Mexico City: Day of the Dead Comfort

Feel the mystical vibes of the weird and wonderful Dia de los Muertos, or the annual Day of the Dead festival, on a five-day cultural exploration of Mexico City and surrounds. Visit the museums of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera and learn all about their fascination with death, wander about Puebla city, participate in a traditional Day of the Dead ceremony and see elaborate altars dedicated to the deceased. This festival is all about rituals, so dive straight in to the spooky and sacrilegious ceremonies that has made this tradition so infamous. Oh, and Mexico City’s tacos will make you feel you’ve died and gone to heaven, too.

Itinerary

Day 1: Mexico City

Bienvenidos a Mexico! Welcome to Mexico! Arrive at Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport and be transferred to your hotel. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. Modern meets ancient in Mexico City – one of the world’s largest urban centres. A bustling, busy place, Mexico City offers a great variety of impressive museums, galleries and architecture, along with exciting nightlife and delicious street food. If you arrive early, head to the Zocalo – the city’s huge central square – to see Aztec ruins and colonial architecture or relax in one of the many parks, plazas and gardens. After your important meeting, why not head out and see this city in full swing – street tacos, anyone? You’ll already have noticed a mystical feeling in the air – keep an eye out for any Day of the Dead decorations you can spot around town.

Day 2: Mexico City

Set out on a walking tour of Mexico City’s historic centre with your leader, walking past the Zocalo, Metropolitan Cathedral, Templo Mayor, Palacio de Bellas Artes and Frida Kahlo Museum. The Frida Kahlo Museum, located in the house she lived throughout her life, contains a collection of her work, as well as artefacts, photographs, and personal items. After your walking tour, you’ll also swing by Mercado San Juan, where you might want to buy yourself some lunch. The afternoon is then free to explore on your own, or perhaps take an optional trip to Xochimilco (approximately 28 km away) to visit the Doll’s Island. In the evening, return to Mexico City to watch some street festivities and feel the deathly vibes of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

Day 3: Puebla

You’ll wave goodbye to Mexico City this morning and head to San Pedro Tlahuac where Nahuatl descendants preserve traditions from Pre-Columbian times, including chinampa farming, fiestas and ceremonies from ancient days. Visit a local family, get acquainted with their traditional customs and join them to create an altar. Making an altar (or ofrenda as it’s sometimes called in Spanish) during the Day of the Dead festivities can be a way to honour the life of someone who was important, or remember your ancestors. You can get as creative as you like when building the altar with the local family. As part of the Day of the Dead, people organise ceremonies at the cemetery for those not physically with them any longer and commemorate the lives of people passed over. You’ll visit the local cemetery and see how the families decorate the graves of their ancestors with the belief that when they return from the dead, their spirits will go to the cemetery first. Some even elaborately decorate paths to their homes with flower petals to lead the spirits back. It’s an eye opening, yet beautiful experience that you won’t soon forget. From here, you’ll continue to Puebla, arriving in the evening where you will visit a local family to understand the ways they celebrate this special time of year. 

Day 4: Mexico City

This morning, you’ll start the day with a walking tour of Puebla with your leader. Wander past colonial-era buildings, enjoy the quaint streets and soak up the relaxed atmosphere this city offers. Then, head back to the fast-paced capital of Mexico City. Later on, head out with your crew for an optional evening of dinner and drinks in any one of Mexico City’s hippest neighbourhoods to toast to your adventure together.

Day 5: Mexico City

Your immersion in Mexico’s Day of the Dead festival ends after breakfast this morning. That doesn’t mean your Mexican adventure has to come to an end! If you would like to spend more time in Mexico City, we’ll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).