Date
October 24 – November 3, 2018
About This Tour
“Día de los Muertos”, the Day of the Dead, is a thoroughly Mexican holiday, but it has gained a higher international profile as the opening sequence of the James Bond film Spectre and the inspiration for the latest Pixar movie Coco. Coinciding with All Saints’ Eve (Halloween), All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, the festival celebrates the memories of dearly departed family members with candlelight vigils, colorful parades, exuberant displays of music and dance, and the consumption of favorite foods and beverages. It is such a unique experience that UNESCO placed it on the World’s Great Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
Near to our celebrations of the Day of the Dead, another important festival is in full swing when we arrive - Festival Internacional Cervantino, the most important international artistic and cultural event in Mexico and Latin America. For those who have the time, you won’t want to miss adding this experience to our main Day of the Dead tour. Click here to read the itinerary for the optional Cervantino Festival extension.
Mexico is just a few hours distant from almost every point in the United States, and airfares are inexpensive. You won’t waste precious time and money on long overseas flights. Mexico is a magical place where old traditions and modernity live side by side. Nowhere else on earth will celebrating death bring you so fully to life!
Tour Highlights
- Pre-tour to Guanajuato *
- San Miguel de Allende *
- Morelia *
- Patzcuaro
- Day of the Dead celebrations * * UNESCO World Heritage Sites
ITINERARY
Optional Pre-Tour to Guanajuato for Cervantino Festival
Click on this link to read more about the optional pre-tour. It is priced separately, but must be booked with the main tour in order to enjoy the listed price. Contact us if you would like to do only the pre-tour, or combine it with just a portion of the tour described below. We will be happy to work with you to customize the trip to meet your needs.
Arrive in San Miguel de Allende / Welcome Dinner
This morning depart your home city on an international flight to Leon-Guanajuato Airport (BJX) in Mexico. Try to arrive no later than 3:00 pm. If you cannot arrive by this time, please consider coming in one day early. At the airport, a driver will meet you and take you to the city of San Miguel de Allende, considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Conde Nast gave it their #1 recommendation worldwide for cities to visit. After checking in to our hotel we take a walk to the city center and enjoy a Welcome Dinner and drinks, with a view of the sun setting behind the distant Sierra de Penjamo Mountains. After dinner we sit in the picturesque Jardin Allende and listen to the music of the strolling mariachis. (Dinner included)
Arrive in San Miguel de Allende / Welcome Dinner
This morning depart your home city on an international flight to Leon-Guanajuato Airport (BJX) in Mexico. Try to arrive no later than 3:00 pm. If you cannot arrive by this time, please consider coming in one day early. At the airport, a driver will meet you and take you to the city of San Miguel de Allende, considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Conde Nast gave it their #1 recommendation worldwide for cities to visit. After checking in to our hotel we take a walk to the city center and enjoy a Welcome Dinner and drinks, with a view of the sun setting behind the distant Sierra de Penjamo Mountains. After dinner we sit in the picturesque Jardin Allende and listen to the music of the strolling mariachis. (Dinner included)
San Miguel de Allende Touring
We take a private trolley for a guided historic tour of town, including the Bellas Artes, Instituto Allende, Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel, El Mirador, and other sites. We stop for lunch at the Fabrica La Aurora and visit its many galleries of art, crafts and antiques. Next we drive a short ways out of town to the Chapel of Jimmy Ray, home of the renowned artist Anado McLauchlin and his "husbear" Richard. Their home is a gallery, and it is #16 of 118 things to do in San Miguel on Tripadvisor. Finally, we visit the home of Danny Cameron, notable artist and long-time Toto Tourist (dannycameron.com) to enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres on a rooftop patio overlooking the city at sunset. The evening is free. We may ride back to our hotel to relax poolside, or take a stroll through town to be entertained at one of the many venues providing live music, dinner, and drinks. (Breakfast / Lunch / Cocktail Party)
San Miguel de Allende
Today our guide escorts us around town, where we can learn of its history as we stroll through the parks, patronize some of the many shops and galleries, sample a variety of local foods, and visit the markets. (Breakfast)
Drive to Morelia
We travel by van to the lakeside village of Yuriria, to see its former convent and church. We continue to Morelia and stop for lunch before checking in at our hotel. In the afternoon, ride a private trolley for a guided drive around the city for orientation, visiting interesting neighborhoods and viewing lovely vistas. We will be introduced to the colorful Day of the Dead Altars, and learn their symbols, history, and significance. Because this is a very popular time for visitors to the city, there will be various performances we may choose to attend that evening. The nightclubs in Morelia are fun, and will be lively on a Saturday night. Morelia has declared itself a Gay Destination City, and its gay bars have a reputation as being the best in Mexico. Evening free. (Breakfast / Lunch)
Morelia Sightseeing
We visit many of the city’s museums and attractions today: the Museo Michoacano de las Artesanias, the Conservatorio and Jardin de las Rosas, the Aqueduct, the Guadalupe Sanctuary, the Callejon de Romance, the Museo del Dulce, Museo de Artes Contemporaneo, and more. All these important sites are in the historic downtown, within walking distance from each other. The evening is free. (Breakfast / Lunch)
Patzcuaro
We depart Morelia and drive to the annual Catrina Festival in the town of Capula. We continue around the west side of Lake Patzcuaro, visiting artisan workshops in several villages. Lunch is at Casa Los Fuentes near the village of Quiroga, a town known for "carnitas", usually eaten as tacos. After checking in to our Patzcuaro hotel we enjoy an orientation walk around town. The main plaza, Plaza Grande, will be hosting the finest annual craft market in Michoacan. This evening, we attend a once-monthly cocktail party for ex-pats at Lupitas Restaurant. (Breakfast / Lunch / Cocktail Party)
Santa Clara del Cobre
We drive to Santa Clara Del Cobre, a town famous for its copper-smiths, where we can visit a museum and many shops. Time permitting, we may visit the woodworking town of Cuanajo. We have lunch in the countryside at the delightful Rancha La Mesa, which has splendid views of Lake Patzcuaro. This excursion will only require a half day, and the rest of the day can be spent exploring Patzcuaro, perhaps seeing the Concurso, a juried exhibit of the finest crafts, in the Antiguo Colegio Jesuita. (Breakfast / Lunch)
Tingambato / Uruapan
We drive to the village of Tingambato where we see the famous Baby Jesus, and visit the pyramids of the Zona Arqueologica. We continue to the town of Uruapan and have lunch at La Mansion del Cupatitzio. After lunch we stroll through the Parque Nacional Barranca del Cupatitzio. Finally, we visit the Talares, a centuries-old textile factory and museum. Here we meet our van for a drive past lovely Lake Zirahuén and back to our hotel. (Breakfast / Lunch)
Night of the Dead
We relax in town this morning, resting up for a late night filled with wonders. We can hire a make-up artist for those wishing to enjoy Day of the Dead face painting. In the early evening we travel by van along the East side of Lake Patzcuaro to visit nighttime cemeteries in the villages of Santa Fe de la Laguna, Tzintzuntzan, Cucuchucho, and on the Isla de Pacanda, which we visit by private boat. (Breakfast / Dinner)
Day of the Dead
Some villages celebrate Day of the Dead at night, some during the following day. Today we drive around the lake, visiting daytime cemeteries such as the one in San Jeronimo Purenchecuaro, which are colorful and lively, filled with flowers, picnickers, and music. After a stop for lunch, we spend the afternoon in the village of Tzintzuntzan visiting the cemetery, the Convent Museum, and the ancient ruins at the Zona Arqueologica de Ihuatzio. We relocate to Morelia for our final night, as it is closer to the airport, making for an easier departure tomorrow. After checking in at our hotel, we enjoy a festive Farewell Dinner at a nearby restaurant. (All Meals)
Departure
The tour officially ends after breakfast this morning. We will organize small group transfers to the Morelia Airport (MLM) by public taxis. If you wish to extend your stay in Morelia, please let us know on your reservation form so that we can keep your room available for another night. (Breakfast)
