There is a reason why Oaxaca is known as the Heart of Mexico, and in this Day of the Dead Edition of the Oaxaca Retreat, you have the chance to experience Mexico’s culture and traditions like never before!

Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a uniquely Mexican celebration that honors and remembers those that have left this realm, and it is said that during this holiday our loved ones come back to visit us. During this celebration, Oaxaca City comes alive with parades, ofrendas (the altars the call loved ones back with vibrant flowers, photos, and their favorite foods), celebrations, gatherings, art, and more.

This retreat will give you the opportunity to really immerse yourself in/understand this special celebration, while joyfully remembering those you love that have moved on.

This is a super inclusive retreat and a deep dive into the culture, art, food, and sights that have put Oaxaca on the map as one of the MUST SEES of Mexico and the world.

Our home base will be a beautiful and traditional Mexican home, with en-suite rooms, gorgeous common areas, and a lovely terrace for our yoga practices. The house is situated in the heart of the city center, just 5 blocks from the main square, so in your free time you will have the easiest access to all the shopping, sightseeing, and world class dining your adventurous spirit desires.

We will have a food tour on the first full day of the retreat with our Netflix-famous guide, where we will eat like a local and get familiar with your surroundings! Taste more than 24 typical Oaxaca foods at the 3 main markets and street food stalls, while we talk about culture, history, gastronomy, traditions and walk through the city.

To celebrate Day of the Dead, our local hostess with the absolute mostest, Lorena, will help us make a group Altar at the house, so that our loved ones might find their way to us! We will use photos, foods, flowers, incense, and other items to create a moving representation of vibrant life that keeps on living, even beyond our physical plane.

Expect a face painting party with Mezcalitas (Mezcal cocktails), or mocktails, while we transform into Calaveras/Catrinas—the iconic symbol of day of the dead.

We will respectfully visit the public cemetery celebrations the night of October 31 with a local guide, where people gather with food, music, stories, and offerings. Contrary to most people’s connections to these spaces, Day of the Dead turns the local “panteones” into a welcoming place of joy and celebration for the gift of life.

When not strolling the streets and soaking up the magic of Oaxaca City and the Día de Muertos Celebrations in town, we will be on one full day tour to the Zapotec village of Teotitlan del Valle, where you will meet local artisans that work both in textiles and beeswax candles, as well as make lunch with a local family and experience their way of celebrating Día de Muertos, seeing their altars, etc.

At the end of our final meal at the house, we will have a private, intimate, in-house candlelit serenade by local singer that sings both in Spanish and Zapotec languages.

While this retreat is full of exciting and interesting activities and tours, you will still have plenty of free time to shop, check out restaurants+cafes on your list, partake in other tours that call you, or just simply wander the city with an openness to whatever magic comes your way!

This is a retreat with culture and exploration at its center. Even if you, a partner, or a friend do not want to practice yoga, all will have an UNFORGETTABLE time.