| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Meeting Point | Central meeting point in Oaxaca City |
| End Point | Return to the central meeting point in Oaxaca City |
| Duration | Approximately 6 hours |
| Physical Level | Low to Moderate – includes walking and standing during the evening cemetery visit |
| Cultural Rating | High – the evening is centered around time with a local family and their Día de Muertos traditions |
| Ages | 18+ – younger guests may join with parent or guardian supervision |
| Group Size | Public – Min 8, Max 18 |
Why We Created This Día de Muertos Experience
We believe Día de Muertos becomes far more meaningful when you understand it through the families who celebrate it, rather than experiencing it only through decorations, public events, or a quick visit to a cemetery.
That is why this experience is built around spending the evening with one local family in Santo Tomás Jalieza. You begin in their home, sharing dinner and learning what November 2 means to them before accompanying the family to the cemetery as they join relatives and their wider community.
Our goal is to give you a more grounded understanding of Día de Muertos as something lived between generations: through family, food, memory, music, and time spent together. You are entering an evening that belongs first to the people celebrating it, with your hosts and local guide helping you understand what is being shared with you.
What Makes This Día de Muertos Experience Different
Many Día de Muertos tours are designed around seeing as many cemeteries, villages, or public celebrations as possible in one evening. This experience takes a different approach. Instead of moving quickly between stops, you spend your time with one family in one community.
The evening begins around the family’s table. Sharing dinner gives you time to meet your hosts, hear how they understand the traditions of November 2, and ask questions before entering the cemetery. By the time you arrive there, you already have a personal connection to the people you are accompanying.
That changes the experience. You are not simply arriving at a cemetery to observe people you do not know. You are accompanying a family who has invited you into part of their evening, meeting other relatives and experiencing the gathering with greater context for what is happening around you.
This is also why we ask guests to arrive with an open mind. The evening follows the real rhythm of a family and community celebration rather than a performance created for visitors. Music, conversations, gatherings, and the atmosphere at the cemetery can naturally change from one year to another.
What to Expect During the Evening
Your evening begins in Oaxaca City, where you will meet your local guide and travel south to Santo Tomás Jalieza. The community is approximately 40 minutes from Oaxaca City under normal traffic conditions, although travel times during Día de Muertos can vary.
Once you arrive, your first stop is the home of your local hosts. Before going to the cemetery, you will sit down together for dinner. The meal creates time to get to know the family and hear directly from them about the traditions they follow on November 2.
Rather than beginning the evening surrounded by crowds and unfamiliar customs, you first have a chance to ask questions and understand more about what the family will be doing later. Your guide can help with translation and additional context throughout the evening.
After dinner, you will accompany the family to the municipal cemetery, where you will meet more of their relatives and spend part of the evening together. November 2 is a time when residents of Santo Tomás Jalieza visit the graves of family members, bringing people together at the cemetery through remembrance, food, conversation, and music.
Your hosts will share snacks and drinks with you during the gathering. The emphasis is on spending time together rather than following a tightly scheduled series of activities, allowing you to experience how the evening naturally unfolds around the family.
Music is part of Santo Tomás Jalieza’s documented November 2 cemetery tradition, and the evening may include live musicians and dancing as families gather. These are community-led elements rather than performances arranged by WSE, so the exact atmosphere and activities can vary from year to year.
This distinction is important. The experience is designed to give you access through invitation and context, while allowing the community’s own celebration to remain at the center of the evening.
At the end of the evening, you will say goodbye to your hosts and travel back to Oaxaca City, returning to the original meeting area.
If spending Día de Muertos with one family in Santo Tomás Jalieza sounds like the kind of experience you are looking for, you can reserve your place using the booking section at the top of this page.
Why Santo Tomás Jalieza Matters
Santo Tomás Jalieza is a Zapotec community in Oaxaca’s Valles Centrales, south of Oaxaca City. The village is especially known for its longstanding tradition of cotton textiles woven on the telar de cintura, or backstrap loom, although this particular experience is focused on the family’s Día de Muertos traditions rather than textile production.
November 2 has its own importance here. Residents have traditionally gathered at the municipal cemetery to visit the graves of family members, with food and traditional music forming part of the communal gathering.
For this experience, what matters most is that you are not visiting Jalieza simply because a celebration happens there. You are entering through a relationship with a family who lives in the community. You eat in their home first, learn from them, and then accompany them when they join relatives at the cemetery.
That family connection gives the evening its context. The cemetery, music, food, and gatherings are no longer disconnected things to photograph or check off a list; they become parts of a tradition you have had time to understand through the people sharing it with you.
Is This Tour Right for Me?
This experience works well for travelers who want to understand Día de Muertos through the people who celebrate it and who are comfortable participating as respectful guests in a family and community setting.
It is especially suited to travelers who prefer depth over the number of places visited. Instead of moving between several villages or cemeteries, you remain connected to one family throughout the evening and have more opportunity to understand what is happening around you.
You do not need prior knowledge of Día de Muertos. Curiosity, respect, and a willingness to listen are far more important. Your local guide and hosts are there to provide context and help you engage with the evening appropriately.
The experience is designed primarily for adults. Guests must normally be 18 or older, although younger travelers may join when accompanied and supervised by a parent or legal guardian.
You should also be comfortable allowing the night to follow the natural pace of the family and community. This is a real Día de Muertos gathering rather than a staged production, and some elements may unfold differently from year to year.
What to Bring
You do not need specialized equipment for the evening, but a few simple preparations will help you stay comfortable and participate respectfully.
- Comfortable clothing appropriate for the weather
Much of the experience takes place during the evening. Check the forecast before departure and bring an extra layer if conditions are expected to be cool. - Comfortable closed-toe shoes
Sneakers or walking shoes are strongly recommended for the cemetery visit. Please avoid sandals. - Cash for optional purchases
Bring some Mexican pesos in case you would like to purchase food, drinks, crafts, or other items available locally. Any additional purchases are entirely optional. - A respectful approach to photography
You will be around families remembering relatives and spending time at their graves. Please follow your guide’s and hosts’ direction and ask before photographing individual people, families, or graves at close range. - An open mind
This is a family and community tradition rather than a staged event. Some customs, surroundings, or ways of celebrating may be different from what you are accustomed to at home. Come ready to listen, observe, ask respectful questions, and follow your hosts’ lead.
What’s Included
Your experience includes the essential arrangements needed to spend the evening with your hosts and better understand Día de Muertos in Santo Tomás Jalieza.
- Pre-tour preparation information
Helpful details sent before the experience so you know where to meet, what to bring, and what to expect. - Local guide
A local guide accompanies the group, provides cultural context, assists with communication, and helps you engage respectfully with your hosts and the community. - Round-trip transportation
Transportation between the central Oaxaca City meeting point and Santo Tomás Jalieza is included. - Family-hosted dinner
Share an evening meal in the home of your local hosts before visiting the cemetery. - Time with your local host family
Learn directly from your hosts about how their family approaches November 2 and the traditions they are sharing with you. - Municipal cemetery visit
Accompany the family to the cemetery and spend time with relatives as they gather for Día de Muertos. - Snacks and drinks shared at the cemetery
Your hosts will share refreshments during your time together at the cemetery.
What’s Not Included
A few personal expenses and travel arrangements remain separate from your booking.
- Travel insurance (or a signed Liability Form)
Travel insurance is not included. Guests without appropriate travel insurance may be required to sign a Liability Form before participating. - International or domestic flights
Transportation to and from Oaxaca is not included. - Accommodation in Oaxaca
Lodging before or after the experience is not included. - Additional transportation
Transport outside the included Oaxaca City–Santo Tomás Jalieza itinerary is not covered. - Personal purchases
Any additional food, drinks, crafts, souvenirs, or other items you choose to purchase during the evening are at your own expense. - Gratuities
Tips for your guide or local hosts are not included.
Ready to Reserve Your Place?
If spending Día de Muertos with a local family in Santo Tomás Jalieza feels like the kind of experience you are looking for, you can reserve your place using the booking section at the top of the page.
This experience operates only on November 2 and requires a minimum of 8 guests to run, with a maximum group size of 18. Because the experience also depends on the availability of our local hosts, guide, and transportation, booking in advance is recommended if your Oaxaca dates are already confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Santo Tomás Jalieza Día de Muertos Experience take place?
This experience takes place on November 2 only. It is built around the family’s evening traditions and the November 2 gathering at the municipal cemetery.
How far is Santo Tomás Jalieza from Oaxaca City?
Santo Tomás Jalieza is approximately 40 minutes south of Oaxaca City under normal traffic conditions. Día de Muertos can bring additional traffic, so actual travel time may vary.
Is this mainly a cemetery tour?
No. The cemetery is an important part of the evening, but the experience is centered around the family hosting you. You first share dinner in their home, learn about their November 2 traditions, and then accompany them to the cemetery rather than arriving there independently.
Will there be live music and dancing?
Traditional live music has formed part of Santo Tomás Jalieza’s November 2 cemetery gathering, and our local hosts anticipate music and dancing during the evening. However, this is a community celebration rather than a performance organized by WSE, so the exact atmosphere and activities can vary from year to year.
Can I take photographs in the cemetery?
Yes, when appropriate, but photography should be approached respectfully. You are visiting during a meaningful family occasion. Follow your guide’s and hosts’ direction, and always ask before photographing people, families, or individual graves at close range.
What kind of shoes should I wear?
Please wear comfortable closed-toe walking shoes or sneakers. Sandals are not recommended for the cemetery portion of the evening.
What is the minimum and maximum group size?
This is a public group experience with a minimum of 8 guests required to operate and a maximum group size of 18.
Can children or teenagers join?
The experience is designed primarily for guests aged 18 and older. Younger guests may participate when accompanied and supervised by a parent or legal guardian.
What happens if the community celebration is different from what is expected?
Día de Muertos in Santo Tomás Jalieza is a living family and community tradition, not an event staged specifically for visitors. The family dinner and cemetery visit form the core of the WSE experience, but details such as music, dancing, the number of relatives present, and the wider atmosphere may naturally vary from one year to another.
Related Products
Need a Place to Stay in Oaxaca?
To make planning a little easier, we’ve included an interactive accommodation map below where you can compare hotels and short-term stays in and around Oaxaca City.
Enter your travel dates and number of guests to explore available options, reviews, and prices. We’ve also marked the center of Oaxaca City to help you choose accommodation convenient for this experience and the other Día de Muertos activities taking place around the city.
Please double-check the currency displayed, as it may vary depending on your device settings or the platform you’re viewing.
Supporting Local Projects Through Our TRiP Foundation
For every TRiP taken with WSE Travel, we donate 2% of the total sales price to an environmental or community-based project in the country you are visiting.
It is one of the ways we aim to ensure that travel has a more positive impact on the places and people that make these experiences possible. Your booking directly supports the local hosts, guide, driver, and other partners involved in the experience while also contributing to wider community or environmental initiatives in Mexico.
This is part of our wider commitment to Travel Responsibly & Impact Positively (TRiP), which sits at the heart of how we design our experiences and partnerships.
To learn more about the projects supported through WSE Travel, visit our TRiP Foundation.
Cancellation & Rebooking Policy
All tours, services, and experiences booked through Where Sidewalks End are subject to our Terms and Conditions, which are modeled after the policies used by many travel services, such as flights, hotels, and tour operators.
At Where Sidewalks End, a reservation is more than a transaction. It is a direct commitment involving local professionals and families who reserve time and prepare specifically for the experience. This includes guides, drivers, hosts, artisans, and other local partners involved in delivering the day.
Once a booking is confirmed, local partners begin making preparations and committing their time to the experience. Our cancellation terms are designed to respect those commitments while giving guests clear options if travel plans change.
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 compensation and preparation commitments already made to the local guides, hosts, transport providers, and other partners involved in the experience.
Less than 7 Days’ Notice
The full cost of the tour is retained so the local partners already committed to the experience can be compensated for their time and preparations. A new set of arrangements may be required 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 for flexible travel coverage.
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 appreciate your understanding and support of responsible tourism. Your booking directly supports the local guides, families, drivers, and community partners who make experiences like this possible.
If you have any questions or need help rescheduling, please contact us. We’re always happy to assist.
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