Join the owners of Salena's Mexican Restaurant to discover the flavors and traditions of Oaxaca on this immersive 7-night culinary journey. From lively markets to hands-on cooking classes, you’ll experience the heart of Oaxacan cuisine and its world-renowned mezcal. With accommodations, expert guides, and thoughtful details taken care of, this trip provides a great balance of exploration and relaxation.

Highlights include private tours, visits to traditional palenques (mezcal distilleries), and the opportunity to explore both pre-& post-Hispanic local cuisine. You’ll also learn about culture traditions and see archaeological sites. While there are many activities with the group, you'll also have free time to wander, dine, and discover at your own pace.

• Deposits are refundable, less processing fees, up to 14 days after registration.

• After 14 days from registration, the deposit becomes non-refundable.

• Once the final payment is collected, the full amount becomes non-refundable.

Please make flight arrangements to arrive into Oaxaca City by Friday, February 13th.

You will then check into the Holiday Inn Express Oaxaca-Centro Historico.
The hotel has the perfect location to explore the picturesque and traditional Historic Center of the city. Within walking distance of the hotel, you will find galleries, museums, and a variety of traditional gastronomic options.

Start mornings with the breakfast buffet that includes the delicious traditional chocolate from Oaxaca. After a day touring the city, relax in the outdoor guest patio or relax by the pool on a sun lounger.

Oaxaca Walking Food Tour (Lunch)

This tour is designed to highlight the real face of Oaxacan cuisine and to give guests the opportunity to get to know culture through the food. We will visit several markets of Oaxaca -- from hidden spaces to the well known places. This tour is connected with our history, our friends and to allow you to taste the gastronomic biodiversity of Oaxaca.

Mezcal & Mole Pairing Experience

Join us in our tasting room to discover traditional moles accompanied by incredible mezcals! Led by professional sommeliers, our tasting will give you a unique framework for thinking about the diversity of mezcal.

Group Welcome Dinner

Market Tour

On Sundays, Tlacolula is home to the largest pre-hispanic open air market in the state -- with food, mezcal, pulque, textile shops, pottery, and more all in one place. Enjoy exploring the Sunday market on this tour with a local to show you the best spots.

Cooking Class (Lunch)

You'll learn how to cook regional dishes and enjoy the food for lunch accompanied by a selection of a traditional mezcal.

Dinner on your own tonight.

Monte Albán Archeological Site Visit

Monte Albán was one of the most important cities in Mesoamerica. It was founded in 500 BC on a mountaintop in the central Central Valleys of Oaxaca and served as the capital of the Zapotecs from the beginning of our era until 800 AD. At its peak, Monte Albán had nearly 35,000 inhabitants, most of whom lived on the mountain's terraced slopes, dedicating themselves to agriculture.

The archaeological zone of Monte Albán was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, along with the Historic Center of Oaxaca City, on December 11, 1987.

Lunch and dinner on your own today.

Options to self explore, select an independent tour on their own, or just relax.

Lunch and dinner on your own today.

Mezcal Day Trip with Lunch stop

Join your guide for a day of exploring mezcal and visiting local mezcal producers. On the way, you'll stop for a local breakfast. Then you'll tour two mezcal palenques.

The first palenque is owned and operated by a family that has been making mezcal for 4 generations and has a focus on sustainable agriculture and maintaining local traditional production methods.

Then visit a second palenque in the home of a traditional mezcal producer who works with his sons to make micro batches of mezcal minero for local consumption.

Dinner on your own tonight.

Free Time for the morning.

Cooking Class & Farewell Dinner

Food is the cornerstone of Mexican culture and you won’t find a more authentic experience than a private cooking class inside a local family’s kitchen. Learn about Oaxaca’s rich culinary heritage before preparing your own meal on the “brasero” (traditional brick stove). Meanwhile, get to know your hosts as they share their own stories of life in Oaxaca.

The tour will end on Friday, February 20th. Guests are welcome to extend their trip independently.