Nestled in a high valley in southern Mexico, this UNESCO-recognized city is the birthplace of mole and a global center of chocolate, mezcal, and heirloom corn. Here, the foods of ancient Mesoamerica aren’t history lessons. They’re what people cook for dinner tonight, shaped by Zapotec and Mixtec traditions that have been passed down for thousands of years. This week is an invitation to go beyond the recipe and understand the people, land, and stories behind it. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for the foundations of Oaxacan cuisine, from the ancient partnership of corn, beans, and squash to the techniques that make a humble tortilla extraordinary.

This is travel for people who love to cook and want to understand where great food actually comes from. Instead of a checklist of tourist stops, you’ll meet the farmers, cooks, vendors, weavers, and artisans who keep these traditions alive, and bring home new techniques, new ingredients, and a deeper appreciation for the land behind the cuisine. Between hands-on classes, you’ll have time to explore at your own pace, with local bilingual experts guiding you throughout. It’s an intimate, immersive week designed for curious home cooks.

After breakfast at the guest house, head out into a small town on the outskirts of Oaxaca to discover the heart of Mexican cuisine. In San Agustín Yatareni, about 15-20 minutes from Oaxaca City, and enjoy an educational morning, centered on a local family’s traditional farming, including the milpa system of corn, beans, and squash grown together. 

Guests explore the fields and learn about the milpa, then cook with Doña Juana, making handmade tortillas and other corn-based dishes. Guests will learn about the process of nixtamalization, and ancient Mesoamerican process where dried corn kernels are cooked and steeped in an alkaline solution, increasing the bioavailability of the corn. Learn about the metate, an ancient tool still used today to grind corn.  

After your hands-on cooking class, enjoy your creations for lunch. Return back to Oaxaca city for an evening at leisure, with a new appreciation for the traditional Oaxacan connection between land and kitchen.

After breakfast at your guesthouse, head out early with a private guided visit to Monte Albán, the ancient Zapotec capital overlooking the Oaxaca Valley. Explore its temples, plazas, and tombs while learning about the region’s rich history and culture. After touring the ruins, stop for a quick bite at a local birria vendor to tide you over for the rest of the afternoon until lunch time.

Then, your driver will drop the group off at a local market, where you will meet a traditional Oaxacan home cook. She will guide you through a local market to shop for fresh, seasonal ingredients and to teach you how she selects the best produce for her dishes.

Then, head to her kitchen for a hands-on cooking experience with Pilar of Casa de las Bugambilias. Learn about the traditions and ingredients behind the dish, prepare a meal together, and enjoy the meal you’ve created for lunch.

The rest of the evening is at leisure to explore Oaxaca City at your own pace. 

Enjoy breakfast at your guest house, then head out to the traditional Zapotec village of Teotitlan del Valle. Situated about 19 miles west of the city, the village is world-renowned for its hand-woven wool rugs, tapestries, and other textiles crafted on traditional pedal-operated wooden looms. Take some time to explore their craft and learn about their traditional dying techniques - and purchase some beautiful pieces to take home. 

Later, visit the home of a local Zapotec family to learn more about their culinary traditions through a hands-on cooking class. After cooking, enjoy the meal with your group. What makes this experience extra special is the direct connection with a Zapotec family for a particularly beautiful cultural exchange, with a strong focus on learning directly from the family and understanding their connection to the land and their techniques passed down through generations. 

In the evening, return to Oaxaca for a night at leisure to explore at your own pace.

After breakfast, begin the day with a hands-on chocolate workshop, exploring Oaxaca’s cacao traditions and learning how chocolate is prepared, flavored, and enjoyed locally. You’ll leave the workshop with some chocolate to bring home.

Spend the afternoon at leisure, with time to browse local shops and galleries, revisit a favorite market, or simply relax and enjoy the city.

In the evening, celebrate your final night in Oaxaca with a memorable night out featuring great food, drinks, and live music. The venue will be selected based on what’s happening in the city during your stay.

After a final farewell breakfast with your travel companions, you’ll be transported to the airport according to your flight schedule.

Want to explore more of Mexico? Contact the trip manager Kelsey. As a dual citizen and 15-year resident of Mexico, please consider Kelsey as a resource for travel planning.

Kelsey Caballero
kelsey@vacationeeze.com
(215) 454-2069