Highlights
- See how culture and cuisine intertwine with food tours and cooking workshops
- Visit local artisan villages to see the region's famous textiles, alebrijes, and pottery
- Hike among the misty cloud forests of San José del Pacífico
- Help release turtle hatchlings on the beaches of Huatulco
- Snorkel in some of Mexico's clearest, cleanest water in Huatulco National Park
Brief Itinerary
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Oaxaca, Huautli Experience in San Pablo Etla | Oaxaca |
Day 2 | History, Culture & Gastronomy in Oaxaca, Pulque & Tepache Workshop | Oaxaca |
Day 3 | Archaeology & Crafts Tour of Oaxaca | Oaxaca |
Day 4 | Visit Mitla, the Tule Tree, a Mezcal Distillery & Teotitlán del Valle | Oaxaca |
Day 5 | Transfer to San José del Pacífico, Cloud Forest Hike | San José del Pacífico |
Day 6 | Transfer to Huatulco, Mangrove Paddle & Turtle Release | Huatulco Bays |
Day 7 | Discover the Waterfalls of the Sierra Madre del Sur | Huatulco Bays |
Day 8 | Explore Wild Huatulco in Huatulco National Park | Huatulco Bays |
Day 9 | Community Corn Workshop, Snorkel in the Bays of Huatulco | Huatulco Bays |
Day 10 | Fly to Oaxaca & Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Oaxaca, Huautli Experience in San Pablo Etla

Day 2: History, Culture & Gastronomy in Oaxaca, Pulque & Tepache Workshop

Start today on an empty stomach, as you embark on a guided city tour to discover Oaxaca's cultural, historical, and gastronomic richness. Your day begins with a visit to the Mercado de la Merced, where you'll kick off your culinary adventure with traditional baked empanadas. Walk through the colorful streets of the Jalatlaco neighborhood to reach the 16th-century Aqueduct and sample delicious tacos on the street of Garcia Vigil.
Continue to the architectural complex formed by the temple of Santo Domingo, home to a museum of cultures and the site that holds the treasure of the Seventh Tomb of Monte Albán. Here you can stop and cool down with some of the town's famous ice cream. Then, pass the impressive Baroque facades of the Cathedral and the Novo-Hispanic mansions on Alcalá Street to finish at the Plaza de la Constitución. Its authentic Art Nouveau kiosk and colorful markets full of delightful aromas and flavors make it the perfect place to end the tour with some Oaxacan hot chocolate.
Later in the day, meet your local guide and head out of the city to the tiny village of Latuvi. Nestled in the Sierra Norte mountains, this is one of a cluster of remote Zapotec hamlets that have banded together to create the Pueblos Mancomunados, a forward-thinking program of ecotourism that supports the communities and helps maintain their traditional way of life. On today's excursion, you'll visit Señora Martha for a pulque and tepache workshop. Learn how sap is harvested from giant agave plants and pineapple rinds are fermented, then help prepare (and, of course, sample) some of these sacred beverages.Day 3: Archaeology & Crafts Tour of Oaxaca

The tour continues to the community of Arrazola, known for its alebrijes—distinctive Oaxacan woodcarvings of colorful mythical creatures. Browse its many workshops and look for the perfect fantastical alebrije of your own to bring you luck. Afterward, you'll stop in Cuilapan de Guerrero and the 16th-century Santiago Apóstol, a former monastery and jewel of Dominican architecture. The day's tour ends in Coyotepec, a town known for its signature Oaxacan black pottery, where Doña Rosa will be waiting to show you her black clay workshop.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Visit Mitla, the Tule Tree, a Mezcal Distillery & Teotitlán del Valle

Today's tour starts with a visit to the millenary Árbol del Tule (Tule Tree). With a circumference of over 148 feet (45 m) and an age of at least 2,000 years old, this Montezuma cypress remains one of the largest and oldest trees in the world. Continue to a local mezcal palenque (distillery) to learn how this traditional Oaxacan spirit is made, then head to the remarkable archaeological site at Mitla to discover the ceremonial center of the Zapotecs. Known as the "Place of the Dead," this religious and burial site dates back to 900 BCE, with Catholic churches built over the ruins by the Spanish in the 16th century.
Your day ends with a visit to a wool rug weaver's workshop in Teotitlán del Valle, where you can meet local artisans and learn about the time-honored skills and wool-dying techniques that create these colorful symbols of the region.
Day 5: Transfer to San José del Pacífico, Cloud Forest Hike

Day 6: Transfer to Huatulco, Mangrove Paddle & Turtle Release

Then it's time for a trip in a cayuco or traditional rowing boat, allowing you to experience the neighboring mangrove lagoons without impacting their delicate ecosystems. End the evening with a night walking patrol along the beach, searching for sea turtles who come to these sands to nest. If you spot a newly dug nest, you'll help collect it and plant it in an incubation pen to further aid the conservation and protection of these fragile species.
Day 7: Discover the Waterfalls of the Sierra Madre del Sur

Day 8: Explore Wild Huatulco in Huatulco National Park

On today's excursion, you'll get to know the most beautiful corners of Huatulco and its five distinct micro-ecosystems: low deciduous forest, wetlands, thorny scrub, coastal dunes, and coral reefs. Start with a leisurely hike along a forest trail to arrive at the heart of Huatulco National Park, where a boat awaits. Hop aboard and continue your exploration on the turquoise waters of the Pacific, where you can stop to snorkel among the sheltered bays and coves. Along the way, your knowledgeable guide will share fascinating facts about the area's rare and resplendent flora and fauna.
Day 9: Community Corn Workshop, Snorkel in the Bays of Huatulco

In the afternoon, you'll head to La Entrega Beach, one of Huatulco's 36 beaches and a perfect spot for snorkeling. Dive into its famous reef (and some of the clearest and cleanest waters in Mexico) to swim among flourishing corals and diverse marine life such as turtles, puffer fish, manta rays, and sea urchins. No experience is required, and your knowledgeable guide will have even the most novice of snorkelers experiencing the colorful underwater worlds around Huatulco in no time.
Day 10: Fly to Oaxaca & Depart

Your immersive Mexican adventure draws to a close this morning, as you say your goodbyes to Huatulco and catch a 40-minute flight back to Oaxaca to continue your onward journey. Safe travels!
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