Geeks Outbound Presents: Day of the Dead & Huatulco 2024

Today we will arrive from all around the world into Oaxaca! Once you have settled into the hotel you are free take your time to wander around the Jalatlaco neighbourhood. Here you will find a community getting ready for a festival. Take in local street art and murals – who knows – you might even see an artist at work… The markets will already be full of freshly cut flowers and the bakeries full of Pan de Muerto…

The energy will already be apparent - so be sure to wander at length - but make sure you make your way back to the hotel as we will gather for our Welcome Dinner. Here you will meet the rest of the adventurers and dine while we discuss the coming days in detail.

Today we will make the journey to the sacred city of the dead – Mitla. This Zapotec archaeological site is extraordinarily well preserved due to its location in the dry Oaxacan valley. Most importantly we will stop at the mosaics on the outer and inner walls depicting much Zapotec history and spirituality. The city’s name literally means “Place of the Dead”, “Underworld” or “Place of Rest” and here we will learn about the rituals, and the spiritual significance, of those ancient people and how they are carried forward into the modern day.

The discussion at Mitla however, will have practical applications as we will make our way to a local home in order to help with the creation of an Altar of the Dead. Our first stop with this goal will be to a local market to purchase (and learn about the significance of) flowers, bread, incense, fruit and the many other elements needed for a traditional altar.

We will also visit a traditional bakery where we will learn about the cooking process and why the bread is painted…. You’ll even be able to paint some Pan de Muertos bread yourself.

Via these two experiences we will better understand how the living connect with the dead over the following days…

But our first excursion would not be the same without stopping to experience traditional Oaxacan chocolate…

Today we will discover the first official day of celebrations called Día de los Inocentes, or Day of the Innocents which is dedicated to remembering children that have passed way. It’s believed that spirits of the angelitos (little angels) return at midnight on this day.

We will start off the day in the afternoon and head off to the Monte Alban Archaeological Site. This UNESCO World Heritage site functioned as the Zapotec capital between 500 BCE and 800 CE.  The architectural remains include terraces, pyramids and canals – all built surrounding the Great Plaza.  Here we will learn more about the history of the Zapotec while surrounded by the splendor of the remains of that civilization.

From here we will be off to the famous Xoxocotlán Cemetery and should arrive near dusk.  This will allow us to see Xoxo in all its glory – candles lit and flowers glowing. Afterwards, we will dine with the locals via street tacos and the like.  We will take our time here visiting the Tapetes or Sand Rugs along the Calle Coquiza which leads form the cemetery to the church. We will also keep an ear out too and join in any local parades that music might call us to.

A quick note here on our visits to the local Pantheon - or cemeteries - everyone is expected to be on their best behavior as we navigate with our local guide amongst those remembering their dead. That said, even before our arrival our guide will be scouting the most important locations. So, throughout the tour we may also visit Atzompa Cemetery, Xochimilco Cemetery, San Felipe Cemetery or the Oaxaca General Pantheon.

This day - Día de los Muertos - welcomes the spirits of all adults that have passed away and is know for a full day of action and the most festive of the commemoration.

But first – Mescal! We will start our day (well into the afternoon btw) with a visit to a traditional mescal distillery. We will be tempted with a detailed tasting, and we will most likely bring a bottle or two home with us. It might, however, be a good idea to get something in our stomachs so we will stop at a local Oaxacan buffet for a traditional mole or two… These sauces are sure to delight!

Upon our return we will take part in a Day of the Dead parade as Oaxaca jumps into overdrive this evening. The local Comparsa will be a sight to see as the street come alive with celebration. It will be loud and full of the smell of food and flowers. All in the hopes to call the dead home to see them once more.

If we have time, and the energy we might also head out to another local celebration – the Etla Muerteada… The flashing of mirrors and the music in the streets will be sure to have you dancing as the bands move throughout the community.

Today will see us spend the full day in Oaxaca – visiting multiple neighborhoods and perhaps a cemetery or two that we have previously overlooked. The day will be full with activities and while more may spring up our plans currently include any further parades, comparsa or other celebrations that we might be lured to via music, the smell of cooking or the voices held in celebration.

We will have some local youth join us to paint our faces, explore a local museum, head off to the Jalatlaco and Xochimilco neighborhoods, grab some street food, and participate in any other events that spring up.

Of course, there will be an abundance of altars to see, as well as streets decorated with sand paintings and murals… We might see the Catholic Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad, the Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, another market or two… The day will be alive with choice!

This day we will visit one of the oldest markets in the city of Oaxaca - Tlacolula market.  We will wander the stalls and stroll past the various vendors – experiencing a market post Day of the Dead… We are sure that the food will tempt you but keep in mind that we will be headed to a local and traditional restaurant were the menu changes weekly and the mole is hand made. As a matter of fact, you will be given a taste of 8 different moles, paired with a shot of mescal, fruit water or chocolate…

On our return trip to Oaxaca, we will stop at the world-famous Tule Tree. This Montezuma Cypress is considered the stoutest tree in the world and was once considered a group of trees until DNA testing concluded otherwise. Its age, however, is up to debate but it is thought to be about 1600 years old. The Zapotec people believe that it was planted by an Aztec priest of the wind god – Ehecatl.

You’ll have some free time when we return to Oaxaca, but at night we will celebrate the end of our Oaxacan adventure with a group dinner.

Today we will take a coach through the beautiful Sierra Madre de Oaxaca - allowing us views of misty mountains and forests half obscured by the fog and clouds below. We will take the new highway which winds in and out of stunning views of the valleys below.

Regardless, our journey will be worth it as it will bring us to Huatluco and our 4 star all inclusive resort - The DREAMS Huatulco! You will have your run of the Casa here... Virtually everything is covered for you. Eat and drink to your delight and enjoy one of the premier All Inclusives in the area...

Overnight Location: DREAMS Huatulco

Today we will take our first day to explore and enjoy the DREAMS Huatulco and all it offers. It will be an amazing day to recover from our journey from Oaxaca. Before the heat starts to grow we will escape our all-inclusive paradise to explore the countryside of Huatulco to visit a coffee plantation and for a cup of freshly roasted coffee...

Tonight, you can dine in town or at the resort. Later though, we will pick a spot to grab a drink or two in order to visit and catch up on what everyone has been up to.

Yet another day to enjoy our beautiful resort.  Take in the sun, enjoy a message, or go for a swim… DREAMS Huatulco offers all one could ask for in a ocean resort. But tonight we Dance! We can dine again at the resort or in La Crucecita or Santa Cruz and we will again meet for drinks in the evening. But this time we will try to do a bit of club hopping...

Who knows perhaps we will make the quick trip into town to do a little dancing at La Papaya…

Today we will gather together and head off to a local marina. There we will board a boat for our day at sea. We will explore the 7 bays of Huatulco, swim, snorkel, look for sea life of all types – perhaps a luck sighting of a turtle or whale – and enjoy lunch at the beautiful bay of San Agustin.

It will be a full day affair and by the time you are returned to the hotel in the late afternoon a little siesta may well be in order. Dine as you will and then join us for yet another evening of mingling and perhaps a bit of dancing in the hotels club...

Today is your last day in paradise, so spend it as you will… The beach will call to some, others will want to explore the nearby ruins or to shop in town…

We will gather one last time for drinks and a farewell toast or two to bring our adventure to a close.

We will head off to the Hualtulco airport by taxi and return home. The memories and laughter will still – we are sure – be still remembered for a lifetime.