DAY 1: WELCOME TO OAXACA

Our team will pick you up at Oaxaca International Airport (OAX). After some rest and relaxation, we will walk over to a vegan restaurant to have a welcome dinner, get to know the amazing people that will be on this journey with you and explore the neighborhood for those who aren't incredibly jet-lagged. Flights can be booked to arrive anytime before 5:00 PM to make it in time for the Welcome Dinner.

Meals Included: Dinner

DAY 2: AN ART-WALK AND THE CEMETERY AT NIGHT

October 31st in Oaxaca is one of the most magical nights of the entire Día de los Muertos celebration. While November 1 and 2 are the official days, the energy and festivities begin earlier—and as a tourist, there’s so much to take in. Today we’ll start off with an art and history walk of the city stopping for a delicious vegan lunch fusing Oaxacan and soul food. We’ll walk through the city’s fascinating layers of counter-culture, art spaces, and small businesses. After lunch, you’ll have some time to rest so that we can gear up for the second part of the tour which starts around 8 PM at night. We’ll take you to the local cemetery to observe how families decorate graves with candles, flowers, food, and music as they gather to welcome the spirits of their loved ones. We’ll walk our way across the city where we will soak in the excitement of night vendors, music and spontaneous live parades with dancing skeletons.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 3: DAY TRIP TO TEOTITLAN DEL VALLE AND ALTAR SETUP

It’s officially Day of the Dead and the best way to celebrate is with a local family. Today we’ll journey to the enchanting village of Teotitlán del Valle—one of Oaxaca’s most culturally rich Zapotec communities. Here, we’ll spend the day immersed in the rhythms of local life, guided by a welcoming family who will share their ancestral traditions with us. We’ll witness the magic behind their world-renowned natural dyeing techniques, learning how plants and minerals are transformed into the vibrant reds, indigos, and golds that color their intricate weavings. We’ll also join our host family in preparing their Día de los Muertos altar—a sacred space filled with marigolds, candles, food, and offerings for their ancestors. Together, we’ll help set the ofrenda and participate in welcoming the returning souls, surrounded by the scent of copal and the warmth of shared tradition. We will learn how death in Mexican spirituality is actually a continuation of life, with souls inter-connected no matter which phase of the after-life they are in.

We'll close the experience with a heartfelt homemade lunch, crafted entirely vegan and inspired by local flavors, while sitting together at the family table. Expect to spend the afternoon here—learning, connecting, and being part of something truly timeless and ancestral. The evening is free for you to reflect or continue exploring the city and it’s celebrations on your own or in small groups.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch,

DAY 4: MONTE ALBAN AND FAREWELL TO THE SOULS

After breakfast, we’ll ascend to the breathtaking ruins of Monte Albán, the ancient Zapotec capital perched high above the Oaxaca Valley. As we walk among its pyramids, temples, and plazas, you’ll feel the powerful echoes of a civilization that honored the cycles of life and death long before colonization. With sweeping views of the surrounding valleys and a deeper understanding of the region’s spiritual roots, this sacred site offers the perfect setting to reflect on all we've experienced.

In the afternoon, we’ll return to the city for a beautiful and moving farewell ritual. Together, we’ll return to the cemetery to take part in a symbolic act of closing the ofrenda—a quiet moment to thank the visiting souls for their presence, love, and guidance during these sacred days.

This is a time for gratitude and reflection, to honor not only the spirits we've welcomed but also the connections we've made—with Oaxaca, with one another, and with ourselves. The evening is yours to wander the candlelit streets one last time, enjoy a celebratory vegan dinner, or simply soak in the magic of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 5: COOKING CLASS WITH DAY OF THE DEAD RECIPES

Today, we’ll dive deep into the heart of Oaxacan culinary tradition with a hands-on vegan cooking class led by a local cocinera tradicional (traditional cook). Together, we’ll prepare some of the most iconic and symbolic dishes enjoyed during Día de los Muertos, all thoughtfully adapted to be fully plant-based without losing their cultural essence.

We’ll learn how to make rich and complex mole negro, often considered the soul of Oaxacan cuisine; and seasonal favorites like tamales, atole, and other ancestral recipes that are staples on Day of the Dead altars and family tables. We’ll also try a veganized version of pan de muerto, a sweet bread eaten during Day of the Dead.

As aromas fill the kitchen and stories are shared, you’ll not only gain new cooking skills—you’ll also deepen your connection to the rituals and meaning behind these beloved dishes. We’ll end the class by sitting down together to enjoy the fruits of our labor in a communal meal that feeds both body and spirit.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch