July 13th-Chapultepec Park and Lucha Libre

Three words to describe the day: historic, peaceful, and exciting. We walked through Chapultepec Park, explored Chapultepec Castle, and ended the evening cheering at a Lucha Libre match.

We had an early start on July 13, meeting at 7:30 a.m. before walking to the Isabel la Católica Metro Station. After a few stops, we arrived at Chapultepec Station and made our way through the beautiful Chapultepec Park. The park was full of people enjoying the morning—runners filled the trails, and a lively Zumba class. We were a little jealous and wanted to join in!

We met our guide, Fernando, who shared fascinating stories throughout our three-hour tour. We learned that Chapultepec Park is three times larger than New York City's Central Park. The name Chapultepec comes from Nahuatl, the language of the Mexica people, and means "Grasshopper Hill."

To reach Chapultepec Castle, we walked uphill for about 20 minutes. After gasping for breath and a restroom break, we toured the castle. The castle once served as the residence of Emperor Maximilian before becoming the National Museum of History. Inside, we explored paintings, historical documents, clothing, and furniture that tell the story of Mexico's past. Fernando also shared a fun fact: FIFA hosted an exclusive dinner at the castle before the 2026 World Cup. You can spend hours in the museum taking photographs of beautiful staircases, murals, stained glass windows, gardens and incredible views of the city. After the tour, we had a few hours to grab lunch and recharge before our evening adventure.

At 4:50 p.m., we met back at the hotel and headed to Roma Norte for Lucha Libre Night. Before the matches, we learned about the traditions behind this uniquely Mexican sport. Wrestlers play distinct roles: “técnicos” are the heroic, rule-following fan favorites, while “rudos” are the rule-breaking villains. Many luchadores wear colorful masks that represent their secret identities, and protecting those identities is an important part of the tradition. As a souvenir, we each received our Lucha Libre mask. 

The energy in the arena was contagious. The crowd cheered, booed, laughed, and celebrated every dramatic moment. It was the perfect way to end a day that was equal parts history, culture, and entertainment.