Highlights
- Spend a day exploring the vibrant neighborhoods of Puebla
- Take a walk through the cactus forests of Tehuacán-Cuicuitlan
- Follow an artisan route through Oaxaca's pottery, weaving, and carving workshops
- Paint your own mythical keepsake at an alebrije maker's home
- Master the art of Oaxacan cuisine with a chef-led cooking class
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Mexico City, Transfer to Puebla & Walking Tour | Puebla |
| Day 2 | Transfer to Oaxaca via Tehuacán-Cuicuitlan Biosphere Reserve | Oaxaca |
| Day 3 | Mezcal Experience in Santiago Matatlán | Oaxaca |
| Day 4 | Oaxaca Artisan Route Tour, Indigenous Gastronomy Experience | Oaxaca |
| Day 5 | Tour Monte Albán, Visit an Alebrijes Workshop | Oaxaca |
| Day 6 | Art Workshop in Oaxaca City, Oaxacan Cooking Experience | Oaxaca |
| Day 7 | Depart Oaxaca |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Mexico City, Transfer to Puebla & Walking Tour
¡Bienvenidos a Mexico! After arriving in Mexico City, a driver will be waiting to transfer you two hours east to Puebla, a well-preserved city famous for its Baroque architecture, renowned cuisine, and UNESCO-listed historic center. Once you've settled in, meet your local guide for an immersive walking tour to discover some of the city's most renowned landmarks.
Start in the epicenter of Puebla with the impressive Catedral de Puebla, built in the Herrerian style between the 16th and 17th centuries. Afterward, you'll continue to the Biblioteca Palafoxiana, one of the first libraries of the American continent with a photo-worthy interior. Next, you'll visit Uriarte Talavera, the oldest, largest, and most well-known factory where traditional ceramics from this part of Mexico are made and cherished.
Throughout the rest of the tour, you'll also stop by distinct neighborhoods that make up the city, from Barrio del Artista (Neighborhood of Artists), where you can grab coffee at a trendy café, to the Callejón de los Sapos (Alley of the Frogs), home to colorful buildings and a large handicraft market. But don't spend all your money at once; you'll also visit the handicraft-focused El Parián artisan market, as well as the Calle de Los Dulces (Street of Sweets), where you'll have the opportunity to taste typical sweets of Puebla.
Day 2: Transfer to Oaxaca via Tehuacán-Cuicuitlan Biosphere Reserve
Meet your driver this morning and set off on the scenic, five-hour journey south toward Oaxaca. Break up the trip midway with a stop at the UNESCO-listed Tehuacán-Cuicuitlan Biosphere Reserve, where you can stretch your legs with a walk through the incredible columnar cacti forests of this protected area. Meaning "Place of God" in the Indigenous Aztec language of Nahuatl, Tehuacán shelters a wide array of flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth, including endangered cacti, rare amphibians, and colorful hummingbirds.
After plenty of time to explore, you'll get back on the road and continue to Oaxaca City, your base for the next five nights. Located in the southern Mexican state of the same name, Oaxaca welcomes you with a heady blend of colorful colonial architecture, rich Indigenous culture, and renowned regional gastronomy. Spend the rest of the day exploring this walkable city at your own pace, then choose a spot for dinner to sample local favorites like flavorful moles and crunchy tlayudas.
Day 3: Mezcal Experience in Santiago Matatlán
Grab a hearty breakfast in Oaxaca, then meet your guide for today's immersive introduction to the region's most famous drink—mezcal. Made from the agave plants that blanket the area's rolling landscapes, this distilled spirit holds a place of both cultural and culinary importance among the people of Oaxaca, and you'll head to the heart of its production in the village of Santiago Matatlán, known as the "World Capital of Mezcal."
Meet a local producer to visit his agave croplands and learn all about the harvesting, fermenting, and distilling processes, then taste different varieties and learn about the mezalero's custom creations. Grab a bottle of your favorite as a perfect souvenir or gift, then end the tour with a traditional lunch before heading back to Oaxaca for the afternoon.
Day 4: Oaxaca Artisan Route Tour, Indigenous Gastronomy Experience
Today, your driver will take you on a memorable journey along the Ruta Ocotlán, a route that winds its way through towns specializing in the region's celebrated handicrafts. See the beautiful sheen and color of San Bartolo Coyotepec's barro negro pottery, and stop at a cotton weaver's workshop in Jalietza to learn about the waist loom method of weaving that produces Oaxaca's famed textiles.
Meet talented artists who embroider blouses and dresses with intricate, multicolored flowers, and visit the studio of Taller Manos que Ven (Hands that See), where potter José García crafts exquisite terra cotta creations by feel rather than sight. The tour wraps up in Ocotlán at the workshop of Doña Josefina Aguilar, an icon of the Oaxacan folk art scene known for her colorful clay figures.
By now, you've probably worked up an appetite! End the day at one of the most authentic restaurants in Oaxaca City, where chefs from Indigenous communities offer an experience to taste traditional Oaxacan gastronomy from their eight different regions. During the multicourse meal, you'll learn—and taste—more about typical Oaxacan food, which has been designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. ¡Buen provecho!
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Tour Monte Albán, Visit an Alebrijes Workshop
Pack your hat and sunscreen today as you make your way back into the Central Valley for a tour of the ancient Zapotec capital of Monte Albán. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a treasure trove of pre-Colombian archaeological wonders, and it had a significant influence on the development of Mesoamerica. It's believed that the city also served as a defense site, which you can see from the Gallery of Dancers, stone slabs depicting conquered figures and captives of the city. Explore the zone and hike up the North Platform and the Grand Plaza for incredible views of the surrounding landscapes.
After lunch, you'll head to Arrazola, a 20-minute drive from Monte Albán, to visit the workshop of a renowned alebrijes artisan. Hear about the workshop's history and the cultural significance of these sculptures of fantastical creatures painted in the same bright colors you've likely seen all around Oaxaca. End the afternoon by painting your own alebrije, which you can take home as a permanent memory of your time in Oaxaca.
Day 6: Art Workshop in Oaxaca City, Oaxacan Cooking Experience
On your penultimate morning in Oaxaca, mingle with the region's talented artists and creatives at a local art workshop. During this hands-on experience, craft your own souvenir using wood carving and gouges that produce a printed design on paper. After finishing your creation, spend time relaxing in the garden and learning about Oaxaca's flourishing art scene from several regional artists.
As lunch approaches, it's time for a memorable gastronomic experience. Start with a trip to a local market to gather the ingredients for a cooking class alongside your chef/guide, meeting local vendors and learning about typical ingredients of the region. Afterward, head to the kitchen and start learning the secrets of Oaxacan cooking. Help whip up a seasonal menu of Oaxacan favorites, including an appetizer, soup, and dessert, then sit down to enjoy a communal meal as you toast your accomplishments with a glass of agua fresca (a refreshing fruit-based drink).Day 7: Depart Oaxaca
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