Magical Mexico - When Wine Meets Art w/ Denver Botanic Gardens

      San Miguel de Allende

      Rt
      Reefs to Rockies
      • Email address verified
      55 reviews
      Aug 10 - 16, 2024
      Group size: 6 - 10
      Magical Mexico - When Wine Meets Art w/ Denver Botanic Gardens
      San Miguel de Allende

      Reefs to Rockies
      • Email address verified
      55 reviews

      Aug 10 - 16, 2024
      Group size: 6 - 10

      About this trip

      In the Mexican cities of Querétaro and San Miguel de Allende, wine and art converge in August – the time when the annual harvest in one of Mexico’s most exciting wine regions coincides with San Miguel de Allende’s Arts Festival. Join Denver Botanic Gardens and Host Yvonne Garcia Bardwell for a sensory experience that combines the flavors of fine wine with the visual beauty of art in a region rich in history and culture.


      Collaboration trip with Denver Botanic Gardens hosted by Yvonne Garcia Bardwell, Associate Director of Community Relations.

      About Your Host - Yvonne Garcia Bardwell

      Born and raised in South Texas, with a bilingual-bicultural background, Yvonne Garcia Bardwell brings a great mixture of experiences and knowledge to the tour. As the Associate Director of Community Relations at Denver Botanic Gardens, she is responsible for diversifying the Gardens’ constituency by establishing and strengthening relationships with community organizations across the Denver metro area. Since 2011, she has orchestrated Denver Botanic Gardens’ observance of Día de los Muertos – a celebration that has grown into a vibrant annual event celebrating one of Mexico’s greatest cultural legacies. Her multicultural orientation has developed through not only extensive world travel but also significant work and volunteer experiences as well as an academic focus on international and Spanish-language marketing. This tour offers an opportunity to educate and inspire, to create a connection to our past, and to learn about the cultural traditions of Mexico.

      What’s included

      • Accommodations
        Double occupancy - 2 people sharing a room
      • Meals as listed
        6 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners
      • Airport transfers
        On arrival and departure days
      • Trip Leader
      • DBG Host
        Yvonne Garcia Bardwell
      • Activities
        As listed
      • Entrance fees
        As listed
      • Basic travel insurance
        A $0 trip cost policy.

      What’s not included

      • Flights
      • Passport fees
      • Room upgrades
      • 3 dinners
      • Upgraded trip insurance
        A policy with pre-trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits can be purchased at a pro-rated cost.
      • Optional activities
      • Taxis
      • Personal items

      Available Packages

      When Wine Meets Art
      $4,725
      Deposit: $1,450

      Available options

      Itinerary

      Day 1 (Sat, Aug 10)
      Arrival to Querétaro

      Upon arrival to Querétaro, we’ll be met for our transfer to our hotel conveniently located in the beautiful historical colonial center. There’s time to stroll colorful colonial streets before our Welcome Dinner this evening.

      Accommodations: Doña Urraca Hotel & Spa

      Meals: Dinner

      Plan to arrive to Querétaro Intercontinental Airport (QRO) by 2 pm today.

      Your Organizer


      Rt
      Reefs to Rockies
      55 reviews
      Our specialty is nature and wildlife travel. We know when and where to go for the best experiences. Travel time is limited. It’s important to choose a travel company that knows how to personalize a trip just for you. Our travel specialists will help you plan a custom trip that matches your travel style, budget, interests, and ideal dates.

      Reviews

      EB
      We had such an outstanding trip! I know I am echoing all of the voices from our part of six when I say that it could not have gone any better. The three guides we had were all excellent. They knew their subject matter and they conveyed it professionally. However, José Ugalde Ajú is a keeper! Having been a tour guide myself for five years when I was young (The House of the Seven Gables in Salem, MA), I can say with confidence that you will find no better guide. It was a pleasure being with him. His English is so good that he laughed along with our (very) lame jokes, treated every person with whom he interacted (native English speakers and non-native English speakers) with great care, and always had an eye out for making sure that we were both learning and enjoying ourselves. He went above and beyond: ensuring one of us had ice for her medicine, taking care that another of our party was not allergic to (and survived!) the scorpion bites, gauging terrain difficulty for those of us using walking sticks, and answering all questions (sometimes three and four times and in two languages) with grace and honesty--indicating when he was unsure or did not know. José was more than a guide; our relationship with him was not simply transactional, but rather one based on a foundation he built of respect, interest, and friendship. The itinerary that Sheridan Samano at Reef to Rockies designed was delightful. It was an extraordinary mix of learning, experiencing, and enjoyment. the leader of our group of six asked all of us which activity we enjoyed the most. I was struck by the question because I could not come up with just one answer. How do you pick between visiting the Maleku community (an anthropologist's dream) and experiencing Arenal on a clear day? Can you easily differentiate between the lunch we had in Cinchona with birds (repeatedly) zooming by us as we ate, or cooking our lunch over an open fire under the watchful eye of Chela? Waterfalls, craters, artesanías, one-day orchids, puentes colgantes, along with friendship cemented this trip as one of my best ever! Thank you and your colleagues for making our eco-tourism experience so memorable.
      By Elizabeth B for Costa Rica Explorer on May 02, 2024
      Reefs to Rockies put together a great trip for us. The accommodations were excellent, the excursions were very well done and a good mix of things we like to do, the logistics went smoothly. Belize was a good choice for our family, an interesting place to visit that combines beach/rainforest/culture. Thanks to Reefs to Rockies for suggestions, guidance and flawless execution!
      By Steve R for Belize: Rainforest and Reef on Apr 18, 2024
      Terrific guide—knowledgeable, funny, caring, great bird spotter. Greater Prairie chickens and Sandhill Cranes on Platte River amazing. Fun and memorable five days.
      By Christina C for Spring Magic in Nebraska 2024 on Mar 30, 2024
      What a great trip! We saw (and heard) tens, no, hundreds of thousands of Sandhill Cranes! Chip drove us around the North Platte area in the Roaming Bison to find Cranes in nearby fields, as well as many other species - songbirds and water fowl. We joined a local tour provider for more daytime Crane viewing and for a magical night in a Crane blind along the Platte River. Let's not forget the Prairie Chickens - who are now on my top ten list of favorite birds! We visited two leks, or Prairie Chicken stomping grounds, to watch the males practice their dances, vocalize, and strut their stuff. Though Cranes and Prairie Chickens were the stars of this trip, Chip was committed to ensuring that we had ample opportunities to visit a number of birding hotspots so that we could see a wide variety of other species. Some that come to mind include Wild Turkey, Osprey, Horned Lark, and many, many others. Chip is an enthusiastic instructor who offered tidbits related to bird identification - markings, behavior, migration patterns, etc. He also shared stories and information about pioneer history, which helped to make the area come alive in another way. Chip worked hard to ensure that we were comfortable (and safe) road warriors. Good food provided by local businesses, snacks, and an occasional coffee stop from local coffee vendors! This is definitely a trip to consider!!
      By Janet P for Spring Magic in Nebraska 2024 on Mar 29, 2024
      Tornados of sandhill cranes surrounding us near North Platte. The magic of dawn on a Greater Prairie Chicken Lek full of booming, foot stomping and sparring. The best of nature experienced with great traveling companions. Comfortable riding and viewing on the Roaming Bison Safari Vehicle. Every detail taken care of- Sheridan you are amazing.
      By Debby M for Spring Magic in Nebraska with Birding & Beers 2024 on Mar 29, 2024
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