Recommended Day of the Dead Tours for 2024
If you’re wondering about visiting Mexico for Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) but you’re not sure about doing it alone, there are numerous tour options available to you.
✅ Finding the right tour that fits your needs can be overwhelming when there are so many to choose from so here are a few that I particularly recommend for 2024.
I have focused on 2 companies because I know and trust the people behind the tours – as you’ll see below.
When is Day of the Dead?
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🗓 Día de los Muertos is officially a three-day celebration over October 31st, November 1st and November 2nd. However, in cities such as Oaxaca, Mexico City, Mérida and Michoacan you’ll find that there are activities going on in the month leading up to the official celebrations – from dance demonstrations and food festivals to fantastic decorations and parades. And anyway, it’s Mexico, there’s always something wonderful to see, do, or imbibe 😉.
October 31 is sometimes known as Noche de Brujas (Witches Night). It’s more officially the Eve of Día de Muertos and is a time for people to put the finishing touches to their altars.
November 1 is Día de los Inocentes or Día de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels) – the day to remember children who have died. In English, this is All Souls Day.
November 2 is Día de los Muertos or Día de los Difuntos – the day for remembering adults who have died. November 2nd is an official public holiday.
Why would you take a Day of the Dead tour?
There are many great reasons to take a tour, particularly around a festival like Day of the Dead:
⭐️ If you’re not sure about exploring Mexico alone
⭐️ You enjoy meeting new people while having new experiences
⭐️ You want to learn more about Mexico, Mexican culture and traditions
⭐️ You’ve left it too late to book accommodation
Read more about Día de los Muertos Celebrations around Mexico
➡️ Día de los Muertos around Mexico
So, if you’re looking at Day of the Dead tours, these are the few I recommend:
⭐️ MexicoCassie Recommends – overland exploring
Lupita Overland is run by Jaime, a Spaniard who has loved Mexico almost as long as I have. He worked as a human rights watcher in Mexico between 2012-14. In 2018, made Mexico his forever-home when he founded Lupita Overland, offering tours across Central and South America. Jaime’s enthusiasm for Mexico and its culture is why I recommend his company.
♻️ I trust Lupita to offer responsible, sustainable trips, to support local businesses and never take visitors anywhere that harms nature or animals. They also prioritize defending human rights and labour laws.
✅ There are 2 great looking Day of the Dead tours offered by Lupita Overland in 2024. Both are small group tours (no more than 9 people) and I’m absolutely certain they’ll be packed full of incredible adventures and opportunities to really learn about Mexico and this most Mexican tradition.
South Mexico Wonders: Day of the Dead Edition
🗓 17 October – 7 November 2024
➡️ 21 nights, 22 days (12 stops)
🚐 Travel Style: Overlanding – venturing off the tourist trail to really get to know Mexico
🗺 Puerto Morelos to Mexico City (Yucatan Peninsula, South and Central Mexico)
💰 From $3,499 USD but I’ve worked with Lupita Overland to negotiate a 7% discount for anyone booking with the code “Mexico_Cassie_7%” (price includes overland vehicle, all accommodation and activities and some meals)
Activities: This is an overland tour for a small group (maximum of 9 people) in an overland vehicle.
🗺 The tour begins on the Yucatan Peninsula where you’ll get to visit Chichén Itzá, Bacalar‘s incredible Laguna de 7 Colores, and explore Calakmul.
The journey continues into the gorgeous state of Chiapas where you’ll visit Palenque, San Cristal de las Casas and the surrounding villages and even cruise through the incredible Cañon de Sumidero.
From Chiapas, it’s into the state of Oaxaca to experience Day of the Dead, check out Hierve el Agua (the petrified waterfall), visit ancient ruins, drink mezcal, explore the region and head down to the magnificent Pacific Coast.
As the tour heads towards Mexico City, you’ll camp in the world’s greatest cactus reserve before visiting Teotihuacán, Frida Kahlo’s museum and even sail on the ancient Aztec canals of Xochmilco.
Genuine Mexico: Day of the Dead Edition
🗓 25th October – 7th November 2024
➡️ 13 nights, 14 days (6 stops)
🚐 Travel Style: Overlanding – venturing off the tourist trail to really get to know Mexico.
🗺 San Cristobal de las Casas to Mexico City
💰From $2,189 USD but I’ve worked with Lupita Overland to negotiate a 7% discount for anyone booking with the code “Mexico_Cassie_7%” (price includes overland vehicle, all accommodation and activities and some meals).
🗺 Beginning in the gorgeous San Cristobal de las Casas, this slightly shorter tour visits the surrounding villages and the Cañon de Sumidero before leaving Chiapas for Oaxaca’s Pacific Coast where you’ll help liberate turtles and visit pristine beaches before heading up to Oaxaca City for the Day of the Dead celebrations, trips to mezcal palenques, artisan workshops and visit the ruins of Monte Alban and the petrified falls of Hierve el Agua.
From Oaxaca you travel, overland, to Mexico City where you will explore the ruins at Teotihuacán, visit Frida Kahlo’s house and even sail on the gorgeous and ancient Aztec canals of Xochimilco.
⭐️ MexicoCassie Recommends: Immersive tours
Where Sidewalks End is run by Ian, a Canadian travel expert and guide who has lived in Oaxaca for many years. WSE was established in 2011, promoting responsible and sustainable tourism wherever they operate. I have known Ian since 2020 when we first travelled together.
♻️ They pay liveable wages to local people and pride themselves on being culturally and environmentally sensitive. Every trip they organise means a sizeable donation to a charity in that destination.
✅ Where Sidewalks End offers a variety of Day of the Dead experiences, all in Oaxaca. Each activity is a one day event but there is also the option to bulk book and guarantee yourself a week of excellent adventures in Oaxaca really getting to know the city.
➕ If you’re planning on being in Oaxaca under your own steam during Día de los Muertos, use this article to figure out how many days you’ll need.
✈️ How to get from the Oaxaca airport to Oaxaca city
WSE Day of the Dead Experiences in Oaxaca
Ultimate Oaxaca Experience
🗓 28 October – 2 November 2024
➡️ 6 days cultural activities
🚐 Travel Style: Based in Oaxaca, you meet the tour group daily for cultural activities. Note that accommodation is not included.
💰 $795 USD for the full package or each of the day sessions can be booked individually.
🗺 This experience begins with an exclusive welcome dinner where you’ll meet the other tour members. Each day you meet the group for your daily activity. These include: 🌼 a trip to the marigold (cempasuchil) fields to learn about the significance of the flower in the Day of the Dead festivities and for a special photoshoot (photos included); 🎭 mask making; 🚶🏽 visit Mitla ruins; ☠ learn to decorate pan de muerto (traditional bread for Day of the Dead); 🌮 take a traditional cooking class, 📸 have a professional photo shoot with full Día de los Muertos face painting and finally; 🪦 visit a cemetery for an in-depth session on Day of the Dead, learning to build an altar and witness how the cemetery changes at dusk.
Women Only Day of the Dead Event*
*Women only absolutely includes Trans women, as I said, Ian is someone I respect greatly and know well. His tours are ethical and inclusive.
🗓 1 November 2024
➡️ 5 hour tour (approx 4 pm – 9 pm)
💰 $120 USD
🗺 On this tour you will learn about the history and mysticism surrounding the practices of local women during Día de los Muertos. Over Day of the Dead cocktails you’ll take part in a discussion about the long history of Mexico’s traditions around death and the impact colonialism has had on these traditions.
Next it’s time to try mezcal and to learn to make an altar (feel free to bring a photo of your own deceased loved one to place on it), dance and celebrate life in the Oaxacan style – sharing stories of loved ones with the group.
Finally, the group will walk to the cemetery to observe how tombs and graves are decorated as the local population commemorates and remembers.
Other Día de los Muertos tour options
Of course, there are other tour operators offering wonderful Día de los Muertos experiences all around Mexico.
I always check tour aggregate pages such as Get Your Guide and Viator to find interesting tours in destinations I’ve visiting.
Should you have any questions about Day of the Dead, tours in Mexico, or Mexico in general, please feel free to drop me an email and let’s see if I can help.
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