Mexico City’s Day of the Dead and Beyond
Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende, and Guanajuato
October 29th - November 6th, 2026 (Sold Out, Request Waitlist)
In Mexico, death is not hidden away but welcomed with candles, music, and marigolds during Día de los Muertos, when families honor loved ones through vibrant traditions that reconnect the living and the departed. This journey begins in Mexico City, where centuries of history frame the country’s largest celebrations - from elaborate ofrendas and bustling markets to spectacular parades, alongside time to explore iconic sights and savor outstanding tacos. From there, travel to San Miguel de Allende, where the holiday takes on a more intimate spirit amid candlelit plazas, neighborhood altars, and colonial streets alive with music and incense. The journey concludes in nearby Guanajuato, a colorful hillside city whose winding alleys and lively plazas provide a memorable finale to this deeply cultural celebration.
Mexico City (5 Nights)
Set high in the central highlands, Mexico City is a dynamic capital where ancient traditions and modern life intertwine. During Día de los Muertos, the city transforms into a vibrant stage of remembrance and celebration, with streets filled with marigolds, candlelit altars, music, and costumed processions. Public squares, markets, and historic neighborhoods come alive as families and visitors gather to honor loved ones in one of Mexico’s most meaningful and visually spectacular traditions. In addition to observing and participating in the festivities, you'll explore some of the famous landmarks.
About Day of the Dead: Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a traditional Mexican holiday held each year at the beginning of November to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away. It is a joyful celebration rooted in Indigenous beliefs and later blended with Catholic traditions introduced during the colonial period. Families create ofrendas (home altars) decorated with photographs, candles, favorite foods, sugar skulls, and bright orange marigolds, believed to help guide spirits back to the world of the living. Cemeteries and homes fill with music, storytelling, and shared meals, reflecting the belief that remembrance keeps the dead present in the lives of the living.
While in Mexico City, here are some of the highlights:
Explore the Historic Center: UNESCO-listed district is home to some of the city's most famous landmarks centered around the grand Constitution Plaza (now commonly referred to as Zocalo). Anchoring one side is the enormous Metropolitan Cathedral and on the other the Palace Nacional. Inside the square and along the edges, you'll see large holiday displays, people in costume, and entertainers. Down the street is the Palacio de Bellas Artes with stunning Art Nouveau exteriors. Inside, you can see large modern art installations including a mural by Diego Rivera.
Visit Dolores Cemetery: In the early evening, quietly walk through these sprawling grounds to see decorated grave sites, families gathering to celebrate, and hear more about the ways the living celebrate the departed.
Mercado de San Juan: The market overflows with materials to celebrate the holiday, the flower market is flooded with cempasúchil (Mexican marigolds) which is the bright orange flowers adorning all the altars and cemeteries. Throughout the guided tour, your guide will be pointing out and explaining all things related to the holiday, including sampling pan de muerto, a sweet bread baked during this period.
Day of the Dead Parade: One of the main thoroughfares is closed on the parade day to give way to a huge procession of floats, costumed-performers, artists, and many more. It is major spectacle that attracts people from all over the country and finishes in the main square with floats left on display to get a closer look.
See UNAM's Megaofrenda: Students at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) create major art installations around the campus where ideas of youth, culture, and politics converge. The student-designed altar presents bold creativity filled with symbolism, color, and evolving traditions.
Frida Kahlo Museum: In addition to exploring the neighborhood of Coyoacan where it is located, you'll learn the detailed history of her life along with her partner, Diego Rivera.
Day trip to Teotihuacan: Walk through the massive pre-Aztec complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built 1,500 years ago, see pyramids, altars, and temples home to one of the largest cities in the ancient world. Archaeologists believe Teotihuacán was a multiethnic metropolis, its neighborhoods home to Zapotec, Maya, and Gulf Coast communities, making it one of Mesoamerica’s earliest great urban experiments
San Miguel de Allende (2 Nights)
Colorful Colonial Gem
Nestled in Mexico’s central highlands, San Miguel de Allende is one of the country’s most beautiful colonial cities, celebrated for its pastel façades, cobbled streets, and thriving artistic spirit. Anchored by the pink spires of the iconic Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, the city blends historic charm with a lively cultural scene of galleries, markets, and cafés. During Día de los Muertos, San Miguel takes on an especially intimate atmosphere, as neighborhood altars, candlelit plazas, and music-filled streets create a deeply personal expression of the holiday.
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Catrina Painting Experience: The catrina is a cartoonish skeletal figure seen all over the country and here, you'll paint your own as your hosts share more history of this icon. This experience combines storytelling, creativity, music, and finishes with your handmade souvenir!
Downtown City Tour: This Spanish colonial gem is best explored on foot. See the inside of the iconic church, the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, walk through the artisan market where professionals create handmade products made from leather, brass, and fabric, and explore the colorful alleys off the main plaza.
Taste of San Miguel Walking Food Tour (Optional): Every state has its own regional cuisine and on this tour, you'll taste a few of them. With a local guide that blends a history of the city alongside culinary evolution, enjoy sampling dishes at family-owned restaurants.
Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting (Optional): North of the city is Valle de la Independencia, a growing wine region. At one of the state's premier wineries, enjoy exploring some of the massive vineyard, visit the underground wine cave, enjoy a tasting, and eat snacks offered by your hosts.
Guanajuato (1 Night)
Hillside Masterpiece
Set among steep hills in central Mexico, Guanajuato is a vibrant colonial city known for its colorful houses, winding alleyways, and subterranean tunnels. Once one of the world’s great silver-mining centers, the city today feels like an open-air museum filled with lively plazas, historic theaters, and artistic traditions. Landmarks such as the Teatro Juárez reflect its rich cultural heritage, while music and street life animate its squares long into the evening.
Downtown City Tour: Built above massive silver mines, the city is pedestrian friendly as some underground mining tunnels are now used for car traffic. Along the way, you'll explore the sprawling Hidalgo Market, the university's stunning campus, 
an urban battlefield during the war of independence, and more.
Evening Callejoneada Walk: Accompanied by a student group dressed in 17th century costumes, enjoy being part of this moving concert as they sing and play music from the earlier days. Between songs, this moving celebration is a fun way to become an active part of the city's history.
Price: $3,295.00
Single Supplement: $975.00
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There is a $300 administrative fee for all cancellations. Cancellations made 10 days (July 1, 2026) or more prior to trip departure date are fully refundable except for the $300 fee. Cancellations less than 120 days (July 2, 2026) prior to the trip departure date will receive no refund of the full amount due. No refunds on unused portions of the tour. Credit card fees and PayPal processing fees cannot be refunded. After airline tickets are issued, airline cancellations are per the airline’s policy and are usually non-refundable and changeable with a fee plus new ticket price. Travel insurance strongly encouraged (ask us about policy options). Hotels subject to change based on availability.
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Optional Activity Cancellation Policy: Travelers wishing to cancel any optional activity(s) have until the day before Day 1 on the official itinerary to receive a refund. Please note that this is subject to approval by the provider and PhotoFly will act in good faith to recoup the money. From Day 1 on, cancellations for personal reasons (changed mind, potential bad weather, etc.) are not entitled to any refunds and PhotoFly will directly ask the provider for money back.
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