VEGAN ADVENTURE IN OAXACA, MEXICO

September 20th-27th 2026

A private tour of Oaxaca, Mexico nestled in a fertile valley of the Sierra Madre Sur Mountains. We’re taking you through Oaxaca City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, full of pre-Colombian indigenous culture, culinary traditions and the art of slow cooking, bustling markets overflowing with handcrafted treasures, and the aroma of fragrant mole wafting from street vendors. Beyond the city, ancient Zapotec ruins like Monte Albán and Mitla stand proudly, whispering tales of a rich cultural heritage. Immerse yourself in the local communities, where time and life seems to slow down. Witness the meticulous handcrafting of intricate alebrijes, fantastical mythical creatures carved from wood, and lose yourself in the rhythmic sounds of traditional music filling the air. All the while, we’ll be eating our way through the best vegan restaurants around the city. Allow us to show you our next favorite city in Mexico, but with a vegan lens.

Hotel: We will be staying at the beautiful Xtilu hotel.

What’s on the Itinerary?

DAY 1: WELCOME TO OAXACA

Our team will pick you up at Oaxaca International Airport (OAX). After some rest and relaxation, we will have a reservation confirmed at one of our favorite vegan restaurants for dinner.

Meals Included: None

DAY 2: GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF OAXACA CITY: HIDDEN GEMS AND DORA’S FAVORITE PLACES

10 AM to 5 PM: After breakfast and orientation, take a guided walking tour with Dora through Oaxaca City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and be mesmerized by the baroque architecture, bustling markets overflowing with handcrafted treasures, and the aroma of fragrant food and chocolate wafting from street vendors. We’ll take you through the charming cobblestone streets of Barrio Xochimilco (Oaxaca’s oldest neighborhood), hidden gems like the Museo Textil de Oaxaca, showcasing exquisite hand-woven textiles, art galleries, plazas and we’ll grab a vegan lunch and Oaxacan chocolate in the afternoon. Dinner will be recommended at one of our favorite taco places.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 3: ARCHEALOGICAL MYSTERIES OF MONTE ALBAN AND A VEGAN TASTING MENU

Let’s discover the mysteries of Monte Albán, the ancient Zapotec capital from 500 BCE perched on a mountaintop. Here, the ruins stand proudly, whispering tales of a rich cultural heritage. Learn about the Zapotecs way of life, explore the pyramids, tombs, and ball courts, and learn about the advanced civilization that thrived here and how they founded this city on top of the hills. In the late afternoon, meet up for coffee and a conversational Spanish class with a language instructor. In the evening, we’ll organize a fine dining vegan tasting menu at one of our favorite hidden restaurants with 8 courses and only 6 seats total. This is an intimate experience where you can chat with the chef and have the option of a wine pairing. Recipes are made with endemic produce and herbs from Oaxaca.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: PETRIFIED WATERFALLS AND BEAUTY OF HIERVE EL AGUA

6 AM: We set out into the heart of Oaxaca’s landscapes for an immersion in natural wonder at Hierve el Agua. Here, mineral-rich springs have, over thousands of years, sculpted cascadas petrificadas towering “frozen” waterfalls that spill down the cliffs. As we wander the site, we’ll pause to take in sweeping mountain vistas, shimmering valley light, and the surreal geometry of mineral pools perched at the edge of the escarpment. Bring your bathing suit if you want to dip into the springs. We’ll have lunch at a little local comedor with delicious tlacoyos. Afterwards, we’ll visit the ancient El Tule Tree and learn about its historical importance. Come back to the hotel and rest. An optional language class is available (perhaps around 5 to 6 PM) so you can have an early dinner and early night.

Meals Included: Breakfast items on the go and an early lunch

DAY 5: FEMALE ARTISANS OF OAXACA

10 AM to 5 PM: Today is one of our team’s favorite days because you get to meet female artisans from the Zapotec and Mixtec indigenous communities in their homes. We’ll make 4 stops in different homes learning about how these artists create textiles from dyes, plants and herbs, Oaxacan pottery, cacao and its importance to the Oaxacan people and an incredible home-cooked vegan lunch. This is a day full of admiration for women and their skills passed down from their grandmothers to their daughters. We’ll recommend a dinner spot for tonight.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 6: BOTANICAL GARDEN + VEGAN OAXACAN COOKING +

After breakfast, we suggest going to the botanical gardens and potentially having an hour language class before lunch. After lunch, we can start an early evening cooking class (approximately 3 hours) where you’ll learn to make Oaxacan classics, but veganized.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 7: SUGGESTED TO VISIT MITLA OR FRANCISCO TOLEDO ART CENTER + EVENING DANCE PERFORMANCE

Either take a morning half-day tour of the ruins of Mitla OR visit the Francisco Toledo art center. The exhibits themselves are simple and small, but the center itself is beautiful. Take some time to do some last minute shopping today. Suggested activity in the evening is to attend one of the hour long Guelagetza dance performance. We will suggest a goodbye dinner spot.

Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 8: AIRPORT DROP OFFS

In case you have a later flight, we can arrange for a language class at a cafe after hotel checkout.

To learn more about the trip, speak to a travel coordinator or reserve your spot, please fill out the form below. We will get back to you within 48 hours. 

Trip Cost in USD

TBD

What's Included

  • Pre-Departure Support (health, safety and cultural guide) & assistance with TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

  • Airport transferS

  • Accommodation

  • SOME MEALS AS INDICATED ABOVE

  • Local transporTation

  • TOUR GUIDE

  • LANGUAGE CLASSES (3 or 4)

  • COOKING CLASS

  • EntrancE AND Tickets to places of interest per itinerary WITH GUIDE