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Day
1 (Thursday) Arrival
Arrive Oaxaca anytime. You will be
met at the airport and brought to
the hotel or to your host family.
At 9pm we will gather to have a drink,
meet your fellow travelers and have
an informal briefing on what to expect
in the days ahead. |
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Day
2 (Friday) Walking Oaxaca
Oaxaca is gorgeous! The best way to
explore it is by foot. So, our orientation
walk will do just that. We'll stroll
through the Zocalo, stop for an ice
cream in a leafy square near the Virgen
de la Soledad church, visit the ornate
Santo Domingo, and absorb the colonial
Spanish atmosphere.
This evening Lucero is our host at
her Oaxacan estate for a talk with
a local expert on the meaning and
history of the Day of the Dead celebration.
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Day
3 (Saturday) Day of the Dead
Today we will experience one of Mexico's
most unique and important celebrations
- the Day of the Dead. Families commune
with their deceased relatives through
picnics, offerings and all night vigils
at the cemetary. Although taken very
seriously, the mood is quite festive.
This is truly a remarkable day to
be in Oaxaca.
After visiting one of the local cemetaries
and observing the events there, we
are invited to prepare and share a
traditional Day of the Dead meal with
a local Oaxacan family. |
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Day
4 (Sunday) Crafts Villages
Oaxaca is surrounded by indigenous
villages where a variety of unique
crafts are made - some exclusive to
this region. We will visit Sto. Tomas
Jalietza (weaving), San Martin Tilcajete
(Alebrijes - the whismical fantasy
creatures made from wood), San Bartolo
Coyotopec (black pottery with a demonstration),
and if there is time, a visit to a
Cochinia farm - a natural red dye
made from a parasite that grows on
the Nopal cactus - bizarre and fascinating!
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Day
5 (Monday) Monte Alban
The grand Zapotec ceremonial center
is said to possess a mysterious energy.
Well, it certainly possesses a sublime
beauty and the best time to enjoy
it is the morning. Our private transport
will assure that we have all the time
we desire to explore this special
place.
We return to
Oaxaca for our afternoon flight to
Chiapas. Upon arrival in Tuxtla Guttierez'
airport, we drive for two hours by
private transport to San Cristobal
de las Casas, one of the jewels of
Chiapas State. San Cristobal painstakingly
preserves its Spanish colonial feel
and is considered by some to be the
most pleasant town in Mexico. |
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Day
6 (Tuesday) Chamula and Zinacantan
Alex, a bi-lingual native of Mexico
City with twelve years experience
guiding in Chamula and Zinacantan,
will be our day leader. These two
indigenous villages are less then
30 minutes from San Cristobal, but
are an entirely different world! As
Alex gives us context for what we
see, we will start to understand the
many overlapping layers that blend
the traditional and modern in everyday
life here.
Note: respectful visitors are tolerated,
but pictures are stictly prohibited
without permission from your subject
of interest! |
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Day 7 (Wednesday)
Free Day
San Cristobal is full of charms
and just walking its streets is a
perfect way to discover them. Today
is free to explore on your own. Of
course, we will have plenty of recommendations
for how to fill your day - just ask! |
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Day
8 (Thursday) Tenejapa
Tenejapa is rarely visited by tourists.
This morning we meet the 'mayordomos'
of San Alfonso. Literally translated
to 'butler', a mayordomo is the caretaker
of a particular saint in a town for
a period of one year. As we visit,
we will learn about the cycle of life
here and take in the traditional attire
and the strong beliefs of its people.
After Tenejapa we will
visit a coffee finca to see the production
and roasting of genuine Chiapas coffee
- and a tasting, of course! |
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Day
9 (Friday) Head Home
Early drive to Tuxtla Guttierez for
the flight to Mexico City and your
international connection to the US.
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| Post-Trip
Palenque Extension |
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Day
1 (Friday)
We depart in the morning for the five
hour drive to Palenque. Don't worry,
between the private transportation and
the spectacular scenery, the hours will
go by quickly! We will stop en route
to enjoy two breathtaking waterfalls.
Agua Azul is the larger of the two,
with Misol Ha coming shortly before
our arrival in Palenque. We wait until
the morning to explore the ruins. |
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Day
2 (Saturday)
The ruins of Palenque are a definite
highlight for most visitors to Mexico.
They are a spectacular combination
of the striking Mayan architecture
and the lush jungle that surrounds
them. We will be amongst the first
to arrive this morning at 8am, and
will explore the ruins in a state
of relative calm before the buses
arrive in the afternoon. Their arrival
heralds our departure. We drive in
private transport to Villa Hermosa
(2 1/2 hours) for an early dinner
and our flight to Mexico City. |
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Day
3 (Sunday)
You can depart anytime for home with
transport to the airport in Mexico City. |
