Ultimate Oaxaca Day of the Dead Experience

7 Days of Cultural Activities

Early-bird tickets are $1050 USD (only until April 20, 2026)
Regular tickets are $1250 USD

Tour Start Date: October 27, 2026
Tour End Date: November 2, 2026
Group Size: Min 8, Max 18

This is our most complete Day of the Dead package in Oaxaca, combining many of our signature Muertos activities into one immersive week.

Spend a full week in Oaxaca during Day of the Dead, with crafts, food, marigolds, cemetery traditions, and local guidance throughout.

Item	Details
Meeting Point	Central Meeting Point, in Oaxaca City. Shared automatically before the experience.
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 or guardians)
Group Size	Public – Min 8, Max 18

Why We Created This Experience

We created this package for travelers who want more than one isolated Day of the Dead activity. Oaxaca during Muertos unfolds over many days, across workshops, markets, flowers, food, cemetery gatherings, and quieter moments in between. The deeper meaning of the season comes through more clearly when you follow that rhythm over time.

This full-week experience brings many of those layers together in one route. Rather than trying to piece together separate events on your own, you move through the season with local guidance and a group of fellow travelers experiencing the same journey beside you.

Our goal is for guests to leave not only with strong memories of individual events, but with a broader understanding of how Oaxaca prepares for, celebrates, and reflects during Day of the Dead as a whole.

What Makes This Package Different

Many visitors only catch one side of Muertos in Oaxaca, often a cemetery visit or a single evening event. This package is different because it follows the season across multiple forms of cultural expression. You move from storytelling and welcome rituals, into makeup and marigold fields, then into crafts, food, ancient ruins, ceremonial cleansing, and one of the most meaningful cemetery gatherings of the week.

It also balances larger shared moments with more intimate ones. Some days are social and festive. Others are slower, more reflective, or more hands-on. That range is part of what makes the week feel complete.

Because the package draws from several of our individual Muertos experiences, it offers better value than booking many of them separately while also giving the week a stronger narrative flow.

Day-by-Day Itinerary for the Ultimate Oaxaca Day of the Dead Experience

This is a 7-day package that combines many of our Oaxaca Day of the Dead experiences into one complete week.

October 27, 2026
Welcome Dinner

Your week begins with an exclusive welcome dinner for guests booked on the full package. This is a chance to meet the rest of your group, connect with members of the WSE team, and settle into Oaxaca together before the busier Muertos days begin.
Timing: 6 PM to 8 PM
Transport: Not included. We meet at the restaurant.
Meals: Dinner and drinks included

Ghost Walk

After dinner, continue into Oaxaca’s historic center for a lighthearted ghost walk led by a local storyteller. This evening introduces some of Mexico’s best-known legends and offers a useful cultural bridge into the days ahead.
Timing: 8 PM to 9 PM
Transport: Not included. We walk from the restaurant.
Meals: n/a

October 28, 2026
Makeup and Marigold Fields Experience

The day begins with a traditional Day of the Dead makeup session and professional photos. Local artists transform guests using seasonal designs that feel connected to Oaxaca’s Muertos traditions, rather than costume-only styling. Makeup is included on this day only within the full package.
Timing: Morning and early afternoon, by assigned session
Transport: Not included. The studio is in Oaxaca City.
Meals: Not included during the makeup session

Later in the day, we regroup and head to the marigold fields, where you will learn more about the symbolism of cempasúchil and experience the flowers in the landscapes where they are grown. A professional photographer documents the afternoon and evening. Please note that edited photos are delivered later, normally around 3 to 4 weeks after the event, as the photographer works through thousands of Muertos images each season.
Timing: 4 PM to 9 PM
Transport: Included from the central meeting point
Meals: Dinner included

October 29, 2026
Mask-Making Experience

Spend the morning with local artisans, painting a papier-mâché Day of the Dead mask and learning more about the role of masks, folklore, and symbolic imagery in Oaxaca’s seasonal celebrations. It is a hands-on, creative day that adds another layer to the week.
Timing: 9 AM to 1 PM
Transport: Not included. This day is walkable from a central meeting point.
Meals: Not included

October 30, 2026
Mitla and Pan de Muertos Experience

Travel out to Mitla, the ancient City of the Dead, and learn why it remains one of the most symbolically relevant sites to visit during this season. Later, take part in a Pan de Muertos workshop that brings the culinary side of remembrance into the day in a more personal way.
Timing: 9 AM to 3 PM
Transport: Included from the central meeting point
Meals: Lunch included

October 31, 2026
Cooking Class and Market Visit Experience

Explore the market, learn about ingredients tied to Oaxacan food traditions, and then move into a hands-on cooking class centered on dishes strongly associated with the season and the region. This day is one of the best for understanding how memory and hospitality come together through food.
Timing: 9 AM to 3 PM
Transport: Not included. This day is walkable from a central meeting point.
Meals: Lunch included, prepared by the group with local guidance

November 1, 2026
Ancestral Temazcal Experience

Participate in a traditional temazcal led by multigenerational shamans in a village just outside the city. This ceremony offers a quieter, more reflective part of the week. Participation inside the temazcal is optional, but attending the day is still worthwhile even if you choose not to enter the lodge itself.
Timing: 10 AM to 2 PM
Transport: Included
Meals: Lunch included

The afternoon and evening are free. Many guests choose to rest after the temazcal, while others continue into evening festivities in Oaxaca at their own pace.

November 2, 2026
Pantheon San Felipe del Agua Experience

The final major event of the package brings the week into one of Oaxaca’s most meaningful Day of the Dead gatherings. You begin with context, food, and altar-building, then continue into the cemetery atmosphere at San Felipe del Agua as the light changes and remembrance becomes visible all around you.
Timing: 3 PM to 8 PM
Transport: Not included. Guests meet at the venue.
Meals: Late lunch or early dinner included

November 3, 2026
Departure Day

No activities are included on this day. Guests can depart Oaxaca, relax, or choose to extend their stay with an additional Muertos experience.

Is This Package Right for Me?

This package is best suited for travelers who want a fuller, more connected Day of the Dead week rather than one isolated activity.

It is a strong fit for guests who enjoy a balance of crafts, food, flowers, storytelling, ceremonies, and cemetery traditions, and who like the idea of moving through the season with the same group over several days.

It is less suited to travelers looking for total flexibility every day, since the value of the package comes from following the week’s shared schedule.

What to Bring to the Ultimate Oaxaca Day of the Dead Experience

Oaxaca generally has warm days and cooler nights at this time of year, and rain is still possible. A little preparation will make the week much more comfortable.

• Comfortable clothing
  Jeans, long pants, dresses, or local textiles all work well. Dressing respectfully is appreciated throughout the week.
• Comfortable shoes
  Expect some walking across different neighborhoods, sites, and activity spaces.
• A light layer
  Cooler evenings are common during this season.
• Bathing suit and towel
  Needed for the temazcal day if you plan to participate inside the lodge.
• Cash in Mexican pesos
  Useful for taxis to and from meeting points, personal purchases, extra drinks, and souvenirs.

Please note: Day of the Dead face painting is included on October 28 only. If you choose to arrange face painting on any other day, please book it early enough that you do not risk missing your group departure. Missed activities and no-shows are not refundable.

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

• Pre-trip information and preparation notes
  Helpful details are shared before the week begins.
• Specially trained Oaxacan English-speaking hosts
  Your hosts help guide the group through the full week.
• The full activity lineup listed above
  Including the welcome dinner, ghost walk, makeup day, marigold fields, mask-making, Mitla, Pan de Muertos workshop, cooking class, temazcal, and San Felipe del Agua event.
• Transport where specified in the itinerary
  Some days are included, while others are walkable or self-arrival.
• Meals where specified in the itinerary
  Included according to the schedule above.
• Professional photos where specified
  These are normally delivered about 3 to 4 weeks after the event, once the photographer finishes editing the full Muertos season workload.

What Is Not Included During Your Day of the Dead Experience?

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

• International and domestic flights
  Flights to and from Oaxaca are not included.
• Accommodation in Oaxaca
  Lodging is not included, due to limited group availability during this time of year.
• Transportation to and from meeting points
  Only transport specifically mentioned in the itinerary is included.
• Alcoholic beverages
  Unless specifically listed in the itinerary, alcohol is not included.
• Day of the Dead face painting on days other than October 28
  This would need to be arranged separately.
• Gratuities
  Tips for guides, drivers, artists, cooks, photographers, or workshop hosts are not included.
• Personal spending money
  Bring extra cash if you would like additional food, drinks, flowers, mezcal, or souvenirs.

Want to Stay One More Day?

For guests extending their stay through November 3, we strongly recommend considering our Muertos Mezcal Experience as a post-package extension. It is not part of the 7-day package, but it is one of the most special follow-on experiences we offer during the season.

You will take part in a once-a-year ceremonial mezcal distillation using Muertos altar ingredients and bring home a bottle of the batch you helped create.

Ready to Book Your Place?

This package runs from October 27 to November 2, 2026.

Early-bird tickets are $1050 USD until April 20, 2026. After that, regular tickets are $1250 USD.

Because this is our most complete Day of the Dead package and Oaxaca fills very early for the season, we strongly recommend booking both your package place and your accommodation as soon as your travel plans are confirmed.

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 may 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 guides, drivers, workshop hosts, and artists, 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 60 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.

30 to 59 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 dates exclusively for your package and may not be able to secure alternate work with us or others on short notice.

Less than 30 Days’ Notice

The full cost of the package is retained to pay the locals contracted in full. As this is a multi-day group experience, your local team’s time is fully dedicated to your reservation.

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.