¡Hola comunidad linda!
We can't believe how fast this year has moved along and now that we are in October the team here at Heart of Travel is getting excited about one of the most vibrant and culturally significant celebrations in Latin America—Día de Muertos in Oaxaca, Mexico. If you’ve ever wondered why Oaxaca is so special or what makes Day of the Dead more than just a festival, this email is for you! 🌼
What is Día de Muertos?
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a colorful and joyful tradition in Mexico that honors loved ones who have passed away and is colloquially referred to as Día de Muertos or just "Muertos'. Unlike the more somber view of death found in most Western cultures, this celebration is all about paying homage to our ancestors, through offerings, connection, and celebration! Held on November 1st and 2nd, it blends ancient indigenous traditions with Catholic influences from the Spanish colonial period. Oftentimes our travelers even come back from visiting DDM saying the trip changed their own views on death for the better! For many, observing and respectfully participating in Muertos can be very healing when you've lost a loved one yourself and can be a beautiful way to honor our ancestors who have passed on.
The roots of Día de los Muertos go back to the cosmovision of the Aztecs and other Mesoamerican civilizations, who honored their ancestors with special rituals. Over time, these traditions merged with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, evolving into the vibrant celebration we can observe today. During these special days, it’s believed that the spirits of the departed return to visit. Families set up ofrendas (altars) to welcome them, decorated with marigolds, candles, and items the deceased loved in life—like their favorite foods, drinks, and personal mementos. Marigolds, or cempasúchil, are especially important because their bright color and scent are believed to help guide the spirits back home to indulge in all the delicious treats on the altar.
Skulls, or calaveras, also play a big role in the festivities. Sugar skulls, often decorated with vibrant designs, remind us of the sweetness of life. And then there’s La Catrina—a fancy skeleton lady who’s become a symbol of the holiday, showing that no matter who we are in life, death is the great equalizer. While these symbols have been commodified in the US, they are still very much an integral part of the culture of Día de Muertos throughout Mexico.
Beyond the altars and symbols, Día de los Muertos is a time for families and communities to gather, visit cemeteries, clean and decorate graves, and share stories about their loved ones. It’s all about keeping their memory alive in a way that’s both reverent, intimate and joyful—a celebration of life and death that brings people closer, generation after generation. As you stroll through the cemetery on the 31st you'll see families sharing mezcal, families mourning, families celebrating and everything in between. You may even be invited to sit with a family and they'll tell you about their loved ones and the life they lived - it's incredibly personal and intimate and a real treat if you get to experience this!
Why is Oaxaca Special?
Oaxaca’s celebrations stand out due to their rich blend of indigenous traditions. Oaxaca's central valley is primarily Zapotec territory where people worship the native god, Pitao Bezelao, the Zapotec deity of the underworld. Altars in Oaxacan homes are filled with syncretism with certain saints, virgins and symbols being intrinsically linked to native deities in Mesoamerica. Here, Día de Muertos is observed not just as a ceremony, but as a deeply spiritual and community-centered event. Locals open their homes and cemeteries, welcoming you to share in their remembrance rituals. From elaborate altars to family gatherings at candlelit gravesites, Oaxaca is the perfect place to fully immerse yourself in the celebration.
Regenerative Travel in Oaxaca
At Heart of Travel, we are deeply committed to curating trips that are aligned with regenerative travel's core values of cultural preservation, community empowerment and the restoration of local ecosystems. Our trips are specifically designed to create meaningful economic impacts in indigenous communities supporting small, family-owned businesses. On our trips to Oaxaca you'll be welcomed into the homes of our dear friends sharing sacred space with families that create real opportunities for cross-cultural connection. It's important to acknowledge that Oaxaca is a territory that regularly experiences severe droughts. In the past few years, the dry season has become longer and hotter exacerbated by the global climate crisis. For us, it is essential that we build consciousness around the socioeconomic and environmental circumstances in each unique place we visit. We are not going to hide some of the challenging realities that Oaxacan's face as the city grows into a global tourist destination.
At Heart, we are progressively collaborating with more hotels taking fundamental steps towards more sustainable accommodations through water recycling filtration systems, rain capture and solar power. We ask that all travelers interested in visiting this dynamic place are sensitive to the current environmental issues and do their part to conserve water during their stay. We believe that curated travel experiences that give local communities agency to tell their story, share the ancestral art and build multicultural connections with people from all over the world is a net positive for sustainability in the world. We are committed to ensuring our trips are upheld to the highest standards of regenerative travel.
How We Do Día de Muertos at Heart of Travel
At Heart of Travel, we are honored to participate in the beautiful tradition of Día de Muertos in Oaxaca. Our approach to celebrating this holiday is all about respect, learning, and immersion in local customs. We’ve built significant long-lasting relationships with the communities we visit, and our local guides, like Gabriel aka Gabo, ensure that our travelers experience the holiday in a way that’s meaningful, educational, and respectful.
When we visit cemeteries, we sit quietly and respectfully amongst the people. We bring flowers, chocolate, bread and other offerings in solidarity with those remembering their loved ones. This intimate moment during our trip is a deeply moving experience. Often, families will share some mezcal or invite us to join them. It’s a deeply humbling experience to be welcomed into such a personal space, and we make sure our travelers understand the importance of being observant and respectful. We don’t bring cameras into this sacred space, preferring to soak in the experience rather than snapping photos. This helps us be fully present in the moment and engage with the tradition.
Our team takes extra care to guide travelers through the local customs, like avoiding face paint at the cemetery, stepping carefully around graves, and keeping noise levels respectful. We also remind our travelers that Día de Muertos is not Halloween, and encourage everyone to support locally businesses in Oaxaca and Latino/a/e owned brands and businesses if you are celebrating Muertos back home in the US, as a way to honor the true spirit of the holiday.
In Oaxaca City, we love to enjoy the lively parades, street celebrations, and late-night cantinas, but we always follow the lead of locals, respecting the sacredness of the cemeteries. Our goal is to celebrate alongside the community while honoring their traditions with the reverence they deserve. Don't worry about making mistakes as well, your local guide is there to support you every step of the way!
Every year, we leave with incredible memories and a deeper appreciation for the culture, all the while providing impactful support to local artists, businesses, and families who make Día de Muertos in Oaxaca so special.
Our Día de Muertos trips to Oaxaca fill up fast, and for good reason! We carefully design our itineraries to ensure that you don’t just observe the holiday—you truly become a part of it. We'd love to share this meaningful experience with you! Our 2025 Día de Muertos trips to Oaxaca still has some spots available. Imagine sipping Mezcal with a family as they share stories of their ancestors, watching parades filled with colorful costumes and music, or standing in awe as thousands of candles illuminate the graves. This is the magic of Oaxaca during Día de Muertos.
Ready to experience this once-in-a-lifetime celebration with us? See our 2025 Oaxaca trip details HERE!
Mil gracias for choosing responsible travel and celebrating with Heart of Travel. 🌍
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