Mole, Mezcal and Día de los Muertos
October 29 - November 3, 2026
Nestled in a lush green valley, Oaxaca is home to a vibrant indigenous culture, unique savory cuisine (home to Mole and Mezcal) colorful colonial buildings, Aztec and Mayan ruins, and is thee epicenter of Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead.
Día de los Muertos is a joyful multi-day Mexican celebration of deceased loved ones that combines pre-hispanic death festivals with those of the Catholic tradition. Though the specific manner of celebrating may vary from state to state, the true purpose of the day remains the same everywhere: to come together with family and friends to feast, laugh, reminisce, and welcome back loved ones from the great beyond.
Visiting Oaxaca for Día de los Muertos is a sensational experience. What you’ll experience is nothing short of a joyous reunion and absolutely sensory-full celebration. You’ll witness the variety of ways the living guide their loved ones back from the land of the dead and how Mexicans view death, and therefore life.
The festivities take place from midnight on October 31 when the gates of heaven are said to open through 3pm on November 2 when they close once again.
The first spirits to arrive for a festive 24-hour visit with their families are those of the children who have passed, los angelitos. They are welcomed and celebrated on November 1, All Saint’s Day in the Catholic calendar. By 3pm that day, the angelitos bid farewell and the adult spirits follow the same marigold- and candle-scented path to their family’s awaiting altars (or ofrendas). At 3pm on November 2nd, All Soul’s Day, the spirits are said to depart once more back to their realm until the next Día de los Muertos celebration.
$1495 pp plus airfare
Included in Cost:
- All ground transportation
- All overnight accommodations double occupancy. $350 supplement for single room.
- All Breakfast
- Welcome Dinner
- All tours listed in intinerary
Not Included:
- Meals out side above mentioned
- entrance fees out side of included tours
- Travel Insurance
- Tips for local guides and drivers
Itinerary:
Thursday October 29:
Arrive to Oaxaca, transfer to our hotel in the heart of the historic center, famous for its colonial architecture, exquisite arts and crafts, rich culinary scene and mezcal galore. We will explore the Centro and enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Mole is the symbol of Oaxaca. While Mole Negro is the specialty, Oaxacan's will tell you they make seven kinds of Mole, named mostly for their color. After dinner we can enjoy the nightlife of the Centro.
Friday October 30:
Today we will travel to Santa Catarina Minas town with a local guide to spend the day with a local family on their Palenque, which is an agave plantation and mezcal producer. We believe that the best way to connect with a culture is to participate in their local activities. Today we will be engaging with the family and participating in their way of life as will learn all about how mezcal is produced from harvest, to fermentation to distillation, an ancestral practice passed down from one generation to the next. We will then have the opportunity to try savers varieties this Mescalero produces tasting the difference between each plant. You will then have the opportunity to purchase bottle of a unique mezcal unavailable at home. At the end of the day we will head back to Oaxaca for the evening.
Saturday October 31:
Today we will take the opportunity to explore Oaxaca with its various neighborhoods, markets, museums, churches, and all the festivities around town leading up to the first night of Dia de los Muertes. We can explore as a group or for those who want to explore on their own.
Sunday November 1:
Today we will do another tour outside of Oaxaca city which to include some but not all of these options: Monte Alban, Tree Tule, Teotitlan del Valle, Hierve el Agua. Evening we will enjoy the nightlife of town.
Monday Nov. 2:
Today we will again do a morning tour to outside the city before we return for a special final night. Tonight is the last night of Dia de los Muertes we will have a local guide join as we venture to some villages out Oaxaca city for evening cemetery visits where we will witness a sacred moment when Oaxaca families pay tribute to their loved ones with candles, flowers, and offerings. The atmosphere is filled with mysticism and respect as the graves glow and the echoes of chants resonate through the night. We will fully immerse ourselves in the deep meaning of this ancient tradition on a journey filled with history and culture through the afterlife.
Although we make every effort to follow the outlined itinerary, sometime activities may be switched to other days and or changed.
Tuesday Nov. 3:
Today we will start our journey home, extend your trip with our add on to Mexico city on the way home or extend your holiday on your own.
For more info or to register:
email or call us at
717.917.1359
