Citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and most European countries are allowed to enter Mexico without a visa for stays of less than 90 days. As a result, no preparations are needed and you do not need to obtain a tourist visa for this trip. Upon arrival in the country, the immigration officer will simply stamp your passport and you’ll be allowed to enter.
Airport Arrival
Please follow the below instructions upon arrival at the Oaxaca International Airport (OAX):
After exiting the plane, walk through the terminal building to the immigration inspection.
Once through immigration, follow the signs and go to the luggage area. Collect your luggage from the correct carousel and then pass through the customs inspection.
After you exit the baggage/customs area, you’ll enter the Arrivals Hall. Your driver will be waiting for you here with a sign that says that says “The Women’s Travel Tribe.”
If you are unable to find your driver, you can call your tour leader, Luna, at +34 722-380-929, or our local contact, Michael, at +52 415-111-1366
Please note: When arriving into Mexico, you are sometimes required to fill out a landing card or tell the immigration officer where you will be staying in Oaxaca. Here are the details:
La Catrina de Alcalá Hotel, C. Macedonio Alcalá 102, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, 68000, Oaxaca de Juárez
Arrival / Departure Airport
Please note that the arrival and departure airport for this tour is the Oaxaca International Airport (OAX) and your flight to/from Mexico should be for this airport only.
WhatsApp Group
We will set up a WhatsApp chat 2 weeks prior to the start of the tour that will include all of the participants as well as your tour leader. This will allow everyone to get to know each other in advance, ask questions and communicate with your guide both before and during the tour. It will be very useful for you to have WhatsApp available to you during the tour as this will be the main method of communication.
Tour Leader
The tour leader for your trip is Luna Rodriguez, a well-traveled guide who has led multiple tours across various destinations. She will be with you every step of the way, sharing her extensive knowledge and passion for travel. Luna will introduce herself and share more details when we create the group WhatsApp chat approximately 2 weeks before the tour.
*Our tour leader will be there to ensure the trip runs smoothly and our local guides are there to share the wonders of their country!
Local currency
The local currency in Mexico is the Mexican Peso (MXN). The current exchange rate is $1 USD = 18 MXN.
In terms of spending money, you should estimate an average of $20 – $25 USD per day for all of your needs. This would be for meals that are not included in the tour, basic purchases (laundry service, snacks, etc) as well as any activities you choose to do on your own.
As for exchanging money, the best method is via ATM machines which are everywhere in the country. This is the easiest so that you don’t need to carry around large amounts of cash.
However, check with your bank at home as some banks charge high foreign transaction fees every time you withdraw money overseas.
If using an ATM is not an option, or the fees are too high, simply bring USD, Euros or GBP to exchange at money exchange offices that are located all over the city.
*US dollars are not commonly accepted in Oaxaca. You must make purchases in the local currency.
*Credit cards are widely accepted at restaurants, cafes and shops in Oaxaca City. In local markets and more rural areas, cash is generally the main payment option.
Tipping
Tipping in Mexico is common and expected. Here’s a general guideline:
Restaurants – 10% – 15% if a service charge is not already added to the bill
Hotel staff – 20 MXN if someone helps you with luggage or anything else
Our drivers – At the end of the trip, we recommend that everyone gives a $20 USD tip for our driver. We will collect this on the last day and give it to our driver before we say goodbye
Tour leader – If you wish to tip your tour leader, they will always be greatly appreciative
*Tips for local guides and waitstaff at included meals are already included.
Staying Connected
Mexico has generally strong internet throughout the country and our hotel will have WiFi.
For those who wish to have a data connection on their phone throughout the tour, the easiest way will be to purchase an E-SIM before the trip, as this will allow you to stay connected from the moment you land at the airport.
We can also set up local SIM cards upon arrival for those who wish. Just make sure you have a GSM-enabled unlocked phone in order to use a foreign SIM card.
Another option is to activate your home network’s ‘international plan’ which will allow you to continue using your phone as you would at home, with access to a data connection, for a fee that usually ranges from $5 – $10 per day.
Itinerary
October 16th: Oaxaca / Arrival day
Airport transfers
Orientation meeting
Welcome dinner at one of the city’s excellent restaurants, diving into the deep flavors of Oaxaca’s famous food scene
➜ Accommodation: La Catrina de Alcalá ➜ Included meals: Dinner
October 17th: Oaxaca
Morning visit to the Oaxaca Textile Museum, where we’ll gain insight into the rich textile traditions of the region
Walking tour of Oaxaca’s old town on foot, including Santo Domingo and the Zocalo, as well as the bustling markets
Lunch at the famous “20 de Noviembre” market, where we’ll enjoy a wide array of traditional dishes
Visit to a one-of-a-kind art gallery and studio to meet a local artist and learn about his unique take on figurative expressionism
Group dinner featuring mole, a famous traditional Mexican sauce that originates from pre-Hispanic times
Optional mezcal tasting at the end the day
➜ Accommodation: La Catrina de Alcalá ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
October 18th: Oaxaca ➜ Teotitlán del Valle ➜ Tlacolula ➜ San Marcos Tlapazola ➜ Oaxaca
Morning drive to Teotitlan del Valle, a Zapotec village known for its naturally dyed rugs and beeswax candles
4-hour hands-on weaving workshop, where you’ll learn and try your hands on the basic Zapotec weaving techniques and natural dyes. You will also create a small woven piece using a manual loom
Lunch at the Tlacolula market
Quick visit to a mezcal producer to see how they craft this smoky liquor, as well as have a tasting
Finish at San Marcos Tlapazola, a community largely run by women who’ve formed a red-clay pottery cooperative, before returning to Oaxaca for the evening
➜ Accommodation: La Catrina de Alcalá ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
October 19th: Oaxaca
Dive into a lively market to grab some fresh ingredients
Head to the kitchen of a local chef who will guide us through the ins and outs of Oaxacan cuisine. We’ll learn how to cook tortillas from scratch, salsas, mole sauce, and more
Enjoy the delicious items we’ve cooked
Free time to roam through Oaxaca’s city center at leisure
Home-cooked meal with our friends
➜ Accommodation: La Catrina de Alcalá ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
October 20th:Oaxaca ➜San Martín Tilcajete ➜ Monte Albán ➜San Bartolo Coyotepec ➜Oaxaca
Morning visit to San Martín Tilcajete, a town that’s celebrated for its alebrijes, colorful folk art sculptures. Here, you’ll get the rare chance to paint your own alebrije
Continue to Monte Alban to learn about the abundant history and customs of the Zapotec civilization that once thrived here
Lunch at a scenic family farm just on the outskirts of Oaxaca
Finish at a village known for its unique, locally-crafted pottery as we make our way back to the city
➜ Accommodation: La Catrina de Alcalá ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
October 21st: Oaxaca ➜Hierve el Agua ➜ Mitla ➜Oaxaca
Morning home-cooked breakfast at a local family’s house
Continue to Hierve el Agua, a natural wonder featuring cliffside formations that look astonishingly like frozen waterfalls
Drive to the culturally rich town of Mitla to explore some of Oaxaca’s most significant archaeological sites, wander through a quaint market, and enjoy a tasty lunch
Farewell dinner
➜ Accommodation: La Catrina de Alcalá ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
October 22nd:Oaxaca ➜ Departure day
You will be picked up at the hotel by a driver who will take you to the airport for your departing flight
➜ Included meals: Breakfast
What’s Included?
Expert tour leader
Accommodation (6 nights – 4* hotel)
Breakfast every day, 5 lunches and 4 dinners
Transportation in Oaxaca (Private comfortable vans)
Local English-speaking guide throughout the trip
All mentioned activities and entrance fees
All airport transfers
What’s Not Included?
Flights to/from Oaxaca
Passport/visa fees
Meals and activities not mentioned
Travel insurance (mandatory)
Gratuities
That’s all for now! If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at team@wanderingearl.com.
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