- Overview
- Captured Moments
- Day by Day
- What’s Included
- Travel Notes
- Not Included
- Your Questions Answered
- Reserve Your Place
Oaxaca comes alive each year during Día de los Muertos, a time of colour, memory, and devotion. This is more than a festival. It is a profound celebration of life and remembrance, where Indigenous traditions and Catholic rituals intertwine to honour those who came before us.
Experience Highlights
- Create a traditional Día de los Muertos ofrenda
- Experience candlelit cemetery visits with local families
- Visit Mitla, the ancient “City of the Dead”
- Celebrate in marigold fields under the night sky
- Taste mezcal, mole, cacao and the flavours of Oaxaca
Our journey blends respectful participation in these time-honoured traditions with the everyday rhythms of Oaxaca. Along the way we discover the region’s remarkable cuisine, vibrant street life, and deeply rooted artistic culture.
Step into family kitchens to learn the craft of mole. Wander streets filled with music and colour. Witness candlelit cemeteries where families gather to honour loved ones. From mezcal tastings to traditional face-painting ceremonies, each moment offers a deeper connection to the stories and rituals that shape Oaxaca’s identity.
Whether you are drawn by colour, culture, or the deeper meaning behind these traditions, you will leave with far more than photographs. You will leave with perspective, gratitude, and perhaps even your own ofrenda to carry the memory forward.
Limited to just 12 travellers to keep the experience intimate.
This journey moves through Oaxaca during Día de los Muertos, a time when the city fills with colour, memory, and ritual. From the first preparations in homes and markets to candlelit evenings in cemeteries, each day offers a deeper connection to the traditions that honour those who came before.
As the experience unfolds, we move between intimate family-led moments and wider community celebrations, discovering the artistry, symbolism, and meaning behind each ritual. The pace allows space for both immersion and reflection, as the festival reveals itself layer by layer.
Our itinerary follows the cultural rhythm of Día de los Muertos, ensuring we are present for both the preparation and the celebration. As with all living traditions, timings may gently adapt to honour local customs and preserve the integrity of each experience.
Itineraries
Day 01 | Oaxaca
Date : 27/10/2026
First Impressions | Arrival and Flavours of the City
Highlights
Welcome drinks · Santo Domingo cultural complex · Oaxaca markets · Guided food immersion tour
Oaxaca, the cultural soul of southern Mexico and the spiritual heartland of Día de los Muertos. In the days leading up to the celebrations, colour, scent, and a quiet anticipation settle into the streets, creating an atmosphere that feels both vibrant and deeply rooted in tradition.
From the moment you arrive, the experience begins. For those arriving earlier in the day, luggage can be securely stored ahead of our scheduled check-in.
We begin at midday with one of Oaxaca’s most defining elements, its food. Moving through lively local markets, stalls overflow with spices, chocolate, fresh tortillas, and simmering pots of mole. This first experience blends food with cultural storytelling, revealing how the region’s history and identity are expressed through its cuisine.
As we continue, the experience opens into the historic centre. We make our way to the Santo Domingo complex, where the golden baroque church and surrounding courtyards offer a deeper sense of the city’s cultural and historical layers. With guidance throughout, the stories of the Zapotec and Mixtec cultures begin to take shape, grounding what we are about to experience.
Once rooms are ready, there is time to settle in and pause before the evening unfolds.
Tonight, we gather within our private space for a welcome dinner prepared on-site. This first shared meal brings the group together in a setting that feels both comfortable and considered, offering a relaxed and unhurried beginning to the journey.
It is a warm and welcoming introduction, allowing you to arrive fully before the celebrations begin to unfold.
Inclusions
Airport transfer · Guided food tour · Santo Domingo cultural visit · Guided historic centre walk · Dinner · Accommodation in Oaxaca
Day 02 | Hierve el Agua
Date : 28/10/2026
Earth and Spirit | Waterfalls, Agave and Marigolds
Highlights
Hierve el Agua petrified waterfalls · Mezcal distillery experience · Marigold fields night experience
We leave the city behind this morning, moving into the Oaxacan countryside where natural landscapes and living traditions remain deeply connected.
Our journey begins at Hierve el Agua, where mineral-rich springs have formed striking rock formations that resemble cascading waterfalls suspended in time. Set high above the valley, the stillness here offers space to take in the scale and quiet beauty of the surrounding mountains. Whether walking along the cliffside paths or pausing beside the mineral pools, this is a moment to slow down and settle into the rhythm of the land.
From here, we continue to a family-run mezcal distillery, where the craft has been passed down through generations. Among roasting pits, stone mills, and copper stills, the process reveals itself step by step. A guided tasting offers insight into the depth and character of mezcal, connecting the spirit not only to the agave, but to the people and place behind it.
We return toward the outskirts of Oaxaca, where the atmosphere begins to shift once more.
As evening falls, we step into one of the most evocative settings of the journey, glowing marigold fields prepared for Día de los Muertos. Surrounded by candlelight and the scent of flowers, the space feels both intimate and alive with meaning.
With guidance from local artists, you may take part in traditional Catrina face painting before a professional photo session captures the moment within this extraordinary setting.
We gather for a festive meal beneath the marigolds, accompanied by local dishes and music. As night deepens, the experience becomes less about observation and more about presence, a shared moment shaped by light, colour, and quiet celebration.
It is here that the spirit of the days ahead begins to fully reveal itself.
Inclusions
Breakfast · Mezcal distillery visit and tasting · Marigold fields evening experience · Catrina face painting · Professional photography · Festival dinner and non-alcoholic drinks · Accommodation in Oaxaca
Day 03 | Mitla
Date : 29/10/2026
Echoes of the Ancestors | Mitla and Pan de Muerto
Highlights
Mitla archaeological site · Pan de Muerto baking experience
Today we travel beyond Oaxaca into the surrounding valleys to visit Mitla, one of the region’s most important sacred sites. Known as the “City of the Dead,” it was once a ceremonial centre connected to ancient Zapotec beliefs about the underworld and the journey of the soul.
Walking through its stone courtyards and intricate geometric mosaics, these traditions begin to take shape in a more tangible way. With the guidance of a local expert, the stories of the site unfold gradually, offering a deeper connection between past and present.
Later in the day, we take part in a Pan de Muerto baking experience, learning how this symbolic bread is prepared in the days leading up to the festival. Soft, lightly sweet, and decorated with delicate patterns, it carries meaning as both offering and nourishment.
Together, we prepare our own loaves, offering a more personal connection to the rituals that bring families together during this time of remembrance.
The evening unfolds at a slower pace as we return to Oaxaca, offering time to rest, reflect, or enjoy a quiet dinner.
Inclusions
Breakfast · Guided visit to Mitla · Festival meal · Pan de Muerto baking experience · Accommodation in Oaxaca
Day 04 | Oaxaca
Date : 30/10/2026
From Market to Table | Oaxacan Cooking Experience
Highlights
Market visit · Hands-on cooking experience · Shared meal
The day begins in the vibrant markets of Oaxaca, where the colours, aromas, and rhythms of daily life unfold around us. Accompanied by our local cooking instructor, we move through the stalls with a more focused purpose, selecting the ingredients that will shape the meal we prepare together.
From the market, we step into the kitchen for a hands-on cooking experience inspired by the flavours of Día de los Muertos. Guided throughout, we prepare a traditional meal together, learning techniques and recipes that have been passed down through generations.
As the kitchen fills with the aromas of simmering sauces and warm tortillas, we gather around the table to share what we have created. This is a slower moment in the journey, where conversation, food, and atmosphere come together in a more personal way.
The afternoon remains unstructured, allowing space to step away from the group rhythm and enjoy the city in your own way.
Inclusions
Breakfast · Market visit · Cooking class and lunch · Accommodation in Oaxaca
Day 05 | Oaxaca
Date : 31/10/2026
Traditions of Remembrance | Altars, Stories and Candlelight
Highlights
Day of the Dead cultural experience · Altar building · Cemetery visit
This morning is yours to enjoy Oaxaca at a relaxed pace. This is a chance to visit a nearby museum, or simply settle into a café as Oaxaca prepares for the evening ahead.
In the late afternoon, we gather for a cultural experience that offers a deeper connection to the traditions of Día de los Muertos. With the guidance of a local host, we are welcomed into the stories, symbols, and rituals that shape this time of remembrance.
Together, we take part in building a small altar, learning how flowers, candles, photographs, and offerings are arranged to honour those who have passed. As the experience unfolds, food and drink are shared, and the meaning behind each element reveals itself in a more personal way.
Later, as the city shifts into evening, we walk with our guide to a nearby pantheon where graves are illuminated by candlelight and marigolds. Families gather here to spend time with loved ones, sharing food, music, and quiet moments of reflection and remembrance.
There is a natural stillness to the evening, one that invites presence rather than observation, offering a deeper understanding of the spirit of Día de los Muertos.
Inclusions
Breakfast · Guided Day of the Dead cultural experience · Traditional foods and drinks · Accommodation in Oaxaca
Day 06 | Oaxaca
Date : 01/11/2026
Faces of the Festival | Masks, Colour and Transformation
Highlights
Mask-making workshop · Catrina makeup experience · Professional photoshoot
Today we step more fully into the artistic traditions that bring Día de los Muertos to life.
Our morning begins with a mask-making workshop guided by local artisans. As we sit down to create, we are introduced to the history and symbolism behind ceremonial masks used in festivals and community celebrations across Oaxaca. With brushes and colour in hand, each mask begins to take shape, drawing on patterns, stories, and traditions passed down through generations.
In the afternoon, the spirit of transformation continues with a traditional Catrina makeup experience. Skilled local artists guide us through the process of face painting, inspired by the iconic calavera designs that have become a powerful symbol of remembrance and celebration.
Once complete, a professional photographer captures the moment as we step into character, surrounded by the colour, texture, and atmosphere of the festival season.
As evening arrives, the energy of the city builds. Music drifts through the streets, candlelight flickers, and marigolds line the paths ahead. With painted faces and a sense of celebration in the air, you are free to wander Oaxaca’s streets, visit altars, and experience the festivities as they unfold around you.
Inclusions
Breakfast · Mask making workshop · Materials · Catrina makeup experience · Professional photoshoot · Accommodation in Oaxaca
Day 07 | Oaxaca
Date : 02/11/2026
Honouring the Ancestors | A Village Day of the Dead
Highlights
Matatlán village visit · Family altar building · Candlelit pantheon visit
Today we step beyond the city and into village life for one of the most personal experiences of the journey.
In the afternoon, we travel to Matatlán, a small mezcal-producing community where Día de los Muertos is observed within family and tradition. Here, we are welcomed into the home of local mezcaleros, offering a rare opportunity to experience the day as it is lived.
Together with our hosts, we take part in preparing a traditional altar, placing flowers, candles, and offerings that honour the memory of loved ones. Guests are invited to bring a small photograph if they wish to include someone personal in this shared act of remembrance.
As evening approaches, we gather for a home-cooked meal prepared by the family, featuring traditional dishes and mezcal produced within the village itself. Around the table, conversation flows naturally, offering a deeper understanding of how Día de los Muertos is held within the community.
Later, we walk together to the village pantheon, where candlelit graves are surrounded by marigolds and offerings. Families gather here in quiet presence, creating an atmosphere that is deeply personal and profoundly human.
Inclusions
Breakfast · Family hosted altar building · Home cooked dinner · Candlelit pantheon visit · Accommodation in Oaxaca
Day 08 | Oaxaca
Date : 03/11/2026
Living Traditions | Nature, Culture and Pause
Highlights
Guided visit to Oaxaca Botanical Garden · Cultural insight into local traditions · Time at leisure
This morning, we begin with a guided visit to the Oaxaca Botanical Garden, where a short, curated experience offers insight into the plants and traditions that shape life in the region.
Located in the heart of the city, the experience flows naturally into a relaxed lunch nearby, giving us time to pause and gather before the afternoon opens up.
The rest of the day unfolds at your own pace, offering space to slow down and settle into the quieter rhythm of Oaxaca.
Inclusions
Breakfast · Guided botanical garden visit · Accommodation in Oaxaca
Day 09 | Oaxaca
Date : 04/11/2026
Renewal and Reflection | Temazcal Ceremony
Highlights
Traditional Temazcal ceremony · Guided ritual experience · Time for rest and reflection
After the intensity and colour of the celebrations, today offers a quieter pause within the journey.
We travel just outside Oaxaca to take part in a traditional temazcal ceremony, guided by local hosts. Within a small stone structure, heat, steam, and ritual come together to create a space that is both grounding and restorative.
Inside, the experience unfolds gradually, allowing time to pause, reflect, and reconnect in a more personal way.
Afterwards, we return to the open air, where there is time to rest, enjoy a simple meal, and take in the stillness of the surrounding landscape before heading back to Oaxaca later in the afternoon.
The remainder of the day is intentionally light, offering space to unwind and settle after the depth of the past days.
Inclusions
Breakfast · Temazcal ceremony · Lunch · Round trip transportation · Accommodation in Oaxaca
Day 10 | Oaxaca
Date : 05/11/2026
Flavours of Oaxaca | Cacao, Mole and Mezcal
Highlights
Cacao experience · Mezcal and mole tasting · Farewell dinner
This morning we explore one of Oaxaca’s most cherished traditions, cacao.
At a local chocolate workshop, we learn how cacao beans are roasted, ground, and transformed into the rich chocolate drinks that have been part of Oaxacan life for centuries. Watching the traditional grinding process and tasting freshly prepared chocolate offers a deeper connection to how cacao is woven through food, culture, and ceremony.
There is space in the afternoon to free to enjoy Oaxaca one last time. You may prefer to wander the markets, or simply take in the colour and atmosphere of the city at your own pace.
By evening, we come together for a special tasting experience centred around two of Oaxaca’s most iconic flavours, mole and mezcal. Guided by a certified local sommelier, we explore the depth and complexity of traditional mole, thoughtfully paired with artisanal mezcals, each reflecting the land and craftsmanship behind it.
As night settles in, we gather for our farewell dinner. It is a relaxed and unhurried close to the journey, a chance to share stories, reflect on the days we have experienced, and enjoy one final evening together in Oaxaca.
Inclusions
Breakfast · Cacao and chocolate experience · Mezcal and mole tasting with certified sommelier · Farewell dinner · Accommodation in Oaxaca
Day 11 | Oaxaca
Date : 06/11/2026
Adiós y Gracias | Until We Meet Again
Highlights
Farewell breakfast
After breakfast, we say our farewells and assist with onward travel arrangements. Shared transfers to the airport or bus station are arranged in line with your departure time.
While our time in Oaxaca comes to a close, the experiences, connections, and moments shared throughout the journey continue beyond it, shaped by place, people, and moments that will stay with you in their own way.
Inclusions
Breakfast · Airport transfer
Signature Oaxaca Experiences
- Visit the Santo Domingo cultural complex and historic center
- Explore Oaxaca’s vibrant local markets
- Hierve el Agua petrified waterfalls
- Mezcal distillery visit and tasting with a local producer
- Guided visit to Mitla, the “City of the Dead”
Rituals, Craft and Cultural Immersion
- Hands-on mole cooking class and market visit
- Pan de Muerto baking experience with a local family
- Day of the Dead altar and cemetery cultural experience
- Traditional mask-making workshop with local artisans
- Catrina face painting and professional photoshoot
- Village Day of the Dead experience with a local mezcalero family
- Temazcal purification ceremony
- Cacao and chocolate workshop
- Mezcal and mole tasting led by a certified sommelier
Food and Dining
- Daily breakfasts throughout the journey
- A considered selection of lunches across local restaurants and market settings, offering a more informal, place-led experience
- Evenings centred around shared dinners in traditional settings connected to the celebrations
- Food experiences that reflect the depth and regional character of Oaxacan cuisine
Accommodation
- 10 nights in a carefully selected private residence in Oaxaca
- Exclusively reserved for the group, creating a more personal and considered environment throughout the journey
- Chosen for its atmosphere, design, and sense of place, offering a comfortable setting to rest and reset between experiences
- Each bedroom is private and includes its own en-suite bathroom
Transport and Logistics
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure days
- All transport between destinations and experiences is included throughout the journey
- All entrance fees and logistical arrangements handled throughout
Guidance and Support
- Fully guided throughout by a dedicated tour leader and knowledgeable local hosts
- Cultural context and thoughtful guidance that deepen each experience
- Seamless coordination throughout, allowing you to stay present in the journey
Our Accommodation
- Our accommodation in Oaxaca has been carefully selected to provide a calm and comfortable base during one of the city’s most vibrant and meaningful periods
- The property is chosen for its atmosphere, location, and connection to the rhythm of the city, while still allowing space to rest between festival experiences
- The property is positioned close to many of the neighbourhoods, markets, and cultural spaces explored throughout the journey, allowing the experience of Oaxaca to continue naturally beyond scheduled activities
- Shared courtyards, rooftop spaces, gardens, and communal areas contribute to the warm and welcoming atmosphere that defines much of the city during Día de los Muertos
- Across the journey, accommodation has been selected not for excess, but for comfort, atmosphere, authenticity, and ease throughout the experience
- All rooms are private and include en suite bathrooms
Festival Timing
- Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated across Mexico from 31 October to 2 November, honouring loved ones who have passed while welcoming their spirits back through ritual, memory, food, music, and gathering
- In Oaxaca, preparations begin well before the official festival dates as homes, markets, bakeries, workshops, and cemeteries gradually transform throughout the city
- Streets fill with marigolds, candles, papel picado, incense, altars, and traditional foods as communities prepare for gatherings and ceremonies connected to the festival
- Our journey is intentionally timed to experience both the preparation period and the heart of the celebrations themselves, offering insight into the emotional and cultural depth behind the festival
- During this period, Oaxaca carries a unique atmosphere that blends celebration, remembrance, artistry, music, food, spirituality, and community life
What to Expect
- Día de los Muertos is both a public celebration and a deeply personal tradition rooted in memory, family, ancestry, and cultural identity
- Markets, homes, public squares, cemeteries, and neighbourhood streets become central gathering spaces throughout the festival period
- Many traditions connected to Día de los Muertos are community and family based, and experiences throughout the journey are approached respectfully and with cultural awareness
- Festival days may include music, processions, candlelit gatherings, artisan markets, altar displays, and community celebrations that continue late into the evening
- The atmosphere shifts naturally throughout the journey, moving between moments of joy, reflection, creativity, ritual, and remembrance
Why This Region
- Oaxaca is widely regarded as one of the most important and atmospheric places in Mexico to experience Día de los Muertos
- The city’s strong Indigenous traditions, artistic heritage, vibrant markets, and deeply rooted community customs create a uniquely rich festival atmosphere
- Families, artisans, bakers, musicians, and local communities all contribute to the celebrations, creating an experience woven into everyday life rather than staged for tourism
- Oaxaca’s surrounding villages each interpret Día de los Muertos differently, offering a variety of traditions, visual styles, ceremonies, and community practices throughout the region
- Travelling during this period offers meaningful insight into one of Mexico’s most culturally significant and emotionally resonant traditions
Seasonal Weather
- Late October and early November fall within Oaxaca’s dry season, bringing generally comfortable and stable weather conditions
- Daytime temperatures typically range between 22°C and 28°C / 72°F to 82°F, with cooler mornings and evenings possible, particularly after sunset
- Festival activities often continue outdoors into the evening, including cemetery visits, public gatherings, walking tours, and community celebrations
- Rainfall is generally minimal during this period, though occasional brief showers remain possible
- The combination of warm days, cooler evenings, candlelight, music, and open air celebrations contributes strongly to the atmosphere of the festival season
Practical Notes
- This journey includes moderate walking through historic streets, markets, cemeteries, artisan workshops, and village environments
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, particularly for evenings spent in crowded public areas or cemetery visits
- Some experiences may take place in active community spaces where local celebrations continue around us naturally rather than in controlled tourism settings
- Guests may wish to bring a small photograph, note, or symbolic offering to place respectfully on community or shared altars during the journey
- Certain roads and neighbourhoods may become busier during festival dates due to local gatherings, music, processions, and celebrations
- The itinerary has been designed to balance cultural immersion, respectful participation, rest, and quieter moments throughout the experience
Cultural Notes
Throughout the journey, you may encounter words and traditions that are rooted in Oaxacan culture. These notes offer a little context to deepen your experience.
- Alebrijes
- Brightly coloured, hand-carved wooden figures that represent fantastical creatures, crafted using traditional techniques in Oaxaca
- Catrina
- An elegant skeletal figure that has become an iconic symbol of Día de los Muertos, representing the Mexican tradition of honouring death with both respect and celebration
- Mezcal
- A traditional spirit made from agave, central to both daily life and ceremonial gatherings in Oaxaca
- Mole
- A complex, slow-prepared sauce made from a blend of ingredients such as chilli, spices, chocolate, and nuts, with each region and family offering its own variation
- Ofrenda
- A personal altar created during Día de los Muertos to honour loved ones who have passed, often decorated with photographs, candles, marigolds, and meaningful offerings
- Pan de Muerto
- A traditional sweet bread prepared for Día de los Muertos, often placed on ofrendas and shared during the celebrations
Flights and Arrival
- International airfare to and from Mexico
Travel Requirements
- Travel insurance (required for participation)
- Relevant visas where applicable (see Travel Notes section)
Personal Expenses & Free Time Options
- Meals and drinks not specified in the itinerary
- Personal purchases and incidental expenses
- Optional activities during periods of free time
Día de los Muertos is not a mourning festival, but a deeply meaningful cultural tradition centered around remembrance, family, community, and celebration.
Throughout Oaxaca, homes, cemeteries, markets, and public spaces become filled with candles, marigolds, music, food, and gatherings that honour loved ones who have passed.
The atmosphere moves between reflection and celebration, creating an experience that feels both emotional and deeply alive.
Yes. Cemetery visits form part of Día de los Muertos traditions in Oaxaca and are approached respectfully throughout the journey.
These visits are not treated as performances or spectacles, but as meaningful cultural experiences connected to remembrance, family, and local tradition.
Guidance is provided throughout to ensure guests feel comfortable and understand the customs and etiquette surrounding these spaces.
No Spanish is required.
The journey is fully guided, and support is provided throughout experiences, activities, and local interactions.
Many moments throughout the itinerary are experienced through atmosphere, tradition, food, music, and shared cultural experiences beyond language itself.
Guests are, of course, encouraged to learn a few simple phrases as a respectful way to engage more deeply with local culture and daily life.
This journey is designed to move at a balanced and comfortable pace rather than feel physically demanding.
Days may include moderate walking through historic streets, markets, cemeteries, and village areas, particularly during festival evenings when streets are busier and remain active later into the night.
There is also space throughout the itinerary to rest, slow down, and experience the celebrations without feeling rushed.