Day of the Dead Market Trip and Altar Building in Yatareni

Some of Oaxaca's most meaningful Day of the Dead traditions don't happen in cemeteries or public celebrations—they happen at home, around the family table.

Join Claudia & Rob’s intergenerational extended family in the village of San Agustín Yatareni, just 15 minutes from Oaxaca City, for an intimate Día de los Muertos experience that invites you to celebrate as a welcomed guest rather than a spectator. Throughout the day, you'll discover the stories, rituals, and family traditions that make Day of the Dead in Oaxaca one of the world's most beautiful cultural celebrations.

Your morning begins with a warm Oaxacan welcome. As the aroma of freshly prepared hot chocolate fills the home, you'll sit down to enjoy a hearty homemade breakfast made with fresh local ingredients while getting to know your hosts. Conversation flows naturally as the family shares what Día de los Muertos has meant to them throughout the generations.

Together, you'll head to the neighborhood market to gather everything needed for the family's traditional ofrenda (altar). As you shop alongside the family, you'll learn why every element has a purpose—from vibrant cempasúchil (marigold) flowers that guide loved ones home, to candles, pan de muerto, seasonal fruit, sugar skulls, copal incense, and other symbolic offerings that transform an altar into a place of remembrance.

Back at the family home, you'll work side by side to build a traditional Oaxacan Day of the Dead altar while learning the meaning behind each layer, decoration, and offering. Rather than simply watching a demonstration, you'll become part of the family's annual tradition, discovering how food, flowers, photographs, music, and memory come together to honor those who have passed.

Depending on the weather, you may also visit nearby marigold and “flor de muerto” fields, where the brilliant orange flowers that define Oaxaca's Día de los Muertos celebrations are grown—a beautiful opportunity for photographs and a deeper appreciation of one of the holiday's most iconic symbols.

Like every Tlayudona experience, this day is about genuine human connection. There are no performances or scripted presentations—just the chance to share a meaningful tradition with a family that is excited to open their home, their stories, and their table to visitors from around the world. Our host families cherish their annual altar-building experience and the opportunity to share their stories and familial traditions with you.

What's Included

• Round-trip transportation from and back to Tlayudona (210C Mariano Bravo Street, inside Plaza San Cristóbal)
• Traditional homemade Oaxacan breakfast
• Guided visit to a neighborhood market with your host family
• All altar materials and market purchases chosen by the family
• Hands-on construction of a traditional Día de los Muertos ofrenda
• Homemade traditional Oaxacan lunch
• Complimentary artisanal mezcal
• Spanish-English interpretation throughout the experience

Not Included

• Additional personal purchases at the market
• Optional Gratuities

Group Size: Maximum of 8 participants

Group Discounts: Special pricing is available for groups of three or more booking together.

This is more than a Day of the Dead workshop—it's an invitation into a family's home, traditions, and memories. If you're looking for an authentic Day of the Dead experience in Oaxaca, you'll leave with more than beautiful photographs. You'll leave understanding why this celebration is one of Mexico's most treasured expressions of love, remembrance, and community. You are welcome to print and bring along photos of your own loved ones to add to the altar.