Mexico
Día de Los Muertos in Oaxaca
Program No. 8695RJ
Participate in an ancient ritual as you celebrate the Day of the Dead in Oaxaca.
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At a Glance
Experience one of the world’s most unique holidays, as you enjoy the celebratory rituals of Día De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in beautiful Oaxaca. Embrace the mystery that lies beneath the region’s surface in museums and archaeological sites. Observe the altars at homes, cemeteries and public spaces to honor deceased loved ones. Witness the parades and processions that make this holiday in Oaxaca so fascinating.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles daily on varied terrain. Elevations of 5,000 feet above sea level.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Participate in the elaborate “Day of the Dead” ritual.
- Learn about ancient cities and holy places as you join an expert on field trips to archaeological sites, including the Zapotec city of Mitla and the ceremonial centers of Monte Alban
- Examine the artistry of handmade textiles during a field trip to the village of Teotitlan del Valle, and enjoy a weaving demonstration by a local expert.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Arturo Vertiz
Arturo Vertiz knew from an early age that he wanted to work in the travel industry, focusing on learning English and French in school. Graduating with a degree in tourism and business administration, he worked in the hotel industry before founding his own travel agency. Arturo’s greatest honor was being chosen to manage the housing complex for athletes participating in the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara. As a Group Leader and a Mexican national, Arturo loves interacting with visitors in search of learning experiences.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Arturo Vertiz
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Arturo Vertiz knew from an early age that he wanted to work in the travel industry, focusing on learning English and French in school. Graduating with a degree in tourism and business administration, he worked in the hotel industry before founding his own travel agency. Arturo’s greatest honor was being chosen to manage the housing complex for athletes participating in the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara. As a Group Leader and a Mexican national, Arturo loves interacting with visitors in search of learning experiences.
Haydee de Hoyos
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Originally from the northern state of Sonora, Haydee de Hoyos learned English through her interest in American television, especially “Sesame Street.” Her affinity for American culture led her to pursue a career in the travel industry with a degree in tourism and business form the University of Guadalajara. Haydee has worked for Geronimo for more than 20 years and served as a Group Leader on programs focusing on art, culture, history, the environment and Mexican cuisine, developing an encyclopedia of knowledge of all things Mexico.
Suzanne Barbezat
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Suzanne Barbezat grew up in Montréal, Canada, but holds a deep love and appreciation for Oaxaca. After graduating with a degree in anthropology, she lost her heart to Oaxaca on a solo trip through Latin America. Moving to Mexico in 1998, she has worked as a teacher, group leader and writer Suzanne spends her free time discovering off-the-beaten-path locales around Oaxaca with her Mexican husband and children. There's nothing she enjoys more than getting to know Oaxaca better and sharing her love for it.
Suggested Reading List
(12 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Día de Los Muertos in Oaxaca
Program Number: 8695
Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico-Michoacan
Indigenous Rulers: An Ethnohistory of Town Government in Colonial Cuernavaca
Letters from Mexico
Distant Neighbors: A Portrait of the Mexicans
Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead
Conquest: Montezuma, Cortez and the Fall of Old Mexico
The Spirit of Tio Fernando:A Day of the Dead Story/El Espiritu De Tio Fernando: Una Historia Del Dia De Los Muertos
The Course of Mexican History
Todos Santos in Rural Tlaxcala: A Syncretic, Expressive, and Symbolic Analysis of the Cult of the Dead
Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs
Digging the Days of the Dead
The Skeleton at the Feast: The Day of the Dead in Mexico