Experience the Magic
Day 1 | Arrive & Welcome
Touch down in Oaxaca and make your way into the center of town with a private airport transfer. Settle into our charming, family-owned boutique hotel in the heart of town. In the evening, we’ll gather for a warm welcome dinner, sharing our stories and excitement for the journey ahead.
Rest well - adventure begins tomorrow!
Day 2 | Strolling Through History
Step into the rhythm of Oaxaca while we wind our way through its historic streets. Explore the grand cathedral, bustling main square, and lively markets. Enjoy a local market lunch and take the afternoon to discover art galleries, museums, or a traditional chocolate shop where you can watch cacao transform into rich Oaxacan chocolate. This is a relaxed day filled with vibrant sights, sounds, and flavors.
Day 3 | Indigenous Healing Experience
Today we journey to one of Oaxaca’s Pueblos Mágicos, a village known for its traditional healers and indigenous medicine clinic. You’ll have the opportunity to receive a personalized massage tailored to your physical and energetic needs, participate in a traditional limpía (energy cleansing ceremony), and experience a temazcal (sweat lodge) infused with native herbs and ancestral wisdom. All healing experiences are entirely optional, and you’re encouraged to choose what feels aligned for you. The village also offers a peaceful park shaded by ancient juniper trees — perfect for rest and reflection.
Day 4 | Farm-to-Table Cooking
After a relaxed morning exploring the city’s iconic sites, markets, and vibrant street art, we head just outside Oaxaca to a family-owned farm for a traditional cooking experience. Together, we’ll learn the art of handmade tortillas, mole and chocolate from scratch, and a variety of fresh salsas. We’ll also taste the family’s award-winning Oaxacan cheese, for which they are very proud. We’ll feast, sip, and savor before returning to the city — bellies full and kitchen skills newly honed.
Day 5 | Mitla, Altar Building & Weaving Village
This morning, our guides take us to the historic town of Mitla. After a traditional breakfast, we’ll wander the Zapotec/Aztec ruins in the heart of town, known for their intricate geometric stonework. We’ll then visit a local family who are caretakers of one of the only traditional Zapotec Día de los Muertos altars, where we’ll help begin the seasonal decorations and learn about the meaning behind this sacred tradition from the patriarch who is also famous for his antiques collections. The journey continues to visit a family of weavers and healers, where we’ll explore the plants used for natural dyes in rug making and traditional medicine. We’ll observe the family at their looms as hand-dyed yarns are woven into intricate works of art, with the opportunity to purchase rugs and other creations directly from the artisans.
Day 6 | Water, Mezcal & Remembrance
We begin with a scenic drive to a breathtaking natural swimming site, where mineral-rich waters and sweeping valley views invite deep relaxation. Float, soak, and take in the stillness — birds gliding overhead, not a powerline in sight.
When we’re ready to leave this magical place, we stop for a traditional countryside lunch and mezcal tasting hosted by one of the region’s few female mezcal producers — a former member of the Mexican legislature and a true pioneer in her field.
After returning to the city for rest, we venture out in the evening to experience a cemetery illuminated with life, colors, and remembrance — a powerful and beautiful Día de los Muertos celebration.
Day 7 | The Muerteada,
Today, families gather in their homes to honor and celebrate loved ones who have passed. We’re invited to add our own photos to the altar at our guesthouse, allowing us to participate in and learn from this deeply meaningful ritual.
This is a beautiful day to slow down — wander through art-filled streets, discover performances and main square celebrations, and rest in preparation for the evening ahead. After dinner together, we’re chauffeured to a nearby town to take part in vibrant street celebrations and fully immerse ourselves in the spirit of Día de los Muertos. It may be a late night, but tomorrow we’ll sleep in and savor all the beauty we’ve experienced together.
Day 8 | Integration & Reflection
Today is yours — a final opportunity to rest, reflect, explore, shop, or revisit anything you’ve yet to see or savor.
In the evening, we’ll gather for one last dinner together, sharing what this journey has meant to each of us and to the group as a whole. It’s a night filled with stories, gratitude, and a deepened love for this culture, its people, and one another.
Day 9 | Until Next Time
With hearts full, memories, and new friendships made, it’s time to say hasta luego.
Private airport transfers will be provided for a smooth departure.
A more detailed itinerary will be shared before we travel..
For any questions, please use the contact form at the bottom of each page to set up a call with Nicole. I look forward to sharing my excitement for this journey with you!
Why Día de los Muertos?
Día de los Muertos is one of the most extraordinary times to visit Mexico -especially Oaxaca. People from around the world and across Mexico gather here to experience the city’s vibrant energy, deep-rooted traditions, and breathtaking celebrations.
Loss is a universal part of life, and grief can be difficult to navigate. Honoring loved ones who have passed, through remembrance, ritual, and celebration, is a powerful way to find healing. The traditions of Día de los Muertos offer a unique perspective on life and death, one that transforms sorrow into a beautiful and meaningful tribute to the spirits that continue to live within us.
What makes this journey different is relationship. We are welcomed into homes, workshops, and traditions through long-standing local connections. We travel slowly. We listen. We participate with care. This is cultural immersion rooted in reciprocity. This is so much more than a "trip", because Oaxaca has so much to offer, you will truly get a taste of what is so special about this land and it's people. You will go home with many unforgettable memories, laughter, and a rested mind.
Investment
*Please note that there are only two rooms left for this journey. They are each off the garden — this can be for a solo traveler or a couple.
Each guest room is a private single, with the exception of one shared room, and has its own unique character, artistry, and private en suite bathroom. Beds are either queen or king, designed for deep rest after full days of exploration.
Several rooms are garden level, one features a balcony overlooking the courtyard, and one rooftop room offers sweeping cathedral views. There is also a spacious double-queen room intended for two women traveling together.
After your deposit is received, you’ll have the opportunity to select your room from a detailed list, should you wish to choose intentionally.
Price per person: $3,950 USD
Deposit: $1000 (non-refundable)
Registration: Let's have a call to make sure this trip is right for you
Must be paid IN FULL by September 15
Note: You must have a passport that is valid for 6 months from your date of arrival in Mexico
Payment Plans: Monthly installment plans are available, with full payment due by September 15. Plans are arranged after your deposit is received.
$50 from each traveler will be donated to the ACLU’s Fight for Immigrants’ Rights initiative. Travel is a privilege, and supporting these communities within the United States, whose cultures we are honored to experience, is deeply important to Kismet.
What's Included:
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small group curated experiences mentioned in itinerary
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boutique hotel accommodations
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daily breakfast at our beautiful hotel
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5 guided day/evening trips with ground transportation
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gratuities for our hotel staff
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3 dinners, 5 lunches plus non alcoholic drinks
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a printed list upon arrival of options to explore restaurants, markets, museums, etc beyond the group itinerary
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if you wish, please bring photos of loved ones who have passed on to place on the altar at our hotel, or you can email photos to me and they will be printed for you in Oaxaca
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a pre-trip group call to meet and get excited together, ask questions and form a What's App text thread
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Donation to ACLU
What's Not Included:
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airfare
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travel insurance (proof needed within 21 days of deposit - recommendations available)
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any meals not mentioned in itinerary
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alcoholic beverages (with the exception of the cooking class and guided day where mezcal and beer are provided - always optional, of course)
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extras (purchases, entry fees beyond guided days, etc)
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incidental expenses
How to Book:
Kismet trips are intimate curated groups of 6-10 women. Each trip begins with a conversation. I want to understand what you desire — connection, culture, rest, expansion — and make sure this experience feels aligned. If you feel called to Oaxaca, fill out the contact form below and we’ll set up a time to connect.
Once you decide to join us, payments are processed through secure Stripe invoicing. A non-refundable deposit secures your spot. Bank transfers are accepted without an additional fee. Credit cards incur a 3% processing fee for US cards and 6% for international cards. This trip requires a minimum of 5 guests.
I look forward to connecting with you.
*Stay tuned for future destinations and let me know if there is somewhere in particular that you have been dreaming of experiencing!
"To roam the roads of lands remote, to travel is to live."
~ Hans Christian Andersen