Buenos dias! Welcome to Oaxaca, the Mezcal capital of Mexico. After an informal welcome drink in a rooftop bar, you’ll do a quick orientation tour of the city on your way to your show stopping Welcome Dinner.  As the sun begins to set, you’ll take your seat at one of the finest restaurants in the city, owned by an acclaimed native chef. As we tuck in, we’ll chat with our guides and fellow travelers and discuss the delicious adventures that await us! 

This morning you’ll taste a traditional Oaxacan breakfast at a popular market stand. Then you’ll set off to explore some of the surrounding villages to learn about the thriving local handicraft scene. Visit an alebrije (wooden figurine) workshop, meet a family of expert women weavers, and see black pottery from this region that’s revered across the globe. A change of pace next, as you walk around Santiago Apóstol, a breathtaking 16th century former monastery, featuring an open-air, roofless basilica. Then you’ll head back to Oaxaca City, to experience the lively Benito Juárez market. Make your way toward the smoke hall for a lunch of freshly grilled meats. Satiated, and possibly a little sleepy, the rest of the day is yours to explore the many delights of the city at your own pace.

After a delicious al fresco breakfast, you’ll visit a mezcal palenque, or distillery, where you’ll trace the history and tradition of mezcal making. Our tour wouldn’t be complete without a mezcal tasting and workshop, and if you enjoy this smoky spirit, you’ll have the chance to buy it directly from the producers afterwards. Before heading back to town, we’ll stop for lunch at the La Cosecha Organic Market, popular with locals for its excellent street food, fresh fruit smoothies and beautiful handicrafts. Back in Oaxaca City, enjoy a free afternoon to explore on your own before regrouping tonight for traditional Oaxacan tamales from your guides’ favorite street food cart.

Some of the oldest known specimens of corn have been found in Oaxaca caves, dating from between 4500 and 4200 BCE. This morning you’ll visit a restaurant that specializes in indigenous dishes created using heirloom corn varieties and get a crash course in all things corn. Next up is a stop at a residential market to pick up ingredients for this afternoon’s culinary workshop. You’ll whip up an exquisite lunch with the help of an award-winning chef and talk to a seasoned cheesemaker about Oaxacan cheese. Your afternoon is free for rest or further exploration, before meeting up again for suckling pig tacos and panoramic views at a highly-rated rooftop restaurant. 

At breakfast today, do something unexpected; meet Árbol del Tule - the widest tree on Earth. After a hearty meal of traditional chilaquiles or enfrijoladas, you’ll head to the village of Tlacolula, famous for its Sunday market. Each week, vendors from across the state flock to Tlacolula, selling everything from livestock and fresh produce to bootlegged DVDs. Later you’ll visit Teotitlán del Valle, a picturesque town famous for its Aztec-inspired woven handicrafts. A local artisan will give you a demo on rug weaving and introduce us to traditional weaving techniques and natural dyes. Lunch today will be prepared by a local cook who specializes in Zapotec cuisine. Take the rest of the day to relax, enjoy some mezcal cocktails and eat dinner at your leisure—if you’re still hungry, that is.

After a leisurely morning of self-exploration, you’ll take a short drive to magical Monte Albán, the largest Zapotec archaeological site in Oaxaca and home to one of the oldest cities of Mesoamerica. With guidance from a local expert, you’ll explore the complex and learn about Zapotec culture. For lunch, we’ll head to the private home of an accomplished chef who loves to showcase the dishes of his birthplace, the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, which are distinct from the traditional cuisine of the Central Valley. Enjoy some chill time after lunch, before your final sumptuous farewell dinner tonight, at one of the city’s finest restaurants.  

After a full week of munching our way through Oaxaca, it’s time to slip that bottle of mezcal into your suitcase and head home. You can depart for the airport early this morning or enjoy one final breakfast before heading out.