Oaxaca Tours Oaxaca Mexico Tours Oaxaca Mexico

VISTAS Tours of Oaxaca Mexico

"The Day of the Dead Celebrations in Oaxaca"
Join us for one of the most traditional and moving experiences in Mexico
October 28 – November 4, 2006

During this time, the City of Oaxaca and all the surrounding villages come alive with a special beauty of flowers, food, creativity, and folklore. The holiday represents a rich blend of Catholic and indigenous traditions, and is both a celebration for the living and for the dead.

Spirits of the beloved dead are believed to return to their homes and visit for a short time with their families and friends. The first day of November the souls of departed children arrive, and on the second day spirits of adults join them. Like all visitors, they are welcomed with food, drink, stories, memories, and good will. Their presence is thought of as a blessing rather than a curse, and brings joy rather than pain to their loved ones.

In preparation for this day, the last days of October are spent baking special loaves of sweet bread ("pan de muerto"), and desserts; harvesting special flowers, including marigolds; creating altars in the home; and decorating gravesites. Decorations in the form of macabre but whimsical skeletons and candy skulls abound.

Included in your tour will be the following activities:
* Demonstration of the making of wax candles. This elaborate tradition is being carried on by the granddaughter of a well known family of candle makers.

* Construction and Decoration of the Altar. We will use traditional materials and our individual creativity to construct a special group altar.

* Comparsa Parade: This colorful parade goes through the historic center and ends at the old city cemetery. We will view sand paintings and decorated altars.

* Visit to the Cemetery in Atzompa. We will join a family for hot chocolate and pan de muertos after which we will go with them to for the ritual of visiting the cemetery.

* Visits to Mitla and Monte Alban ruins.

* Shopping excursions to outlying villages for black pottery, carved wooden figures, and textiles.

Optional activities:
Cooking Class: We begin with a trip to the market to buy the ingredients to prepare our meal, and then, together we enjoy the rich flavors of Oaxacan food!
Temascal bath : This is a traditional steam bath using herbs for cleansing.
Massage: Refresh yourself with a traditional long massage.

This is a very popular tour and numbers are limited, so we suggest that you make your reservations soon.

Tour cost of $1150 includes:

Welcome Gathering
Hotel (double occupancy)
2 meals daily (breakfast and either lunch or dinner as indicated)
Guided tours/shopping excursions
Ground transportation
Airport pickup and return
Farewell Dinner

Apply NOW using our Online Enrollment Form.