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Oaxaca Day of the Dead Immersion: 3-Day Cultural Experience

By Oaxaca Shuttle
10 out of 10
Exceptional
Free cancellation available
Price is P 35,183 per adult
See tickets
Features
  • Free cancellation available
  • 3d
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
  • Multiple languages
Overview

Live Day of the Dead—don’t just watch it.
Begin inside a welcoming Oaxacan home, where you help build a traditional altar and learn the meaning of candles, marigolds, copal, and offerings as stories flow and a homemade dinner is shared. This intimate start opens the door to Oaxaca’s most beloved tradition.

Across three unforgettable days you’ll step into candlelit cemeteries—Panteón General, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, and Santa María Atzompa—on October 31, when music, flowers, and families fill the night with memory and celebration. On November 1, meet your nahual (protective spirit) by painting your own alebrije with local artisans, a hands-on moment that connects myth to the present.

More than a tour, this is a rare cultural immersion guided by locals who live the tradition. If you’re seeking meaning, beauty, and true connection—not a staged show—this experience was designed for you.

Activity location

  • Mercado de la Merced
    • Av. Jose Maria Morelos 1522A, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA,
    • Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Reforma 501
    • 501 Reforma
    • 68000, Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, Mexico

Check availability

Oaxaca Day of the Dead Immersion: 3-Day Cultural Experience
  • Activity duration is 3 days3d
    3d
  • English
Starting time: 10:00
Price details
P 35,183.41 x 1 AdultP 35,183.41
Total
Price is P 35,183.41

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's included
    Shared transportation
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Lunch
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Dinner
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Includes: Your "Nahual" which is a small (12-15 cm) wooden figure to paint, paint and brushes.
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Air-conditioned vehicle
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Food and drinks
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Gratuities

Know before you book

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Activity itinerary

Day 1: Día 1 – October 30: Build a Traditional Day of the Dead Altar
  • 2 stops
  • Meals: snacks
  • Accommodation: Not included
Mercado de la Merced
  • 45m
Local Market in Oaxaca City. Start the experience by walking through a bustling local market. With the guidance of your host, select marigolds, candles, fruits, and other symbolic items used to decorate a traditional Day of the Dead altar. Enjoy the colors, aromas, and sounds that make Oaxaca’s markets come alive during this season.
San Antonio Arrazola
  • 3h
Arrive at a local family’s home and learn the meaning of each element placed on the altar. Help arrange flowers, candles, incense, and offerings while listening to family stories and traditions. Guests are warmly invited to bring a photo of a loved one who has passed away to include in the altar.
Day 2: Día 2 – October 31: Cemeteries Tour
  • 3 stops
  • Meals: Not included
  • Accommodation: Not included
Panteon General
  • 45m
Begin the evening at the historic Panteón General, where ornate mausoleums glow with thousands of candles. Walk among decorated graves while families share music, food, and offerings in honor of their ancestors.
Panteón Mictlancíhuatl
  • 1h
Continue to Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, internationally renowned for its Day of the Dead celebrations. Here, experience the vibrant atmosphere of marigold-covered tombs, traditional bands playing, and families welcoming visitors into their sacred traditions.
Municipal Pantheon Atzompa
  • 1h
End the night in Santa María Atzompa, a more intimate cemetery where local families gather in candlelit remembrance. The quieter setting offers a heartfelt glimpse into the personal side of the Day of the Dead.
Day 3: Día 3 – November 1: Paint Your Nahual – Protective Animal
  • 1 stop
  • Meals: lunch
  • Accommodation: Not included
San Antonio Arrazola
  • 2h
Discover the ancient Zapotec belief of the Nahual, a protective spirit animal that connects each person to nature. Guided by local artisans, learn how these figures inspire the world-famous Alebrijes. Then, paint your own wooden Nahual using traditional colors and patterns, creating a one-of-a-kind souvenir to take home. Enjoy stories from the artisans about the cultural meaning of each design.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Mercado de la Merced
    • Av. Jose Maria Morelos 1522A, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA,
    • Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Reforma 501
    • 501 Reforma
    • 68000, Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, Mexico

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