Day of the Dead Odyssey October 28 – November 4th, 2026

Día de los Muertos Tour

from Morelia, Michoácan, México

Experience the Traditional Indigenous “Día de los Muertos”

The license plate of cars from Michoacán says “La Alma de Mexico,” which means “The Soul of Mexico.“ And it is true: the crafts, the traditions, the beauty of the state of Michoacán embody the essence of the many- faceted nation on our southern border. We offer this trip as a way for adventurous Northerners to experience the culture of our neighbor to the south, particularly at this time of year when the traditions are so rich and layered during the days of Día de los Muertos.

We explore different towns and villages and experience unique cultural traditions. This trip follows the Monarch Migration as they arrive in time for the Day of the Dead. We’ve also included time to meet local people, time to swim, to sample delicious Mexican cooking, time to visit the major historical sites of Michoacán. All this while being warmed by the Mexican sunshine. Come join us on this late autumn adventure. Experience the beauty and profound cultural traditions of our southerly neighbors. In 2008, the tradition was inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

HIGHLIGHTS

This trip explores the magical state of Michoacán and includes visits to three of the Pueblo Magicos located there. We’ll start out in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Morelia and from there head to Pueblo Magico Santa Clara del Cobre. We’ll stay at a private house rental on the island of Yunuen. This is our base as we explore the Pueblo Magicos of Tzintzuntzan and Patzcuaro along with exploration of the villages surrounding Lake Patzcuaro and the variety of traditions that they practice on this day. We return to the colonial city of Morelia. This is a special time to be in Mexico and experience the Day of the Dead, make new friends and enjoy the tastes, sounds and sunshine of central Mexico.

Day of the Dead

October 28th – November 4th, 2026

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 – October 27th – Arrival Fly to Morelia International Airport (MLM) and stay in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico at the Hotel Casino Morelia across from the Plaza de Armas in the heart of the colonial center. The next day we’ll see the harvest of Marigolds from the fields surrounding Morelia in a feast of colors and scents.
Day 2 – October 28th – Apertura After we harvest MARIGOLDS in the fields surrounding Morelia we’ll have our Opening celebration at the pyramid of Tres Cerritos to welcome our ancestors and the Monarch butterflies on their migration to México to mark the beginning of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Michoacán. In the evening we’ll view the movie COCO together.
Day 3 – October 29th – Explore the Pueblo Magico Santa Clara del Cobre where we’ll explore the artisans in copper unique to this area and observe a workshop where we can learn and practice the process. We spend the night at the HACIENDA DE LA CRUZ.
Day 4 – October 30th – This 400 year old Hacienda de la Cruz is a peaceful oasis surrounded by lush pine forests. We’ll take a hiking in the forest and learn about the reforestation projects that are taking place at thier local nursery to benefit the Monarch sanctuaries.
Day 5 – October 31st – Experience the view at el Mirador del Estribo where we’ll have an overview of Lake Patzcuaro on our way to the Zona Arqueológica de Ihuatzio and spend the remainder of the day with lunch in the Pueblo Magico of Patzcuaro which holds a city-wide artisans market over the holiday. We’ll spend the night at our Lake Yunuen guest house.
Day 6 – November 1st – Participate in the traditional Day of the Dead celebration in Tzintzuntzan that starts with the annual procession to the Ex-Convento de Santa Ana and continues on to the cemetery. Be prepared for a long day. The traditional celebration starts early. For the families that have lost a loved one, they create an arch with photographs and traditional foods. They are joined by a brass band that leads them around the town to remember the loved one on thier final journey. The procession to the Ex-Convento takes place at sunset and then we march to the cemetery amid a cacophony of sights and sounds. We’ll head back to our island retreat around 10pm.
When we return to the island of YUNUEN we’ll view the traditional celebration at the cemetery on this island that observes the tradition from midnight to 8am
Day 7 – November 2nd – Photograph as we explore the traditional villages surround Lake Patzcuaro from Quiroga to Santa Fe de Laguna which the home of Mama Coco and the inspiration for the movie COCO. We’ll continue our excursion around the lake visiting traditional cemeteries and churchs on this special day taking in the colors, sights, sounds and flavors.
Day 8 – Clausura/Closing we’ll leave the island of Pacanda and stop in the historic town of Capula where the Catrina statuary was created during thier “Festival de la Catrina”.
Dinner at Hotel de La Soledad and closing celebration at Hotel Casino
Day 9 – Departure from Morelia International Airport (MLM)

DATES, PRICES & INFORMATION

Group size limited to 10. Register now!

$3249 per person (double occupancy) see booking form for payment options!

Select the Book Now button to begin the booking process or request additional information about this trip. You will not be charged.

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Airfare not included.

Price includes accommodations and breakfast and all transportation to and from your starting point, along with admission to all attractions.

All other meals are at the travelers expense and we recommend that you plan on spending around 500 USD on food, incidentals, souvenirs and tips during the trip. Travel insurance is required.

TESTIMONIALS

I traveled from Minnesota with a group of friends to attend the Day of the Dead tour. Having spent significant time in Mexico visiting my in-laws near Guadalajara, this trip has long been on my bucket list—especially after seeing the movie Coco.

I feel very fortunate that my neighbor found this tour. Our hosts—James, Patti, and Adrian—were truly amazing. As “super hosts,” they went above and beyond to ensure we had a memorable experience and made us feel like part of the family.

The first three days featured wonderful day trips from wonderful hotels, homes, and cottages. Building a memorial to our loved ones at the Pyramids of Alsatian was a highlight. I also loved visiting the nurseries to see the spectacular displays of flowers used for the altars and meeting the growers.

The time spent in the beautiful towns, visiting markets, and seeing the Catrinas was simply magical. Being in Tzintzuntzan to watch the preparations for the Day of the Dead procession was incredible, and visiting the cemetery at night was a major highlight. I was moved by the beauty and love designed into each of the altars. Our tour concluded perfectly in the city of Morelia with a fireworks display.

My main takeaways were a deeper understanding of the symbolism of the monarch butterfly and the beautiful tradition of honoring family through these festivals.

While I know there are other tours available, the special care and concern shown by James, Patti, and Adrian made this experience extra special. – Pam Solstad – Minneapolis, MN