Oaxaca’s location in the mountains of southwest Mexico has contributed to its rich culture being relatively protected by outside influences. Ancient native languages are spoken in villages, and the artisan folk arts, particularly weaving and pottery, are practiced with the same techniques used by the Zapotecs who built their civilization in the Oaxaca Valley. Visit the region’s artisan villages, ancient Zapotec ruins, markets, and kitchens while staying in the charming and vibrant colonial capital in Oaxaca City. Prepare a savory lunch using local recipes and ingredients during your Oaxaca trip.
Highlights
Tour Oaxaca city and get a panoramic view from Monte Alban
Visit workshops in a Zapotec village to learn traditional weaving practices
Shop and cook with a local chef in a hands on class exploring Oaxacan fare
Wander through the workshops in surrounding artisan villages
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive to Oaxaca where a private transfer is waiting to take you to your charming colonial hotel, home for the next 6 nights. The remainder of the day is free to explore and have dinner.
Take a private excursion to Monte Alban, just outside of Oaxaca. Located in the center of the Oaxacan Valley on a hilltop 1,200 feet above the valley floor, Monte Alban is an impressive site with remarkable panoramas of the valley. Monte Alban was the capital city of the Zapotec nation and one of the first and most populated Meso-American cities during its peak, exerting control over the communities in the valley and surrounding mountains. After visiting Monte Alban, return to the colonial gem of Oaxaca to explore the deepest corners of this beautiful city with your guide.
Visit the village of San Jeronimo Tlacohahuaya in the lush Tlacolula Valley. Tradition says that this village was founded by the Zapotec warrior, Cochicahuala, which means “he who fights by night.” The village’s centerpiece is the main church, the Templo de San Jeronimo, with its restored, ornate organ that dates back to the 16th century.
Continue to the Zapotec village of Teotitlan del Valle that specializes in pre-Colombian weaving traditions. After a delicious lunch, visit local workshops with your guide to learn about the process of spinning wool threads and using natural dyes made from the cochineal insect, moss, and indigo. Return to Oaxaca in the evening.
Mexico is known for great cuisine, and Oaxaca is blessed with an abundance of vegetables and grains from the valley, fish from the coast, tropical fruits from neighboring states, and of course, chocolate. Today is a private cooking class with a local chef. Begin with a visit to a local market to select the key ingredients for your Oaxacan meal. Return to the kitchen for a hands-on class that follows traditional recipes and shares the secrets of Oaxacan cuisine. And of course, enjoy your masterpiece with a relaxing and delicious lunch. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore Oaxaca on your own.
Day 5: Explore Mitla, the Tree of Tule, and Hierve el Agua
Today is a full day to explore more Zapotec villages with your guide. Begin at the Mitla archaeological site. “Mitla” means “Places of the Dead”, and it served as an important religious center with tombs of ancient kings and priests and as a site for human sacrifices. Mitla’s detailed stonework mosaics are a unique example not found anywhere else in Mexico.
Continue to the Hierve El Agua mineral springs, meaning “boiling water”. This site is believed to be a sacred spot for the Zapotecs and possibly a source for irrigation. The mineral-laden water drips over cliffs, leaving mineral deposits that resemble frozen waterfalls. Bring your bathing suit for a soak in the upper mineral pools.
The last stop is Santa Maria del Tule, a small town made famous by the Arbol del Tule (tree of Tule) in the churchyard. This mighty and ancient tree that is between 2,000-3,000 years old has a diameter of 40 feet making it one of the world's largest trees and one of the oldest living species on earth. Return to Oaxaca in the evening.
Visit more of Oaxaca’s artisan villages including Santo Tomas Jalieza, known for its unique backstrap weaving, and the black pottery artists in the village of San Bartolo Coyotepec. The high quality crafts from these areas are made with the same materials, techniques, and traditions of the pre-Colombian Zapotecs. You are invited into their workshops, and a traditional lunch is prepared in a local home.
Day 7: Return Home
1 Breakfast
Transfer to the airport to connect with a flight home. With more time, extend your stay in Mexico.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is $400, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Kate was great to work with in the planning stage. She was prompt, helpful, and efficient. Our tour guide, Edwin, was knowledgeable and passionate. We were very happy to have traveled with Adventure Life, it made the trip easy and a true pleasure. We could concentrate on enjoying the experience rather than the details of travel.
Lisa Bridge
TrustScore 4.8 | 129 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 129 reviews on
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The info on the website was laid out very well. I did some comparisons with other tours and found Adventure Life met a lot of what I wanted in an Antarctica trip at the cheapest price. Requested a quote on Claudia contacted me right away. She answered a lot of questions the I had via email even though she offered to discuss via phone call. I’m more of an email person so appreciated how she accommodated that and answered all my questions. And when I was ready to book, she quickly got the ball rolling with getting our spots reserved on the trip my friend and I wanted. Thanks again, Claudia!
Hazel Araza
10 hours ago
(1) great information on the website and throughout all the "materials." (2) Jane Packer is great: knowledgeable, responsive, takes a personal interest and tone, seems to care about the customer as a person not a sale.
Larry Bethune
18 hours ago
great people doing a wonderful job to make our voyages happen.
trudy
1 day ago
For our first trip to Costa Rica, Adventure Life designed a tour that meets the interests, ecological and adventure, of our party; but also takes into account our physical limitations sine we are all septuagenarian. We are looking forward to the trip.
John Zent
2 days ago
Adventure Life is my favorite travel company due to their genuine care for their customers. They make every effort to ensure a wonderful travel experience for you. Their personal touch really gives the customer a lot of confidence with their travel plans and the trip leaders are always outstanding. They are truly consistent and accountable with the great service they provide. I can't thank Adventure Life enough for the incredible trips I have enjoyed thanks to them and their attention to detail.