INAH's November heritage trips: six routes, three into areas UK travel advice warns against

Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) has published its November 2026 program of Paseos Culturales, the guided trips it runs to bring the public to the country's cultural and natural heritage. Bulletin 501, issued on October 28, lists six outings in Puebla, Michoacán, Guerrero and Morelos. Each is led by a historian, a geographer or another specialist.

The program mixes Day of the Dead with an early start on the December holidays: one trip visits the glass-blowers of Tlalpujahua de Rayón, which INAH calls the town of eternal Christmas, during its national bauble fair. Three of the six trips go wholly or partly into areas where the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel.

The six November trips

What UK travel advice says about the routes

In Michoacán, the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the whole state, with three exceptions: the "city of Morelia accessed by federal toll roads 15D, 126 and 43; and the federal toll road 48D between the city of Morelia and the General Francisco Mujica airport"; the "town of Pátzcuaro accessed by federal toll roads 14D and 15 from Morelia, and boat trips out to islands on Lake Pátzcuaro"; and "federal highway 15D". Neither Tzintzuntzan nor Tlalpujahua is named among those exceptions. The FCDO calls Michoacán "one of Mexico’s most violent states with high levels of organised crime and very little security presence".

In Guerrero, the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state, "except the town of Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa accessed by air," so the Cacahuamilpa caves and Taxco are both inside the area it advises against. It warns that in Guerrero "Local crime groups control toll booths at illegal roadblocks," and adds: "If you’re driving in Guerrero, avoid travel after dark and use toll roads where possible, although you may still experience disruptions." Puebla and Morelos are not on the FCDO's list of areas it advises against, and its regional-risks page has no specific advice for either state.

For British visitors, the FCDO adds: "Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)."

How to book, and what happens if you cancel

The bulletin gives no prices: INAH asks people to call for costs, schedules and bookings on three Mexico City numbers, (55) 5212 2371, (55) 5553 2365 and (55) 5553 3822. The bulletin gives booking hours of 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, while the program's reservations page says 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and lists the email reservaciones@inah.gob.mx. The reservations office is at the National Museum of Anthropology, at Reforma and Gandhi in Mexico City.

The reservations page sets out the terms:

• Walking and one-day trips must be paid within 24 hours of booking. Multi-day trips need a deposit of at least 50% within 48 hours. Otherwise the booking is canceled automatically.
• Trips on long weekends and in high seasons (Holy Week, summer, December and festivities) must be paid in full 45 business days before departure, or by the deadlines the sales staff give.
• A booking is valid only once staff confirm it, after full payment.
• The meeting point and time are given when you book, and seats on the bus cannot be reserved.
• A one-day trip canceled before the five business days ahead of departure can be swapped or refunded. Multi-day trips must be canceled 30 business days ahead to avoid charges.
• Refunds need a written request and a process with the tax administration (SAT) that INAH says takes an indefinite time, so it suggests swapping to a trip of the same price within 60 days.
• INAH may cancel a departure if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

See also our guides to where to stay for Day of the Dead and Day of the Dead food.