WALK, LISTEN, AND SPEAK WITH AN OPEN HEART: OAXACA WILL BE YOUR TEACHER
MARKETS
MOUNTAINS
ENCOUNTERS
HANDICRAFTS
ARCHAEOLOGY
Between mountains that whisper ancestral wisdom and valleys where ancient languages still bloom, Oaxaca safeguards a living treasure of cultures, flavors, and resistance. In this untamed land—where mountains trace paths of independence and communities continue to cultivate their roots—language is not merely learned: it is breathed, shared, cooked, and woven.
This journey is not tourism; it is encounter.
It is learning Spanish in markets and kitchens, in greetings exchanged across plazas, and in the stories grandmothers tell beside the comal. It is living alongside Zapotec families, walking with their knowledge, and exploring their worldview through art, traditional medicine, and a deep connection to the land.
Oaxaca invites us to listen to what is essential: what is not spoken with words, but felt with the soul.
ITINERARY & PROGRAM
Day 1 – Saturday: Arrival in Oaxaca
Welcome to the baroque city of Oaxaca de Juárez (1,550 m), considered one of Mexico’s colonial jewels. Its cobblestone streets, lively plazas, and aromatic markets invite us to taste local delights: chocolate, chapulines, quesillo, and mezcal. A gentle first encounter with Oaxacan warmth.
Day 2 – Sunday: City Exploration and Local Cooking
In the morning, we visit the iconic Santo Domingo Church, its museum, and the Ethnobotanical Garden—a celebration of Oaxaca’s biodiversity. Afterwards, we explore the city in small groups, interacting with vendors and locals.
We have lunch at the market, and in the evening, we cook together at the home of an Oaxacan friend using the ingredients we purchased. An intimate and flavorful beginning to this cultural and linguistic experience.
Day 3 – Monday: Monte Albán, Alebrijes, and the Convent of Cuilápam
We ascend to Monte Albán, the ancient Zapotec capital built atop a mountain at 1,600 meters above sea level, offering sweeping views of the valley below.
Afterwards, we enjoy an Oaxacan buffet featuring regional specialties. In the afternoon, we visit an alebrijes workshop—fantastical hand-carved wooden figures—and the former convent of Cuilápam, a witness to colonial history and Indigenous resistance.
Day 4 – Tuesday: Petrified Waterfalls and a Weaving Community
Excursion to Hierve el Agua, a natural site of extraordinary beauty known for its petrified waterfalls. Those who wish may hike along the surrounding trails.
In the afternoon, we visit an artisan family in Teotitlán del Valle, renowned for their handwoven rugs dyed with natural pigments. A dialogue between hands, threads, and memory.
Day 5 – Wednesday: Life in the Sierra – Capulálpam de Méndez
We travel into the Sierra Juárez, arriving in Capulálpam, a Pueblo Mágico that preserves Zapotec Indigenous identity and traditional medicine.
Here, we spend the day immersed in community life, learning from everyday wisdom. In the afternoon, those who wish may participate in a temazcal, an ancestral steam bath for cleansing body and spirit.
Día 6 – Jueves: Caminata y regreso a la ciudad
Por la mañana, exploramos en pequeños grupos y con nuestras familias anfitrionas, el entorno natural y la vida diaria del pueblo. Para quienes lo deseen, es posible realizar una actividad opcional de observación de aves al amanecer. Por la tarde, regresamos a Oaxaca de Juárez.
Day 7 – Friday: Market Day in Ocotlán and Artisan Workshops
We visit the Ocotlán market—a burst of colors, aromas, and voices where valley communities gather. Flowers, textiles, fruits, and flavors blend into a living choreography.
Later, we meet a family of black pottery artists and visit a traditional embroidery workshop in San Bartolo.
Day 8 – Saturday: Quialana and the Art of Mezcal
We head to San Lucas Quialana. Here, you may choose between a mountain walk or participating in an artisan workshop with Zapotec women, creating small dolls dressed in traditional clothing.
Together, we walk to the community’s sacred hill and share local food.
In the afternoon, we visit an artisanal mezcal distillery.
Day 9 – Sunday: Free Morning and Printmaking Workshop
A final free morning to enjoy Oaxaca at your own pace. Those who wish may take part in a printmaking workshop with a local artist, learning woodcut techniques linked to protest and social graphic art.
In this creative space, you will explore themes such as nature, politics, and food. You will take home three prints made by you and leave your mark in a growing collective exhibition.
After this experience, we transfer to the airport for the return flight, hearts full of images, words, and shared silences.