March 12 – 19, 2018
Our third visit to Oaxaca, a United Nations World Heritage site, will begin with departure from Nogales, Sonora for our trip to the Hermosillo Airport. From Hermosillo we will fly to Mexico City and then on to Oaxaca City.
Oaxaca City, from our experience is clean, safe and has at least 15 museums within walking distance of our hotel. I have never been in a cleaner, more friendly and colorful city in Mexico. Years ago, my favorite city was Bogota, Columbia, then Cuzco, Peru and now it is Oaxaca.
The history is incredible including both Native and Spanish influences; the food is fantastic and archaeology is out of this world.
We will visit both archaeological sites of Mitla and Monte Alban, the textile village of Teotitlan del Valle to watch the weavers and the carving village of San Antonio Arrozola to buy alebrijes, those colorful carved imaginary animals so popular these days.
We will go into the mountains, taste mezcal at a distillery, visit several public markets, see the 2,000-year-old Tule tree, tour gardens and try our hand at a cooking class.
$1,990.00 per person double occupancy – Add $150 for single occupancy
A $350.00 deposit will hold your seat.
We will need at least 8 people to make this tour go and will not take more than 12, so bring a friend.
Read more about the March 2018 Oaxaca Tour
ITINERARY
We will escort the group from Nogales, Arizona to the immigration office in Nogales, Sonora on Monday, January 8 to get your FMM form for the trip.
Day 1 – Monday, March 12
Arrival in Oaxaca Airport at 10:55 PM. Meet representative outside the luggage claim area for our transfer to the Holiday Inn Centro Historical Hotel.
Day 2 – Tuesday, March 13
Visit Oaxaca’s Historic Center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Botanical Gardens & Museums; Saint Dominic’s Church or a free afternoon to investigate and/or shop (we do a great deal of shopping)
Day 3 – Wednesday, March 14
Visit the Monte Alban Archaeological site. Monte Alban is in a mountain range and features old tombs as well as an observatory and a traditional pre-historic ball court. We continue to the famous arts and craft center of Arrazola where they make Alebrijes (the colorful imaginary wooden animals and imaginary creatures brightly painted with great designs). In Arrazola we will visit the world-famous wood carver who makes them. On our way home, we will visit a wonderful private garden we discovered and have lunch at a historic Hacienda.
Day 4 – Thursday, March 15
The Tule tree will be our first stop (a 2,000-yr. old tree with a 45’ diameter) then the village of Santa Marie Tule to see some arts & crafts. We will then visit the Mitla Archaeological site, whose name means “place of the dead”. The architecture reflects the progress of the Zapotec culture and highlights include its extraordinary walls with friezes. Mitla is one of the most charming small towns in the state.
From Mitla we will continue our tour to see the process of making mezcal, a traditional Mexican liquor. We will also go to the optional dinner and cultural show listed above. We will probably also visit Yagul, another archaeological site. Plus we will visit a textile town and see rugs woven.
Day 5 – Friday, March 16
We embark on a tour to Sierra Juarez (Juarez Mountains) with beautiful lush green vegetation, rich biodiversity and spectacular landscapes. We will visit the town of Guelatao de Juarez and visit the Benito Juarez Museum. Benito Juarez is known as the Abraham Lincoln of Mexico. Fresh Brook trout for lunch at a fish hatchery in the mountains and views of spectacular mountains and beautiful flowers and succulents.
Day 6 – Saturday, March 17
Free Day – Finish touring the many museums, visit the zocalo and churches in historic Oaxaca City you may have missed and visit the local markets.
Day 7 – Sunday, March 18
You will have the opportunity to prepare traditional dishes from the State of Oaxaca. This is a totally interactive class in which you will visit a local market in order to find the freshest ingredients to add taste and flavor to your food.
Once you are in the kitchen, experienced chefs will share their techniques and knowledge with you. You can learn to make mole negro (a tasty dark sauce), mole verde and others or the traditional tlayudas (a fried tortilla covered with refried beans, meat, cheese, greens and avocado, all accompanied by handmade tortillas. This was more fun!!! We cooked in the garden area of a 1600 house, on charcoal, and ate ourselves silly.
You will also have the chance to visit a chocolate factory, “La Soledad” or “El Mayordomo.”
Day 8 – Monday, March 19
Transfer to the airport to start home.