Day of the Dead in Oaxaca – Tour Module

Arrival in Mexico City

According to your time of arrival you are picked up from the airport in Mexico City and brought to your hotel. Overnight stay. (Meals: none)

Mexico City

After breakfast, start the day with a tour of the centro historico and a visit to the impressive Zócalo with the stunning Cathedral and Government Palace with murals by Diego Rivera. During the festivities of Day of the Dead there are always events and elaborate decorations to admire. Visit a local artist to get your face painted in a typical skeleton called a “catrina“. The designs are colourful and unique and will get you into the spirit of this beautiful tradition. Join in a passing parade, admire the elaborate altars and of course enjoy some delicious treats. “Pan de Muerto” is a sweet pastry available only around this time of year. In the evening, enjoy a spectacular wrestling show called “Lucha Libre”. This style of wrestling is very popular in Mexico and is a mix of sport and theatrics creating a fun and energetic show! Many of the fighters are masked and have eccentric personalities. Pick your favourite and cheer along with the crowd as the fighters fly through the air in acrobatic movements, dangerous jumps and high octane fun. After the show, you will be returned to your hotel. Overnight stay. (Meals: breakfast at the hotel)

Xochimilco – Island of the Dolls – Mexico City

After breakfast, head to Xochimilco in the southern part of the city for a boat ride through the colourful canals. This area comes alive for the Day of the Dead and you can taste typical Mexican dishes, admire the artesenia and listen to the sounds of mariachi bands that pass by on other boats. For a unique experience this tour takes you to the Island of the Dolls. Here you can learn all about the local legend and explore the island filled with old dolls. After returning to firm land, you can explore the Day of the Dead altars and churches found in the small Zócalo of this old neighbourhood. Enjoy dinner near Xochimilco and when it gets dark, “La Llorona” show will begin. Your guide will explain all about the local legend of the crying woman which is popular local folklore. Afterwards, you will be returned to your hotel. Overnight stay. (Meals: breakfast at the hotel)

Mexico City – Teotihuacán – San Andrés Mixquic – Puebla

Today you leave Mexico City for Puebla. Your first stop is the “City of the Gods”, Teotihuacán, located 50 kilometers northeast of Mexico City. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and with 22 km² the largest ruined city in Latin America, the majority of which has not yet been explored and has not yet been excavated. You should not miss an ascent to the sun or moon pyramid, because from above you can enjoy a unique view of the archaeological site and get an impression of its actual size. Afterwards you have time for a short lunch (not included) before the trip continues to San Andrés Mixquic (short Mixquic or Mizquic), a small town in Tláhuac, on the south-eastern edge of Mexico City. Mixquic became famous as the “City of the Dead” and for the Mexican Festival of the Dead. Admire the beautifully decorated graves with its wonderful love for detail. Be sure to try the typical “Pan de Muerto” holiday pastries, which are only available in late October and early November. In addition to the delicious sweet pastries, there are also all imaginable objects made of chocolate, marzipan or icing, such as skulls, skeletons and coffins, which offer themselves as souvenirs. In the evening you finally arrive in Puebla. Overnight stay. (Meals: breakfast at the hotel)

Puebla – Cholula – Oaxaca

This morning you will enjoy Puebla, which is the fourth largest city in Mexico and the capital of the state of Puebla. The historic city with colonial charm is known for its location in the middle of four volcanoes. The city is particularly beautifully during Dia de Muertos! Enjoy the special atmosphere before you make your way to Oaxaca. First you will get to know the church of Cholula, the holy city. In the late afternoon you will arrive in Oaxaca and have a short time to check in and take a short break.

Around 7:00 p.m. when the sun goes down, you will be picked up from your hotel to celebrate the Day of the Dead and receive the souls of the deceased in the San Miguel Cemetery. The Day of the Dead is not a mourning event, as you would expect, but a colorful Mexican festival that is celebrated with family and friends in honor of the dead. Admire the lovingly decorated graves, which are decorated with cempasúchil (marigold flowers), mezcal, pan de muerto and chocolate and shimmer orange in the candlelight. Admire the most beautiful decorated altars, which will be awarded in a competition. Another stop on this magical evening is the Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán cemetery. Hike through its colorful, shimmering streets, which are decorated with carpets of sand and sawdust, and contain bizarre images and symbols of death. At the end of the tour around 00:00 am you will be brought back to your hotel. Overnight stay. (Meals: breakfast at the hotel)

Mitla – Oaxaca

Today you have time to sleep and rest. Afterwards, you drive to Mitla, which is the second most important Zapotec center in the region after Monte Albán. There you will see the pyramids and take a small tour. You will see how the local people start the very special day. Among other things, visit a local market where you can try a lot of regional delicacies and many quirky items that will later stand on the graves of loved ones.

After driving back to Oaxaca, around 6 p.m., you will take part in the Comparsa (street parade) of San José del Mogote and San Agustín Etla (suburbs of Oaxaca). Immerse yourself in the perceptual, bizarre parade and join many costumed devils, skeletons and others through the streets and from house to house. Get in touch with the warm and hospitable people of Oaxaca, take part in the Comparsa, visit the beautiful altars of the houses and bring for them little gifts like fruit, chocolate and pan de muerto for their altars. Your day ends around 11 p.m. Overnight stay. (Meals: breakfast at the hotel)

Monte Albán – Oaxaca

In the morning you start towards Monte Albán, the most significant archeological excavation of the region. Steep and narrow roads lead up the hill to the largest and most stunning Zapotec city in Oaxaca. You will be fascinated by the beauty and the majesty of this sight. While enjoying an impressive panoramic view over the city and its hinterlands, it’s easy to imagine how the Zapotec used to dominate the whole Southwest of Mexico. In addition, we invite you to discover some of more than 20 historical buildings and learn more about the culture of this archaeological site. Afterwards you go back to Oaxaca where you will start your city walk through the colonial center of Oaxaca. During your tour you will visit all the “must” see sites of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of course, a visit to the local market won´t be missed. Here you will try all sorts of regional specialties and ingredients before you go back to the hotel. Overnight stay. (Meals: breakfast at the hotel)