Day of the Dead in MEXICO
DESCRIPTION
Not many national holidays become world famous. Carnival in Rio or Venice? Kumbh Mela in India? Very few of them can boast of having preserved their history for many thousands of years. And certainly, few of them are marked on the territory of several countries. What are we talking about? Of course, we are talking about Mexico and the Day of the Dead! A holiday, interest in which is growing every year.
Memorial Day and carnival, a sea of traditions, special costumes, rituals, food. In late October-early November, this action, colored in fiery orange, covers the whole of Central America.
We will go there to study its history, get acquainted with the traditions, taste it and, most important, to reincarnate as its participants! Full immersion in the atmosphere is guaranteed!
We will get acquainted with the capital of Mexico, swim in the Pacific Ocean, walk in the mountains and visit one of the most original corners of Mexico - the state of Oaxaca.
The land of the amazing Zapotec - the people of the Clouds, Ben'Zaa, as they call themselves. We are waiting for reserved beaches and colonial cities, caves and coffee plantations, folk crafts and creations of world famous masters. Mexican cuisine is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (yes, it is not only tacos and burritos).
Oaxaca cuisine occupies a special position in Mexico. The list of dishes will take more than one page, we assure you, you will get acquainted with the most unusual and interesting! Festival, carnival, nature, history and culture, delicious cuisine and the ocean - this trip claims that you will want to do it again!
ROUTE
EXPEDITION COST INCLUDES:
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Transfers to the airport (if you arrive exactly on the day of the program)
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Flight Mexico City - Huatulco
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Bus rental along the route
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Entrance to the archaeological zones of Xochicalco and Monte Alban
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Performances by folk groups and master classes
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Entrances to Cacahuamilpa and Huatulco National Parks
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Boat trip on the Gulf of Huatulco
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Guide interpreters along the route
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Local guides and escorts
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Accommodation in hotels
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Breakfasts
Price for citizens of Ukraine: free
Features of obtaining: online (very simple). Electronic authorization - "Visa". If you have a US visa, you can get a visa
Other nationalities that do NOT require visas: if you have a valid multi-visa of the USA, Visa of the countries of the Schengen Agreement (EU), Great Britain and Japan or () a permanent residence permit in the USA, Canada or an EC country
Other nationalities that require a visa: Kazakhstan
VISA:
EXPEDITION COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:
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Air travel from your location in Mexico City and back home - from Oaxaca
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Museum entrances Bellas Artes, National Archaeological
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Sewing carnival costumes for the Day of the Dead
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Artistic makeup for Day of the Dead
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Mezcal Tasting Tour
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Tipping along the route to local guides and drivers
IMPORTANT!
Due to the fact that our expeditions do not include international flights to the starting point of the program, we cannot be held responsible for changes in flight conditions by airlines or airport requirements. Since our travelers fly from many different countries and cities, we never participate in the purchase of air travel and limit ourselves exclusively to advisory services in the selection of flights. Air agents or airlines from which tickets were purchased are responsible for the purchase and technical support.
ITINERARY
Day 1
23.10.2024
The journey begins with the arrival in Mexico City, where the group stays at a cozy hotel in the city center. We rest after a long journey and recharge our energy for the upcoming adventures.
Day 2
24.10.2024
On the first day of our journey, we have an early wake-up call at 7:30 AM, and we have breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast, we set off to the archaeological site of Xochicalco - a place that may not be as famous, but no less astonishing. We will encounter pyramids and temples of one of the ancient cities of Central Mexico, which has survived through the ages and is a contemporary of Teotihuacan.
The performance of the dance group Ollin Dance will add a mystical atmosphere to our journey. We will see a reenactment of Aztec dances and take part in a purification ritual - we will be fumigated with the resin of copal trees during the ritual; and they will prepare us for a journey between the worlds of the living and the dead.
From Xochicalco we will go to Cacahuamilpa Cave, one of the most beautiful caves in Mexico. In order to thoroughly explore this huge cave (more than 90 rooms!) A few days are not enough.
We will get acquainted with the most impressive things, we will make the first dive into the world of Inframundo. According to the beliefs of the Central American peoples, the caves are a transition to the world of the dead, the domain of the god Mictlantecuhtli.
For having dinner we go to the city of Taxco, the pearl of the Mexican colonial baroque, the capital of silver. We will have dinner on a beautiful terrace overlooking the city, and after dinner, we will go to an organ music concert in the church.
Then it is time for real colonial luxury. We are going to Taxco, the pearl of Mexican baroque and the capital of silver, striking in its beauty and sophistication. For having dinner, we are invited to a beautiful terrace with a stunning view of the city. Taxco is notable for the fact that all taxis in this city are Volkswagen Beetles, an iconic model in Mexico! After dinner, we will have an organ music concert in the church to end this day with an unforgettable experience.
Today's transfers are short. It takes about 1.5 hours to travel from Mexico City to the Xochicalco archaeological zone, around 1 hour from Xochicalco to the Cacahuamilpa Caves, and a similar duration from Cacahuamilpa to Taxco. The transfer from Taxco to Mexico City will take approximately 2.5 hours. All transfers are done on a comfortable air-conditioned bus.
Breakfast is included in the accommodation price. We will be staying at a great hotel in the lively center of Mexico City.
Day 3
25.10.2024
Today we will sleep in a little longer. We will have breakfast at the hotel at 8:00 AM.
Today we will get to know Mexico City better. Tourists usually skip the capital, getting acquainted with the surroundings at best.
We will try to correct this omission! Forget about tourist routes and standard attractions - we invite you to get to know the real soul of the city.
We will start our walk with the Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Postal Palace, the creations of the architect Adamo Boari, one of the most beautiful buildings in Mexico City. Frescoes of the Rivera and Orozco, Neo-Gothic and Art Deco, a picturesque and architectural walk through the center of Mexico City will not leave anyone indifferent. We will have a snack in the famous taqueria with our favorite tacos “chilangos”, as the inhabitants of the capital are called - so al-pastor. The meat for them is soaked in orange juice!
We will get acquainted with the historical center, go to the cafe where Frida liked to visit with her friends, see the house where Malinche lived - the translator and mistress of the conquistador Hernan Cortes, have lunch overlooking the Cathedral.
After lunch, we will visit the home of Pritzker Laureate Luis Barragan, Michelin taquerias, boulevards and designer shops - what you least expect from Mexico City and why this city is one of my top three favorite cities in the world. Food, beauty, history and aesthetics, unexpected experiences - our today's program.
We will be staying in the same hotel in Mexico City tonight, and breakfast is included in the program. We will be using a comfortable bus for transportation within the city.
Day 4
26.10.2024
We will wake up earlier tomorrow for an early breakfast at 7:30 AM. Afterward, we will depart for the airport to check in for our flight to the city of Huatulco.
Today we are going to Oaxaca!
Oaxaca is a large state in the south of the country. It is famous for its cuisine, which is adored by gourmets all over the world, cultural traditions, colorful national costumes and unique folk crafts. Oaxaca is the birthplace of the most fashionable alcoholic drink in the world today - mezcal!
And also the fact that it gave the two most famous presidents of Mexico - Benito Juarez and Porfirio Diaz. Oaxaca is also famous for the brightest celebration of the Day of the Dead, which turns into a real festival in this state for several days. Oaxaca is located on the Pacific coast. In general, most of the state, with the exception of a narrow coastal strip, is quite high mountains. Therefore, the locals called themselves the people of Ben'Zaa - the people of the Clouds.
We fly into the city of Huatulco, check into a hotel on the Pacific coast and enjoy warm water and a classy dinner.
The transfer from the Huatulco airport to the hotel will take approximately one hour. We will be staying in a comfortable hotel located by the ocean, and breakfast is included in our stay.
Day 5
27.10.2024
We have breakfast at the hotel at 8:00 AM and then embark on a tropical marine adventure! We will be taking a boat trip through the bays of the Huatulco National Park, known for its incredible beauty and unique ecosystem. Here, we will feel like true tropical inhabitants!
Bahia Magway, Playa Cacaluta, Organo Bay and Playa Jicaral - these beaches take first place in the top of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico, little corners of paradise on Earth. Here we can enjoy exotic birds, fish, amazing fauna and flora, try our hand at snorkeling and even see the whales that sometimes come to these places.
Our boat trip will be a real adventure on the water, where we can feel free and carefree, enjoying beautiful views and feeling completely relaxed. This day will be a real gift for everyone who dreams of outdoor recreation!
The boat journey through the bays of the Huatulco National Park takes approximately two hours. After the excursion, we will return to our hotel for an overnight stay. Breakfast is included in the accommodation package.
Day 6
28.10.2024
Today we will have a relaxed morning, with breakfast served at 8:30 am. The day will be dedicated to exploring ecology and the living nature around us. Copal trees cover the entire coast of Oaxaca; resin is extracted from them, which was used in their rituals by all the peoples of Central America. Our guides will help us learn more about this amazing region, tell us about the traditions of the use of copal and its medicinal properties. Then we will head to the mangroves where we will see animals in their natural habitat including crocodiles, iguanas, nasuas and agoutis!
At sunset, we will visit the turtle hatchery in Mazunta, one of the most charming beach villages on the Pacific coast of Mexico. At the Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga, security and
restoration of the number of sea turtles. They collect masonry, protect them from predators and dogs, put them in an incubator, and release the hatched baby turtles into the sea. November is the peak of the turtle hatching season, we will take part in this celebration of life! We will personally release the freshly hatched turtles into the ocean.
Breakfast will be served at the hotel. The journey to the nature reserve will take approximately one and a half hours, with one-hour transfers between towns. We will return to our wonderful hotel on the shores of the Pacific Ocean for overnight stay.
Day 7
29.10.2024
We will have an early wake-up call and an early breakfast at 7:00 AM.
Today after breakfast, we say goodbye to the ocean and go to the mountains. On the way, we will visit the famous Finca Pluma Hidalgo coffee plantation, where we can enjoy the wonderful taste of the best Mexican coffee and even stock up on it for future use!
After the coffee farm, we will go even higher into the mountains, to the famous village of San Juan del Pacifico, famous for its psychedelic shamanistic rituals.
In the evening, we will have a spa adventure, the traditional Temazcal ceremony, which is a kind of “sauna” for the peoples of Mesoamerica. Inside a special building, similar to a dugout tent, a fire, which heats the stones, is kindled. Various herbs are poured onto the hot stones to create a smoke screen and steam that envelops the body and creates a sauna effect. This ceremony not only helps to relax and unwind, but is also considered healing and associated with spiritual practices.
It will be a day filled with amazing adventures, beautiful views and unusual traditions that will be remembered for a lifetime!
Breakfast is included in the hotel. The transfers between locations average about two hours, with a total travel time of up to 5 hours on a comfortable bus. Tonight, we will be staying in modest cabin lodges as our village is situated at a considerable altitude in the mountains - over 2500 meters.
Day 8
30.10.2024
For those who are interested in witnessing the sunrise, there will be an early morning wake-up call at 6 AM. We will rise early to embark on a short hike in the mountains, ascending to a higher point where we can stand above the clouds and witness one of the most breathtaking sunrises of our lives. It is truly worth the early wake-up call!
After breakfast, we will continue our journey and go to the capital of the state - the city of Oaxaca. On the way, we will stop at the Cultivos el Viejo field, where sempasuchili are grown – the flowers that are a symbol and an integral part of the Day of the Dead holiday. We are surprised to recognize old acquaintances in this flower, listen to stories about the attitudes of the indigenous peoples of America to flowers.
Today we have a difficult day - the main test of strength! We are going to the most famous mescaleria of Oaxaca! We will learn about the traditional process of making mezcal, and we will taste, taste, remember the hospitality of the Mexicans, exhale and taste again. After the fourth glass, we will know if a caterpillar is needed in a bottle with real mezcal, how to drink it correctly, what mescal cocktails are the most delicious. Our favorite is with passion fruit juice!
After a carefully conducted tasting, the soul will ask for music and dancing. Upon arrival at the hotel, we are waiting for the performance of the dance group! It is unlikely that we will be able to take part in the dance on stilts, but we will dance with pineapples!
For those who are heading out to witness the sunrise, packed lunch boxes will be provided instead of breakfast. The journey from San Juan del Pacifico to the city of Oaxaca will take approximately three hours. The group will be staying in comfortable hotels in the city of Oaxaca for the night.
Day 9
31.10.2024
We wake up and have breakfast at the recommended cafes near our hotels. After breakfast, we meet at the designated meeting point from where we will depart on a bus for our excursion.
Today we will have an exciting trip to the authentic villages of Oaxaca to immerse ourselves in the culture of the locals and see how they prepare for the celebration of the Day of the Dead.
On October 31 in Oaxaca there is an incredible atmosphere of anticipation of the upcoming holiday of the Day of the Dead. In the city streets, you can see numerous altars decorated with flowers and candles, as well as costumes and masks used for costumed
Processions. All these things create a unique atmosphere of mysticism and mystery that envelops the city.
Many locals and tourists are already starting to prepare for the holiday, setting up altars for their deceased loved ones and friends, and gathering at various cultural events to celebrate the Day of the Dead together. The aromas of local dishes and drinks, music and dances, as well as decorations on the streets and in shops, all remind you that the main holiday of the country is already close.
We will start with a visit to the museum, where they keep the largest gold treasure
found in Mexico. Then we will go to Monte Alban, the ancient capital of the Zapotecs, where the first settlements existed more than 5000 years ago. Pyramids, a ball game field, bas-reliefs - an exciting archaeological adventure awaits us!
Photo by Matthew Essman on Unsplash
After that, we will go to the village of San Bartolo Coyotepec, where we will attend a master class in working with “barro negro” - black clay used to create exquisite pottery. In the family workshop, we can learn how to work with clay and get acquainted with the techniques for creating amazing products.
One of the widest and oldest trees in the world, the Tule tree, grows in Oaxaca. We will embrace the giant, which is more than one and a half thousand years old. Imagine how it grew up when Justinian was building the first Sophia in Constantinople, and hordes of barbarians plundered eternal Rome. We will have to try very hard - the girth of the trunk of the Thule Tree is about 42 meters!
Photo by Gabriel Tovar on Unsplash
In the evening, we will go to the village of San Agustín Etla to visit the exhibition of altars and offerings dedicated to the Day of the Dead. Here we can enjoy live music and dance performances, as well as explore the different styles and themes of altarpieces created by local artists. At the cultural center of the city, the Centro de las Artes de San Agustin (CASA), we will be able to take part in workshops on traditional crafts such as papel picado (paper cutting), sugar skull making and flower arranging. And in the traditional procession through the streets, whose participants are dressed in traditional costumes and carry offerings to the dead, we can feel the atmosphere of the holiday and feel the spirit of Mexican culture.
We travel around the city in a comfortable bus, with short transfers between locations taking about an hour. We stay in comfortable hotels near the historical center of the city. Breakfasts are self-service.
Photo by Arturo Ochoa on Unsplash
Day 10
1.11.2024
We wake up and have breakfast at the recommended cafes near our hotels. After breakfast, we meet at the designated meeting point from where we will depart on the excursion by bus.
Today is the main day of our trip! We prepare for the holiday, collect carnival costumes, decorate the de Muertes altar and learn how to make traditional offerings. The invited masters of body art apply traditional make-up on us and we transform into the heroes of the holiday. This unusual transformation makes us feel like a part of the local culture and being imbued with the spirit of the Day of the Dead.
San Pablo Villa de Mitla is known for its intricate and colorful sand tapestries or "tapetes de arena" that are created on the city streets during Dia de los Muertos. The sand tapestries are made from colored sand and feature traditional Day of the Dead motifs such as skulls, skeletons and flowers. The city also hosts a traditional procession through the streets, the participants of which are dressed in traditional costumes and carry offerings to the dead.
In Oaxaca de Juarez, the main parade of Dia de los Muertos is known as "Comparsas de Muertos" or "Parade of the Dead". It usually takes place on November 1st evening and includes large puppets, live music and dancers dressed in traditional costumes making their way through the streets of the city. This parade is the main attraction and draws large crowds of both locals and visitors.
In the evening, we drive to the cemeteries of Santa Maria Atzompa: Santa Maria Atzompa is famous for its unique pottery, which is used to make traditional Day of the Dead offerings. During Dia de los Muertos, the city's main cemetery is decorated with flowers and candles, and families gather to clean and decorate the graves of their loved ones. A sea of lights and flowers, music, we will remember this day for a long time.
The travel time between locations is not more than an hour to an hour and a half. We will be staying in the same hotels overnight.
Day 11
2.11.2024
We wake up at a relaxed pace. Breakfast is served at the hotel. This is our last day in the program. We say goodbye to the guides and each other. Tears are shed, plans for future reunions are made. The Paganelli Expedition exploring amazing Mexico has come to an end. From here, everyone continues their journey home independently.
You have the option to spend a few extra days in Oaxaca or elsewhere in Mexico. Please consult the guides in advance, and they will provide their recommendations.
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We are unique
For many years, we have been traveling the world to our small planet's most remote and unusual places. We do not use the services of domestic travel agencies. The trips we invent and carry out are always unique and have their unique zest, charm, and adventurous spirit.
WHY WITH PAGANEL?
Creation
The first thing that interests us is creativity in everything. During the expeditions, we shoot a lot of videos, take pictures, write stories, draw pictures. If you are interested in a creative approach to life and travel, then WELCOME... we are very happy to meet you!
Interest
By joining our team, you join a kind of club-family, which already consists of several hundred people who are interested in discovering the world with us.
Since most of the expenses for the organization of the trip are air tickets and travel documents for other types of transport, accommodation, excursions, services of local companies and guides, etc. are not refundable in case of your cancellation of the trip. We simply have no way to return it.
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