Immersive Oaxaca: Vibrant Colors and Subtle Flavors
Revel in the warm hellos, glorious hues, stellar cuisine, and tasty mescal of Oaxaca, Mexico on this journey created especially for curious Wild Nectar travelers.
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9.1*
ECO SCORE
2
PASSENGERS
9
DAYS
3.5/5
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Oaxaca: Drink It In
On this journey to the most diverse and interesting state in Mexico you will experience what makes Oaxaca so enduring: vibrant indigenous populations, incredible food, tantalizing Mescal, colorful arts, picturesque mountain communities and more! Taste some of Oaxaca's most famous dishes. Hike through the Oaxacan Sierra Mountains. Experience Oaxaca through the eyes and palates of the local people and discover just how colorful life can be.
Travel Curator’s Insights:
- • Get to know a wide collection of locals including artisans, chefs, farmers, Lucha Libre wrestlers, and even a mescal expert on this itinerary designed to show you the real Oaxaca.
• Hike from mountain village to mountain village enjoying delicious local specialties and taking in lovely views along the way.
• This operator has a genius for bringing people together. If you're curious about how people live, work, and eat, you'll love this yummy foodie, arty, crafty, active adventure.
Trip Sustainability Awards
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Oaxaca City
Welcome! After landing in Oaxaca, grab your bags and continue through customs into the lobby. Your guide will take you to Hotel Parador San Miguel in the heart of the pedestrian corridors. After some time to rest, your guide will take you on a walking tour of the city center to orient you to the area. Your short introductory tour will end at the wonderful Tierra Del Sol Casa Restaurante where you will have the opportunity to taste some of Oaxacas more famous dishes such as Moles, Tlayudas, Huitlacoche, and Tamales.
Joining you for dinner will be a local Mescal expert to share with you the ins and outs of this most famous of local liquors, where the saying goes, "For everything good, Mescal, for everything bad, the same". No event in Oaxaca occurs without this essential liquor of the Gods. Your Mescal guide will share the subtle nuances and allow you to test several brands to understand more.
Accommodation: Hotel Parador San Miguel
Hotel Parador San Miguel: This boutique hotel is in Oaxaca, Mexico and is just 100 feet from the Oaxaca Cathedral. The hotel features traditional Mexican décor, a gourmet restaurant and spacious rooms. Every room at the Hotel Parador San Miguel is uniquely decorated with Mexican tile floors, bright colors and high ceilings.
Day 2: Explore the City and Cook Up a Storm
After breakfast, visit the Temple of Santo Domingo, built in 1608 in the Baroque style by the Dominican order, and the Macedonio Alcalá street, which houses galleries, museums, craft stores, libraries, cafes, etc. Then continue to the Teatro Macedonio Alcalá, a beautiful 1903 French style building. Stroll by the the Cathedral of Oaxaca, dedicated to our Lady of the Assumption, with beautiful green marble. Walk through the Zócalo de Oaxaca, the heart of the city, which is surrounded by portals framing shops and restaurants.
Your walking tour will end at Oscar's place for a fun and interactive cooking class. Lasting about 4 hours, this class goes in depth into iconic dishes such as the moles that make Oaxacan cuisine both famous and distinct. The class includes a trip to the market to shop for ingredients. Enjoy eating all your wonderful dishes! Later, stroll the streets and enjoy the sites, smells and tastes of the city. Dinner is on your own and we'll recommend some fantastic restaurants
Accommodation: Hotel Parador San Miguel
Day 3: The Oaxacan Sierras and a Farm to Table Experience
Your journey in the Oaxacan Sierras begins with a stop to see the amazing and famous cypress tree in Thule, as well as a visit to the famed weaving village of Teotitlan del Valle. Here you will visit the shop of Beatrice and Miguel who are from a family of weavers. Learn about traditional natural dyes and weaving methods.
From the valley floor it's straight up to the villages of Pueblo Mancommunados. This group of communities is situated amongst the beautiful pine forests of the Sierra Norte Mountains at about 10,000 feet. The first village you come to is Benito Juarez. Here you will meet Mr. Eli and his wife, who will give you a farm to table experience in making local Zapotec dishes. Both a delicious and cultural class to be sure. Enjoy lunch with the family from the dishes you cooked.
Accommodation: Cabin at Benito Juarez
Sierra Norte Cabins: These basic cottages offer rustic décor, wooden furniture and a fireplace. We've included these simple accommodations for our WIld Nectar travelers because they are what's available in this region and we think these mountain hikes and experiences will be unforgettable.
Mountain Time: A note about your time in the mountains. This is a private journey so you will have the same guide the whole time and he/she will be with you explaining the timing of each day so as each day unfolds, you will receive full details. Our guides take very good care of everyone. And if you need to change things such as the speed or difficulty of the hike, simply discuss it with your guide and they will accommodate you.
Day 4: Trek from Benito Juarez to Latuvi
Wake early in the fresh mountain air and enjoy breakfast in the local comedor, an eatery operated by rotating groups of women from the village. Today take a beautiful trek through the woods to the village of Latuvi (the land of the rolled leaf in Zapotec) which is situated on the side of a mountain with gorgeous views. The trek is about 7 miles. Your guides are expert naturalists, and will share all they know of the local flora and fauna along the way. You should arrive at the cabins in Latuvi mid afternoon. Have lunch; get checked in to your cabin, relax, shower and swing in your hammocks.
Later in the afternoon you can meet with Ms. Martha to learn about pulque and tepache, two important drinks made from maquey (agave), and taste it as well. Dinner will be at a local comedor and you can choose anything you like from their local fare menu. In the evenings at the cabins your guide will light your fire and make sure you have all you need. It can be cool and wet during the summers so plan accordingly with a raincoat and maybe even an umbrella which is great to have in the city as well. Oaxaca is known as the place of eternal spring. We suggest picking up an umbrella during your city tour day.
Accommodation: Cabin at Latuvi
Day 5: Trek from Latuvi to Lachatao
Enjoy breakfast at the local comedor. Today's hike follows a pre-Hispanic route called "Camino Real" which unified Zapotec villages all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. The route was used by the locals to reach the capital city, where they would sell their products which they transported on mules. This is by and far the most beautiful part of the trek with stunning forests, flowers and fungi. Your guide will share information about the plants you see along the way including medicinal and culinary uses. Your final destination today is the small village of Lachatao. Estimated hiking time: 6-7 hours.
After checking into your cabin and relaxing a bit, you will have the unique opportunity to experience a traditional ritual Temascal (an herbal steam bath) with a local woman who specializes in these. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience first hand this important and practical way local people heal themselves. Temascals usually takes about 1.5 hours. Bring a swimsuit or shorts and T-shirt for this experience. Dinner is at the local comedor and the food is always wonderful.
Accommodation: Cabin at Lachato
Day 6: Return to Oaxaca City
Enjoy breakfast at the local comedor. Then your guide will take you on a short hike to a beautiful view point called Cerro del Jaguar. Afterwards you will have private transport back to Oaxaca City. Enjoy the afternoon exploring the many galleries, shops and restaurants of the city. Dinner is on your own and again we'll recommend some wonderful restaurants.
Accommodation: Hotel Parador San Miguel
Day 7: Oaxaca Your Way
On this day, you'll select from an array of exciting activities designed to cater to a range of curiosities and interests such as:
1) Afternoon Photo Tour
We'll catch the best light of the day on this late afternoon guided photographic tour of the wonderfully festive neighborhoods of Xochimilco and Jalatlaco, where urban art and local architecture are seen at their colorful best. These neighborhoods are a photographer’s dream. The buildings along these streets are painted in vibrant blues, greens and oranges, plus wrought iron fences are draped in purple bougainvillea. Cobblestone walls and walkways add to the allure.This private tour is guided by Manuael Jimenez, the former official photographer for the Ministry of Tourism in Oaxaca. Manuel will offer tips and tricks for taking better photos with any kind of camera.
2) Get Famous with Lucha Libre
Lucha Libre is Mexican wrestling filled with superheroes and villains. Think of American WWE yet with the wrestlers masked and dressed in flashy outfits. Each Luchador has an outlandish persona with a backstory that the audience is usually familiar with making the drama all the more fun. The wrestlers are athletic, theatrical, and perform dazzling acrobatics. The audience gets involved with lots of shouting, at times trying to avoid getting hit by a flying wrestler. It's also a family event and people of all ages attend. Your day starts with visiting a workshop where the famous masks the wrestlers wear are made. You will have your own mask made for you. Then you will head to a local gym where wrestlers will perform an exhibition match. Then head to a Lucha Libre-themed restaurant for wings, fries and onion rings where Mr Alitas who is a former wrestler and wrestling photographer as well as the restaurant owner will join you. If covid restrictions allow, there may be a show as well.
3) Artisans of the Valley
This full day tour is an opportunity for art and crafts lovers to experience the best of Oaxaca's craft scene: pottery, weaving, and Alebrijes. The program starts in Santo Tomas Jalietza to see 'telar de cintura' backstrap loom weaving which is an ancestral technique preserved and used by local weavers. Then we head to San Martin Tilcajete to see how the popular and colorful painted wooden figures known as Alebrijes are made. You will see these fantastic fantasy creatures in many of the shops in town. Roll up your sleeves as you will have the opportunity to paint your own Alejibre to take home. In San Bartolo Coyotepec, meet with the famous potters who make Black Pottery which is internationally famous and sought after by decorators. Lunch is included with your local guide who can answer questions about the arts of Oaxaca.
4) Mountain Biking
If pedaling along single track in the Sierra Norte is more your style, join this mountain biking adventure on the trails of La Cumbre and Ixtepeji. The trails run between 6,233 and 10,826 feet elevation along pre-Hispanic trails. There are a variety of single track and dirt roads with obstacles, curves, jumps and drops with amazing landscapes. Total distance covered is approximately 13 miles. Your skill level should be intermediate to feel comfortable on this ride which is led by a certified mountain bike guide. Both breakfast and lunch plus bike, helmet and water are included in this program.
5) Rock Climbing
About one hour south of the city is the picturesque village of Tlacochahuaya which has some great rock climbing. The tour starts with breakfast and then transportation down to the climbing site. After being fit with harnesses, shoes and a safety talk, it's up the rock.
There are a wide variety of fixed climbing routes varying in levels from easy to advanced. After climbing we'll make our way to a hidden spot to enjoy a delicious picnic. Then it's back to Oaxaca City where you will be dropped off at your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel Parador San Miguel
Day 8: Artisanal Mezcal Experience
Today with your local guide you will head just south of the city to visit a palenque mezcalero (mezcal distillery) to learn about the artisanal process of this ancestral drink, which has, for many years been a symbol of the state of Oaxaca. Our first stop is to meet a local award winning weaver who lives near by to share with you her back strap weaving. You will be able to taste homemade hot chocolate and bread for dipping which is a favorite of locals.
Next, meet Eduardo La Locura, aka ‘the crazy one’ who is an artisanal Mescal maker. Also known as the century plant, the maguey plant dates back to pre-Columbian Mexico and thrives in dry rocky or sandy soil and is the basis of Mescal. Eduardo’s maguey farm and distillery are run by his family and a posse of local men bent on the hard work of making this ‘whisky of the south’ by hand. Learn the ins and outs from the field, to the mash, to the tasting of this “Drink of the Gods”. This is an incredible look at one of Oaxaca’s most famous exports. Enjoy tastings paired with food as part of the experience. We will head back to the city in the late afternoon and dinner is on your own.
Accommodation: Hotel Parador San Miguel
Day 9: Depart Oaxaca
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
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We're committed to helping you get even closer to magical places like Oaxaca. With the help of this operator who is expert at making connections, this specially designed Wild Nectar trip will be unforgettable.
Joy Martinello, Founder
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What’s Included & Cancellation Policy:
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Airport transfers; Welcome dinner at Tierra Del Sol with expert on Mezcal; Lodgeing 4 nights at Parador San Miguel, breakfast included; City Tour; Cooking class with Oscar; Bilingual Guide, 3 nights in Sierra Norte Cabins; All meals on trek in mountains; Baggage transfers between communities; Activities in the mountains; Ritual Temascal bath; one activity option on day 7; Bilingual guide.
NOT INCLUDED
International or domestic flights; Items of a personal nature; Laundry, massages, and other personal items; Tips for drivers, guides and porters; Passport & visa fees; Travel Insurance (recommended).
