Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido: Day of the Dead

Arrive at any time. Get to know your group tonight on the rooftop of a mezcalería. Sip some mezcal before heading to Txalaparta to dance the night away — sounds like the perfect way to kick off your adventure with your fellow travellers. Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a festival that runs from October 31 to November 2 to celebrate and remember loved ones who have deceased. Although the festival is to honour those who have passed on, it is a festive and upbeat celebration rather than somber gathering. Families cook feasts and offer them by the graves of those who have passed to encourage them to come back and join in on the festivities. Oaxaca is one of the main hubs of celebrations for Day of the Dead – the cemetery vigils and street parades make this an experience not to miss!

Stop by a local market to learn about local traditions and ceremonial objects used during Day of the Dead celebrations.

• Mole Cooking Class: Take 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.

Join in the celebrations during a Day of the Dead parade. Experience all that is going on in the zócalo or main square.

Enjoy free time to take part in the celebrations in the zócalo, spend the day checking out nearby artisan towns, or visit the ruins of Monte Albán.

• Day Trip to Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Factory Tour: Begin the tour by travelling to Hierve el Agua. This stunning natural formation consists of a series of mineral pools near the edge of a cliff. Over thousands of years, the heavily calcified water has flowed over the cliff, leaving mineral deposits as it does. The result is known as a "petrified waterfall" – nearly white rock formations that resembles a cascading fall. Enjoy time to explore the area and go for a swim in one of the mineral pools. Finish up with a 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: 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.
• Mole Cooking Class: Take 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.

Travel to the tropical paradise of Puerto Escondido. Enjoy free time for optional activities, or chill on the beach.

• Laguna de Manialtepec Visit: Visit the nearby Laguna de Manialtepec in the evening to witness a natural phenomenon. Bioluminescent plankton appear for a few nights each year and are activated when touched. Go for an evening boat ride and jump in the lagoon to watch the water illuminate around you. This phenomenon only happens a few times each year, so don't miss out if you're lucky enough to be there in season.
• Stand Up Paddle Boarding: Grab a board and a paddle and start exploring!
• Surfing: Spend some time riding the waves on one of the many beaches in Puerto Escondido, famous for its surfing opportunities. Depending on your skill level some beaches will be better than others, Carizalillo is great for beginners while Zicatela is only safe for experts. Talk to your CEO to figure out where to go for rentals or lessons.

If you haven't hit the waves yet, grab a board and hang ten, then enjoy an optional final night out with the group.

• Stand Up Paddle Boarding: Grab a board and a paddle and start exploring!
• Laguna de Manialtepec Visit: Visit the nearby Laguna de Manialtepec in the evening to witness a natural phenomenon. Bioluminescent plankton appear for a few nights each year and are activated when touched. Go for an evening boat ride and jump in the lagoon to watch the water illuminate around you. This phenomenon only happens a few times each year, so don't miss out if you're lucky enough to be there in season.
• Surfing: Spend some time riding the waves on one of the many beaches in Puerto Escondido, famous for its surfing opportunities. Depending on your skill level some beaches will be better than others, Carizalillo is great for beginners while Zicatela is only safe for experts. Talk to your CEO to figure out where to go for rentals or lessons.

Depart at any time.

Puerto Escondido has an airport with daily flight connections to Mexico City. There are also multiple daily first-class buses that travel to Mexico City or Oaxaca City from Puerto Escondido.