Day of the Dead in Mexico

This program takes place every year in late October - early November.

The Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico combines traditional and modern customs. Day of the Dead in the state of Michoacan. The Patzcuaro lakes and the Purépecha people. Each village or town has its own customs of celebration with processions, fairs, exhibitions, rituals and dances. Traditional Mexican cemeteries, thousands of candles and marigold flowers. This is a very ancient holiday, mystical and amazing.

Next stop - San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato. Here - a modern interpretation of the Day of the Dead.

The San Miguel de Allende Arts and Music Festival, which pays homage to the rich and revered traditions of the Day of the Dead, but in a modern style. It is a festival open to the public that immerses participants in the magical atmosphere of the Day of the Dead through art, music, live performances, processions, altars and workshops.

Day 1 – October 30: Arrival in Mexico City

Meet and greet at the airport and transfer to your hotel by private car. Evening at leisure.

Overnight at the Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City

*This itinerary can be adapted to flights arriving directly to Morelia airport.

Day 2 – October 31: Private transfer to Morelia – en route: visit the town of Cuitzeo, upon arrival: Morelia sightseeing tour

Meet your bilingual guide in the lobby of your hotel and accompany you to Morelia. En route, visit the town of Cuitzeo, which is considered a “Magical Town” and is located half an hour outside of Morelia. Cuitzeo has a lake that resembles a giant mirror. It is incredibly beautiful. You will learn about the culture of the Purépecha people and visit historical buildings, including a former monastery built in 1546. You will visit the famous flower market of Cuitzio, which is especially busy during the days leading up to the Day of the Dead festival.

After lunch, we will travel to the colonial city of Morelia, built in the 16th century. In the company of an experienced guide, you will get to know the city: the city center is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You will visit the most important historical sites, including the Cathedral, which took more than a century to build. Then - check in to a hotel in the historic center of the city. Evening - free time.

Overnight at the Casa Grande Hotel

Day 3 - November 1: Tzintzuntzan, markets, Patzcuaro

Visit the archaeological site of Tzintzuntzan on the way to Patzcuaro. During the week leading up to the Day of the Dead, Patzcuaro is bustling and festive. You will be enchanted by the sights, sounds and smells of the local market. You will see how the locals prepare for this special night.

After dinner (not included) and sunset, a night tour of Lake Patzcuaro and traditional Mexican cemeteries. The highlight of the night is a visit to the town of Santa Fe, where we will be special guests at a family’s private home and see their Day of the Dead ritual. We will learn about a tradition with deep meaning, where families build an altar and prepare offerings to honor loved ones who have died that year.

As you travel through the different towns and villages around the lake that night, you will see that each has its own unique Day of the Dead traditions, including parades, fairs, exhibitions, ceremonies and dances.

Overnight: Casa Grande Hotel

Day 4 – November 2: Half-Day Guided Tour to Capula and Catrina Dolls Festival

Capulá is one of the most interesting and atmospheric villages in Michoacán. It is located 30 minutes from Morelia and is famous for the Catrina Dolls festival, which is held on the Day of the Dead. This festival features dolls in the form of elegantly dressed skeletons. You will have the opportunity to admire first-hand the stunning exhibitions of local artists in Capul, visit workshops and galleries. You will taste dishes of the Tarascan people, such as sweet pink tamales.

Overnight: Casa Grande Hotel Boutique

Day 5 - November 3: Transfer to San Miguel de Allende - Visit to the Fabrica la Aurora art center and the La Calaca festival

After a private transfer to San Miguel, we will visit Fabrica La Aurora, a beautiful art and design center located in a former textile factory. Here you will see altars to the dead, galleries, courtyards and corridors with special exhibitions on the theme of the Day of the Dead. We will walk through the historic center of San Miguel, through the main square, and see the La Calaca Festival, a modern week-long festival dedicated to the themes and traditions of the Day of the Dead. In the streets around the square you will see celebrations and workshops, and learn about the origins of this holiday and its modern manifestations.

The rest of the evening is free time. We suggest you have dinner at the Jacinto 1930 restaurant in the historic center of the city.

Overnight: at the Rosewood Hotel in San Miguel de Allende

Day 6 - November 4: Tour of San Miguel de Allende and La Calaca Festival

Visit the sights of San Miguel de Allende, including beautiful historical buildings. On this day, you will get to know the traditions of celebrating the Day of the Dead in a modern way at the La Calaca Art and Music Festival, with its colorful parades, dances, and altar displays. Various festive events are held throughout the city on this day. We can plan this day in different ways, depending on the preferences of the tour participants and the 2018 festival calendar, which will be published about a month in advance.

Overnight: Rosewood Hotel in San Miguel de Allende

Day 7 - November 5: Private Transfer to Mexico City - Visit Teotihuacan En Route

After breakfast and check-out, your guide will meet you in the lobby for a private transfer to Mexico City. En route, take a guided tour of Teotihuacan to see the mysterious Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. Your guide will tell you about the importance of this ancient city in the rich history of pre-Columbian civilization in what is now Mexico.

Overnight: Four Seasons Hotel in Mexico City

Day 8 - November 6: Private Tour of the Museum of Anthropology and the historic center of the city

Visit the world-famous National Museum of Anthropology, where you will see an amazing collection of relics of the Aztecs, Mayans and other pre-Columbian civilizations. You will see amazing exhibits, such as the Aztec calendar on the 24-ton Stone of the Sun

Then you will go on a private guided tour of the historic center of the city. You will visit the Zocalo (Constitution Square), the National Palace, the Cathedral. You will see the archaeological site of the Templo Mayor (entry to the site and the museum is not included). You can visit the Palace of Fine Arts or other attractions, depending on your free time and interests.

Lunch at one of the restaurants in Mexico City (can be arranged for an additional fee). Evening - free time.

Overnight: at the Four Seasons Hotel in Mexico City

Day 9 - 7 November: Coyoacan, Dolores Olmedo Museum. Diego Rivera's House

This day we will see a lesser-known part of Mexico City. We will visit the charming Coyoacan, a neighborhood with gravel streets, colonial temples, small bustling markets, cozy coffee shops and plazas.

You will see the traditional exhibition for the Day of the Dead at the Dolores Olmedo Museum, admire the works of art that create the spirit of the holiday, and see handicrafts from Mexican artisans. Then we will visit the house where Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo lived: Casa Estudio de Diego Rivera, where you will see the originals of their paintings. Then - return to the hotel and free time.

Overnight: at the Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City

Day 10 - November 8: Departure Day - Private Transfer to Mexico City Airport

A private driver will meet you in the lobby of the hotel and take you to the Mexico City International Airport (the journey takes 30-45 minutes).