Itinerary
- Day 1
Oaxaca City
You'll arrive in Oaxaca and get settled with a walk through the old cobblestone streets. Santo Domingo Church is on your list to check out, and you'll have time to soak in the local atmosphere around town. Dinner happens at 7:30 pm at a local restaurant, and their menu rotates every two weeks so you'll get something different depending on when you visit.
- Start point
- Aeropuerto Internacional de Oaxaca (OAX), Carr. Oaxaca - Puerto Angel Km 7.5, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca 71231, Mexico (Welcome to Oaxaca! , 11:00 - 12:00)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Welcome dinner at local restaurant with rotating menu that changes every two weeks)
Included Activities
- Visit Santo Domingo Church
- Explore Oaxaca City cobblestone streets and local culture
Optional Activities
- Savor aromatic coffee at local cafés
- Indulge in local delicacies
Landmarks Santo Domingo Church 
- Day 2
Zapotec Community
An English-speaking guide picks you up for a 6-hour private cooking workshop in a Zapotec community. You'll start at the local market with a comidera, learning how to pick the right ingredients, then head to her home to cook traditional dishes using hand methods, a firewood stove, metate and molcajete. By the end you'll sit down and eat what you prepared together.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Zapotec prepared meal including soup (chepil boiled, milpa, pumpkin leaf or chickpea), green mole with pumpkin seed, dessert (apples or tejocotes in sweet, or chocolate tamale), and drink (coffee or chocolate))
Included Activities
- Rural cooking workshop with market visit and local product selection
- Participate in preparation of traditional Zapotec dishes
- Learn traditional cooking methods using firewood stove, metate and molcajete
- Enjoy prepared meal of traditional dishes
Landmarks Valley of Oaxaca - Day 3
Mitla - Hierve el Agua - Teotitlán del Valle
This 8-hour tour covers archaeology, handicrafts, and nature all in one day. About 20 minutes outside Oaxaca you'll see the ancient Tree of Tule, a two-thousand-year-old Montezuma cypress with an incredible trunk. From there it's roughly 1.5 hours to Hierve el Agua Park where you can swim in cold mineral springs and see unusual rock formations. Next you'll visit Mitla Archaeological Zone to see the geometric walls, then head to Teotitlán del Valle and the House of Wool Weavers. The day wraps up at a mezcal palenque for tasting before heading back to Oaxaca in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Tree of Tule - ancient Montezuma cypress
- Explore Hierve el Agua Park and swim in mineral-rich cold springs
- Tour Mitla Archaeological Zone and learn about geometric decorative walls
- Visit House of Wool Weavers in Teotitlán del Valle
- Mezcal tasting and production education at Mezcal Palenque
Landmarks Tree of Tule Santa María del Tule Hierve el Agua Park Mitla Archaeological Zone Teotitlán del Valle House of Wool Weavers Mezcal Palenque - Day 4
Oaxaca City
You have the day to yourself in Oaxaca. Santo Domingo Church is there if you want another look, or check out the Ethnobotanical Garden for native plants, the Rufino Tamayo Museum, or Casa de Juárez Museum. Don't skip trying Siete Moles, the local specialty featuring chilies, spices and chocolate in different sauce combinations.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Santo Domingo Church
- Explore Ethnobotanical Garden
- Visit Rufino Tamayo Museum
- Visit Casa de Juárez Museum
- Try local gastronomy including Siete Moles
Landmarks Santo Domingo Church Ethnobotanical Garden Rufino Tamayo Museum Casa de Juárez Museum - Day 5
Monte Albán - Arrazola
Your guide picks you up for a 6-hour tour exploring archaeology and handicrafts. Monte Albán sits on a hilltop and was a major Zapotec city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll spend about two hours touring the main structures including the North Platform, Great Plaza, Galería de los Danzantes and the ball court while taking in mountain and valley views. Afterwards at the Alebrijes Workshop in Arrazola, Isaías explains the traditions and you'll paint your own carved wooden piece with colors you choose.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Tour Monte Albán archaeological site including North Platform and Great Plaza
- View Galería de los Danzantes and ball court at Monte Albán
- Visit Alebrijes Workshop in House of Don Mario Jimenez
- Paint your own carved wooden alebrije piece
Landmarks Monte Albán Galería de los Danzantes Arrazola House of Don Mario Jimenez - Day 6
Oaxaca City to San José del Pacífico
Around 9:00 AM you'll join a shared street art biking tour through 3 neighborhoods, cycling past big murals, stencils, and posters created by local artists. It feels like riding through an outdoor museum. You'll get local organic drinks or snacks during the ride. After that you pick up a rental car and drive from Oaxaca to San José del Pacífico.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Street art biking tour through 3 Oaxaca neighborhoods
- Visit art workshops
- Local and organic drink or snack during ride
Landmarks Oaxaca City San José del Pacífico 
- Day 7
San José del Pacífico to Huatulco
A local Spanish-speaking guide leads you on a roughly 3-hour hike through cloud forest near San José del Pacífico, a mountain village. The high altitude offers great views and rich flora and fauna along the trails. Once you're done hiking, you'll drive from San José del Pacífico down to Huatulco.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cloud forest hike through San José del Pacífico
Landmarks San José del Pacífico Huatulco - Day 8
Huatulco
An English-speaking guide takes you on about a 5-hour tour of Huatulco's natural ecosystems. You'll walk the Zanate path learning about flora and fauna, then board a boat in Huatulco National Park to snorkel in turquoise Pacific waters. The tour covers five main ecosystems: jungle, wetland, beach, reef, and marine area. You'll see marine life and learn about the different species.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walk along Zanate path with ecosystem education
- Boat tour across Pacific waters
- Snorkeling in Huatulco National Park
- Marine species education
Landmarks Huatulco National Park Zanate Path - Day 9
Huatulco to Puerto Escondido
You'll drive from Huatulco toward Puerto Escondido and stop at a turtle camp along the way. A Spanish-speaking guide leads your group through the hatching pen where staff explain the conservation work, then you'll participate in releasing hatchlings into the sea, a moment that takes about 45 minutes depending on nature. The experience includes learning why protected incubation matters and how the turtles find their way.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Turtle camp tour and education on conservation project
- Participate in baby turtle release
Landmarks Turtle Camp Huatulco Puerto Escondido - Day 10
Puerto Escondido
Your English-speaking guide meets you to start a horseback riding experience. First you board a canoe to Puerto Suelo Beach, then ride horses from the beach to where Manialtepec lagoon meets the sea. You'll see different birds in the mangroves during the ride. Afterwards you rest at a restaurant to watch the sunset before heading back.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Canoe ride to Puerto Suelo Beach
- Horseback ride from beach to lagoon mouth bar
- Observe mangrove bird species
Landmarks Puerto Suelo Beach Manialtepec Lagoon - Day 11
Puerto Escondido
You have the day free in Puerto Escondido to spend as you like. The beaches are good for surfing, swimming or snorkeling if that interests you. Try some local food or visit nearby Chacahua Lagoon or Manialtepec Lagoon. If it's a new moon night you might catch bioluminescence in the lagoons.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Surfing at Puerto Escondido beaches
- Swimming or snorkeling at Puerto Escondido beaches
- Local gastronomy
- Visit Chacahua Lagoon
- Visit Manialtepec Lagoon
- Bioluminescence viewing on new moon nights
Landmarks Chacahua Lagoon Manialtepec Lagoon - Day 12
Puerto Escondido
A shared 2-hour surfing class with local certified instructors covers balance, posture, paddling technique and how to catch and ride waves safely. You'll get detailed instruction and practical tips to develop your skills as a surfer.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Group surfing lesson with certified instructor
- Instruction on balance, posture, paddling and wave riding
Landmarks Puerto Escondido - Day 13
Puerto Escondido to Airport
You'll drive from your hotel in Puerto Escondido to the airport for your departure.
- End point
- Aeropuerto Internacional de Puerto Escondido (PXM), Carr. Costera Km. 6.5, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca 71989, Mexico (See you soon!, 15:00 - 16:00)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Puerto Escondido Airport
