Highlights
- Sample Oaxaca's famous cuisine on a tour of the city's markets
- Climb up the 2,000-year-old stepped temples of Monte Albán
- Guide turtle hatchlings to the water's edge at Escobilla Beach
- Frolic in crystal clear waterfalls and pools in Sierra Madre del Sur
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Oaxaca, Dinner at an Authentic Restaurant | Oaxaca |
| Day 2 | Oaxaca Gastronomy Tour, Discover Monte Albán | Oaxaca |
| Day 3 | Rural Cooking Workshop | Oaxaca |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Huatulco, Explore Santa María Huatulco | Santa María Huatulco |
| Day 5 | Turtles & Sunset at Escobilla Beach | Santa María Huatulco |
| Day 6 | Magical Waterfalls Adventure | Santa María Huatulco |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Oaxaca & Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Oaxaca, Dinner at an Authentic Restaurant
Welcome to Oaxaca, a city steeped in history, culture, and colors! Upon arrival, a driver will wait to take you to your cozy, city-center accommodations. Kick back and relax at your hotel, or wander through the city. Head to the Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca, designed not by landscape architects but by local artists. Here, the kids can stretch their legs while you discover all kinds of cactus species and colorful plant life.
In the evening, get ready to fill your stomachs with incredible food. The typical Oaxacan cuisine is one of the most representative of Mexico, designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Enjoy it at one of the city's most authentic restaurants, where chefs from Indigenous communities will introduce you to tamales, syrupy nicuátole (an ancient corn-based desert), and tacos. Rest and digest back at the hotel before another day of food and adventure tomorrow.Day 2: Oaxaca Gastronomy Tour, Discover Monte Albán
Meet your local guide today and head to the organic market at El Pochote, located in downtown Oaxaca. Adults can energize themselves for the day with a cup of freshly brewed Mexican coffee and see how adventurous the kids are feeling when it comes to sampling the popular regional delicacy of roasted grasshoppers. Try empanadas at Barrio de la Merced before moving on to authentic tortillas and tacos at La Reforma. Kids will find some room for the last treat of the tour: spiced hot chocolate.
After fuelling up with Oaxacan snacks, get ready to go back in time this afternoon with a tour of the great Zapotec city of Monte Albán. Just a 30-minute drive from Oaxaca's city center, you'll be met by one of the largest Mesoamerican cities of its time (100 BCE to 200 CE). Kids can climb the stepped temples and develop their own theories about the meaning behind the entertaining carvings at the "Gallery of the Dancers." After spending three hours soaking up the ancient atmosphere of this site, little ones will be pleasantly worn out and ready to spend a relaxing evening back at your lodgings.
Day 3: Rural Cooking Workshop
So you've tasted Oaxaca's delicacies; now it's time to learn how to make them! In the morning, you'll go on an excursion into the rural countryside. Here, an Indigenous community will teach you their culinary secrets as you prepare seasonal products harvested from family gardens and cooked over a traditional wood stove. A great activity for children and adults alike, you can compete for who makes the best nicuátole, sopa de guías (pumpkin soup), empanadas, and atole (a creamy drink of maize, cinnamon, and vanilla). At the end of your cooking class, sit down for a convivial family lunch and taste your creations.
Day 4: Transfer to Huatulco, Explore Santa María Huatulco
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Turtles & Sunset at Escobilla Beach
No family holiday is complete without a trip to the seaside! Start your day off with huevos estrellados, tacos, quesadillas, or anything else that takes your fancy at one of Santa Maria Huatulco's many eateries before heading to one of Huatulco's white sand paradises. You could try the bays of San Agustin or Cacluta, and don't forget your snorkeling gear so that you can watch the varied marine wildlife floating among the colorful corals.
In the afternoon, trace the coast to Escobilla Beach nature sanctuary, a turtle nesting hotspot. Get ready for a magical sunset as you observe hundreds of turtles laying their eggs and going back out to sea. Kids will be thrilled to help release any turtle hatchlings, which sometimes need a helping hand to guide them to the water's edge.
Day 6: Magical Waterfalls Adventure
Grab your hiking boots and bathing suits today for an expedition into the jungles of the Sierra Madre del Sur. Your excursion starts with a visit to a local rural community. After a warm welcome, set off on a gentle guided hike to search for the region's hidden waterfalls, stopping at plenty of spectacular viewpoints along the way. After plenty of time to enjoy the crystal clear waters of the falls (and cool off with some refreshing dips), you'll head back through the jungle for a memorable lunch, with lots of kid-friendly local dishes like buttered rice, handmade tortillas cooked on a comal griddle, and black beans.
The afternoon takes you back to Santa María Huatulco, where you can spend your final day in Mexico relaxing on the white-sand beaches, working on your sandcastle skills, or exploring more of the area as you please.
Day 7: Transfer to Oaxaca, Depart
After a final morning at the beach, it's time to say adios to Mexico and the stunning region of Oaxaca as your private driver transfers you to the airport in Oaxaca for your flight. Buen viaje!
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