Mexico City to Oaxaca with Zapotec Village Hiking

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Mexico. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe explore the array of museums, galleries and architecture or check out the nightlife and delicious street food. Perhaps walk through Bosque de Chapultepec, visit the Frida Kahlo Museum or relax in one of the many plazas and gardens. After your meeting, maybe head out for dinner and get to know your fellow travellers.

Today, your leader will show you around the historic city centre. Visit Zocalo Square – a prominent central meeting place since Aztec times – and soak up the sound of rapid-fire Spanish and booming drums that fill the centre. Pass by the dome-topped Palacio de Bellas Artes, then stop to see some murals painted by the famed Diego Rivera. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Mexico City as you like. Maybe sit down for lunch at a fonda (a home that a family has opened to the local community as a restaurant) or take a boat ride down the Xochimilco Canals.

After breakfast, learn the local lingo with an informal Spanish lesson as you travel to Puebla. Along the way, you’ll stop at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Teotihuacan – an archaeological site built by the Teotihuacano people more than 1000 years before the Aztecs arrived in the area! Then join a local family for lunch before continuing on to Puebla – known for its culinary history, architecture, pottery and the painted Talavera tiles that adorn buildings there. When you arrive, head out for an orientation walk to get your bearings. Tonight, join your leader for a drink at La Pasita Bar – pasita is a sweet liqueur made of raisins, served in a caballito (tequila glass) and decorated with a cube of fresh goat cheese and a raisin on a toothpick.

Today is free for you to explore at your own pace. Puebla is Mexico’s culinary capital, so why not head out to indulge in some street food. If the season’s right, maybe try some chiles en nogada (meat-stuffed chillis covered in creamy walnut sauce) or visit the nearby Pueblo Mágico of Cholula – home to the UNESCO-listed Cholula pyramid. Tonight, maybe find a local restaurant for dinner – your leader will have the best recommendations.

Get cosy with the locals as you travel by local bus to Oaxaca – this is a great time to read a book or take a nap. Oaxaca is an old town full of arcades and markets, perfect for a stroll when you arrive. After your walk, you’ll tour the 20 de Noviembre Market, where you'’ll do as the locals do and head to the Pasillo de las Carnes Asadas (the grilled meats aisle). Follow your nose (and your leader) to find it – smoke and the smell of grilled meat thick in the air. Maybe grab some guacamole, salsa and fresh tortillas on the way and then find a spot at one of the long tables where you’ll sit down for a classic Oaxacan lunch. From here, the rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace.

This morning, you’ll visit the nearby UNESCO World Heritage site of Monte Alban with a local guide. Walk through the architectural site that was inhabited for over 1500 years by the Olmecs, Zapotecs and Mixtecs. Then, head to a local barro negro (black pottery studio). See a demonstration of how the famed black pottery (or pottery of the night) is made and learn about the history of this art form – legend says the clay is blessed! Then, join a women-run alebrijes workshop where you’ll paint your own alebrije – a brightly coloured sculpture that often combines elements from different animals to create mythical creatures. This workshop was founded by local woman Rosario – her family has been dedicated to the craft for three generations. The artisans will walk you through the history of the art and how the crafting process works. You’ll hear the story of how this community became a local symbol of resilience and female leadership.

Today is a free day. Maybe try your hand at whipping up the local cuisine with a cooking class, wander through the Jalatlaco neighbourhood or venture out on an optional day trip around town. Begin the adventure at the millenary Tule tree – one of the oldest trees on Earth, with an impressive trunk size of over 40 m (131 ft) – and hear some of the local stories it’s inspired. Then, hike through the Oaxacan mountains to reach the petrified waterfall, Hierve el Agua. You may even be able to stop for a swim along the way. After lunch, continue to the village of Teotitlan del Valle where you’ll meet an indigenous family of weavers – experts in traditional Mexican colours and textiles. Finish the day’s excursion with a trip to a mezcal distillery and an agave field and maybe sample the varieties made here on a tour of all things mezcal culture and cultivation. Tonight, maybe join your fellow travellers for dinner at a local restaurant.