Las Angelitas del Pueblo Tour

A perfect way to begin exploring LA is to start with its origins – at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, a restored 44-acre (18ha) area that purports to be the original colonial settlement of the city, founded by Franciscan priests and Spanish colonizers in 1781. Las Angelitas del Pueblo – a volunteer group founded in 1966 by a small group of women looking to teach others about L.A.’s past – will guide you through this historical quarter, including a walk to Olvera Street, a pedestrianized thoroughfare renovated as a Mexican marketplace. If you get the chance, experience Olvera Street on a weekend when Mariachi bands, Aztecs and Mexican folkloric dancers perform to cheering crowds. To take part in the tour, you’ll have to register beforehand.