EL CAMINO SMALL GROUP TRIP
Inspiring Oaxaca Itinerary
Oaxaca City offers a reinterpretation of the modern through its ancient past. Colorful murals depict the reemergence of Mixtec, Zapotec, and fourteen other pre-Hispanic cultures, using the facades of Spanish-Colonial buildings as their canvas.
Day 1
Arrive: Touch down in Oaxaca, the melting pot of pre-Hispanic history and modernity. Check into your hotel and enjoy the sunny, brightly colored courtyard and pool as you get to know your fellow travelers. Strap on some walking shoes and explore the color-washed facades of these cobblestoned streets. Stunning Spanish-Colonial architecture and artisan shops await with open doors. Or, get an early start satisfying your curiosity about mezcal. If you’re interested in sightseeing, this may be the best time to visit the Museo Textil de Oaxaca or the Jardin Etnobotanico de Oaxaca. This time is yours.
Evening: We break bread at one of the city’s finest restaurants, offering an eye-popping introduction to the exquisite flavors of Oaxaca. We specifically chose this restaurant for its reputation of hosting sensory experiences through traditional Oaxacan cuisine. On every ECT experience, the first dinner represents an important moment of celebration, and this trip is no exception. Get to know your new travel mates as we indulge our first taste of everything that Oaxaca has to offer.
Meals Included: Dinner
Day 2
Morning: Grab breakfast at the hotel. The rest of the morning is free, so take your time. Tap your local host, or reference the welcome packet for coffee shops where iced horchata lattes, insane breakfast sandwiches, and amazing chocolate chip cookies topped with sea salt.
Afternoon and evening: Today, we leave the valley to pay homage to the indigenous roots of Oaxaca. We'll be visiting a women-led artisan cooperative specializing in red clay ceramics, and we’ll even witness a quema (baking of the clay) that turns the clay into a ceramic. Initially, the women’s work was secluded to a town that was declining in population and opportunity as men ventured to the U.S. for better prospects. As a result, the women overcame societal pressures on traveling alone to sell their wares in larger cities like Oaxaca. Jeers from some quickly turned into praises from anyone with a keen eye for design and talent. They’ve been invited to international folk art festivals in Santa Fe, been featured in the NYTimes, and now, they don't have to travel the roads on foot alone. They blazed the trail, and we're happy to follow it straight to them.
From there, we meet up with local pitmasters and their families for an authentic barbacoa feast. Finally, we'll ride out onto the fields with fifth-generation mezcal distillers. Those who are willing can test out their skills with a machete, then we’ll harvest our agaves, give thanks to Mother Earth, and sip the sunset away with mountain views and a copita (little glass) of mezcal.
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, and mezcal tasting
Day 3
Morning: Eat light at breakfast, and wear some good walking shoes because we've got a treat, actually, several of them! From the hotel, we'll be following our noses (and the guide) to the best of the best markets and street food stands in town. Traditional Oaxacan rolled tacos, filled with stuffed chilis and cheese, grilled directly on the wooden charcoal, get things started right. An interlude of black mole tamales will satisfy your taste buds with a mix of savory and smoky. Then come the sweet and spicy notes of chocolate that will quickly make you understand why people come from around the world for flavors that can't be found anywhere else.
We'll sample the varieties of mole while our eyes scan the market, textured with thousands upon thousands of varieties of colorful, dried chilis. We'll drink tejate, made from corn and fermented cacao nibs, offering a semi-sweet and nutritious means of washing it all down. That's just a wee sampling of the tour—it wouldn't be right to give it all away, so get ready for more surprises as they unfold before you. Our advice: show up HUNGRY and open-minded.
Afternoon and Evening: The afternoon and evening are free. If shopping’s on your list, today’s the day. Ask your local host, or reference your welcome packet to find a list of our favorite shops to source unique home goods and standout fashion pieces crafted by the region's most exciting young emerging artists.
Meals Included: Breakfast and brunch/lunch/snacking throughout the market experience
Day 4
Morning: We'll head out bright and early to beat the crowds to the iconic Hierve de Agua, Oaxaca's calcified mineral waterfalls. On the way, we'll stop for a traditional breakfast. When most residents of Oaxaca are looking for a quick breakfast, they grab a memela. These little maize patties are topped with fresh cheese, avocado, spiced meat, and a hearty smearing of pork lard—aka, the perfect power snack for a long day ahead. We’ll stop by a local’s home for our memela fix, before breaking a sweat at Oaxaca’s most popular site, Hierve El Agua. Enjoy a short hike and/or take a plunge in one of the calming pools at the top of the falls.
Afternoon and evening: On the way back into town, we'll stop for lunch for traditional Mexican food at a restaurant that preserves and shares the treasures of traditional food, located in a beautiful town outside of Oaxaca where the Tejate was created. Tejate is a maize and cacao beverage that is very common in Oaxaca, also called "bebida de los dioses" (drink of gods). Upon our return to Oaxaca City, the rest of the day is yours to explore as you see fit. Tap your Eat, Play, Shop guide for our favorite spots in town, including recommendations for textile producers that specialize in contemporary design using ancient techniques, or stop at our favorite one-stop shop for high-quality artisan goods. For dinner, try out our go-to spot for homemade tortillas. If outdoor dining in a beautiful setting is your jam, we've got just the place for that too.
Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 5
Indulge in a glorious and entirely free day. The possibilities are endless and you have the freedom to design your day as you please. With your Eat, Play, Shop guide at your disposal, you'll be fully equipped to shop, explore, and enjoy some of Oaxaca City's many restaurants and bars. With your hotel being so well located, you'll be able to head out on foot. You can also head out of town to explore some nearby ruins or venture to neighboring cities to further discover how traditional craft can vary from town to town. Whatever you decide to do, you will have the expertise of your local host on hand to help you plan the perfect day.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6
Morning: Grab some breakfast at the hotel.
Afternoon: We're setting out of the Oaxacan valley to find one of the things that put this region on the international stage back in the 70s—"barro" (local pottery). From there, we visit a truly iconic hat designer to peruse, and if you like, get your one-of-a-kind sombrero perfectly fitted. Refreshment stops along the way continue the trend of intrinsically Oaxacan flavors with tepache, a drink made from fermented pineapple, raw sugar cane, and cinnamon. Think of it as Oaxaca’s ancient kombucha.
When we need to take a break from shopping, we'll dine on colorful, fire-kissed food from traditional, stone ovens under the tree canopy of one of Mexico’s most biodiverse areas. The restaurant is rustic Oaxacan and sits within a bio reserve, dedicated to repairing environmental degradation.
Evening: The evening is yours to explore. We recommend grabbing your new sombrero and having a night on the town. Always tap your local host, or reference our curated guide with our favorite places to eat, drink, and shop. Watering holes for a deep dive into the world of mezcal, great local dives for cheap drinks and good music, or eclectic cocktail bars are all available.
*Day of the Dead trip: We'll stop at a cemetery as the sun starts to set to observe and participate in traditional Dia de Los Muertos celebrations. You're free to roam and explore the cemetery which will be filled with flowers, bright colors, candles, and offerings. We also invite you to grieve and celebrate your own lost loved ones as you reflect upon the commemorative traditions happening all around you.
Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 7
Morning: After breakfast, we’re exploring the colorful world of Teotitlan, a Zapotec community renowned for hand-made candles and textiles to visit true masters in action. Our first woman-owned taller (workshop, pronounced; ta’ier) creates one-of-a-kind tapetas (rugs) that cannot be replicated. Her workshop also boasts a rooftop with views of cypress trees and the green valley below alongside traditional Zapotec ovens. Find the textile that speaks to you, and enjoy a multi-course Zapotec meal, including fresh juices, a variety of tamales, stuffed peppers, and mole.
Afternoon: After lunch and textiles, we’ll be visiting another master artisan who specializes in candles with a long and romantic history. These candles, often used in public special events, are hand-crafted, taking upwards of four months to make. Their colors stem from nature, from the beeswax to the natural color pigments. Thanks to these enduring masters, the candles are still here to make occasions that much more special.
After our final visit, the rest of the afternoon is yours to explore the town square or visit more shops. One building that will surely stand out is the stunning Museo Comunitario designed by Productora. It is an architectural marvel in its own right and houses some of the best examples of Oaxacan textiles and their history.
*Day of the Dead trip: The Zapotec community in Teotitlan has a rich history of practicing mysticism. We'll have a special opportunity to discover how mystic Dia de Los Muertos celebrations differ from more traditional practices as we're welcomed into the home of a local family. Ornate altars made of flowers, candles, and the departed's favorite food and drink can be found inside the home during this time of the year. After making our contributions to the alter, we'll visit a church in town to see how the holiday is observed through yet another lens.
Evening: Tonight, we dine at one of the city’s most exciting venues, a female-owned restaurant with a menu that’s inspired by the culinary traditions of a remote mountain village in the state of Oaxaca. Feast on smoky vegetables, edible flowers, native greens, and sweet tortillas, and try ancestral beverages such as ticunchi and papalometl agave. Enjoy your last taste of Oaxacan cuisine as you toast to the end of a brilliant week with your new friends.
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 8
Depart: Oaxaca inspired by the craft that goes into all things, having learned from the maestros who know how to leave an impressionable mark in the modern world.
Meals Included: Breakfast