Oaxaca Day Of The Dead Experience – Marigold Fields Experience

Experience the connection of the Day of the Dead in Oaxaca to the Marigold flowers (cempasúchil), with a WSE Tour Guide and Professional Photographer!

Itinerary for the Oaxaca Day of the Dead – Marigold Experience

This is a 1-day event.

Morning Adventure: Cultivos El Viejo Marigold Experience

Kicking off at 9 AM, our exciting journey begins in the heart of Oaxaca. Get ready to hop into a comfy vehicle, as we transport you from the bustling city center to the serene countryside, where the magic of marigolds awaits. En route to ‘Cultivos el Viejo’, our knowledgeable guide will immerse you in the rich history and cultural significance of marigolds (cempasúchil) in Mexico, setting the stage for a day steeped in tradition and beauty.

Upon arrival at ‘Cultivos el Viejo’, brace yourself for a breathtaking sight – endless rows of dazzling marigolds basking in the sun, their orange and yellow hues painting a picture of pure vibrancy. We’ll take a stroll through these floral fields, allowing you to soak in the natural beauty and learn more about marigold farming.

Photography Session: Capture Lifetime Memories

But wait, there’s more! A professional photographer will join us to ensure your memories are beautifully captured. As you wander through the marigold fields, they’ll guide you to the perfect spots, snapping stunning photos with the floral panorama as your backdrop.

Afternoon Exploration: Festival Del Corte de la Flor de Gallo

Next, we head to our second destination, the ‘Festival Del Corte de la Flor de Gallo’. This unique marigold field presents a slightly different landscape, offering new photo opportunities amidst its natural beauty. Here, you’ll also discover the ‘flor de gallo’, another traditional flower used in Day of the Dead altars. This location is set up more like a festival, with music, food stalls, and vendors, as they celebrate the harvest of the sacred flowers.

Why is this tour before the Day of the Dead?

Timing is everything! We visit these fields several days before the Day of the Dead to witness them in their full glory. Soon, these marigolds will be harvested to build altars in Oaxaca, welcoming spirits as they return to visit in the coming days.

Your Takeaway:

Not just a tour, but an unforgettable cultural experience. With the expertise of our WSE Tour Leader and a professional photographer, you’ll leave with stunning photos of you amidst the marigold fields – and a deeper understanding of the connection of these flowers to the traditions and celebrations of the Day of the Dead in Mexico.

Booking Information:

Spots fill up fast! To book your spot on this picturesque journey, make your reservation on our website today!

Please note: There is no Dress Code! You will be visiting the marigold flower fields of local farmers, so 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.

Day of the Dead face painting is not included, though does make for incredible photos in the marigold fields. If you plan to get this done, we recommend scheduling a very early appointment with a makeup artist to give yourself enough time to finish the facepaint 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 tours (no-shows) are not refundable.

What to bring to the Oaxaca Day Of The Dead Marigold Fields Experience?

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 food, drinks, flowers, or souvenirs while there.  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.

What is included with the Oaxaca Day Of The Dead Marigold Experience?

Your Marigold Field experience includes:
– information provided before your experience to educate you and properly prepare you
– a specially trained Oaxacan English-speaking host who will facilitate your experience
– transport between Oaxaca City and the Marigold fields (about an hour outside the city)
– a meal at the second location (traditional local festival food, such as memelas, tacos, or flautas) and a non-alcoholic drink.
– professional photos (to be emailed to you after editing is done by the photographer – approximately 3-4 weeks after the event)

What is not included when on your Day Of The Dead Experience?

– 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
– Day of the Dead face-painting
– Gratuities and tips
– Spending money if you wish to purchase additional drinks or food

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 (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.

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, 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.

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 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.

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.