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Day Of The Dead: Tours & Holidays to Mexico City + Oaxaca + Puebla (+ Beach extensions)

Day of the Dead Tour: Mexico City + Oaxaca

8 NIGHTS FROM:

$3,034

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights quoted separately

XYB8M

• Day Of The Dead Tours & Holidays

• Mexico City

• Cholula & Puebla

• Shrine & Pyramids

• Oaxaca

• Cemetery Night Tour

• San Martin Tilcajete

• Monte Alban & Mitla

• Tule Tree

• Teotitlan Weavers

Enquire about our fascinating Day of the Dead tours & holidays to Mexico City, Oaxaca & Puebla, with optional beach extension. Tour the highlights of Mexico City, including the amazing Teotihuacan Pyramids, then join Day of the Dead celebrations in Oaxaca, including a night tour to the cemeteries. Also visit the craft village of San Martin Tilcajete, Teotitlan weavers, Monte Alban & Mitla archaeological sites.

Detailed itinerary ▶

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Day 1

Arrive at Mexico City Airport where you will be met and transferred to this high altitude city, that is the oldest capital in the Americas and one of the largest cities in the world.

Check into your hotel and embrace this colourful and vibrant city, originally established by the Aztec Indians (the 'Mexica').

Day 2

At leisure to independently explore the sights of colourful Mexico City.

The world class National Museum of Anthropology in Chapultepac Park is not to be missed, with its many ancient Olmec, Aztec, Mayan and other pre-Colombian artefacts - including the Stone of the Sun (the Aztec calendar stone) and the statue of Xochipilli. Chapultepec Castle is nearby.

The Palace of Fine Arts with its magnificent dome is well worth a visit, as well as the historic Frida Kahlo Art Museum (or Blue House) dedicated to her work. With its numerous world class museums, dramatic art murals, thriving music scene and exploding culinary scene, in Mexico City you will be spoilt for choice.

You can also enjoy a boat ride on a colourful 'trajinera' through the canals and floating gardens of Xochimilco (meaning ‘Place of the Flowers’), a small village south of the city. These fertile riverbeds called 'chinampas' are all that is left of the lake on which the Aztecs first built their capital city, but are now used for growing flowers rather than food crops and will give you an interesting cultural glimpse into modern urban life.

Note: Try and avoid visiting museums on a Sunday, as they are free for locals so very crowded.

Day 3

Today your small group tour begins with an excursion to the 'magic town' of Cholula and the colonial city of Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza (known as the 'City of the Angels').located close to the famed twin volcanoes of Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl.

Our first stop is at the stunning Church of Santa María Tonanzintla, a beautiful Baroque church crafted by indigenous hands.

We continue to the 'magic town' of Cholula and the Cholula Archaeological Zone, an ancient Mesoamerican site known for its huge pyramid. The Great Pyramid of Cholula (also known as Tlachihualtepetl) is the largest pyramid not only in the Americas, but in the whole world. Enjoy exploring the town and on a clear day you may get a view of the Popocatepetl Volcano.

Afterwards we visit the city of Puebla where we enjoy a walking tour, starting from the Zócalo (main square). This beautiful historic centre has the largest number of 18th century buildings in all of Mexico. Here you will see the Renaissance style Puebla Cathedral with its tall bell towers. Widely considered to be one of the best in Mexico, this enormous church has a tiled dome roof inspired by St. Peter’s basilica in Rome and an amazing octagonal altar.

We also visit the 17th century Church of Santo Domingo and the attached Virgin of Rosario Chapel, one of the largest and most impressive examples of Mexican Baroque art, which is finely decorated with gold leaf.

We also visit the Religious Museum of Santa Monica, which is housed in a former convent and has an interesting collection of religious objects, before returning to Mexico City.

Note: On group tours, for operational reasons it is sometimes necessary to substitute one hotel for another of a similar standard.

Day 4

Today we explore the most important pre-Hispanic site in Mexico City.

Leaving the city, we first make a brief stop at the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe - one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites on the American continent. On 12 December each year, thousands of pilgrims come to this basilica to pray to the virgin.

We then continue 1-hour to the mysterious Teotihuacan Pyramids, ancient archaeological ruins that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This enormous city was built in 300 BC but was inexplicably abandoned centuries before the arrival of the Aztecs, who called it the 'Birthplace of the Gods'. This is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the Americas and includes the third largest pyramid in the world, constructed according to precise astronomical measurements and filled with sacrificial victims.

You can climb the magnificent Pyramids of the Sun and Moon and view the Butterflies Temple, the Avenue of the Dead and Temple of Quetzalcoatl. Admire the majestic plazas and stone temples, covered with stone statues and faded murals. After an included lunch at a local resturant, we return to Mexico City.

Day 5

Transfer to Mexico City Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Oaxaca Airport and transferred to your hotel in this central Mexican city.

Known for its lovely colonial buildings, many of which are made from green volcanic stone, Oaxaca is also renowned for its indigenous people and its festivals, especially Easter Holy Week parades and the famous 'Day of the Dead' celebrations at Halloween.

In the evening (around 21.00) you wil be collected from your hotel for a Night Tour of the cemeteries ('panteones') of Xoxocotlán outside Oaxaca. Here you will meet locals and participate in the Day of the Dead celebrations (Fiesta de los Muertos). During the journey, you will taste water chocolate and traditional Oaxacan 'Bread of the Dead'. We will return to our hotel around midnight.

Day 6

This morning enjoy an excursion to the village of San Martín Tilcajete, whiich is located 45-minutes south of Oaxaca and is famous for its Alebrije artisans.

San Martin Tilcajete is one of several Oaxacan towns that have dedicated themselves to the art of hand carving and painting Copal wood into colourful fantastical creatures. According to pre-Hispanic Zapotec culture, when a person is born an animal spirit is also born, which becomes their protector and guide. This animal spirit is called a Toná. When a person dies, his Toná also dies but gives rise to a new spirit known as Nahual, that will guide him after the earthly plane.

Today we will immerse ourselves in an introspective experience to connect with our own protective Toná. Accompanied by skilled artisans, you will have the opportunity to unleash your creativity by painting the creature that represents our inner spirit. Throughout our time in Oaxaca we will embrace its cultural richness and connect with its traditions, values and deep beliefs. We will also develop a deep respect for those who have transcended.

Day 7

This morning we visit the famous archaeological site at Monte Alban.

Monte Alban was the ancient capital of Zapotec and once supported 35,000 people. It is an extraordinary collection of temples, palaces, terraces, dams, canals and pyramids carved out of the mountain and contains the ruins of one of the oldest Mesoamerican cities. Here you can see great plazas, truncated pyramids, a ball court, underground passageways and over 170 tombs - the most elaborate uncovered in the Americas. This ancient city is centred around the Great Plaza, an open area on the mountain top which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding area and is flanked by four platforms. Two temples stand on a platform to the south.

In the afternoon we return to Oaxaca for a tour of this city, known as the 'Patriots Cradle'. We view the Zocalo, where the cathedral and the Santo Domingo Church are located, before continuing to the old Santa Catalina from Siena Friary. We also visit the local market, which is typical of this region. Lunch is for your own account today.

Note: As the number of Monte Alban entrance tickets is limited per day, we need to set off early this morning.

Day 8

Today enjoy a full day excursion to the weaving village of Teotitlan Del Valle and the amazing archaeological site at Mitla

Our first stop is at the famous Tree of Tule, growing in the church yard in the picturesque town of Santa María del Tule. This mighty Montezuma cypress has a circumference of over 160 ft (54 m) at its base, and is between 2,000 and 3,000 years old - making it one of the oldest living things on earth. It has the largest girth of any tree on the planet and is Mexico's national tree.

We continue to Teotitlan Del Valle, whose crafts date back to the Aztecs. One of the prettiest villages on the eastern side of the valley, it has a remarkable 16th century church. We explore the colourful Teotitlan Market, followed by a visit to a Zapotec Family Home. Many people still use traditional techniques of carding and spinning their wool, before dying it with natural colours. Keen to welcome guests and share their craft, you can watch the delicate weaving and spinning techniques that create remarkable tablecloths and rugs, using solid-wood hand looms.

In the afternoon we visit the ancient archaeological site at Mitla, which was an important pre-Colombian Zapotec religious and ceremonial centre. Here you will see elaborate mosaic fretwork and geometric designs that cover tombs, panels, friezes and entire walls. These mosaics are made with small, finely cut and polished stones that have been fitted together without the use of mortar.

Day 9

Transfer to Oaxaca Airport for your flight home.

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