Oaxaca Mexico: Day of the Dead

¡Bienvenidos a México! Meet your Trip Leader at Xoxocotlán International Airport in Oaxaca (OAX) at 2:00 pm and take the included transportation to your hotel downtown.

Oaxaca is also a hub for the arts, featuring everything from folk art to dance. It offers a glimpse into its creative spirit.

Your adventure begins with a warm welcome in the hotel lobby and an authentic Mexican dinner with your Trip Leader. Savor the enticing aromas and delight in tamales de rajas, a savory chili and tomato tamale that's been a local favorite for centuries. These hand-held delicacies are a delicious way to start your experience with Oaxacan traditional food.

Get ready to explore the fascinating Oaxaca, a city rich in history and culture. Your guide will lead an orientation walk to help you know the area. Our first stops will be two top markets for food, crafts, and local goods: Mercado Benito Juárez and Mercado 20 de Noviembre.

As night falls, head to one of the local cemeteries or pantheons where families gather to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Locals light candles, share food and stories, and decorate graves with marigolds. People often stay late into the night. The festive atmosphere is filled with music, laughter, and remembrance.

Today, explore the Oaxaca region and visit the Mitla ruins, once the Zapotecs' religious center. You'll also see the Tule Tree, the world's widest tree. It's over 11 meters in diameter and around 1,500 years old.

In the town of Santa María de Tule, try delicious hand-churned Mexican ice cream in flavors like vanilla, fruit sorbet, or chili-infused. Next, you can participate in a beeswax candle-making workshop to learn traditional techniques. Families have used these same candles in their offerings on the Day of the Dead for generations. You'll also learn how local families weave folk clothing and rugs using organic dyes.

Enjoy a plant-based lunch with regional Zapotec specialties. Then visit an agave mezcal factory for a tasting.

In the evening, attend the vibrant Day of the Dead celebrations at a local cemetery in Oaxaca. Here, you'll experience the flickering candlelight, marigold flowers, and incense while learning about Mexican traditions surrounding death and the afterlife.

Enjoy one last Mexican breakfast before departing Oaxaca.

As this quick-hitting four-day itinerary ends, we hope you felt wholly connected to the Mexican culture. Spending a long weekend in Oaxaca for the Day of the Dead is a true honor for our travel community to participate in this incredible local event.

Private group transportation back to the Oaxaca airport is included in your flight home.