Morning

• Arrive at Oaxaca International Airport (OAX) at 2:00 p.m., ready to begin your adventure. 
• Your Trip Leader will pick you up from the airport, and we’ll head straight to the historic center of Oaxaca!  (~30-minute drive)
• Get settled into your hotel. You’ve got four days of culture and celebration ahead.

Afternoon

• Explore the lively local markets. You’ll find vendors who are descendants of the Zapotec and Mixtec indigenous peoples, selling woven blankets, shawls, and fragrant margarita flowers. The city also boasts a vibrant arts scene, featuring folk art, contemporary works, and dance performances. 

Evening

• Enjoy a welcome dinner and drinks in Oaxaca at a local restaurant where you’ll first taste traditional Mexican flavors.
• After dinner, settle into your room. Relax—it’s been a long travel day, and the adventure is just beginning.

Morning

• After a delightful breakfast, prepare to immerse yourself in Oaxaca, a place steeped in rich history and diverse cultural traditions. Your journey begins with an orientation walk and a visit to Benito Juarez Market and 20 de Noviembre Market. Here, you'll explore the market scene, try some local delicacies, and meet the artisans and vendors.

Afternoon

• Enjoy the included lunch at one of Oaxaca's hidden gems, a top destination for food lovers.
• Oaxaca, Mexico, is known for its delicious food because of its unique ingredients, skilled cooks, and hospitality. The region's diverse geography and indigenous cultures have also influenced its cuisine. 
• You’ll also have some time to explore the markets before continuing with your adventure. 

Evening 

• As dusk falls, you’ll visit a local cemetery or pantheon, where the Day of the Dead celebration comes to life. This annual tradition honors those who have passed away, bringing families together in a festive atmosphere. The cemetery is illuminated by flickering candles and adorned with vibrant marigold flowers known as cempasúchil. The sweet scent of incense fills the air as families create “ofrendas,” or offerings, to welcome the spirits of their loved ones.
• During your visit, you'll have the opportunity to witness the children's celebration of the Day of the Dead. Families come together sincerely to remember fallen young lives. You'll marvel at the colorful altars adorned with toys, sweets, and personal mementos of the young ones they honor. As families share heartfelt stories and memories, the space wraps the evening in love and connection. 
• This journey is not just about sightseeing; it's a chance to participate in a meaningful tradition that showcases the unique blend of remembrance and festivity that makes Oaxaca a remarkable place.
• Dinner is not included tonight, but your Trip Leader will offer recommendations. 

Morning

• After breakfast, we’ll travel for 1 hour outside the city to explore the Oaxaca region. The first stop is Mitla ruins, once a sacred religious center for the Zapotec communities. Then, you’ll visit the Tule Tree, the world’s widest tree at over 11 meters in diameter and around 1,500 years old.

Afternoon

• In the town of Santa María de Tule, you can enjoy traditional Mexican ice cream in flavors like vanilla, fresh fruit sorbet, or chili. Next, participate in a beeswax candle-making workshop and a Zapotec weaving demonstration. You’ll learn traditional techniques and watch local families create folk clothing and rugs.
• Lunch will be plant-based with regional Zapotec specialties. On the way back to Oaxaca (about a 30-minute drive), we’ll stop for a mezcal tasting at a local agave distillery.

Evening

• We’ll visit a local cemetery in the evening to witness the Day of the Dead celebrations. Here, you can experience flickering candlelight, marigold flowers, and incense, and learn more about Mexican beliefs about death and the afterlife.
• Enjoy your last dinner with your group, wrap up your first Day of the Dead in Mexico, and take all these beautiful memories home.