is the historic heart of this massive metropolis, and the Catedral Metropolitana is one of its most iconic buildings. And there's much more to this architectural marvel than meets the eye.

⛪ Sinking Giant: The cathedral, weighing a staggering 127,000 tons, has been slowly sinking into the soft clay of the former Aztec capital. Over the centuries, it has sunk more than 9 feet on one side, leading to an ambitious engineering project in the 1990s to stabilize the structure.

⛪ Architectural Time Machine: Construction of this massive edifice spanned nearly three centuries (1573-1813), resulting in a unique blend of architectural styles. Sharp-eyed visitors can spot elements of Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical design throughout the building.

⛪ Hidden Aztec Treasures: During renovations in 1978, workers uncovered a large carved stone disk depicting the Aztec goddess Coyolxauhqui. This discovery led to the realization that the cathedral was built directly on top of the Templo Mayor, the main Aztec temple of Tenochtitlan, adding another layer to the city's rich history. (Today, you can visit this temple and its museum, stay tuned for the next post!)

🇲🇽 For over three decades, A Closer Look Tours has been guiding visitors to Mexico to explore the nation's rich culture, historical landmarks, exquisite cuisine, and vibrant folklore. Mexico City is the departure point for several of our small-group tours: 🔗 www.acloserlooktours(dot)com

Happy  ! This culinary delight is quite interesting: This is a dish of "escamoles" (es-KAH-moh-lays). Often called "inse...
01/08/2025

Happy ! This culinary delight is quite interesting: This is a dish of "escamoles" (es-KAH-moh-lays). Often called "insect caviar," escamoles are ant larvae harvested from agave plants. This pre-Hispanic delicacy is served at La Gruta, a unique cave restaurant near Teotihuacán's ancient pyramids. Here, diners can savor escamoles prepared in traditional styles—sautéed with butter and spices and eaten with warm, freshly-made tortillas. The dish's nutty flavor and unusual origin offer adventurous eaters a taste of Mexico's culinary heritage. 🐜 Sounds very exotic—and it is—but it's delicious and definitely worth a try!

🇲🇽 A Closer Look Tours takes you up close and personal with Mexico’s culture, history, gastronomy, and folklore. 🔗 www.acloserlooktours(dot)com

01/07/2025

📍 Palacio de Iturbide, Mexico City

✨ The Palacio de Iturbide in Mexico City is home to an impressive collection of nativity scenes, reflecting the country's deep-rooted Christmas tradition. The intricate displays in the "Nacimientos Arte & Tradición" range from miniature to life-sized, showcasing diverse artistic styles.

✨ Throughout Mexico, families create their own nativity scenes during the holiday season, often adding local touches like cacti or indigenous figures. This custom, blending Spanish colonial influence with Mexican culture, is a cherished part of holiday celebrations across the country.

🇲🇽 For over 30 years, A Closer Look Tours has taken travelers to Mexico to experience Mexico’s culture, history, gastronomy, and folklore. 🔗 www.acloserlooktours(dot)com

📸 Rodrigo R.S.

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A Closer Look Tours

Our inclusive Mexico tours allow you to experience the Tarahumara culture in Mexico's Copper Canyon, the architecture of Mexico's colonial cities, the cuisine and art in Oaxaca, or the legacy of the Maya in the Yucatán peninsula. With tours that span throughout all of Mexico, A Closer Look Tours delivers much more than the traditional "Mexican Getaway." Our expertly crafted packages allow our passengers to enjoy classic Mexico, a unique experience in quaint villages, colonial cities, impressive canyons, tranquil seashores, mysterious and exciting archaeological sites and heart-warming people, all of which appeal to both the sophisticated and culturally-oriented traveler, as well as those simply seeking fun, relaxation, and adventure. We offer guided tours deep into the heart of Mexico and always provide tour managers to join you whose knowledge and passion is only matched by those native to the country. For over 30 years, we have successfully promoted tourism to Mexico and continue today, working closely with the Mexican Board of Tourism. Even though we offer tours throughout Mexico, we continue to be most known as the "Copper Canyon Expert", a reputation in which we take great pride. We believe our All-Inclusive Copper Canyon Tour, offers the greatest value and most memorable experience above all those offered by other tour operators. Our attention to detail, pride in offering the highest customer service, and knowledge shared by our tour managers, is what makes us stand out above the rest.