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Mexico Day of the Dead in Oaxaca
7 days, Oaxaca to Oaxaca
Itinerary
Day 1Oaxaca
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer included.
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included. Please try to arrive before 6pm for an important group meeting where you will meet the Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and the other group members.
Monte Albán, a spectacular grouping of pre-hispanic (Zapotec) mountain-top temples, is just a short bus ride away, as is the Valley of Mitla with its ruins and colourful foot-loomed carpets.
In addition, the Oaxaca region is home to a plethora of activities and celebrations focused around the Day of the Dead ("Dia de Los Muertos") festivities in Mexico. During this tour, you will experience many related events firsthand.
Arrival Transfer
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Optional Activities - Day 1 HideShow
Monte Albán Tour
950MXN per personThe Zapotec site of Monte Albán dates back to 500 BC and features platforms, pyramids, plazas, and a ball court sitting on a leveled mountaintop some 10km (5 mi) from Oaxaca. Enjoy the 360-degree views, see Olmec carvings, and be sure to visit the museum to see artifacts and stele excavated in the early 20th century.
Days 2–6Oaxaca
Spend five days exploring the culture, spirituality and festivities of the famed Day of the Dead festival. There is free time to explore, and options to visit the nearby ruins of Monte Albán or Mitla, take a cooking class or relax in a café on the city's main square.
Take an orientation walk around Oaxaca with your Chief Experience Officer. Visit two massive markets located just off the zócalo (main square), where you'll find many local foods on sale alongside ornaments and Day of the Dead essentials for local families.
This tour includes visits to cemeteries in both Xoxocotlan and Atzompa to view the altars and families gathering as dusk turns to dark. The many candles placed around the altars and graves add to the ambiance. In addition, you'll view Day of the Dead parades in both Oaxaca and the Etla Valley. Participants in these parades dress in elaborate costumes and are serenaded by brass bands. Mezcal served in small plastic cups is frequently passed out to those watching the parades.
Day of the Dead takes place between October 31 and November 2 and is a celebration and remembrance of the deceased. Families will build private altars and bring large feasts to cemeteries, where they go to be with the souls of the departed. It is believed that the souls will come back to visit and take part in the celebrations. Some of the altars ('ofrendas') are very elaborate and include sugar skulls and marigold flowers. In most regions, the souls of infants and children are honoured on November 1, with adults being remembered on November 2. It is generally a festive rather than somber gathering.
The Oaxaca area is well known for its many artisans who make everything from pottery to elaborate weavings to tequila's cousin, mezcal, and the group will also have the opportunity to visit a couple of the the nearby communities to see the artisans at work.
The schedule of this tour is very flexible allowing for the CEO to make the best of our time based on events and activities on a day-by-day basis. The CEO will go over the schedule with you locally.
Oaxaca Day of the Dead Celebrations
An expert CEO will lead the way on an amazing journey through Oaxaca and this festive tradition. The schedule is based on what is happening that day. There are also various included experiences like an orientation walks through the city, visits to cemetery vigils in the small surrounding towns, and the Oaxaca and Etla Valley Day of the Dead parades.
Free Time
In your free time, you can opt to experience Oaxaca's other great offerings. From the nearby ruins of Monte Alban or Mitla to cooking classes to learn about the mouth-watering mole of the area to or relaxing in a cafe on the city's main square, we think there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Optional Activities - Days 2–6 HideShow
Mezcal Factory Tour
The Valley of Oaxaca is renowned as the birthplace of mezcal. Not to be confused with tequila, this distilled liquor is made in small batches from a variety of species of agave (spiky green plants that look like the tops of pineapples). Sample different types, including white unaged mezcal (often sold with an agave larva inside), along with “reposado” and “añejo” (aged) batches. Grab a slice of orange that's coated in salt and mixed with chili and ground worms. Now, it’s time to sip and enjoy.
Monte Albán Tour
950MXN per personThe Zapotec site of Monte Albán dates back to 500 BC and features platforms, pyramids, plazas, and a ball court sitting on a leveled mountaintop some 10km (5 mi) from Oaxaca. Enjoy the 360-degree views, see Olmec carvings, and be sure to visit the museum to see artifacts and stele excavated in the early 20th century.
Valley of Mitla Ruins Visit
950MXN per personThe UNESCO World Heritage site of Mitla is 38km (24 mi) from Oaxaca. Its name derives from the Nahuatl language, meaning “Place of the Dead”. Occupied from 900 BC by the Zapotecs and then the Mixtecs, the ruin features five groups of structures on either side of the Mitla River. Look for ancient cut-stone mosaics and intricate stone carvings throughout.
The region is also famous for its hand-dyed, foot-loomed woven rugs.
Mole Cooking Class
1200MXN per personTake a cooking class and learn that there's more to mole than meets the eye (and mouth). In fact, in Oaxaca, there are at least seven different versions of this popular made-in-Mexico sauce cooked with ground chili, chocolate, and sesame seeds. Black, red, yellow, green – the list is endless. Take a guided trip to the local market and let your senses get lost in the spices, colours, and smells. Following your cooking class, sample your tasty creation.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7Oaxaca
Depart at any time.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.