Day of the Dead Celebration in Oaxaca
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Overview
Day of the Dead is a Mexican celebration honoring the ancestors, coinciding with the Catholic celebration of All Souls Day. The celebration includes everything from clean and decorate the graves with colorful flowers, bring food, enjoy chocolate, pan de muerto.
In Oaxaca it will be held from October 31 to November 1.
The pick up is outside the "Ethnobotanical Garden" at 4:40 pm
The drop-off will be in your hotel.
Please be on time at the meeting point. Our guide will provide all the necessary information.
In case you want your face to be painted please get in contact with us as soon as possible to check availability and scedule you an appointment. We count with limited space.
In Oaxaca it will be held from October 31 to November 1.
The pick up is outside the "Ethnobotanical Garden" at 4:40 pm
The drop-off will be in your hotel.
Please be on time at the meeting point. Our guide will provide all the necessary information.
In case you want your face to be painted please get in contact with us as soon as possible to check availability and scedule you an appointment. We count with limited space.
Inclusions
- Local guide
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Jardin Etnobotanico de Oaxaca, Reforma esquina Constitucion Centro, Oaxaca 68000 Mexico
We will begin the tour with the pick up at Reforma , RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax. as a reference (Infront of the entrance of "El JARDIN ETNOBOTANICO"
The departure time will be 5:00 p.m.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Barrio de Jalatlaco, 68080 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
The firt stop in this tour will be "Barrio de Jalatlaco". One of the most colorful neighborhood where flowers, chopped paper, calacas and catrinas invite visitors to enjoy the fest.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Panteon General, 5 De Febrero, Oaxaca Mexico
Next, We will head to "El panteon general" one the most antique cementaries in Oaxaca city, where you will witness a stong symbolism in which local people take flowes, incense, and many other things to their love ones that has passed away.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Camino Viejo Al Panteón, Cam. Viejo Al Panteón, Agencia de Policia Aguayo, 71232 Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oax., Mexico
Our last stop will be in two other cementeries located in Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán. We will take a candle and flowers to the graves as "an ofrenda" doing this with a lot of respect. In this endearing tradition you will withness the band music playing the magic smell of the cempansuchitl flowers.
Duration: 3 hours
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Jardin Etnobotanico de Oaxaca, Reforma esquina Constitucion Centro, Oaxaca 68000 Mexico
We will begin the tour with the pick up at Reforma , RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax. as a reference (Infront of the entrance of "El JARDIN ETNOBOTANICO"
The departure time will be 5:00 p.m.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Barrio de Jalatlaco, 68080 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
The firt stop in this tour will be "Barrio de Jalatlaco". One of the most colorful neighborhood where flowers, chopped paper, calacas and catrinas invite visitors to enjoy the fest.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Panteon General, 5 De Febrero, Oaxaca Mexico
Next, We will head to "El panteon general" one the most antique cementaries in Oaxaca city, where you will witness a stong symbolism in which local people take flowes, incense, and many other things to their love ones that has passed away.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Camino Viejo Al Panteón, Cam. Viejo Al Panteón, Agencia de Policia Aguayo, 71232 Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oax., Mexico
Our last stop will be in two other cementeries located in Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán. We will take a candle and flowers to the graves as "an ofrenda" doing this with a lot of respect. In this endearing tradition you will withness the band music playing the magic smell of the cempansuchitl flowers.
Duration: 3 hours
Time of tour
05:00 PM
Meeting point
Reforma 200B, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
Additional information
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- The dress code is casual wear sweater considers that it is cold
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers
- Face masks required for travelers in public areas
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Social distancing enforced throughout experience
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Regular temperature checks for staff
- Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival
- Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
- We ask you to wear the mask at all times.
Exclusions
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Pioneer795200
November 2019
Husband and I went to the Day of the Dead celebration Oaxaca and booked this tour for 11-2-19. The bus arrived late and there was no face painting offered as advertised. It was a husband and wife team, Gabriel and Gabriela, driver Jose. 8pm on 11-2. We were taken to one cemetery which was a bea...
Husband and I went to the Day of the Dead celebration Oaxaca and booked this tour for 11-2-19. The bus arrived late and there was no face painting offered as advertised. It was a husband and wife team, Gabriel and Gabriela, driver Jose. 8pm on 11-2. We were taken to one cemetery which was a beautiful and wonderful experience. Then were hurried out after 45 minutes to go to "a village" to see their DOTD celebration. We were under the impression that we would go to other cemeteries. We drove about 45 min to an hour and kept driving down these dead end roads and the bus would turn around. No one was saying anything to those of us on the tour. My husband finally asked what was wrong and he was told that they were "given the wrong address" but that we would be to this other "village" in 5 minutes. The bus then took us to this rowdy "celebration" in a very seedy "village." We were marched down a dark road and ended up in the midst of a drunken crowd. People were so piled up that we could see nothing and could not get close. We all opted to do this over staying at the wonderful Zocalo for their DOTD celebration bc we thought this would be something great. Aside from the first cemetery, it was awful!!! It was my husband's first time there and that ruined the night for him. Everyone on our bus was very uncomfortable and were put in a bad situation and 2 ladies left and walked back to the tour bus out of fear. At this point we observed the tour guide, Gabriela, on the phone frantically talking to someone and neither guide was monitoring or helping us. No one provided us any bathroom stops or even told us where they were. And finally, we were all so uncomfortable, males there included, that we all got together and asked to be taken back to the Zocalo. Run from these people!! They ruined it for us all!!natalieface1
November 2019
Arrived at 7pm for the free face painting, nobody was there, found someone to ask and they sent us to a regular face painter in the market which we had to pay for as they had nothing to do with the tour. We left 15 minutes late, then went to a cemetery (which was a great experience). No candle ...
Arrived at 7pm for the free face painting, nobody was there, found someone to ask and they sent us to a regular face painter in the market which we had to pay for as they had nothing to do with the tour. We left 15 minutes late, then went to a cemetery (which was a great experience). No candle or flowers were provided to make an offering, we weren’t taken to any home altars, weren’t shown sugar skulls or pan de Muertos as advertised. Drove an hour to a village to see a parade but couldn’t really see anything, the village was different to the one we were originally to go to. Better parades in Oaxaca central without paying for a tour. The guide was very friendly and informative, but all we really got out of it was one cemetery visit.c2nit
November 2018
We went to Oaxaca specifically for the Day of the Dead. Having experienced parade after parade, musical groups of every type, and beautiful alters throughout the Centro Oaxaca, we went to two different cemeteries. One was out in the outskirts and was very subdued with a small amounts of music a...
We went to Oaxaca specifically for the Day of the Dead. Having experienced parade after parade, musical groups of every type, and beautiful alters throughout the Centro Oaxaca, we went to two different cemeteries. One was out in the outskirts and was very subdued with a small amounts of music and a more reflective attitude. The other was in Xoxotlan and was larger with more of a party atmosphere with elbow to elbow people and many musical groups. Each cemetery though, contained beautifully decorated graves with flowers, candles, and offerings with many family members gathered around. Either way, you feel the presence. Paint your face! It's the way to go!!!Excursion798335
November 2018
Years ago I spent a memorable Day of the Dead in a village in the state of Michoacan where families spent the night in a small cemetery communing with their deceased relatives. The holiday in Oaxaca is a very different experience: 2 parts Halloween and 1 part tradition. It's one big weeklong pa...
Years ago I spent a memorable Day of the Dead in a village in the state of Michoacan where families spent the night in a small cemetery communing with their deceased relatives. The holiday in Oaxaca is a very different experience: 2 parts Halloween and 1 part tradition. It's one big weeklong party, with music, dancing, parades, and general merriment. For me, an older person, one or two nights of fun and frolic are more than enough. One can always go to one of the neighboring villages to see something more "authentic," but the presence of so many tourists touring the cemeteries is a bit distracting. Fun-loving twenty- and thirty-somethings will have a blast in Oaxaca. People in search of authentic cultural traditions would do better researching other areas of Mexico. All that said, Oaxaca is a wonderful place to visit -- easy to walk around, full of terrific eateries, home to fabulous markets, and for North American pocketbooks, a very affordable town.dagpel
November 2018
On the Day of the Dead - Dia de Muertes - families honor their dead family members. Shrines are built on the ground or elevated a bit, and decorated mainly with hundreds of marigolds. Bread, fruits and vegetables are added, and the photos of the dead are displayed at the head of the shrines. St...
On the Day of the Dead - Dia de Muertes - families honor their dead family members. Shrines are built on the ground or elevated a bit, and decorated mainly with hundreds of marigolds. Bread, fruits and vegetables are added, and the photos of the dead are displayed at the head of the shrines. Streets are lined with strings of paper marigolds, all the stores and restaurants are decked in orange marigolds for the occation. Parades are too numerous to count, and everyone participates. Adults and children are dressed up in ghouly costumes, and faces painted. Tourists delight in having their faces painted as well. In some of the villages around Oaxaca, families give small loaves of bread to everyone who visits, including tourists, and they have the mezcal ready for everyone. The most moving event is the visit to the cemetery. Families gather on the graves sharing food and drink with their deceased, offering huge bouquets of marigolds and burning candles throughout the night. The cemeteries look like a sea of lights. Bands are making traditional music, people sing, and it gives a festive, wonderful feeling. Outside the cemetery gates the streets are lined with stands of food, drink, and souvenirs. Night becomes day. Near one of the churches costumes are paraded and judged. Those in costumes tell the crowd the symbolism of their costumes and how they made it. Treat yourself, visit Oaxaca at the end of October and beginning of November and celebrate. It certainly gives death and dying a different meaning!Rachel N
November 2018
It seems like this is the first time they have run this tour and it showed. There were three of us, speaking little Spanish so thought an English speaking guide would be a great way to understand the traditions of Day of the Dead, however our tour guide was not English speaking, as advertised, an...
It seems like this is the first time they have run this tour and it showed. There were three of us, speaking little Spanish so thought an English speaking guide would be a great way to understand the traditions of Day of the Dead, however our tour guide was not English speaking, as advertised, and spoke Spanish the entire trip. The atmosphere was chaotic at the locations however this would have been the case if we had chosen to go to these places ourselves. Although it did feel like we were rushed through the places to get them ticked off the list and if we were to do it again we would just get a taxi, so we could travel at a more leisurely pace. The flowers, tamales, hot chocolate, day of the dead bread, mezcal and cup on string and candle were a nice touch. The guides were well intentioned and if we could recommend any improvements it would be to have less people per guide (approx. 20 people per guide on our trip) to reduce chaotic feel and more personalised experience. 2 guides per minivan would be ideal with at least one English speaking.