Day of the Dead Market Trip and Altar Building in Yatareni

Experience Day of the Dead in Oaxaca with a Local Family – Authentic Ofrenda Workshop in Yatareni

Discover Oaxaca’s Día de los Muertos traditions in one of the most authentic and immersive ways possible: inside a local family home in the village of San Agustin Yatareni, just 15 minutes from Oaxaca City. This small-group cultural experience invites you to take part in the intimate creation of a traditional Day of the Dead altar (ofrenda), surrounded by food, flowers, and generations of family storytelling.

Your experience begins with a warm Oaxacan welcome in Claudia’s home, featuring traditional hot chocolate and a hearty homemade breakfast prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. From there, you’ll accompany Claudia and Rob family to a nearby local market, where you’ll select symbolic offerings for the altar such as marigold flowers, candles, sugar skulls, seasonal fruit, bread (pan de muerto), and more.

Back at the family home, you’ll join in building a traditional ofrenda while learning about the history, meaning, and regional variations of Día de los Muertos celebrations in Oaxaca. This hands-on experience offers a deeper understanding of how local families honor their ancestors through food, color, memory, and ritual—far beyond what can be seen in public displays in the city.

Weather permitting, you may also visit nearby marigold fields to see or photograph the iconic flowers used in Oaxacan altars.

Not included:

• Optional personal purchases at the market
• Gratuities

Minimum group size: 4 participant

This is a rare opportunity to experience Día de los Muertos in Oaxaca not as a visitor, but as a welcomed guest in a local family’s home.