9 Days • 8 Nights
Oaxaca & Chiapas: Crafts, Cuisine & Jungle Ruins
Tour Includes
About the Trip
Trip Highlights
- Beautiful Oaxaca, with its crafts, mezcal and legendary cuisine, is a captivating highlight of this journey. Oaxaca, a jewel of southern Mexico and a UNESCO World Heritage city, is one of the country's most beautiful and cultured places, a colonial town of golden stone, jacaranda trees and thriving indigenous traditions. You wander its markets piled with chillies, chocolate, cheese and crafts, sample its legendary cuisine, home of the seven moles and tlayudas, and its mezcal, admire the dazzling gilded church of Santo Domingo, and explore the galleries, craft shops and cafes of its lovely streets. The colour, culture and cuisine are captivating.
- The hilltop ruins of Monte Alban and the craft villages of the Oaxaca valleys are a spectacular highlight. Above Oaxaca rise the spectacular ruins of Monte Alban, the ancient Zapotec capital, magnificently set on a levelled mountaintop with sweeping views over three valleys, its great plaza flanked by pyramids, temples, tombs, a ball court and carved stelae. In the surrounding valleys, you visit the craft villages that make Oaxaca famous, watching weavers dye and weave woollen rugs, potters shape black clay, and artisans carve the brightly painted alebrije figures. The history and craftsmanship are captivating.
- The magnificent jungle ruins of Palenque are a spectacular and atmospheric highlight of this journey. Palenque, deep in the rainforest of Chiapas, is one of the most beautiful and evocative of all Maya cities, its exquisite temples and palace rising from emerald jungle wreathed in mist and birdsong. You explore the magnificent Temple of the Inscriptions, tomb of the great king Pakal, the sprawling Palace with its tower, and the elegant temples of the Cross group, as howler monkeys roar in the canopy and waterfalls tumble nearby. The beauty and atmosphere are magical.
- Misty highland San Cristobal de las Casas and its Maya villages are a captivating highlight. San Cristobal de las Casas, set high in the misty pine-clad mountains of Chiapas, is one of Mexico's most beautiful and atmospheric towns, a colonial gem of cobbled streets, pastel houses, colourful markets and a strong, living indigenous culture. You wander its lovely centre and markets, and visit the surrounding Tzotzil and Tzeltal Maya villages, such as San Juan Chamula, with its extraordinary church where Maya and Catholic ritual blend. The atmosphere and culture are captivating. Exploring misty highland San Cristobal de las Casas.
- Sailing through the towering walls of the Sumidero Canyon is a spectacular natural highlight. Near Tuxtla, the Sumidero Canyon is one of Mexico's great natural wonders, a colossal gorge whose sheer rock walls rise over a thousand metres from the Grijalva river. You sail through it by boat, gazing up at the towering cliffs, waterfalls and hanging vegetation, spotting crocodiles basking on the banks, herons, and troops of monkeys, an exhilarating and beautiful journey through a stupendous landscape. The scale and beauty are spectacular. Sailing by boat through the towering thousand-metre walls of the spectacular Sumidero Canyon, past waterfalls.
- Above all, this journey immerses you in the colourful, indigenous cultures and ancient wonders of the Mexican south. Oaxaca and Chiapas are the most colourful and culturally rich states in Mexico, and this journey immerses you in them. Over nine days you explore beautiful Oaxaca with its crafts, mezcal, cuisine and Monte Alban, the jungle ruins of Palenque, misty San Cristobal and its Maya villages, and the towering Sumidero Canyon, guided by expert local guides and warmed by indigenous Mexico. The combination of golden colonial cities, thriving crafts, extraordinary cuisine, jungle ruins and living Maya culture makes the south utterly captivating.
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 9-day journey.
Your journey through the colourful Mexican south begins as your flight arrives in beautiful Oaxaca, where you are met and transferred to your hotel in the heart of this UNESCO colonial gem. Oaxaca is one of Mexico's most beautiful and cultured cities, and its colour and warmth are felt at once. The city sits at altitude, so take it easy today, settling in and relaxing after your journey, perhaps taking a first stroll around the tree-shaded Zocalo, framed by cafes and colonial arcades. This evening, a welcome dinner introduces you to Oaxaca's legendary cuisine, home of the seven moles and mezcal, and to the rich journey ahead through Oaxaca, Palenque and highland Chiapas. As you settle in, the colour and warmth of the south work their magic. Rest well, ready to explore beautiful Oaxaca tomorrow.
Today you explore beautiful Oaxaca and its living culture. You wander its lovely historic centre, the tree-shaded Zocalo, the dazzling gilded church and monastery of Santo Domingo with its dazzling baroque interior and cultural museum, and the atmospheric streets lined with galleries and craft shops. You explore the bustling markets, from the Benito Juarez market to the smoky grilled-meat aisles of the 20 de Noviembre market, sampling chocolate, cheese, chapulines and the flavours of one of Mexico's greatest food cities. You may take a cooking class or a guided food walk. The colour, crafts and cuisine are captivating. As the day ends, you return to your hotel. This evening, savour a special Oaxacan tasting of its famous moles and mezcal. Rest well, for tomorrow you explore Monte Alban and the craft villages.
Today you explore the ancient ruins and craft villages of the Oaxaca valleys. You climb to the spectacular hilltop ruins of Monte Alban, the ancient Zapotec capital, magnificently set on a levelled mountaintop with sweeping views over three valleys, its great plaza flanked by pyramids, temples, tombs and carved stelae. Returning through the valleys, you visit the craft villages that make Oaxaca famous, watching weavers of Teotitlan dye and weave woollen rugs with natural colours, potters shaping black clay, and artisans carving brightly painted alebrijes, and you visit a palenque to see how mezcal is distilled from the agave and to taste it. The history and crafts are captivating. As the day ends, you return to Oaxaca. This evening, savour the city's atmosphere. Rest well, for tomorrow you fly to the jungle ruins of Palenque in Chiapas.
Today you journey to Chiapas and the magnificent jungle ruins of Palenque. You transfer to the airport and fly to Chiapas, then travel to Palenque, one of the most beautiful and evocative of all Maya cities, set deep in emerald rainforest. You explore its magnificent ruins in the afternoon light, the Temple of the Inscriptions, tomb of the great king Pakal, the sprawling Palace with its unique tower, and the elegant temples of the Cross group rising from the jungle, as howler monkeys roar in the canopy and mist drifts through the trees. The beauty and atmosphere are magical. As the day ends, you settle into your jungle lodge near Palenque, surrounded by rainforest. This evening, savour the sounds of the jungle and a relaxed dinner. Rest well amid the rainforest, having explored one of the loveliest Maya cities of Mexico.
Today you journey from the jungle into the misty highlands of Chiapas, past spectacular waterfalls. Leaving Palenque, you travel up into the mountains, stopping at the beautiful waterfalls of Agua Azul, where the river tumbles over travertine terraces in a series of dazzling turquoise cascades and pools amid the jungle, and the tall single fall of Misol-Ha, plunging into a jungle pool. You continue climbing through pine-clad mountains and Maya villages to San Cristobal de las Casas, set high in the cool highlands. The waterfalls and mountain scenery are beautiful. As the day ends, you settle into your hotel in atmospheric San Cristobal. This evening, savour the cool mountain air and the town's cosy restaurants and cafes. Rest well in beautiful San Cristobal, ready to explore the highland town and its Maya villages tomorrow.
Today you explore misty San Cristobal de las Casas and its surrounding Maya villages. You wander the town's beautiful centre, its cobbled streets, pastel houses, colourful markets, the cathedral and the hilltop churches with their sweeping views, and its lively craft and textile markets. You visit the nearby Tzotzil Maya village of San Juan Chamula, with its extraordinary church where Maya and Catholic ritual blend in a haze of candles, pine needles and copal incense, and perhaps the weaving village of Zinacantan, meeting the living Maya of the highlands. The atmosphere and culture are captivating. As the day ends, you return to San Cristobal. This evening, savour the town's cosy restaurants, Chiapas coffee and highland atmosphere. Rest well in beautiful San Cristobal, ready for the Sumidero Canyon tomorrow.
Today you enjoy a flexible day exploring more of highland Chiapas around San Cristobal. You might wander the town's markets, churches and museums at leisure, sipping local Chiapas coffee in its cosy cafes, or take an excursion into the beautiful surrounding highlands, to the turquoise cascades of El Chiflon, tumbling in a series of dazzling waterfalls, the jewel-coloured Montebello lakes amid pine forest near the Guatemalan border, or more of the Tzotzil Maya villages and their weaving cooperatives. This flexible day lets you savour the misty beauty and living culture of the highlands at your own pace. The scenery and culture are captivating. As the day ends, you return to atmospheric San Cristobal. This evening, savour the town's cosy restaurants, highland cuisine and cool mountain air. Rest well in beautiful San Cristobal, ready to sail through the Sumidero Canyon tomorrow.
Today you sail through the spectacular Sumidero Canyon on your way down from the highlands. You descend from San Cristobal towards Tuxtla, and board a boat to sail through the Sumidero Canyon, one of Mexico's great natural wonders, gazing up at its sheer rock walls rising over a thousand metres from the Grijalva river, past waterfalls, hanging vegetation and the famous Christmas Tree cascade, and spotting crocodiles basking on the banks, herons and monkeys. It is an exhilarating and beautiful journey through a stupendous gorge. The scale and beauty are spectacular. As the day ends, you settle into your hotel near Tuxtla. This evening, savour a relaxed dinner, reflecting on the colourful journey you have made through the Mexican south. Rest well, ready for your departure tomorrow, carrying warm memories of Oaxaca and Chiapas.
After a final morning in Chiapas, perhaps a last look at the markets or a relaxed breakfast, you are transferred to the airport at Tuxtla for your flight and onward departure. You leave having immersed yourself in the colourful, indigenous south of Mexico, beautiful Oaxaca with its crafts, mezcal, cuisine and Monte Alban, the magnificent jungle ruins of Palenque, misty San Cristobal and its Maya villages, and the towering Sumidero Canyon, all warmed by the warmth of indigenous Mexico. The images stay vivid long after you land, the golden church of Santo Domingo, the hilltop plaza of Monte Alban, the temples of Palenque rising from the jungle, the candlelit church of Chamula, and the sheer walls of the Sumidero Canyon. Oaxaca and Chiapas offer culture, cuisine, history and colour in abundance, and you depart already dreaming of a return to the captivating south of Mexico.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- 8 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner and an Oaxaca tasting
- Airport and land transfers in comfortable air-conditioned vehicles
- Touring and sightseeing as per itinerary with expert local guides
- Entrance fees to archaeological sites, museums and reserves as per itinerary
- private touring with expert local guides, an Oaxaca city, Monte Alban and craft villages tour, a mezcal tasting, an internal flight to Chiapas, a Palenque ruins tour, a San Cristobal and Maya villages tour, a Sumidero Canyon boat trip, and all entrance fees
Exclusions
- International airfare
- Visa or tourist card fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Some lunches and dinners not specified
- Optional cooking class, spa and tips for guides and drivers
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional excursions and experiences
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa & entry: Many nationalities (including the US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia and others) do not need a visa for tourist stays in Mexico of up to 180 days, receiving an entry permit on arrival; a passport valid for the length of your stay is required. Requirements can change, so we confirm the exact process for your nationality before travel
- Currency: The currency is the Mexican Peso (MXN); cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops in cities and resorts, but carry cash (pesos) for markets, small towns, taxis, tips and rural sites. ATMs are widely available; US dollars are sometimes accepted in tourist areas but pesos give better value
- Best time to visit: The dry season from November to April is ideal across most of Mexico, with warm, sunny days perfect for archaeological sites, colonial cities and beaches; the rainy season (roughly June to September) brings warm afternoon showers but green landscapes and fewer crowds. Day of the Dead (late October to early November) and whale season (December to April in Baja) are special highlights
- Language & etiquette: Spanish is the language, and English is widely spoken in tourism, resorts and cities; a few words of Spanish are warmly appreciated. Mexicans are famously warm, courteous and hospitable; politeness, patience and a friendly greeting go a long way, and tipping (around 10 to 15 percent) is customary in restaurants
- Getting around: Touring is by comfortable private air-conditioned vehicle with your guide or driver, with some internal flights on longer journeys (for example between Mexico City, Oaxaca, the Yucatan and Baja) to save time over long distances. Roads are generally good on the main tourist routes, and we handle all transport and logistics
- Health & safety: We use trusted local guides and carefully chosen hotels and routes, and follow official guidance; the classic tourist regions covered here are well established and welcoming. Drink bottled or purified water, use sun protection and stay hydrated in the heat, and take the usual sensible precautions with valuables in busy markets and cities
- Altitude & climate: Mexico City, Oaxaca, San Cristobal and the central highlands sit at high altitude (Mexico City is around 2,240m), so take it easy on arrival and stay hydrated; days are warm and evenings can be cool, so bring layers. The Yucatan, Riviera Maya and coasts are hot and humid year-round, so pack light, breathable clothing
- Power & connectivity: Power is 120V with US-style flat type A and B plugs, so travellers from Europe and elsewhere should bring an adapter. Mobile coverage and wifi are good in cities and resorts. Bring sun protection, insect repellent, comfortable walking shoes for the sites, and modest cover for churches
Frequently Asked Questions
Why visit Oaxaca and Chiapas together?
Oaxaca and Chiapas are the two most colourful, indigenous and culturally rich states in Mexico, and together they offer an extraordinary journey, from the crafts, mezcal, cuisine and Zapotec ruins of Oaxaca to the jungle Maya city of Palenque, the misty highland town of San Cristobal with its living Maya culture, and the towering Sumidero Canyon. A short internal flight links them easily. It is one of the most rewarding cultural journeys in Mexico, rich in living traditions, ancient wonders and superb food.
Is the food really as good as they say in Oaxaca?
Oaxaca is widely considered the culinary capital of Mexico, famous for its seven varieties of mole, its tlayudas, string cheese, chocolate, chapulines (toasted grasshoppers) and, above all, its mezcal, distilled from agave in village palenques. We include a special tasting and can arrange a cooking class or a guided market and food walk. From bustling markets to refined restaurants, the cuisine of Oaxaca is a highlight of any visit, and one of the great food experiences in the world.
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included, along with any meals named in the itinerary (typically a welcome dinner and some special meals such as a tasting in Oaxaca or a beachside dinner). Mexican cuisine is one of the world's greatest, from the moles and tlayudas of Oaxaca and the cochinita pibil of the Yucatan to street tacos, fresh seafood, mezcal and tequila, and we usually leave meals free so you can explore, recommending the best local restaurants, markets and cantinas at every stage of your journey.
Are the tours private or in a group?
Your journey is private by default, with your own expert local guides and comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, giving you flexibility, depth and a pace tailored to you; small-group options can be arranged if you prefer. Mexico's knowledgeable guides bring the pyramids, colonial cities, markets, cuisine and rich living culture vividly to life, greatly enriching every visit to the ruins, museums, cenotes and towns along the way.
Do I need a visa for Mexico?
Many nationalities, including the US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia and others, do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 180 days, receiving an entry permit on arrival. We confirm the exact, current requirements for your nationality and advise on the best option, so entry is smooth. A passport valid for the length of your stay is required, and we send full guidance before you travel.
Is Mexico safe to visit?
The classic tourist regions covered on our journeys, Mexico City's historic centre, the Yucatan and Riviera Maya, Oaxaca, Chiapas, the colonial highlands and Baja, are well established, welcoming and visited by millions each year. We use trusted local guides, carefully chosen hotels and sensible routes, monitor conditions and follow official guidance. As anywhere, we advise the usual sensible precautions with valuables, and the warmth of the Mexican welcome is one of the great joys of a visit.
When is the best time to visit?
The dry season from November to April is ideal across most of Mexico, with warm, sunny days perfect for the archaeological sites, colonial cities and beaches. The rainy season (June to September) brings warm afternoon showers, lush green landscapes and fewer crowds. Special seasons include Day of the Dead in late October and early November, and grey-whale watching in Baja from December to April. We advise on the best timing for your interests.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. We can adjust the balance of Mexico City, the Yucatan and Riviera Maya, Oaxaca, Chiapas, the colonial cities and Baja, add beach time, cooking classes, a mezcal or tequila experience, cenote swims or diving, extend or shorten the pace, and tailor the comfort and focus entirely to you. Every itinerary is a flexible starting point for your ideal journey through the beautiful and varied landscapes and cultures of Mexico.
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