Journeys: Mexico's Day of the Dead in Oaxaca

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included. 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.

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.

Take an orientation walk through Oaxaca, known for its colourful crafts, unique cuisine, and vibrant Day of the Dead celebrations. During our walk, we’ll visit two bustling markets selling local foods, ornaments, and many Day of the Dead essentials. Over the course of the week, immerse yourself in the festival’s theatrical parades, watching people dressed in elaborate costumes march to the tune of brass bands; and observe local families gathering at candle-lit altars and graves on visits to the city’s cemeteries. 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.

Included Experiences

• Oaxaca Day of the Dead Celebrations: Your Expedition Leader 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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.

Set out to explore the culinary delights of Oaxaca with a local host. The culinary richness of Oaxaca has been featured on an episode of National Geographic’s “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted”, in which Ramsay explores the history and traditions of this Mexican city while learning how to make mole and tortillas from talented locals. Learn how to flip your own tortillas at a tortilla-making workshop before continuing to a local family's kitchen to taste an array of delicious Oaxacan dishes and chat with your hosts about traditional cooking methods and Oaxacan food culture. You’ll also have free time to explore the city and its surroundings.

Included Experiences

• Oaxaca Day of the Dead Celebrations: An expert Expedition Leader 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. Visit the nearby ruins of Monte Alban or just relax in a cafe in the city's main square. We think there's something for everyone here.
• 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.

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.

Spend the day experiencing Oaxaca’s Day of the Dead festivities. Attend atmospheric vigils, photograph the boisterous parades, and learn about the spiritual significance of the holiday’s rituals. Opt to travel to Hierve el Agua. This stunning natural formation of mineral pools near the edge of a cliff.

Included Experiences

• Oaxaca Day of the Dead Celebrations: An expert Expedition Leader 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. 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.

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.

Continue exploring the captivating culture of the Day of the Dead. In your free time, choose to wander among the plazas and pyramids of the Monte Albán ruins, a Zapotec site dating to the eighth century BC.

Included Experiences

• Oaxaca Day of the Dead Celebrations: An expert Expedition Leader 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. 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.

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.

Enjoy the last of the Day of the Dead festivities. You may also opt to visit a nearby artisan community for a look at Oaxaca’s renowned traditional crafts, including pottery and handwoven textiles. Alternatively, learn how to prepare mole, the flavoursome Mexican sauce that comprises a famously inexhaustible list of ingredients.

Included Experiences

• Oaxaca Day of the Dead Celebrations: An expert Expedition Leader 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. 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.

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.

Depart at any time.