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This tour is 7 Days ex Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico
Tour Start date: October 27th, 2025
Tour End date: November 2nd, 2025
Group Size: Min 8 – Max 18 – SOLD OUT! (but check individual activity days for availability on tours) – Contact us for Waitlist opportunities – click here
*Space is limited! – This is an exclusive event in Oaxaca and only happens once a year. Thousands of other people will be in Oaxaca for the festivities – hotels in the area sell out quickly! Try to reserve as early as possible (6+ months in advance is suggested).
Want to learn more about Dia de los Muertos? Check out our extensive Oaxaca Day of the Dead in-depth guide for tips, history, and more!
Early Birdy tickets are $945 USD per person (only until May 31, 2025)
Regular tickets are $1050 USD per person
Inclusions & Exclusions are listed below.
We’ve combined all of our Day of the Dead experiences and tours into a full package, with a couple of bonuses, to get the most out of Dia de Los Muertos in Oaxaca!
| 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 | 7 days of activities |
| Physical Level | Moderate – Some activities involve minimal walking and moving around |
| Cultural Rating | Moderate – a good balance of cultural history, and engaging with locals. |
| Ages | 18+ (minors to be accompanied by adults/guardians) |
| Group Size | Public – Min 10, Max 18 |
This is a 7-day event – mixing all of our Oaxaca Day of the Dead tours and experiences into one complete (and discounted) package.
This is an exclusive dinner for guests who have bought the full package. It will be an opportunity to meet other members of your group, some of the Where Sidewalks End team, and start getting into the Dia de los Muertos mood! Throughout the week, each activity will include your group members, but also those who have bought only one or two activities. The people you share your dinner with tonight will be those who you will get to experience all of Day of the Dead with while in Oaxaca.
Timing: 6 PM – 8 PM
Transport: Not included – we will meet at the restaurant
Meals: Dinner & Drinks included
After the sun sets over Oaxaca’s historic center, embark on an enchanting Ghost Walk through its shadowy streets. Led by a local storyteller, this lighthearted city stroll will introduce you to Mexico’s most famous ghostly legends, from the Weeping Woman (La Llorona) to eerie tales of haunted convents and restless spirits that linger in Oaxaca’s colonial past. This immersive evening experience blends indigenous folklore with history, offering a unique and light-hearted perspective on the role of the dead in Mexican culture. Feel the atmosphere of the city at night, uncovering the mysteries that have been whispered through generations—an unforgettable way to begin your journey into Dia de los Muertos.
Timing: 8 PM – 9 PM
Transport: Not included – we will walk from the restaurant
Meals: n/a
Immerse yourself in the artistry of Catrine/Catrina makeup, a symbolic expression of the Day of the Dead. Select a design and let professional artists transform you, integrating you into the local culture. You will be in the famous Jalatlaco neighborhood, adorned with murals and cobblestone streets. Enjoy your transformed look in a setting that breathes history and art.
Timing: 10 AM – 3 PM (1 hour per session)
Transport: Not included – the studio is located in centro (central Oaxaca)
Meals: Not included as this is a short experience
More Details or book individually: Oaxaca Day of the Dead Makeup & Photos
After everyone is painted, and had some time to wander the streets, we will meet in the later afternoon for a scenic drive to the lush marigold fields. These beautiful blooms are a staple in Day of the Dead altars, symbolizing the fragility of life. Amid golden petals, the professional photoshoot begins, capturing the essence of the tradition and the beauty of the landscape. We will be here at dusk, when the marigold fields light up, for a contrast of both day and night photos and witnessing the beauty of the marigold fields transform from day to night.
Receive beautifully edited photos as a lasting keepsake within 3-4 weeks of the shoot.
Timing: 4 PM – 9 PM
Transport: Included – we meet at a central meeting point
Meals: Dinner is included
More Details or book individually: Oaxaca Day of the Dead Marigold Fields Tour
Dive into the world of Oaxacan artisans and their renowned marionette statues. Engage in a workshop dedicated to painting Day of the Dead ‘diablos’ masks, where local artists will guide you through the painting process, sharing stories of their craft. Explore the themes of mythology and cultural symbolism as you paint your own mask, gaining insight into its role in local celebrations. This personalized creation will be a unique souvenir and a gateway to local parades.
Timing: 9 AM – 1 PM
Transport: Not included – we can walk from a central meeting point today
Meals: Not included as this is a short experience between meal times
More Details or book individually: Oaxaca Day of the Dead Mask Making
Visit the archaeological wonder of Mitla, and understand its historical ties to the Day of the Dead. Wander through ancient Zapotec ruins and learn about their deep connection to ancestral spirits. Then, participate in an exclusive bakery workshop where you’ll engage in the art of decorating Pan de Muertos, a traditional bread. This interactive experience offers an authentic glimpse into the culinary customs that honor the departed.
Timing: 9 AM – 3 PM
Transport: Included – we meet at a central meeting point
Meals: Lunch will be included
More Details or book individually: Oaxaca Day of the Dead Mitla Tour
Embark on a culinary journey at the bustling 20 de Noviembre market. Discover exotic ingredients and local produce, essential to the Day of the Dead cuisine. Then, ascend to Muro for an immersive cooking class. Under the guidance of Chef Eduardo Vera, learn to create traditional dishes in a setting focused on culinary empowerment. This hands-on experience not only enhances your cooking skills but also deepens your understanding of Oaxacan food traditions.
Timing: 9 AM – 3 PM
Transport: Not included – we can walk from a central meeting point today
Meals: Lunch will be included (and prepared by you!)
More Details or book individually: Oaxaca Day of the Dead Cooking Class
Participate in a centuries-old cleansing ritual with multigenerational temazcal shamans in a tranquil village just outside Oaxaca City. This special Day of the Dead-themed ceremony is a chance to release negative energy, reconnect with your own spirit, and honor the traditions of those who came before us. Ideal before or after visiting Oaxaca’s cemeteries during the festivities, the temazcal offers a sacred space to reflect, heal, and celebrate life.
In this group ceremony, you’ll enter a traditional Mexican sweat lodge guided by experienced shamans who carry the knowledge of countless generations. Through a combination of heat, herbal steam, chants, and rituals, the temazcal is believed to cleanse the body, mind, and spirit. Tapping into practices rooted in ancestral wisdom, this experience becomes a profound way to connect with the rich cultural and spiritual traditions of the Day of the Dead.
Participation is not mandatory, though it will still be interesting to attend even if you don’t enter the temazcal.
Timing: 10 AM – 2 PM
Transport: Included (the village is 20 minutes outside the city)
Meals: Lunch
More Details or book individually: Oaxaca Day of the Dead Temazcal Experience
The afternoon and evening are free. You may wish to rest and reflect after the temazcal, though if you’ve got a second wind of energy in the evening, we highly suggest the parade in Jalatlaco neighbourhood, which starts around dusk, near the church found there.
Partake in a poignant visit to the Pantheon San Felipe del Agua. Your experience begins with a profound history talk, delving into the traditions and stories behind the Day of the Dead. Engage in an authentic local food tasting and participate in an intimate altar-building session, a practice of remembrance and respect. Witness the transformation of the cemetery at dusk, a time for reflection, connection, and honoring those who have passed.
Timing: 3 PM – 8 PM
Transport: Not included – this is a larger event, so guests are to meet at the event venue (10 mins taxi from centro)
Meals: Late lunch/early dinner is included
More Details or book individually: Oaxaca Day of the Dead Event
Your Takeaway:
This is more than just a tour, it’s a life-changing cultural experience. With the expertise of our WSE Tour Leaders, you’ll leave with a profound understanding of the connection Mexicans share with the afterlife, and to the traditions and celebrations of the Day of the Dead in Oaxaca.
Booking Information:
Spots fill up fast! To book your spot on this deep cultural journey, make your reservation on our website today!
Please note: There is no Dress Code! You will be visiting various local families, so dressing respectfully is appreciated. You don’t need to dress to impress – and costumes can be acceptable for certain activities, as long as done respectfully (no sexy nurse or soldier outfits please, only traditional Day of the Dead make-up, if you choose to). It is recommended to bring comfortable clothes, which are modest or tied to the theme of what we will be doing.
Day of the Dead face painting is included on October 28th, but not for other events or tours. If you plan to get this done on other days before the tours, we recommend scheduling a very early appointment with a makeup artist to give yourself enough time to finish the face paint and arrive at the meeting point on time. As this is a group tour, we will be leaving as close to the scheduled departure time as possible, considering the guests who arrived on time. Missed activities and tours (no-shows) are not refundable.
Oaxaca generally has hot days and fairly cool nights at this time of the year. It is not uncommon to get some rain as well.
– Jeans or long pants (this is most customary in Mexico, though shorts/dress are fine if you are most comfortable in that).
– Sneakers/comfortable shoes.
– Long sleeves
– Dresses are ok too – many choose to dress in local textiles during this event
– Bathing suit (for the temazcal sweat lodge)
– Cash. should you choose to buy any additional food, drinks, or souvenirs while on any of the tours. Also, ensuring you have enough for a taxi to and from your hotel and the meeting points, or on to the next party/event after is always a good idea. Only bring enough cash for what you think you will need, and leave the rest in your hotel room’s safe.
Your Ultimate Day of the Dead experience includes:
– information provided before your experience to educate you and properly prepare you for each tour, activity, and event
– a specially trained Mexican English-speaking host who will facilitate your experiences and activities
– transport between Oaxaca City and the activity points, as mentioned above
– meals, as mentioned above
– professional photos, where mentioned above (to be emailed to you after editing is done by the photographer, approximately 3-4 weeks after the event)
– Travel Insurance: compulsory, unless a liability waiver is signed – we recommend SafetyWing!
– International and Domestic flights to Oaxaca
– Accommodations in Oaxaca (due to space limitations and shortages for groups this time of year, guests are expected to have their own accommodations)
– Transportation to and from meeting points
– Alcoholic beverages (unless specified in an itinerary)
– Day of the Dead face-painting on days not mentioned
– Gratuities and tips
– Spending money if you wish to purchase additional drinks, food or souvenirs
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 (from Booking.com, Hotels.com, Agoda, etc.) and short-term home rentals (via VRBO and others), 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 most of the action in Centro Oaxaca.
Please note: accommodation fills up incredibly early for Day of the Dead. Hotels and home-stays often begin selling out as early as February, 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, you may need to stay further out — which isn’t always a bad thing, 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.
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.
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 guides, Ajarns (masters), and drivers — 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.
All bookings are subject to the following terms:
Your payment will be placed into a Lifetime Deposit (Safety Deposit Box). This can be:
Refunds are not available unless WSE Travel cancels your booking due to reasons beyond your control.
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.
The full cost of the tour is retained to pay the locals contracted in full. As this is a private experience, your local team’s time is fully dedicated to your session. 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.
Because life can be unpredictable — and because we are required to uphold our commitments to local partners — all guests must either:
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:
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.
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.
Maddie (verified owner) –
I had the best time during my week here in Oaxaca and all thanks to Ian and his amazing team that make the Day of the Dead experience so special! I have learnt so much and felt like I was a part of the culture and traditions here for a very special festival! Everyone was so open and welcoming and each day the experience was fun and taught me something new! Loved every minute and would do it all again!