Leslie Coleman
Travel Designs
Journeys: Mexico's Day of the Dead in Oaxaca
Oct 28, 2025 to Nov 3, 2025
Oxcana, Mexico
Mexico's Day of the Dead in Oaxaca!
What's included in this trip:
- Hotel (4- star)
- Transfers
- Breakfast Daily
- 1- Lunch
- Tours as outlined in the Itinerary
- Item 2
What's not included:
- Airfare
- Travel Protection
- Meals not included above
- Some Tours-
** Optional Activities- Fees Apply (Prices in Mexican Pesos)
Oaxaca
- Mole Cooking Class (1200MXN per person)
- Day Trip to Hierve del Agua, Valley of Mitla Ruins Visit, and Mezcal Factory Tour (1000MXN per person)Monte Albán
- Monte Albán Tour (900MXN per person)
Itinerary:
Day 1-Oaxaca
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.
El Día de los Muertos is a holiday in Mexico to honor and pray for loved ones who’ve departed. During this period in Oaxaca – center-stage for Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico – cemetery vigils and street parades are not to be missed.
Day 2-Oaxaca
Take an orientation walk through Oaxaca, known for its colorful 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.
This tour includes visits to cemeteries in both Xoxocotlan and 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 3-Oaxaca
Set out to explore the culinary delights of Oaxaca with a local host. Learn how chocolate is produced, 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. Opt to travel to Hierve del Agua **. This stunning natural formation of mineral pools near the edge of a cliff.
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 eighth 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 flavorsome Mexican sauce that comprises a famously inexhaustible list of ingredients.
Day 7-Oaxaca
Depart at any time.
Itinerary Disclaimer
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
Cancellation 60 days or more prior to departure = Deposit paid will become a Lifetime Deposit (LTD) and stay on file in your name to use on a G Adventures trip in the future.
Cancellation between 30 and 59 days prior to departure = LTD + 50% loss of final payment
Cancellation within 30 days of departure = LTD + 100% loss of final payment