Journeys - Mexico's Day of The Dead in Oaxaca

Day 1  Oaxaca          
Arrive into Oaxaca and transfer to your hotel. Meet with your fellow travellers at a welcome meeting in the evening.    

Day 2  Oaxaca      
Take an orientation walk through Oaxaca, known for its colourful crafts, unique cuisine, and vibrant Day of the Dead celebrations. During your walk 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.      

Day 3  Oaxaca      
Set out to explore the culinary delights of Oaxaca with a local host. Learn how chocolate is produced at a grinding mill and flip your own tortillas at a tortilla-making workshop. Continue 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.  

Day 4  Oaxaca      
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. You’ll also get to sip your share of mezcal, Oaxaca’s signature spirit made from a variety of species of agave and enjoy an optional tour of a mezcal factory.

Day 5  Oaxaca    
Continue exploring the captivating culture of the Day of the Dead. In your free time, choose to head to the nearby ruins of Mitla for a guided tour. One of Mexico’s best known archaeological sites, it is believed that Mitla was founded as a Zapotec burial ground. Or, wander among the plazas and pyramids of the Monte Albán ruins, a Zapotec site dating to the 8th Century BC.  

Day 6  Oaxaca      
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.

Day 7  Oaxaca          
Your tour comes to an end after breakfast.