Sample Tour Schedule

Pátzcuaro and the surrounding lake area have one of the best-known Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico. Markets catering to Day of the Dead festivities abound in all of Michoacan but the best of what is to be had is in the market in the main plaza of Pátzcuaro, in part because there is one of the major crafts competitions of the year.

Day of the Dead is celebrated very intensely in all the towns and villages around Lake Pátzcuaro. Preparations include major cleaning and repair of the local cemeteries and the creation of flowered arches for gates of the atriums of local churches. These are made with a flower called cempasúchil, related to the chrysanthemum.

In the early morning of November 1, the “velación de la angelitos” (wake for the little angels) to honor children who have died during the previous year. This is usually done in the local cemeteries. During this day also is an event called the “teruscan,” in which children run around town “stealing” ears of corn, squash and chayotes from the roofs of neighbors’ houses. The stolen food is brought to the community center to be cooked to feed the community.

Festivities continue to midnight on November 2, which begins the “velación de los difuntos” (wake for the deceased) when again the towns gather in local cemeteries. This time men remain outside. Women and children enter to lay offerings of flowers and food, generally laid on embroidered napkins. Then prayers and chants are recited. For this reason Day of the Dead is usually referred to in Pátzcuaro as Night of the Dead. When daylight comes, a collection of food is taken for the parish priest and most people go to mass.

A parallel event in Pátzcuaro and other towns in Michoacan is the Festival Cultural de la Muerte. Since 1993, this event has been held to exhibit paintings, photographs, film, dance, crafts and altars that are created for this day. Canoeing competitions on the lake are popular, as well as “torneos de calavaeras”(tournaments of skulls) which are satirical poetry contests with the theme of death and black humor. This festival takes place from 27 October to 2 November.

There is a legend related to the Day of the Dead here about two Tarascan nobles, the princess Mintzita and the prince Itzihuapa. They were in love but unable to unite in part because of the arrival of the Spanish to Michoacán. Princess Mintzita offered the Spanish the treasure that was hidden at the bottom of Lake Patzcuaro for the release of her father. Itzihuapa himself offered to go and get it, but when he did, he was captured by the twenty ghosts that guard treasure, becoming the 21st guardian. This broke Mintzita’s heart. However, this occurred on the night that these guardian ghosts come back to life for one night and the two lovers were able to spend time together until daylight.

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Our tours are rather active, and are greatly enjoyed! In Oaxaca, for instance, we may do some of the following:

We will of course also visit the local ANIMAL CARVERS, including visits to Jacobo Angeles, Isodoro Cruz, Jose Hernandez, Manuel Jiminez, and many others, too!

In TEOTITLAN DEL VALLE there will be a demonstration of wool and mohair hand weaving. We will also learn how natural dyes from the region are used to create incredible colors.

ORCHIDS are the order of the day when we visit a site with 600 of the 700 varieties indigenous to Oaxaca.

POTTERY production is delightful and unique in the Oaxaca valley. Our presentation includes visits to 6 different production areas, such as Ocotlan, Atzompa & San Bartolo. Artists visited include Josefina & Guillermina Aguilar.

SAN MAGOTE, ETLA is the oldest site of Zapotec civilization. We will also visit the last pre-Columbian site of MITLA. We have an excellent guide, and we will also view the museums, and local cotton weaving markets.

CANDLE MAKING is the ancient art of creating large, decorated beeswax candles, used in weddings and local celebrations.

69 PIPE ORGANS have been recovered to date in Oaxaca valley's churches. We are very fortunate to have a private concert played in a 500-year old church in the pueblo of Tlacochahuaya
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Rates are based on double occupancy, but there are 2 single rooms available for people with medical restrictions. Our price includes lodging, all meals (except a few which are taken at local restaurants), all admission fees, and all local, ground transportation. The price does not include travel insurance or airfare to Oaxaca and back, but please contact us and we will help you with obtaining a flight at reasonable rates.


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Wild Wood Tours (referred to as Operator) acts only as agent for tour members in regard to hotel accommodations, restaurants, meals and services, sightseeing tours and transportation of whatever nature. Operator assumes no responsibility or liability in connection with the services of any of these companies or their servants. By acceptance of tour membership, tour member agrees to the foregoing and also agrees that Operator shall not become liable for any loss, damage, injury or inconvenience caused by or resulting from occurrences, negligent or otherwise, due to the malfunction of transportation equipment, strikes, acts of God, war or civil strife, delays, fire, theft, itinerary changes, or cancellation of services by suppliers.

Refund Policy: 100% refund if we cancel the tour.
$300 deposit is non-refundable. Other payments may be refundable up to 60 days before the day of departure.
Receipt of deposit assures your space, and is your agreement to fulfill the financial (contractual) obligations of the trip. We cannot reimburse expenses if you fail to appear for the tour, without notification 60 days or more in advance. We do recommend that you take out trip insurance in the event that sickness or other personal obligations prevent you from participating.

Our price includes:

Hotel accommodations
Transportation to & from our activities
Guide(s) to introduce you into our artists' worlds
All meals including those at restauarants (where the alcoholic beverages are NOT included in the price)
Translation services as needed during the activity times
Transportation to and from the Airport in Oaxaca City, if you arrive and leave on first & last days of the tour
Meals at our villa (most breakfasts and suppers eaten in, plus brown bag lunches as needed)
We can help to arrange your flights to and from Oaxaca, but airfare is not included in our price.

What our fees do not include:

Airfare to and from Mexico
Transportation to and from your airport at point of departure
Any alcoholic beverages at restaurants(including scheduled & unscheduled meals, snacks and/or beverages)
Personal shopping, incidentals, & souvenirs
Telephone/internet fees
Anything not listed in our services above

Banks, ATMs and Exchange houses are readily available in Oaxaca City, but you may wish to change some money at the airport in Oaxaca or Mexico City when you first arrive.

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What to bring/wear:

The average temperature in Oaxaca in October is 75f to 55f.
Suggested items might include:


2 pairs of walking shoes—in case of rain
sweater or warm jacket
comfortable clothing not harmed by a little mud
Earplugs if you’re not used to country night noises
hat
sunscreen
waterless hand sanitizer
a large suitcase to bring things home (since the shipping prices will scare you)
film is more expensive in Mexico and can be older than rolls purchased in the states
atm machines are available and dollars can be used almost everywhere
Raincoat or poncho
insect repellent
spare socks

the villa offers laundry service


Dress comfortably (cotton): wear jeans or a comfortable skirt, and good walking shoes. Bring light rainwear. But even so, don't forget your sun-glasses, bathing suit and sun lotion! Nights can be cool so bring a lightweight sweater or jacket. Relax and bring a variety of clothes you don't care about.

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Past tours have been enormously successful. Read a few comments by past participants:

"This celebration [the Guelaguetza], which has been held for centuries, includes activities all over the city, but the events most eagerly awaited are the presentations of the dances... Music, colorful dress, enjoyable dances, and humor all join in this wonderful spectacle. It is an experience of a lifetime to be able to view this ancient traditional celebration." (Terry Tannert, of Mexicarte Museum, Austin, and of Austin Friends of Folk Art)

"The Guelagutaza trip is the best tour I have ever been on."

Joan + David: I enjoyed my visit to Oaxaca and congratulate both of you for your patience, organization, and safe & excellent driving skills during our tours and visits in the Oaxaca area."
(May, 2005)

"You have put togeter THE ultimate, informative, exploratory, adventurous and thoroughly enjoyable trip to Oaxaca. Everything - the accomodations, the food, the planned events, the transportation, the constant courtesy, the relaxed schedule - all were close to perfect. Grade: A+. Never have I been on a tour with such experts in the field. Wonderful and exciting! And this specificaly includes Roque, the best birding expert guide I have had the pleasure of experiencing. Thank you for a memorable vacation!" (J.J., July 2005)

"It was excellent, Joan, I'd do it again!" (Jim R., July, 2005)