Fabulous experience at a historic time - My tour with Carlos was unforgettable. Essentially a full semester university class, if you could find one this specific. It put me, an eager student of Mexican-US history, right in the middle of what I was learning: walking the streets, looking up at horrifying drawings on the sides of buildings (which i would have never noticed on my own), getting behind-the-scenes views of clubs, and best of all, Carlos tweaking the tour to include my specific interest, the 1930s and '40s. He even took me to a historic cafe (back then a cantina) from the time period, and introduced me to a muralist currently painting murals in Centro!  I have been on many TripAdvisor tours, most recently in Spain, and I can say that I have only had two other guides who have had the level of expertise that Carlos has and have been as enthusiastic about teaching it. An added bonus was having this tour in the exciting month of Mexico's Independence, with the upcoming change of power to Mexico's first female president, and its November celebrations of its Revolution which freed workers of many aspects of their suffering and gave them a voice. The voices of the workers were apparent each day in marches in Centro, often to the Zocalo. You never knew exactly when a street would be closed to accommodate them but I always go with the flow when I have the privilege of being a guest in an international capital city at such a historical time.

Best Tour of CDMX - Carlos was very personable and knowledgeable. He inquired about our personal interests and incorporated them into the tour. We really enjoyed the tour and would highly recommend to anyone interested in learning more about LGBTQ+ history of the city and history of CDMX in general. This tour is a must do!

Amazing Historical Tour - This is an amazing historical tour, so much information about LGBTQ+ history in Mexico, and a lot of Mexican history. I highly recommend this tour to all LGBTQ+ travelers, as you won't find a more informative tour. 3.5 hours sounds long, but it went by so quickly. Carlos is knowledgeable and great at answering questions.

Knowledgeable History - This is the 2nd tour I’ve had with Carlos in the past 3 years… had to bring my new husband to experience the same tour I did as he’s actually Mexican. He was overwhelmed with awe and emotion for this great city’s history and tragic past for the gay culture. I’ve also sent friends whom had the same positive experiences.

Top choice to start your stay in Mexico - The tour was finely crafted to reveal insights into the experiences of LGBTQ folk both before and after the meeting European and American cultures. Learning about several Mexican LGBTQ leaders and the lifestyle choices that allowed nameless others to survive during dangerous times brought the history to life. This tour should be a first day experience for every LGBTQ visitor to Mexico.

Highly Recommend - This tour was packed full of very interesting information that I cannot wait to tell my friends and family about back in the U.S. The tour guide was very knowledgable and even was able to include facts about the regions we were from but in a way that was still very relatable to the tour. I cannot wait to come back to book another tour again.

What you don’t learn in school - Our tour guide, Carlos, provided one of the most interesting, insightful tours we’ve ever had. His ability to put modern LGBT life in the context of Mexican history was exactly what we’d hoped to find. If you’re hesitating to sign up, don’t! It was worth every peso.

SUPER RECOMMENDED!! - To begin with, the guide is someone worth knowing and taking advantage of all the knowledge he has not only on this topic but also on various aspects of Mexico City. I recommend it both for the tour and for any activity that the guide offers you. Thank you Carlos for a unique and unforgettable experience.

Read and decide - Sorry for the lengthy review but it explains in details what happened to us and why my 1 star. They deserve 0 stars in our opinion and experience. Also allowed almost a week to take emotions out and relate facts as they happened.. Facts below. I’ve been using Viator for all my travel since 2013 and I consider them a facilitator between me and the tour company like I use American Express. If there is an issue, I expect them to intervene, if not why use them. In all my travels I’ve never had an issue and never needed Viator to intervene. This is the only time I’ve needed them and they failed miserably. I will never use them again. I had a tour in Mexico City to see the plazas and some of the monuments and learn about their gay history. The tour was supposed to start at 10:00 AM Sept 1, 2024. Meeting point was very close to Zocalo a huge plaza and actually zocalo and several monuments within zocalo were part of our tours per their schedule, (please look at the schedule in their web site). The tour even assigned 20 minutes on our own in Zocalo to see the sites. Our taxi ride was supposed to be 14 minutes, around 9:30 we went to the taxi stand, they were right by the hotel, once we were out of the hotel we noted a huge demonstration marching close to our hotel. Since we are TOURISTS how could we know there was a huge demonstration to commemorate the change of the president. When we go to get a taxi they tell us they will not take us to the “centro” since the address we gave them was very close to zocalo in the middle of the historic district and most streets were closed and the crowd was walking towards Zocalo and the plaza. This was the same answer to the 2 taxis behind him. Sadly enough we did not listen to the taxis, we then ordered Uber that was 12 min away again due to road closures and the people marching in the streets 12 minutes turned into close to 18 due to the obvious. He told us he could not get to the address but would leave us as close as possible. As we are taken to our drop spot and now in the Uber I texted with the company told them we were late and they said the tour starts when you get here, no rush. Now I realize why they were so accommodating. Once we get to our destination the Uber driver tells us the walk is a 10 min walk from here just cross the plaza. We had Google maps and start walking to realized the plaza (Zocalo, remember part of our tour 20 minutes at that site was on our own) is covered with tens of thousands of people, the equivalent to SWAT present and a huge police presence. Now the walking was much worse since the groups holding flag and arguing peacefully between them made things tense and hard to walk through. As we are trying to go through the crowd and get out one of the side streets one of us ( we were four) was surrounded by 6-7 ladies and a guy came from behind and stole his phone from his pocket. Cash, credit cards, drivers license and phone all in one. We were scared at that point and finally reached a side road and walked as fast as we could to be away from the crowd. I texted them what happened and we took an Uber that took 45 minutes to get to the hotel again due to the manifestations. At that point the tour was not on our minds but cancelling credit cards, phone etc and SAFETY. Things Mexico University Tours thought was a mistake. I guess we were to go on with the tour including Zocalo where we were robbed !!! They told us if there was anything they could do to let them know ( in their reply) Next 3 hrs we cancel all credit cards and phone. No financial harm done except from the iPhone and thankfully we were safe. We go for a drink and start just talking about how dangerous was to have a tour knowing this was going on. More so when part of the tour was that same place with the crowd. As tourists we were unaware of this, the magnitude of it, the way to get to them etc etc. Thinking back we should have never gone, but we had no idea what we were getting into as tourists, you rely on the locals. I then reached our to Viator and after several emails their reply was that the tour company refused to give us a refund because ( this is copied from their email) 1. They've received your message 10 minutes before the start time stating you are still looking for taxi. True, due to the manifestations and explained above as explained to Viator in a previous email. 2. At the tour start time at 10am, they've received your message stating you are in an Uber arriving 15 minutes late. True, and they said the tour starts when you get here they knew the issues 3. Scheduled gathering point was more than 1km away from the start point of this tour. Not true, it was 350 meters by Google maps (welcome to trace it - Zocalo to 15 Republica de Argentina, Mexico City) and all roads surrounding the area were close to access. Again we are not locals so have to rely on Uber and google maps or an email from Mexico University Tours explaining the complexity of the access to their office and to our tour route due to the massive political manifestation. They NEVER said a word about it until 10AM when the send an email saying it was not dangerous to be out in the manifestation, never talk about how to get to them or what roads or areas to avoid. But I guess if they did they have to tell us to avoid the plaza where most of out tour was taking place as per their schedule, not mine. Then how can they offer the tour... 4. Tour operated as scheduled. Not true, There was no hurry on their side. Also see the tour description included Zocalo and the surrounding areas same area we were robbed and it was covered by an ocean of Mexicans impossible to take a tour there. Not safe more so after what they exposed us to and the outcome... 5. All other participants were able to join the tour. Not true either. We were only ones if there was more people they would have departed and not said take your time we start when you get here. I do not believe they left a guide behind as they told Viator. I might be wrong but is irrelevant based on everything else that was going on there. They issue here is our safety that was breached and the fact that we were robbed because of what we were exposed to. Truthfully it was irresponsible from them to schedule a tour at the time, date and place scheduled. Canceling or offering an alternative date would have save us from being robbed and ruining our day and possibly body harm. This shows how neither Mexico University Tours nor Viator cared about safety towards their customers. Sadly enough when we realized we were not safe it was too late to get out. Mexico City is a great place and we enjoyed several of the top bars in the world as well as dinning in Michelin star restaurants. We felt safe everywhere except those 7 minutes walking through the crowd that resulted in us being pick pocketed. This could have happened in any big city in a political manifestation like this one but you rely on the locals more so when you’re paying them for a tour to guide you and look after your safety not dragged you to the danger zone. We were never informed of what was going on and to avoid certain areas getting there. Not once. We went to Zócalo next day and enjoyed the beautiful buildings, (the cathedral) and although there was still heavy police presence since I guess there are more festivities upcoming there was no manifestation, no crowds, No danger. I reached out to Mexico University Tour and in their reply they blamed us for trying to go through the crowd, really!! The one answering for them has been a bully in his replies, I guess accepting errors is not easy for some. I guess they have never been tourists… we were dropped by Uber, we have no control to where since we did not know the area. Based on all the maps and barricades there was no other way to go or be dropped. We were dropped at the plaza and following Google maps ( as they recommended in their email) and as we do every time we travel. To get around an unknown city. They knew about the manifestation but failed to inform us before 10 AM and never thought they should orient people unfamiliar with the city of what to avoid, to allowed an extra hour due to the situation, to tell our Uber to take a different direction. etc etc etc. So many things were missing. We are 4 professional mature men in our early 50’s that travel extensively. We have never encounter a situation like this or a company that would not plan ahead knowing a big manifestation is happening around their office and in the tour route. The mature and professional outcome would have been for them to understand their mistake and rectify the situation. I tell my kids, If you mess up then OWN IT and FIX IT and people will move forward. Both University Tours in Mexico City and Viator failed us and put our lives in danger. There are many other companies read reviews. In this trip we toured the pyramids in with Holidays House Boys a private tour and our guide Rafael was amazing communicating, helping us around the city and worried about our safety. I’ll use them again anytime. I later learned that Holiday House Boys also give this tour, shame I did not use them. They did not tour Sept 1 at 10 AM. Smart!! I had attached the following things listed below but Trip advisor would not allow other websites articles, that, I totally understand reason why I rewrote the review since you cannot edit it) Uber ride, times and my communication with the company as well as an article warning people of the manifestation location and times (web address at the bottom for verification) and an article written after the fact talking about the manifestation lasting 2 hrs etc. They match the date, time and place we were going in our tour. Look at the itinerary from their website… 20 minutes in zocalo where the manifestation took place. Sited like Crisis 24 garda . com shows the plans for the manifestation and the magnitude of it with multiple road closures as well as the scheduled time for it and place (Zocalo). Just the facts above. You guys decide.

Dangerous experience resulting in been robbed - I’ve been using aviator for all my travel since 2013 and I consider them a facilitator between me and the tour company like I Use American Express. If they is an issue I expect them to intervene if not why use them. In all my travels I’ve never had an issue and never needed Viator to intervene. This is the only time I’ve needed them and they failed miserably. Will never use them again. I had a tour in Mexico City. To see the plazas and some of the monuments and learn about their gay history. The tour was to start at 10:00 AM Sept 1, 2024. Meeting point was very close to Zocalo a huge plaza and actually zocalo was part of our tour. Our taxi ride was supposed to be 14 minutes, around 9:30 we start looking for a taxi, they were right by the hotel, once we were out of the hotel we noted a huge demonstration marching close to our hotel. Since we are TOURISTS how could we know there was a huge demonstration to commemorate the change of government. When we go to get a taxi they tell us they will not take us because the address we gave them was very close to zocalo and most streets were closed and the crowd was walking towards Zocalo and the plaza. Sadly enough we did not listen to the taxis, we then ordered Uber that was 12 min away again due to road closures and the people marching in the streets. He tells us he cannot get to the address but will leave us as close as possible. As we are taken to our drop spot and now in the Uber I texted with the company told them we were late and they said the tour starts when you get here, we were the only ones. Once we get to our destination the Uber driver tells us in a 10 min walk from here just cross the plaza. We had Google maps and start walking to realized the plaza is covered with thousands of people, the equivalent to seats teams everywhere and a huge police presence. Now the walking was much worse since the groups holding flag and arguing peacefully between them made things tense. As we are trying to go through the crowd one of us ( we were four) was surrounded by 6-7 ladies and a guy came from behind and stole his phone from his pocket. Cash, credit cards, drivers license and phone all in one. We were crea hung out and the first road we found we took. We walk away from the crowd, I texted them what happened and we took an Uber that took 45 minutes to get to the hotel again due to the manifestations. At that point the tour was not on our minds but cancelling credit cards, phone etc and SAFETY. They told us if there was anything they could do to let them know. Next 3 hrs we cancel all credit cards and phone. No harm done and we were safe. We go for a drink and start just talking about how dangerous was to have a tour knowing this was going on. To make us go to the center of where the manifestation was taking place and at the same time. As tourists we were unaware of this, the magnitude of it, the way to get to them etc etc. thinking back we should have never gone. I then teach our to Viator and after several webmail’s their reply was that the tour company refused to give us a refund because ( this is copied from their email) 1. They've received your message 10 minutes before the start time stating you are still looking for taxi. True, due to the manifestations and explained above as explained to Viator in a previous email. 2. At the tour start time at 10am, they've received your message stating you are in an Uber arriving 15 minutes late. True, and they said the tour starts when you get here they knew the issues 3. Scheduled gathering point was more than 1km away from the start point of this tour. Not true, it was 950 meters and all roads surrounding the area were close to access. Again we are not locals so have to rely on Uber and google maps. 4. Tour operated as scheduled. Not true they were waiting on us since we were the only ones. There was no hurry on their side. Also see the tour description included Zocalo where we were robbed and it was covered by an ocean of Mexicans 5. All other participants were able to join the tour. Not true either. We were only ones if there was more people they would have departed and not said take your time we start when you get here. Truthfully it was irresponsible from them to schedule this at the time and day. Canceling or offering an alternative would have save us from being robbed and ruining our day. Mexico City is a great place we enjoyed several of the top bars in the world as well as dinning in Michelin star restaurants. We felt safe everywhere except those 20 minutes walking through the crowd that resulted in us being pick pocketed. We went to Zócalo next day and enjoyed watching the beautiful buildings, there was still heavy police presence since I guess there are more festivities upcoming but no manifestation. No danger. Sadly enough when we realized we were not safe it was too late to get out. I reached out to Mexico University Tour and in their reply they blamed us for trying to go through the crowd… ok we were dropped their because of the road closures we do not know the area or that we were been dropped at the plaza we were following Google maps and follow their recommendations as we do every time we travel. They knew all this but failed to inform us of what to avoid, to allowed an extra hour due to the situation etc etc. We are 4 profesional mature men I our early 50’s that travel extensively we have never encounter a situation like this or a company that would not understand their mistake and rectify the situation. Both university tours in Mexico City and aviator failed us and put our lives in danger.