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 had the privilege of leading a sold-out TravelCircle to this vibrant destination for Day of the Dead in 2024, and it was such an unforgettable experience that I knew we had to offer it again! This time, my amazing friend J’Leen will be hosting the trip, as I’ll be leading another incredible journey to Nepal at the same time. You can read more about J’Leen below, but if you’re looking for a deeply meaningful adventure in one of Mexico’s most colorful and charming towns, during one of the most iconic cultural celebrations, we’d love to have you join this group!
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:
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Lots of intentional conversations and learning opportunities with locals to hear about their history, their city, and their life
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Building our own altars for those we want to honor
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A day trip to Villa de Etla
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Lots of local markets and shopping
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A ceremony with a local curandera (a local healer)
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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
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A late-night visit to the local cemetery
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A day trip to Teotitlán for crafts and textiles (great gifts to bring home!)
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Lots of local festivities, including exploring altars as works of art and spirituality
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A cooking class that starts in the market and ends with us eating some of the most famous dishes and local ingredients
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Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Monte Albán—one of the earliest cities of Mesoamerica
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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!!!
MEET YOUR HOST:
Dr. J’Leen Saeger is leading trips to some of the most popular TravelCircle destinations, giving an extra opportunity for women to go on a trip that filled up the first time! As one of Shasta’s closest friends, J’Leen is intimately familiar with her work on relationships and connection, and she brings that same intentionality to every trip she hosts. A Senior lecturer at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, and an avid world traveler, J’Leen exudes joy, gratitude, and a genuine passion for helping people feel seen and supported. Her sense of humor and fun, loving spirit infuse every journey with joy and laughter, making each trip as memorable as it is meaningful.
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
YOUR TRAVELCIRCLE COMMITMENT:
Hey beautiful traveler! Before you pack your bags and your big, brave heart, here’s what you’re saying yes to when you say yes to a TravelCircle adventure. These trips are magic — but they only work when we’re all on the same page about how we show up for ourselves, each other, and the journey.
Think of this as your warm, heartfelt handshake with the circle: I’m in!
Physical Expectations
Our trips aren’t boot camps — but they are active adventures.
You can expect:
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Standing for up to an hour or two on guided tours.
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Walking several miles at a comfortable pace — think city streets, cobblestone alleys, or short scenic trails.
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Climbing in and out of buses, boats, or local transport.
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Weather that might include sun, heat, wind, rain, or all of the above in one day.
If your body’s ready and able to keep up with these activities — wonderful! If you need accommodations or aren’t sure, let’s chat before you book so we can help you decide if this is the right fit.
Relational Expectations
We don’t just travel to see the world — we travel to see each other.
TravelCircles are built on connection. We believe that the real souvenirs are the friendships we carry home. So while you don’t have to become everyone’s new BFF, you do need to come ready to:
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Share stories, laughter, meals — and maybe a tear or two.
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Be open to conversation and curiosity.
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Respect everyone’s space, while also leaning in to connect.
If you’d rather travel solo or keep to yourself, that’s totally valid — but this probably isn’t the right circle for you. We’re here to build memories together.
Travel Style Expectations
We are not Rick Steves. We are not Rhodes Scholars. We don’t run the same cookie-cutter itinerary for the 84th time this season. We are TravelCircles: we craft one-of-a-kind trips with unique experiences, local surprises, and beautiful detours. This means:
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Flexibility is our secret sauce. Plans might shift. A street festival might pop up. A local might invite us into their garden for tea. We’ll say yes! when it feels right.
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We’re organized and intentional — but not rigid.
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If you need every moment to run like clockwork… you might find us a little too delightfully spontaneous.
We promise you’ll feel taken care of — just pack your flexibility along with your passport!
Attitude & Energy Expectations
Here’s the truth: we can plan the most beautiful itinerary in the world — but how we travel together has the greatest impact on whether this becomes one of the best trips of your life… or just another getaway.
Travel is full of surprises — a sudden downpour, a late bus, a menu that’s not quite what we expected. Things won’t always go perfectly (that’s part of the adventure!). But how each of us responds? That’s the magic-maker or the deal-breaker. Our travelers tell us, time and again, that the quickest way to drain the joy from a group is complaining. So in this circle, we:
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Catch ourselves before we slip into constant grumbling.
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Pivot to curiosity, flexibility, or humor instead — together.
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Remember we’re all co-creating this vibe: every kindness, every laugh, every “let’s roll with it” makes the trip brighter for everyone.
If you know you like to process by venting, or tend to dwell on the hiccups — that’s human, but this might not be the best match for that style. We don’t do perfection. We do presence, perspective, and shared adventure.
Our attitude is the secret ingredient — let’s protect it together.
Ready to Circle Up?
If you’re reading this and thinking yes, yes, yes! — welcome in! We can’t wait to explore, connect, and create memories that last a lifetime.
Got questions? Let’s chat — we want you to feel excited and clear before you commit.
Your next adventure — and your next circle — is waiting. ✈️💛✨