Oaxaca Day of the Dead Traditional Makeup and Professional Photoshoot Experience

Transform yourself during the Day of the Dead

Early-bird tickets are $120 USD (only until April 20, 2026)
Regular tickets are $135 USD

Dates: November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026
Bookings: Max 27 per day, limited spaces available

Connect with the Day of the Dead in Oaxaca through traditional-style facepaint and professional photos

Item	Details
Meeting Point	Central Meeting Point, in Oaxaca City. To be emailed before the event.
End Point	Central End Point in Oaxaca City. Same as the meeting point.
Duration	Approximately 1 to 1.5 hours
Physical Level	Low – This experience involves minimal walking, approximately 10 minutes
Cultural Rating	Low – Engaging with locals, with a little history and interaction
Ages	18+ (minors to be accompanied by adults or guardians)
Group Size	Public – Max 27 people per day

Why We Created This Experience

We created this experience for travelers who want to connect with Day of the Dead in a way that feels visual, respectful, and rooted in Oaxaca itself. Facepaint can easily become shallow when removed from local context, so we wanted to offer something shaped by local artists who understand the season and the visual traditions surrounding it.

This experience is not only about looking different for an evening. It is about stepping into a version of the season that is guided by local hands, supported by professional photography, and framed in a way that helps guests approach the tradition with more care.

Our goal is for you to leave with more than a dramatic look and a few nice images. We want you to come away with a stronger connection to the season, a respectful transformation, and professional photographs that capture that moment well.

What Makes This Experience Different

Many facepaint services during Muertos are treated as quick cosmetic appointments. This experience is different because it is designed as a complete, locally guided session that combines traditional-style makeup with professional photography in one streamlined format.

The artists do not only apply makeup well. They also work from within the visual world of Oaxaca’s Day of the Dead season, helping guests choose looks that feel more connected to the tradition rather than random costume ideas.

It also helps that the experience is efficient without feeling rushed. In a relatively short session, you can be fully transformed, professionally photographed, and ready to continue into the rest of your Muertos plans with a strong visual memory already captured.

What to Expect During Your Session

This experience is offered on November 1 and November 2, 2026. It is designed as a scheduled session rather than a long day tour, so each booking fits into a dedicated 1 to 1.5 hour time slot.

Each time slot can accommodate 1 to 3 people. Booking 1 session means it is for 1 person only, so larger groups should make sure they reserve enough sessions for everyone in the group.

Your appointment begins with a 30-minute professional makeup session. With the help of a makeup book and the artists’ guidance, you can choose from a range of traditional Day of the Dead inspired looks that feel appropriate to the season and to your own style.

After makeup, you move into the professional photo session. This part is designed to capture the transformation while it is still fresh and polished, resulting in five edited high-quality images that you can keep long after the season has ended.

We recommend arriving already dressed in any costume elements or themed clothing you want to wear, since changing after the makeup can be difficult. Additional accessories such as headdresses, gems, and flower crowns may also be available for purchase at the studio if you want to build out the look further.

Please note: Edited photos are not delivered immediately. This timing often gets overlooked, so we want to be very clear here: the 3 to 4 week delivery estimate is accurate. During Muertos, the photographer is working through thousands of images from the season, and careful editing takes time. We appreciate your patience.

Because this is a scheduled-session experience, appointments are intended to begin as close to the reserved time as possible, but delays can occasionally happen for reasons outside our control. It is smart to leave a little extra time around your booking rather than planning your next activity too tightly.

Is this experience right for me?

This experience is best suited for travelers who want a polished visual Day of the Dead session that still feels respectful and locally grounded.

It is a strong fit for guests who want professional makeup and photos before attending cemeteries, parades, dinners, or other Muertos events later in the day.

It is less suited to travelers expecting instant photo delivery or those who prefer a more spontaneous, unstructured experience. Showing up on time and allowing the editing process to run its course will help everything go much more smoothly.

What to Bring to the Oaxaca Day of the Dead Facepaint and Photo Experience

Oaxaca usually has warm days and cooler nights during this season, and rain is still possible. The most important thing is wearing something comfortable and appropriate for photos.

• Comfortable clothes or themed attire
  Traditional outfits, dresses, local textiles, or modest costume elements can all work well if done respectfully.
• Comfortable shoes
  You do not need anything formal, but practical footwear is always a good idea.
• A light layer
  Useful if the evening cools down after your session.
• Cash in Mexican pesos
  Helpful if you want to buy extra costume elements, flowers, food, drinks, or pay for a taxi to your next stop.

Please note: There is no strict dress code. If you plan to visit cemeteries or attend one of our other Day of the Dead events afterward, dressing respectfully is appreciated. Theme-based outfits can work very well, but novelty costumes are not appropriate.

What Is Included with the Oaxaca Day of the Dead Makeup Experience?

• Information provided before your experience
  Helpful details are shared in advance so you can prepare properly.
• Specially trained Oaxacan English-speaking hosts
  Your hosts facilitate the makeup and photo experience from start to finish.
• Day of the Dead face-painting
  Your makeup session is completed by local artists using traditional-style inspiration.
• Professional photos
  Five edited photos are included and will be emailed after the photographer completes editing, usually about 3 to 4 weeks after the event.

What Is Not Included When on Your Day of the Dead Experience?

• Travel insurance (or a signed Liability Form)
  Compulsory for all guests. We recommend SafetyWing Nomad Insurance.

• International flights
  Flights to and from Oaxaca are not included.
• Transportation
  Transport to the meeting point and back from the endpoint is not included.
• Accommodation in Oaxaca
  Lodging before or after the experience is not included.
• Alcoholic beverages
  Alcohol is not included.
• Extra costume elements or accessories
  Optional add-ons such as crowns, gems, or extra styling pieces are not included.
• Gratuities
  Tips for the artists, photographer, or hosts are not included.
• Personal spending money
  Bring extra cash if you would like additional food, accessories, or anything not listed above.

Ready to Book Your Place?

This experience is offered on November 1 and November 2, 2026.

Early-bird tickets are $120 USD until April 20, 2026. After that, regular tickets are $135 USD.

Because this experience only runs during the Day of the Dead period and Oaxaca fills quickly, we strongly recommend reserving your session and your accommodation as early as possible.

Please note: Photo delivery normally takes about 3 to 4 weeks. This is accurate and expected due to the large Muertos editing workload each season.

Our other Muertos experiences

Need a place to stay for Day of the Dead in Oaxaca?

To make things easier, we’ve created an interactive map below to help you explore accommodation options in and around Oaxaca City during this sacred and celebrated time. The map is pre-set for the week of Day of the Dead, though you can adjust your travel dates and number of guests to suit your trip. It displays both hotels and short-term rentals so you can compare availability, location, and reviews at a glance. We’ve also pinned a central point that marks the meeting location for most of our group events. The closer you stay to this marker, the easier it will be to access our experiences and much of the activity in Centro Oaxaca.

Please note: accommodation fills up incredibly early for Day of the Dead. Hotels and home stays often begin selling out many months in advance, with prices rising sharply as the dates approach. Booking as far in advance as possible is highly recommended to avoid limited choices or higher rates. If accommodations near the pin are no longer available, staying a little farther out can still work well, especially for a quieter night’s rest.

Please double-check the currency displayed, as it may vary depending on your device settings or the website you’re viewing.

Supporting Local Projects with our TRiP Foundation

For every TRiP that you go on with WSE Travel, we will donate 2% of the total sales price to an environmental or community-based project in the country you’re visiting. We want to ensure that every guest we help, in turn, helps support and preserve the destination we’re experiencing together as a direct result. We live by an ethos to Travel Responsibly & Impact Positively (TRiP).

For more information on the projects supported by this experience, please visit our Mexico TRIP projects.

Cancellation & Rebooking Policy

All tours, services, and experiences booked through WSE Travel are bound to our Terms and Conditions, which were modeled after most other travel services such as flights, hotels, and other tour operators.

At Where Sidewalks End, your reservation is more than a transaction. It’s a direct contract with local professionals who rely on this work as a primary source of income. As such, we are obligated to honor the livelihoods of our local partners, including artists, photographers, and hosts, who dedicate their time exclusively to your experience.

In many of the destinations where we operate, labor protections and fair wage commitments are upheld by local laws, and we are both ethically and contractually required to adhere to them. Once a booking is confirmed, the service providers committed to your experience are financially compensated for reserving their time, even in the event of cancellation. This ensures fair and dignified treatment for all involved in delivering your experience.

If You Need to Cancel or Reschedule

All bookings are subject to the following terms:

More than 14 Days’ Notice

Your payment will be placed into a Lifetime Deposit (Safety Deposit Box). This can be:

• Used for a future date
• Transferred to a friend or family member

Refunds are not available unless WSE Travel cancels your booking due to reasons beyond your control.

7–14 Days’ Notice

A 50% rebooking fee will apply. This helps offset the compensation obligations to your dedicated team of local guides and service providers, who have reserved their day exclusively for your private tour and may not be able to secure alternate work with us or others on short notice.

Less than 7 Days’ Notice

The full cost of the tour is retained to pay the locals contracted in full. As this is a scheduled session experience, your local team’s time is fully dedicated to your reservation. A new team will be hired for any future rebooking.

These policies are a compassionate extension of our official Terms & Conditions, designed to support both our guests and the ethical standards of responsible tourism.

Travel Insurance or Liability Waiver Required

Because life can be unpredictable, and because we are required to uphold our commitments to local partners, all guests must either:

• Provide proof of comprehensive travel insurance, or
• Sign a Liability Waiver Form at the start of their trip

We highly recommend SafetyWing Nomad Insurance, trusted by global travelers for its flexible, affordable coverage and very competitive rates.

Travel insurance can help protect you from financial losses related to:

• Illness
• Missed flights
• Emergency cancellations
• Non-refundable bookings

If you choose to travel without Travel Insurance, you will be required to fill out a Liability Waiver Form at the beginning of your trip. 

Thank You for Traveling Responsibly

We deeply appreciate your understanding and support of ethical tourism. Your booking directly sustains local communities and helps preserve cultural traditions in a meaningful and lasting way.

If you have any questions or need help rescheduling, please contact us – we’re always happy to assist.