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In stock
This Experience is 1 Day ex Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico
Dates:
November 1st – Only 2 spaces available – Contact us for Waitlist opportunities – click here
November 2nd – Only 6 spaces available
Bookings: Max 27 per day – limited spaces available
At Where Sidewalks End (WSE Travel), we believe in the profound power of cultural immersion and respect for traditions.
Our Day of the Dead Makeup and Professional Photo Experience is designed not just as a tourist activity, but as a respectful and authentic engagement with the traditions of Oaxaca. This experience embodies our commitment to honoring local customs while offering an unforgettable journey into the heart of Oaxacan culture.
Our service is rooted in a deep respect for local culture, with makeup sessions designed and conducted by local artists. These experts bring not only their artistic skills but also a profound understanding of the cultural significance of the Day of the Dead. In line with our ethos of empowering local communities, these sessions are crafted by locals who offer an insider’s view into their culture, presented in a way that is authentic to them. The makeup applied is not only beautiful but also done in a way that respects and celebrates the local traditions and beliefs.
Join the traditions: Our experience includes a 30-minute professional makeup session, where guests can choose from a range of traditional Day of the Dead designs. Understanding the importance of time and quality, these sessions are crafted to be both efficient and deeply transformative. Following the makeup application, guests will have a professional photo session, capturing their adorned selves in five high-quality photos, which will be edited and sent post-experience. This package is available for groups of up to three, with the option for larger groups to book multiple time slots.
Please Note: We offer online bookings for make-up sessions, with 3 available sessions per time slot. Each time slot can be booked for 1 to 3 people. Booking 1 session means it is for 1 person only. Please ensure you select the appropriate number of sessions for your group size when you make your reservation.
By participating in this experience, guests not only walk away with a physical transformation but also with a deeper connection to Oaxacan culture and a set of stunning photographs to cherish forever.
*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).
Immerse yourself further in the ancestral traditions of Oaxaca with our Day of the Dead Event, where you’ll delve into historical insights, partake in the sacred art of altar building, and experience the solemn beauty of a nearby pantheon – a perfect complement to your marigold field journey. Book your Day of the Dead Experience here!
Are you a solo female traveler or traveling with a group of women and want to join an event made especially for you? Check out our women-only Day of the Dead Experience
Will you be staying for the whole week of the Day of the Dead and want to experience more of the culture and celebrations? Explore our Day of the Dead tours to find more Dia de los Muertos-themed tours and events.
Want to learn more about Dia de los Muertos? Check out our extensive Oaxaca Day of the Dead travel guide for tips, history, and more!
Early Bird tickets are $120 USD per person (only until April 30, 2025)
Regular tickets are $135 USD per person
Inclusions are listed below.
| 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/guardians) |
| Group Size | Public – Min 10, Max 27 per day |
Each of these sessions is for a 1.5-hour time slot on a single day – you may buy multiple if you wish to have professional face paint done on multiple days.
Join us on a mindful makeup session that blends art, tradition, and self-expression with our exclusive “Oaxaca Day of the Dead Makeup and Professional Photo Experience.” This unique offering is a profound way to connect with Oaxaca’s traditional cultural heritage during the Dia de los Muertos celebration.
Immersive Makeup Session: Experience the spirit of the Day of the Dead as you undergo a transformation by professional artists skilled in the traditional Day of the Dead makeup, including the iconic Catrina/Catrine candy-skull designs. Our makeup artists honor the solemnity of the occasion, ensuring that each design is not only stunning but also pays respectful homage to the local traditions.
Personalized Choices: Guests have the opportunity to influence their look with the guidance of a makeup book. Select a design that resonates with your spirit while embracing the essence of the celebration. Each makeup session is a 30-minute immersive experience, ensuring professionalism and quality within a concise timeframe.
Preparation Tips: To enhance your experience, we recommend donning your costume elements, such as traditional dresses, in advance. Due to the intricacies of the makeup, changing post-application may prove challenging. Complement your look with additional accessories like headdresses and gems, available for purchase at the makeup studio, to add an extra layer of authenticity and glamour to your ensemble.
Professional Photography Session: Post makeup, you’ll step into a world of professional photography where a skilled photographer captures the essence of your transformation. This session includes five high-quality photos, which will be meticulously edited and sent to you within three weeks, providing a lasting memory of your unique experience in Oaxaca.
Join the Experience: Whether as a standalone adventure or as a prelude to one of our renowned Day of the Dead events, this experience offers an intimate glimpse into Oaxaca’s rich culture and tradtions. Engage in a tradition that transcends time, and carry with you memories captured not just in photos but also in the heart of your Oaxacan journey.
Booking Information:
Spots fill up fast! To book your spot on this traditional experience, make your reservation on our website today!
Please note: There is no Dress Code! If you wish to visit cemeteries after or attend one of our Day of the Dead Events, dressing respectfully is appreciated. You don’t need to dress to impress – and costumes can be acceptable, 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.
As this is a scheduled session experience, we will be attempting to have appointments start as close to the scheduled time as possible. The makeup appointments may be delayed for factors outside our control, so please do plan to stay for extra time at the restaurant and with the artists & photographer. Missed 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
– Cash. should you choose to buy any additional costume elements (such as a flower crown), food, drinks, flowers, or souvenirs while at the studio. Also, ensuring you have enough for a taxi back to your hotel, 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 Makeup and Photo experience includes:
– information provided before your experience to educate you and properly prepare you
– specially trained Oaxacan English-speaking hosts who will facilitate your experience (makeup and photos)
– Day of the Dead face-painting
– professional photos (to be emailed to you after editing is done by the photographer – approximately 3-4 weeks after the event)
– a welcome drink (coffee/tea/juice/beer).
– Travel Insurance (Compulsory)
– International flights
– Transportation (to the meeting point, and back from the endpoint – both inside Oaxaca’s city center)
– Accommodations in Oaxaca
– Alcoholic beverages
– Gratuities and tips
– Spending money if you wish to purchase additional drinks or food
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.
Joanna (verified owner) –
This was a great experience! I loved having my traditional Dia de los Muertos make-up done by a truly talented artist. The photographer was great as well. Highly recommended!