Celebrating Day of the Dead in Oaxaca

Walk through Oaxaca’s markets as residents gather fresh bread, candles, incense and sugar skulls for the celebrations. Learn how traditional altars take shape, then step into a local family’s home to see their own altar and share pan de muerto with hot chocolate. From this personal welcome, head into the north valley to watch joyous Día de Muertos parades fill the streets, with locals dressed in colorful costumes and celebrations fill all the senses.

Spend the day in Teotitlán del Valle, joining local families for aOaxacan cooking session. Prepare dishes together, then gather around the table to share what you’ve made over a family-style lunch. Explore the village’s 16th-century church and browse its local market before visiting the cemetery. Here, observe how families bid farewell to their loved ones as the Day of the Dead celebrations draw to a close, giving you a quieter perspective on the traditions surrounding the festivities.

Explore five pueblos beyond Oaxaca City, learning how artisans craft black pottery, carve and paint wooden alebrijes, and weave on backstrap looms. In Ocotlán, visit the restored ex-convent of Santo Domingo before stepping into the Aguilar Brothers’ home studio. Discover how recycled car springs and railroad tracks become artisanal knives, connecting unexpected materials with artistic skill. Finish in San Antonino Castillo Velasco, a village known for its festive celebrations, before returning to Oaxaca.

Walk through Monte Albán with a private guide, exploring one of Mesoamerica’s oldest cities and its continuing significance to Zapotec and Mixtec peoples. Uncover the site’s history and the questions that remain around its past, before turning to another Oaxacan tradition. Meet local mezcal producers away from the usual routes, learn about traditional distillation and sample the spirit’s smoky-sweet notes. Return to your hotel for the final night of your journey.

Set off from Oaxaca for your onward flight, bringing your journey to a close.