Journeys: Mexico's Day of the Dead in Oaxaca

Arrive before 3pm. Arrival transfer is included. Meet your Expedition Leader and group at a welcome meeting before enjoying dinner together. El Día de los Muertos is a holiday in Mexico to honour and pray for loved ones who’ve departed. During this period in Oaxaca – centre-stage for Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico – cemetery vigils and street parades are not to be missed.

Please try to arrive before 3pm for an important group meeting. You will meet your Expedition Leader and the other group members. This is a very popular tour which runs over 1 specific week every year, as a result, we have multiple groups at the same time enjoying the Journeys itinerary but each with their own Expedition Leader leading them. There may be other Journeys groups in the same hotel and you will be sure to see them at the various festivities over the week. We use various different hotels in Oaxaca over this week, the one listed is just an example. Closer to time of departure you will receive a notification confirming which hotel you will be staying at for the duration of the trip.

Included Experiences

• Arrival Transfer: You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
• Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting: The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your Expedition Leader will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.
• Welcome Dinner: Start your journey with a welcome dinner, where you’ll get to know your fellow travellers and Expedition Leader while settling into the experience ahead.

In Oaxaca City, where colourful crafts spill from market stalls and the scent of mole drifts through cobbled streets, spend the week immersed in culture, cuisine, and the electrifying spirit of Day of the Dead. Experience the festival’s theatrical parades as elaborately costumed revelers march to the rhythm of brass bands, and witness the quieter beauty of candle-lit cemetery visits where families gather to honour loved ones. Savour Oaxaca’s celebrated cuisine with a hands-on tortilla workshop before stepping into a local family’s kitchen to taste traditional dishes and learn the stories behind time-honoured cooking methods. Journey beyond the city with your Expedition Leader to the brilliant cempasúchil, or marigold, fields and discover how these iconic flowers are harvested and woven into the festivities. You will also take part in preparing a Day of the Dead altar, gaining insight into the symbolism behind each meaningful element as you contribute to its creation. Between atmospheric vigils and vibrant street celebrations, enjoy free time to explore at your own pace. Perhaps wander lively plazas or visit the ancient Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán, where sweeping valley views and centuries-old pyramids connect you to the region’s deep past. Today's tour includes visits to cemeteries in 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, 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 “ofrendas” (altars) are very elaborate and include sugar skulls and marigold flowers. In most regions, the souls of infants and children are honoured on November 1. Adults are 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, and mezcal (tequila's cousin). The group can also take an optional visit to a couple of the nearby communities to see the artisans at work.

The schedule for this tour is very flexible. It allows the Expedition Leader to make the best use of your time and is based on the events and activities of the day. The Expedition Leader will go over the schedule with you.

Included Experiences

• Orientation With Expedition Leader: Enjoy a brief walk with your Expedition Leader. They will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs.
• Alter Preparation: Alongside your local hosts, help to prepare a special altar for Day of the Dead. Your Expedition Leader and local hosts will provide fascinating insights into the significance of the altars and what goes into preparing and creating them. You will get hands on as you help contribute to the preparations of an altar exclusive to National Geographic Journeys. Altars take many days to complete, and you may participate in various stages of the preparation. Each element carries an important story and significance to the completed altar and with your special additions from home, this surely will be a highlight of your Day of the Dead journey.
• Cempasuchil Fields Visit: Led by your Expedition Leader, visit the Cempasuchil fields outside Oaxaca to take in the vast expanse of flowers that are the emblem of the Day of the Dead festivities. Your Expedition Leader will provide insight into the way that Cempasuchil are harvested and then used throughout the festivities.
• Oaxaca Culinary Experience: Expertly shown in an episode of National Geographic’s, “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted”, the delicious, local cuisine of Oaxaca is finally getting the spotlight it deserves. In a city often described as Mexico’s food capital, some of the best foodie experiences are still found on the streets in the form of antojitos, and intriguing stories from long-time residents of the city. Explore the culinary delights of Oaxaca with this exclusive foodie experience. With our local host attend a tortilla-making workshop. Then visit the home of a local family and taste an array of local cuisine, learn traditional cooking methods, and discuss the food culture in Oaxaca.
• Free Time: In your free time, you can opt to experience Oaxaca's other great offerings. Visit the nearby ruins of Monte Alban or relax in a cafe in the city's main square. We think there's something for everyone to enjoy.
• Oaxaca Day of the Dead Celebrations: Led by an Expedition Leader, this journey into the heart of Oaxaca’s Day of the Dead is designed to be as vibrant and spontaneous as the holiday itself. To ensure you experience the most authentic celebrations—from local cemetery vigils to neighbourhood processions—our itinerary remains intentionally fluid. Rather than a rigid schedule, we follow the pulse of the city, confirming daily activities based on real-time local festivities. While the specific timing is finalized on the ground, your adventure includes immersive city walks, traditional town vigils, and the iconic Oaxaca procession. For a comprehensive list of what’s included, please see Day 2 of the itinerary.

Optional Experiences

• Monte Albán Tour: The 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.

Further immerse yourself in the defining elements of the celebration as the week’s experiences continue. From hands-on traditions to street celebrations, each moment contributes to a deeper understanding of this meaningful holiday.

The schedule for this tour is very flexible. It allows the Expedition Leader to make the best use of your time and is based on the events and activities of the day. The Expedition Leader will go over the schedule with you.

Included Experiences

• Oaxaca Day of the Dead Celebrations: Led by an Expedition Leader, this journey into the heart of Oaxaca’s Day of the Dead is designed to be as vibrant and spontaneous as the holiday itself. To ensure you experience the most authentic celebrations—from local cemetery vigils to neighbourhood processions—our itinerary remains intentionally fluid. Rather than a rigid schedule, we follow the pulse of the city, confirming daily activities based on real-time local festivities. While the specific timing is finalized on the ground, your adventure includes immersive city walks, traditional town vigils, and the iconic Oaxaca procession. For a comprehensive list of what’s included, please see Day 2 of the itinerary.

Your journey continues as the week’s featured experiences unfold. Each day offers a different lens on Oaxaca’s vibrant Day of the Dead traditions.

The schedule for this tour is very flexible. It allows your Expedition Leader to make the most of your time in Mexico. The schedule is based around the events of the day. The Expedition Leader will go over the schedule with you locally.

Included Experiences

• Oaxaca Day of the Dead Celebrations: Led by an Expedition Leader, this journey into the heart of Oaxaca’s Day of the Dead is designed to be as vibrant and spontaneous as the holiday itself. To ensure you experience the most authentic celebrations—from local cemetery vigils to neighbourhood processions—our itinerary remains intentionally fluid. Rather than a rigid schedule, we follow the pulse of the city, confirming daily activities based on real-time local festivities. While the specific timing is finalized on the ground, your adventure includes immersive city walks, traditional town vigils, and the iconic Oaxaca procession. For a comprehensive list of what’s included, please see Day 2 of the itinerary.

As the celebration continues, the week’s experiences build in richness and depth, offering further insight into the traditions and spirit of Day of the Dead.

The schedule for this tour is very flexible. It allows for the Expedition Leader to make the most of your time in Mexico. The schedule is based around the events and activities of the day. The Expedition Leader will go over the schedule with you locally.

Included Experiences

• Oaxaca Day of the Dead Celebrations: Led by an Expedition Leader, this journey into the heart of Oaxaca’s Day of the Dead is designed to be as vibrant and spontaneous as the holiday itself. To ensure you experience the most authentic celebrations—from local cemetery vigils to neighbourhood processions—our itinerary remains intentionally fluid. Rather than a rigid schedule, we follow the pulse of the city, confirming daily activities based on real-time local festivities. While the specific timing is finalized on the ground, your adventure includes immersive city walks, traditional town vigils, and the iconic Oaxaca procession. For a comprehensive list of what’s included, please see Day 2 of the itinerary.

As the journey nears its close, enjoy the remaining highlights of the week’s experiences. Each element reflects the colour, culture, and significance of Day of the Dead in Oaxaca.

The schedule of this tour is very flexible allowing for the Expedition Leader to make the best of our time based on events and activities on a day-by-day basis. The Expedition Leader will go over the schedule with you locally.

Included Experiences

• Oaxaca Day of the Dead Celebrations: Led by an Expedition Leader, this journey into the heart of Oaxaca’s Day of the Dead is designed to be as vibrant and spontaneous as the holiday itself. To ensure you experience the most authentic celebrations—from local cemetery vigils to neighbourhood processions—our itinerary remains intentionally fluid. Rather than a rigid schedule, we follow the pulse of the city, confirming daily activities based on real-time local festivities. While the specific timing is finalized on the ground, your adventure includes immersive city walks, traditional town vigils, and the iconic Oaxaca procession. For a comprehensive list of what’s included, please see Day 2 of the itinerary.

Depart at any time.