Highlights
- Taste authentic Oaxacan gastronomy from Indigenous chefs
- Spot exotic flora and fauna in Ixtepeji, an "enchanted" forest
- Learn about Oaxacan medicine and handicrafts in local communities
- Prepare your own traditional dessert using an ancient ingredient
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Oaxaca, Gastronomic Food Tasting | Oaxaca |
| Day 2 | Ixtepeji Enchanted Forest Walk | Oaxaca |
| Day 3 | Handicraft Villages Tour | Oaxaca |
| Day 4 | Market Exploration & Traditional Oaxacan Medicine Tour | Oaxaca |
| Day 5 | Hike the Puma Trail in San Pablo de Etla | Oaxaca |
| Day 6 | Huautli Food Experience & Dessert Workshop | Oaxaca |
| Day 7 | Depart Oaxaca |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Oaxaca, Gastronomic Food Tasting
Hola, and welcome to Oaxaca, the capital city of the Mexican state of the same name! As you touch down at the airport, your driver will greet you and provide comfortable transportation to your city hotel. Oaxaca is internationally known for its cuisine and heritage. Ignite your senses as you dive into both on your first day with Oaxaca's famed gastronomy, designated on UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. On a Gastronomic Indigenous Roots tour, you'll taste authentic dishes from eight regions and meet the Indigenous chefs behind this foodie experience.
Nestled amid varied mountainous landscapes, diverse climates and cultures converge to create Mexico's most eclectic cuisine—seafood from the coast, vegetables from the Central Valley, and corn, the cornerstone of meals. As the chefs prepare your tastings, you'll learn about the ancient ingredients and cooking techniques. Sample pre-Columbian staples like corn, chilies, beans, tomatoes, and squash, whipped into iconic dishes like tamales, mole, sopa de piedra (stone soup), and chapulines (grasshoppers) before washing it down with a glass of mezcal, a traditional alcoholic beverage made from agave.
Day 2: Ixtepeji Enchanted Forest Walk
Lace up your hiking boots because today, you're embarking on an excursion into the Sierra Norte de Oaxaca mountains, one hour from Oaxaca. Here, you'll hike for two hours in a dense cloud forest, beginning on a trail of colorful flowers and imposing guardian trees whom you'll honor and request their permission to access the mountain.
As you ascend past thousand-year-old pines and oaks to incredible viewpoints overlooking the Oaxaca Valley, your guide will regale you about the way of life of the region and the history behind the forest. Of course, there are plenty of exotic flora and fauna to spot, and bird species you might see include hawks, hummingbirds, warblers, and flycatchers. The trail ends at a river where you'll sit down to a lunch of fresh fish caught right out of the water. Afterward, you'll return to your hotel in Oaxaca City.
Day 3: Handicraft Villages Tour in Oaxaca
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Venture just outside the city for today's tour of handicrafts made by Oaxaca's best artisans. Your guide will accompany you to five villages dedicated to distinct forms of craftsmanship. You'll first visit Coyotepec, famous for producing black pottery. There, you'll engage in a workshop to discover the process for crafting this material. As you hop over to Ocotlán, notice its bustling market, a space full of colors, aromas, and flavors. Afterward, visit the workshop of Josefina Aguilar, a clay artisan who brings clay figures depicting village characters and traditional community events to life with bright colors.
Continue your craftsmanship journey in San Antonino, where the women of this village are recognized for their skill and talent in embroidery featuring floral designs and geometric patterns. Next, in Jalietza, admire the technique of backstrap loom weaving. The textiles are renowned for their quality and beauty, and artisans use bright and vivid colors and traditional Zapotec geometric designs and motifs. Your final stop is the village of Tilcajete, which specializes in creating alebrijes, hand-painted wooden sculptures.
Day 4: Market Exploration & Traditional Oaxacan Medicine Tour
Today's tour takes you on a deep dive into the world of Oaxaca's traditional medicines. Your day begins at the Central de Abastos (Center of Supplies), a market teeming with locals selling vibrant foods, products, and creative art. Stroll by the herbal area, feasting your eyes on the plants that spice up food or are used to concoct Indigenous medicines. Your guide will explain the significance of each ingredient as you spend time with vendors who sell magic powders thought to attract love as well as defend against the evil eye.
The tour continues to a small community in the valley, where a traditional doctor will explain the different medicinal plants and their uses, followed by a cleansing ritual and a call in the Zapotec language to bring the soul back to the body. Afterward, you'll help prepare some handmade ointments said to relieve different types of pain.
Day 5: Hike the Puma Trail in San Pablo de Etla
In the Central Valleys of Oaxaca lies San Pablo Etla, a welcoming community that encompasses a portion of the mountainous expanse of the Cordillera Norte or Sierra de San Felipe. In this locale, an authentic and memorable hiking venture awaits—the Puma Trail. Covering approximately 3 miles (5 km), the trail offers an accessible trekking experience owing to its well-defined path.
Your outdoor adventure commences from the middle reaches of the mountain, leading you through pine-oak forests, traversing deciduous oak woodlands to designated viewpoints, and winding through local farmlands. As you explore the farmlands, you'll connect with the local way of life and gain a deeper understanding of the region's cultural and culinary traditions. Along the way, you'll also learn about the diverse species that inhabit this area.
Day 6: Huautli Food Experience & Dessert Workshop
This afternoon, you'll visit nearby San Pablo Etla and meet Margarita Barrita, a member of Alegria de la Vida. Local women created this collective to preserve the culture and use of huautli (amaranth), an ancient grain that has formed part of the Mesoamerican diet for over 8,000 years.
You'll be guided through the cultivation process from planting to harvest as you gain insights into its impressive health benefits. Watch the transformation into flour, and afterward, learn about the traditional technique where seeds burst in a clay comal (flat cooking pan). You'll even help whip up a batch of tzoalli, a pre-Hispanic dessert based on amaranth and considered a food of the ancient gods.
Day 7: Depart Oaxaca
As your week in Oaxaca draws to a close, it's time to bid farewell to this land of culture, cuisine, and natural beauty.
Before you catch your outbound flight, consider one last stroll through Oaxaca City's charming streets, visiting any last-minute markets or artisan shops for souvenirs, or savoring your last morning with Oaxacan chocolate and pan de yema (an egg yolk bread). When it's time, your driver will whisk you away to the Oaxaca International Airport, marking the end of your journey.
More Great Mexico Itineraries
Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Mexico? Check out these other Mexico itineraries, explore different ways to spend a week in Oaxaca, or discover the best time to visit Mexico.
Map
