Oaxaca Insider Journey

At the completion of every program Viva Tours Abroad allocates monies to be donated to community activism projects and non-profit organizations in need in Oaxaca. The participants of each tour collectively decides what cause or project will be the benefactor of the donation. We will facilitate follow-up progress reports to the cause/project that the participants choose to aid.

Where: Oaxaca city, Mexico
When: April-January
Duration: 8 days
Group Size:  8-10 participants or Self-guided
Price: $4,414

Overview

Authentic Travel Experience
This is an intimate curated adventure designed to take you behind the scenes with authenticity and style.

This tour offers a beautiful balance between structured off-the-beaten-path excursions and activities, and free time to explore the lovely city of Oaxaca on your own. You will visit the awe-inspiring pyramids, explore the ancient indigenous customs, and participate in artistic and cultural traditions of Oaxaca. Many of the activities are unavailable to the casual tourist. Dawn Feuerberg, founder of Aurora Adventures, has 25 years of experience traveling and living in Oaxaca and has successfully cultivated an exceptional local network of incredible people who are owners of the most sought after restaurants, famous artists, shamans, local artisans and other curated businesses. The entire experience is personal, intimate and one-of-a-kind.

 

Itinerary

Excursions

We have carefully selected the following excursions to help you discover the beauty and diversity of Oaxaca. No trip to Oaxaca would be complete without some time spent exploring a few of the region’s fascinating villages, and wandering through several of the area’s exotic native markets. Within a 50 kilometer (30 miles) radius of Oaxaca City are dozens of small towns, many of which specialize in a particular art tradition that has been passed down for generations.

Excursions List & Descriptions

All excursions are included
Click on each item below for a full description of each Excursion.

First we will visit Monte Alban, a massive complex of pyramids, terraces and crumbling temples that was founded in 500 A.D. This ancient ceremonial site is considered to be one of the most important examples of pre-Columbian culture in all of México.

  • 58
  • 80

55On our return from Monte Alban, we will visit a small village known for it’s sculptured pottery that many of its citizens produce. The muñecas, or figures, are fanciful and intricate. This type of pottery has become a unique and very collectible art form as well as a beautiful addition to any decor. You will be given a demonstration by world famous ceramist Irma Blanco.

38The first stop on this tour is the huge Mexican cypress tree at Santa María del Tule, a village about 14 kilometers east of Oaxaca. The Arbol del Tule is over 2,000 years old and measures 165 feet in circumference, and is about 15 stories tall. Some say that El Tule may be the largest tree in all of Latin America.

234The tour continues with a stop at an ancient indigenous market
founded around 1250 A.D. This pueblo’s Sunday market is one of Oaxaca’s biggest, oldest and most diverse. We also visit the main town church.

36The ruins at Mitla consist of
five “ruin clusters.”
Archaeologists speculate that some of the ruins were used for ceremonial and religious purposes while others were palaces for the elite. Unique to Mitla are the greca (fret) decorations found on ruin walls.

233On this excursion we will first visit a small Zapotec indigenous village known for it’s production of world famous colorful rugs. (tapetes).

  • 62
  • 231
  • 232
Nearly every home is filled with family members who card, spin and color wool, often using hand-gathered natural dyes.
59We will spend the afternoon visiting the homes of these Zapotec weavers and walking the cobblestone streets of this village nestled in the mountains of the central valley of Oaxaca. You will be treated to a traditional Zapotec meal before departing.

82This all day excursion first begins with a visit to a market town just south of Oaxaca City in the Central Valley. The town’s artisans are world famous for their black pottery (barro negro). You will then be treated to a beautiful lunch featuring one of the most famous dishes in Mexico, Chile en Nogada.64

65The last stop of the day will be at a small village known for its artisans that produce the fanciful wood carvings called Alebrijes. Participants of the program will have the opportunity to do an alebrije workshop and paint a wood “animalito”70

Activities & Classes

  • Oaxaca City Walking Tour
  • Visit to home gallery of world famous Oaxacan artist
  • Organic Farmer’s Market
  • La Mezcaleria ( Mezcal Tasting)
  •  Fair trade Shopping in local markets
  • Chef mole cooking classes

Location:

Oaxaca, Mexico
The city of Oaxaca (altitude 5070 ft.) is located in the heart of two verdant valleys and has an ideal Spring-like climate. Folk art, festivals and fascinating indigenous cultures make Oaxaca one of the most magical of Mexico’s many colonial cities. Zapotec and Mixtec ruins and traditional rural villages lie just a few miles from the beautifully preserved city center. Streets around the Plaza Principal, one of the prettiest public parks in all Mexico, have been closed to traffic and transformed into pedestrian malls. Colonial haciendas house excellent restaurants featuring world famous Oaxacan regional cuisine; some offer live music at nigh ranging from jazz to tropical. Oaxaca city with its hip cafés, art galleries, and live music scene, has a bohemian feel while maintaining its colonial charm and links to its pre-Hispanic past.

Highlights

Zapotec Temezcal with Elder Enriqueta Contreras

This tour Includes a rare opportunity to meet and learn from Master Zapotec healer, midwife & herbalist Enriqueta Contreras. We will visit with Enriqueta twice during our time in Oaxaca. One evening you will have the opportunity to experience a traditional Zapotec Temascal (wet steam bath). The afternoon following the Temascal ,Enriqueta will lead a workshop on women’s emotional, physical, & spiritual health.

Wet steam bathing has been a ritual part of Zapotec culture for 2,500 years. Doña Enriqueta’s traditional temascal (ritual sweat bath) is an experience never to forget. Enriqueta spends all day carefully preparing the ritual aspects, from stoking the fires, preparing the bathing and drinking teas, to creating the flowers/herbs for cleansing. You will have the option to experience the Temascal at the home and clinic of Doña Enriqueta. The actual wet steam bath is one hour and incorporates prayer, toning, singing, laughing & telling personal stories. There is a post-temascal resting space where time is provided for relaxation & meditation while enjoying restorative herbal teas.

About Enriqueta Contreras
Enriqueta is a highly respected and well known elder & healer of the Meso-American Zapotec indigenous people located in Oaxaca, Mexico. She is a descendant from a long line of Zapotec shamans that date back to 500 B.C. Enriqueta owns and operates a health clinic for her community and international visitors. Her history as a practicing midwife for more than sixty years has yielded a flawless career with no mother or infant ever lost during the birth process.

Accommodations

Charming Boutique Hotel

We will be staying in the heart of the colonial center of downtown Oaxaca in a beautiful boutique hotel. The hotel is within is steps away from many places of interest, parks, restaurants and cafes. And we have the entire hotel exclusively for our group.


Inclusions

What’s Included

(This is an all-inclusive tour with no hidden costs.)

  • 7 nights in charming boutique hotel in colonial downtown a with  delicious regional  breakfast daily
  • Welcoming ceremony and ritual with Spiritual Leader of Toltec Wisdom, Armando Cruz Sanchez
  • Entrance fees to archeological sites and museums
  • 4 Behind-the-scenes excursions with fully insured luxury transportation
  • 6 authentic & exquisite freshly prepared main meals.
  • “Temezcal” traditional Zapotec steam bath with Doña Enriqueta
  • Off the beaten path tours of Oaxaca City
  • Dynamic onsite director and guides
  • Transportation from Oaxacan Coast to Oaxaca City
  • Airport transfer to Oaxaca City Airport
  • Pre-departure Advising

What’s not included:

Airfare to and from Oaxaca, 4 meals, Guide gratuities, Excess baggage charges, Alcoholic beverages, Airport taxes and items of a personal nature such as souvenirs, laundry fees, immunizations or insurance of any kind.

Travel

If you are planning to travel with the group, contact us immediately to find out the specifics of the group flight. The sooner you make your reservation the more likely you will be able to travel with the group. Otherwise you may make other travel arrangements.

IMPORTANT NOTES

This program is based on a minimum of 12 participants. In the event that the program does not fill, the trip will be cancelled and any deposits and payments fees will be returned to the participants.

Safe & Secure Travel

Each program includes:

  • Insured, comfortable and air conditioned vehicles are provided for transportation in the host country.
  • Optional International Medical Travel Insurance for each participant.
  • Pre-departure advising
  • Pre-departure and onsite orientations
  • Risk Management & Crisis management plan

About Your Guide

Dawn Feuerberg (AKA Aurora in Spanish)

Owner and founder of Aurora Adventures, LLC.

Traveling for me is all about the connections. My ability to subtly bridge cross cultural connections between my travelers and the locals abroad is what sets me apart. At a very young age I began to travel on my own seeking out and connecting with the aboriginal, the indigenous and the authentic local life abroad. Often times finding myself being the only non-native in the region. My longstanding relationships abroad give my clients access into an enriching, in depth local experience. I am both well connected and extremely enthusiastic about sharing my access with others.

 

I value the genuine art of discovery travel for all ages. I create flexible itineraries within my tours that provide individuals the opportunity to make new discoveries. This tone of flexibility and openness in my approach to travel is equally matched with my attention to detail, my ability to multi-task and basically get the job done in a coherent, safe, comfortable and if desired, luxurious manner.

Read full bio…

Cost

All-inclusive Program Cost

$4,414. Payment in full
Oaxaca Insider Journey

Space Limited to 10

Register Now

 

Contact us at 805-540-1762 if you would like to pay personal check.

Click here to view our Cancellation Policy

or
CUSTOMIZE THIS TOUR!
You pick the dates, the pace, the focus, the budget…

Call No 805.540.1762Customize this Adventure

Reviews

This was more than a trip... where you see the sights and experience great food, meet great people… it was so much more than that... I brought home a renewed gratitude for all I have and all I have to offer... a beautiful journey!

Michelle Cobbs, Morro Bay, California

I was the senior woman (81 years Young) on this trip, and I signed up with some trepidation, but “not to worry.” For me, the trip was invigorating and very memorable. We interacted with the indigenous people during all the activities planned by our guide and mentor, Dawn, who clearly had our best interests and our safety as her constant priority. We were totally immersed in dancing, singing, yoga sessions, eating and learning. I will not forget that I was treated with love, kindness, consideration, and respect during the entire trip by Dawn, fellow lady-travelers, villagers, my niece and various merchants. Gracias!

Edie Juck, Pismo Beach, California

I am so glad I decided to join the group with my 2 daughters. It has been an incredible vacation. It gave us the opportunity to experience the local culture without the “Turista” feeling. The Many excursions offered are great; organized in a way that everybody feels relaxed, is not rushed, and has a lot of fun- Great, Great Program!!!”

Giovanna Pegolo, Pasadena, Ca. 2010 participant