Welcome! I’m so very glad you landed on this page and are considering this special trip. In general, every trip we lead is focused on two main experiences: the best sightseeing in the country and connecting with women.
Our love of sightseeing means an itinerary that is as full of local culture as we can fit into an intimate, fun, and experiential trip. We want to see everything that is well-known in that country, when we can, and we also want to make sure there are some small and special experiences that leave us touched and connected with that country in surprising ways! We want to see the “must-sees,” but it’s also crucial to us to get off the beaten track and really connect with locals and their lives. To support that, we want all of our travel to live up to the highest standards of sustainability and ethical travel, so we place special emphasis on meeting the locals, supporting their causes, and making sure we frequent their businesses/hotels/restaurants to ensure our money is reinvested back into those who live wherever we visit. Plus, we've got our eye on adding the "little things" that really make a trip feel special: making your own perfume scent at a perfumeria, visiting a local spa, arranging for beautiful walks and hikes, attending rooftop concerts, sampling artisan chocolate, etc.
And when it comes to connecting with women, every trip is first and foremost about us supporting and connecting with the other women in our group, but is also about us connecting with women in our destination country. We will have a female guide and put special emphasis on meeting local women—learning about the causes that most affect them, being inspired by the contributions they’re making in their communities, and hearing about what life is like for women in their country. To that end, we will inevitably visit a couple of nonprofits that serve women, shop at co-ops to buy handiwork made by women, and have opportunities to interview local women. Our hope is that you feel more connected to women around the world and also feel like you made new friends!
So if you love travel and want an incredibly special curated trip with a group of amazing women you're invited to join us! xoxo
I traveled through Mexico for two months last year and everywhere I went, I heard about Oaxaca (pronounced wa-ha-kah). Sad that my itinerary couldn’t take me there that time, I swore I’d return! Now, you not only have the chance to come with me, but we’re going at one of the most special times of the year: the Day of the Dead.
This area has been inhabited since 11,000 B.C., so the city itself and the Monte Albán archeological site are both designated UNESCO World Heritage sites. Nestled in a fertile valley over 5,000 feet above sea level, the terrain and climate were perfect for some of the region's earliest civilizations to excel in agriculture. (It’s believed that this is where corn, squash, and lots of other plants and vegetables were first domesticated.) But beyond its significance in history, Oaxaca is now considered the culinary and cultural capital of Mexico. Surrounded by towns and villages that each specialize in unique handicrafts (and we’re definitely going to visit some of them!) and filled with some of the region's most famous food (mole sauce, tamales, corn varietals you’ve never seen, tacos and tostadas galore, fresh herbs, squash blossom soup, chocolate, mezcal, and coffee!)—if you enjoy eating, markets, exploring, and shopping, this is your place!
And we’re going to be there for their biggest festival of the year: Día de los Muertos. While this famous holiday is celebrated throughout Mexico, the city of Oaxaca is the epicenter. While some believe during this holiday (which takes place over Halloween for us in the U.S.) that the deceased will return to visit their families and friends, others choose to see this holiday as a chance to honor and celebrate the lives of anyone who has passed. Whether you are drawn to come because you want to feel closer to someone who you've lost, or because you want to join in the celebrations and parades and parties, or because you want amazing photos and stories, or just because you’re curious and love seeing how different cultures celebrate their traditions—you are welcome!
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:
This 9-day/8-night trip to Oaxaca is unique in that we’re staying put in one place the entire trip! While we have lots of amazing day trips planned outside of the city, most of our focus will be on going deeper into this one location and really participating in the local experience! Here are some highlights from the itinerary:
-
Lots of intentional conversations and learning opportunities with locals to hear about their history, their city, and their life
-
Building our own altars for those we want to honor
-
A day trip to Villa de Etla
-
Lots of local markets and shopping
-
A ceremony with a local curandera (a local healer)
-
A coffee experience where we’ll learn about coffee and fair trade in Mexico (great gift to bring home!)
-
A visit to a local bakery to learn (and taste!) how pan de muerto is made and why it’s significant this time of year
-
A late-night visit to the local cemetery
-
A day trip to Teotitlán for crafts and textiles (great gifts to bring home!)
-
Lots of local festivities, including exploring altars as works of art and spirituality
-
A cooking class that starts in the market and ends with us eating some of the most famous dishes and local ingredients
-
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Monte Albán—one of the earliest cities of Mesoamerica
-
A chocolate workshop
-
Lots of amazing food—this region is paradise for food lovers and is easily known as the food capital of Mexico. Prepare to eat well!!!
We are a proud partner of Altruvistas, the socially responsible and philanthropic travel company that is organizing all our details. We are thrilled to have Malia and her team overseeing our trips to ensure that our itinerary is as authentic of an experience as possible while making sure that our money is spent in an eco and socially-conscious way. Malia and her team will work with you one-on-one to make sure you are all ready for our amazing adventures.
If you have questions about this trip, please email malia@altruvistas.com