Delve into the extraordinary Spanish colonial period of 1580 through experiences based on Tom Lea’s novel The Hands of Cantu. The book captures the history and drama of New Spain (or Mexico) through the life of Cantu, an acclaimed horse breeder who takes an orphan, Toribio, under his wing.  Toribio starts at the bottom, as a vaquero, and ascends to learning the art of putting a horse through every elegant variation of movement, using a single finger of the left hand on the reigns. 

In this 5 day, 4-night journey you will:

 

• Travel with Adair Margo, first lady of El Paso, and Jose Mario Sanchez, founder of the Bull Fighting Museum and an aficionado of the culture and history of Mexico.

• Learn how horses are trained using ancient methods at the ranch of Emiliano Gamero, Mexico’s best rejoneador, and have lunch as his guest at his home.

• Attend a show at the Equestre Domecq, a top equestrian training center.

• Stay in a restored historic hotel near the Zocalo, the cultural center of the city.

• Tour Chapultepec Castle, the National Museum of History.

• Experience extraordinary regional cuisine.

• Visit Hospital del Purisima Conception Y Jesus Nazareno, the oldest hospital on the continent, where Toribio de Ibarra was left as an infant.

• See Cayotes Plaza, and House of Cortes, the residence of Don Vito Cantu.

• Go to Dolores Olmedo, Xochimilco, to see the work of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo and its spectacular pre-Mesoamerican collection.

• Tour Casa Azul Museo Frida Kahlo.

• Dine on a catered river canal cruise at Xochimilco Trajineras.

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Total per-person double occupancy cost is $2,890 for members, $3,390 for non-members. Become a member to receive our members’ rate! Tom Lea Institute trips fill up quickly, so please reserve your spot as soon as possible with a $1,000 non-refundable deposit that goes toward your total.