Join us for six nights and five full days as we explore the art and culture of Oaxaca City with an optional trip to the Monte Alban ruins. 

All of our tours offer a wide variety of unique experiences while also providing chances for guests to adjust the plans to match their desired speed and intensity.

Read the tour Itinerary summary below for more details.

Throughout the trip we will have the opportunity to dine at a wide variety of extraordinary restaurants (from casual street food to fine dining). While the tour offers many unique scheduled experiences, its casual structure also provides daily opportunities for guests to adjust the plans to match their interests and desired speed and intensity.

IDENTIFICATION ~ A passport valid for 6 months beyond the tour start date is required. 

ALTITUDE ~

* Oaxaca City = 5,100 ft

* Monte Alban = 6,400 ft

WEATHER ~ February in Oaxaca is typically extremely dry with night temperatures in the upper 40s and daytime in the lower 80s

ACCOMMODATIONS ~ We stay in a boutique hotel equipped with air conditioning and heaters in the rooms. Two of the rooms in the hotel are on the second floor without an elevator. If this is an issue, please notify us so that we can secure your accommodations on the first floor. Electricity service is relatively stable as is cell phone service. We do not recommend drinking the tap water, however drinkable water is readily available.

 PHYSICAL EXERTION ~ Moderate Exertion (2 of 5) – This tour consists of mostly in-town, moderately paced walking on uneven cobblestone streets with moderate slopes. Guests with step-tracking devices often find they walk over 10,000 steps per day on most days. The optional excursion to Monte Alban requires more physical exertion, including lots of climbing without rails.

The departure day of the Oaxaca City tour adjoins the arrival day of the Oaxaca Folk Art tour (25-02-07-MX-OAX), making it easy to do them together and receive an extra night of accommodations  at no additional cost. Simply book both tours and we'll take care of combining the packages and reserving your extra night at the hotel.

On four of these days, we will spend the day exploring Oaxaca City, learning about the art, culture, food, and people, with activities including:

•     Visits to a variety of museums including Textile Museum, Museum of Oaxacan Painters, and Stamp Museum (it’s so much cooler than it sounds, promise!) 

•     Exploration of endless cultural sites including Teatro Macedonio Alcalá, the Zocalo, Botanical Gardens, and various local markets

•     Stops at many historic cathedrals & churches including Catedral Metropolitana de Oaxaca

•     Visits to a variety of art galleries, print shops, and artists’ studios

This fifth day is a “flex day” in which guests have three options to choose from:

1. A ½ day guided tour of Monte Alban, a UNESCO World Heritage site (included in tour price)

2. A ½ day cooking class including shopping for ingredients with the chef at a local market and then lunch together (this is an additional cost)

3. A free day in town to continue exploring on your own

Mar 2024 •

I appreciate that all logistics are taken care, vetted drivers, knowledgeable guides though museums, but most importantly the tours of artists' private studios. Troy and Rene have managed to befriend all of the best artists in every destination they travel to. ~ Wally W.

Mar 2020 •

Troy and Rene consistently deliver authentic experiences, and in Oaxaca, they gave me an insider's view of the art, architecture, archeology, and soul of the state's many cultures. Expect excellent company, good conversation, and artistic stimulation that will take you weeks to digest. ~ Carmen

Mar 2019 •

Great trip! Well curated and overall a ton of fun! The itinerary covered a lot of ground, but also left plenty of free time to do your own thing. ~ Ronald B.