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.

Enjoy a leisurely day exploring Oaxaca at your own pace. Why not immerse yourself in the region's artistic heritage at the Rufino Tamayo Museum of Pre-Hispanic Art? For lunch, reconnect with your group to discover La Cosecha Organic Market, a hidden courtyard oasis brimming with freshly prepared local delicacies. Stop at La Pozontlería for a taste of pozentle, an ancient ceremonial drink hailing from the Sierra Norte region, a refreshing, lightly sweet blend of cacao, corn, the cocolmecatl vine, water, and panela. Afterward, go solo again and perhaps wander the 16th-century Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca, marveling at its cacti collection, or simply take some time to unwind at your hotel. As dusk falls, reunite with your fellow gourmands for a quintessential Oaxacan experience – savoring traditional tamales from our guides' favorite street cart vendor. 

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 Itanoní, 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. 

Start the day with something completely unexpected; meet Árbol del Tule - the widest tree on Earth. After a hearty breakfast of traditional chilaquiles or enfrijoladas, you’ll head to the village of Tlacolula, famous for its market. Later you’ll visit Teotitlán del Valle, a picturesque town famous for its Aztec-inspired woven handicrafts where a local artisan will give you a rug weaving demo. Lunch today will be prepared by a local cook who specializes in Zapotec cuisine. After a little downtime, we will head to a mezcal palenque, or distillery, where you’ll trace the history and tradition of mezcal making, and then enjoy a mezcal tasting and workshop. If you like this smoky spirit, you’ll have the chance to buy it directly from the producers afterward. 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.