6-Day Day of the Dead in Oaxaca: Deluxe Sample Itinerary

A full day beginning in Oaxaca's markets, watching locals prepare for the festivities with fresh bread, candles, incense, and sugar skulls. Learn how traditional altars are built, then enjoy the special experience of being welcomed into a local Oaxacan home to see their family altar, followed by pan de muerto and hot chocolate. The day builds toward witnessing Oaxaca's famous Día de Muertos parades in the north valley, with locals in colorful skeleton costumes marching through the streets.

A full day in Teotitlán del Valle as a special guest for an authentic Oaxacan cooking session, sharing time with local families and enjoying the finished dishes family-style for lunch. Continue exploring the village's 16th-century church and local market, then observe how families bid farewell to loved ones at the cemetery following the Day of the Dead celebrations.

A full day visiting five small pueblos beyond Oaxaca City, learning the techniques behind black pottery, alebrijes (hand-carved and painted wooden figures), and backstrap loom weaving. Continue to Ocotlán to see the restored Ex-Convent of Santo Domingo and visit the home studio of the Aguilar Brothers, known for artisanal knives crafted from recycled car springs and railroad tracks. The day concludes in San Antonino Castillo Velasco, a traditional village known for its festive celebrations.

A full day exploring Monte Albán, one of Mesoamerica's oldest cities and a site of continued significance to the Zapotec and Mixtec peoples, with a bilingual guide unpacking its history and mysteries. Continue to meet local mezcal producers off the beaten path, learning traditional distillation techniques and sampling the spirit's smoky-sweet notes before returning to the hotel.

Private deluxe transfer from the hotel to Oaxaca International Airport for departure, roughly 25-30 minutes from central Oaxaca. End of services.