Día de Muertos Oaxaca, México

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive In Oaxaca City and check into our beautiful accommodation for the week. We have the entire boutique hotel for ourselves! The location is perfect in Oaxaca City, walkable to markets, beautiful neighborhoods and coffee shops. There is a rooftop terrace and plenty of space for our group. This spot is woman owned! After a refresh, we will head to a local market to pick out items for our altar, which we will create while enjoying a homemade dinner and drinks on our rooftop.

Day 2

After a delicious breakfast, we will explore outside the city. We will start the day at Hierve el Agua, one of two petrified waterfalls in the world! Hike the trail below or just immerse your self in the stunning views – and the mineral pools. From there we learn all about the art of mezcal making and meet the distillers.

We will visit several mezcalerias on our way back to the city and enjoy a farm lunch along the way and learn about the production and process–we always try to include a stop to meet the women in the industry. This is a beautiful introduction the this magical place. We return to Oaxaca City in the late afternoon. Spend your evening enjoying the city in its preparations for Day of the Dead festivities. I’ll make a reservation for a group dinner if you are still hungry!

Day 3

Start the day with breakfast, of course, followed by a traditional steam bath – a temazcal – and a massage. We will visit a woman-owned business where we learn about traditional herbs, and experience a cleansing ritual in a traditional hut. We also will get massages, and use the cold plunge pool if desired. This experience is always a favorite as it is truly an opportunity to reset and start fresh. And the perfect way to prepare for the festivities. On the way back to our hotel we will stop at a market as people gather items to make altars and get ready to visit the cemeteries to welcome the deceased.

We will enjoy a food tour in a local market (also a chance to purchase some artisan items!) and see the displays of sugar skulls, marigolds and more. This market and food tour supports another woman owned business. We can add an offering to our ofrenda/altar if desired, and enjoy a taste of the incredible gastronomy of Oaxaca. Feel free to bring a photo or personal item to memorialize a loved one who has passed for the ofrenda as well.

Back at the hotel we can rest before heading out to ring in Day of the Dead. Explore traditional dishes and festivities. Be prepared for a late night! We will visit the pantheons full of flowers and candles as families welcome their deceased loved ones.

Day 4

It’s Día de Inocentes and after a leisurely breakfast, we will head to Soleded Etla to enjoy the incredible festivities there with a local family. Soledad Etla is famous for their celebrations! The family’s home is on a beautiful piece of land complete with an outdoor kitchen and views for days. We’ll enjoy parades, food, cemetery visits, and have a place to relax as needed. This is truly an immersive experience, and we may stay out past our bedtimes! We’ll get our faces painted and join in!

Families gather to clean and decorate the graves, they visit with friends and relatives, mariachi bands are playing and the color and joy of the anticipated arrival of the spirits is palpable.   We will paint our faces if desired and just enjoy the celebrations. A place to rest will be provided and we will return to our hotel in Oaxaca after a very full and beautiful day and night.

Day 5

Sleep in! Today is a free day and a day to rest. After breakfast you can enjoy Oaxaca at your leisure. Take a day trip to explore ruins or nearby towns, shop in the markets, or simply rest and get a massage. In the evening we will enjoy a dinner together and learn to make mezcal cocktails at a local speakeasy.

Day 6

Today after our breakfast we head to another colorful market for a tour and to gather ingredients for a cooking class with the same family that hosted us for the Day of the Dead celebrations in Soledad Etla. We’ll be welcomed like family! This is a leisurely day, where we get to enjoy each other’s company and get to know more about the incredible food traditions that have put Oaxaca on the map. This experience is another favorite (but it’s hard to pick a favorite to be honest).

Day 7

Our final full day in Oaxaca will be spent exploring the town of San Martín Tilcajete and the incredible alebrijes – wooden painted folk art from the area of Ocotlán, Oaxaca. We will visit the famous studio of Marie and Jacobo (The inspiration for the movie Coco!) and learn all about the history and traditions of this incredible art form. After learning all about the alebrijes and a chance to make our own and shop, we’ll enjoy lunch at an INCREDIBLE restaurant that serves traditional foods cooked on fire in a beautifully designed outdoor restaurant.

On our way back to Oaxaca we’ll make a special stop for ice cream made by the brother of one of the guides. You’ll be treated like family! Once we’re back in Oaxaca, we’ll have a little time to rest and pack or shop before going to enjoy a beautiful rooftop for light dinner and drinks celebrating our adventure together.

Day 8

Departure Day: You won’t want to leave! But I’ll send you off with a delicious breakfast before your flight home — or your next destination. You’ll be rejuvenated and full from the beauty and memories of Oaxaca in our hearts forever.

COST: Starting at $3950/pp. All prices USD. See pricing details below.

Included:

• All transportation for included experiences, airport transfers
• 7 days breakfast
• 6 dinners
• 5 lunches
• All experiences and meals as outlined in itinerary

Not included:

• Airfare to Oaxaca City
• Drinks and food beyond what’s included in the itinerary
• Any additional alcoholic beverages
• Required travel insurance (As a travel agent I can purchase this on your behalf or you can get your own)
• Your transportation around Oaxaca for personal activities
• Alcoholic beverages and food above and beyond what is included
• Free day activity bookings
• Gratuities (suggested about $15-20/day )

Detailed airport arrival information and instructions will be provided and I will be there to greet you!

Pricing*

Room Options (Boutique Hotel in Oaxaca City)

Refunds and adjustments: There will be no refunds or adjustments for unused portion of the tour.

$500 non-refundable deposit to hold your spot

**Minimum of 6 guests to run the tour

*Pricing good through Nov 1, 2025.

Tour Policies and Procedures incl. Covid updates

Covid Protocol and Safety Measures:

We will adhere to local mask mandates and safety protocol.

If you test positive and must quarantine, you will be fully responsible for any fees associated with your stay including but not limited to health care costs and lodging. By joining the tour each participant voluntarily agrees to assume all of the foregoing risks and accept sole responsibility for any injury (including, but not limited to personal injury, disability, and death), illness, damage, loss, claim, liability or expense of any kind that they may experience or incur in connection with their Madison Eats Food Tours trip and its activities.

Cancellation and Refund: If Otehlia Travels cancels the tour, all fees paid MINUS your $500 deposit (service fee) and any accrued expenses at the discretion of Otehlia Travels, LLC will  be refunded. We strongly encourage trip insurance in case of unforeseen events that result in the cancellation of your trip. Final payment is due 90 days before the trip. Cancellations prior to 60 days before the trip are 50% refundable. (minus the $500 initial deposit). Cancellations made on or after 60 days prior to the trip are non refundable and non transferrable.

Travel Insurance: Otehlia Travels requires travel insurance for all travelers with at least basic coverage for trip cancellation, delay or interruption. Two companies that offer insurance that I recommend are AIG or Allianz. You can get a quote from AIG and also Allianz offers it. You definitely need to read the fine print regarding Covid-related coverage. You would purchase your own coverage. There are various levels, but at a baseline, you want trip cancellation or delay, and medical emergency – Once you reach out to a provider, you can see the basic coverage and additions. For travel to Cuba, Cuba requires medical insurance and that is usually included in your ticket purchase (flight). We travel to Cuba under “support for the Cuban people”.

Final Payment: Final payment is due no later than 90 days before the tour start date. 5% processing fee applies for credit card transactions.

A) Minimum Group Size:

Otehlia Travels’ trips are priced based on a minimum group size that varies by trip, making our trips financially viable to operate. Otehlia Travels reserves the right to cancel any trip if the trip does not attract the minimum number of clients required to make the trip financially viable. Otehlia Travels will not, however, cancel a trip due to minimum group size any later than 21 days prior to the commencement of the trip. In the event of cancellation, Otehlia Travels shall not, in any case, be responsible for nonrefundable expenses incurred by the client, including, but not limited to airline cancellation fees or insurance purchases.

Alternatively, clients may choose to pay a small group surcharge that would be assessed to each guest in groups that fall below the minimum group size, which avoids us having to cancel the trip.

B) Force Majeure:

Otehlia Travels reserves the right to cancel a trip at any stage prior to the scheduled departure due to terrorism, natural disasters, political instability or other external events which make it unviable for Otehlia Travels to operate our planned schedule. In such a case, Otehlia Travels will, at its own discretion, refund a portion of the trip price (less incurred costs and the non-refundable deposit), reschedule the tour, or offer an alternative tour. Should the client choose to purchase “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) insurance coverage, and the tour becomes unviable for Otehlia Travels to operate or reschedule, Otehlia Travels will cover the client’s CFAR deductible up to 25% of the price of the tour.

BOOKING AMENDMENTS

If you wish to change your booking in any way, you must contact us as soon as possible and we will accommodate your request to the best of our ability. Surcharges may apply.

SUBSTITUTION OF A CLIENT

If any member of the party is prevented from traveling because of the death, injury or serious illness of the passenger, close relative or friend, redundancy or jury service, it may be possible to transfer the booking to another suitable person (acceptable to Otehlia Travels) provided that written notice is given at least 30 days prior to departure. An administration fee of up to $150 may be imposed by the company to cover non-refundable costs. Airlines may impose 100% cancellation charges and the cost of a new ticket.

Photography release: The tour participants permits Otehlia Travels, LLC to photographs, films, images, text, testimonials of participants for its own commercial use without compensation to participants.

Any dispute related to these terms and conditions or the program itself, directly or indirectly shall be settled solely in the courts of Madison, WI. In such litigation, Wisconsin law will apply.

*Does not include round trip airfare to Oaxaca City, airport taxes, personal expenses, housekeeping and instructor/guide tips, Medical fees, travel insurance. Includes meals, alcoholic beverages and excursions as specified in itinerary as well as all tips to staff and guides for included excursions. 

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