Arrival in
Oaxaca, check in at the Hotel Aitana, located on Crespo street 6 blocks
from the beautiful Zócalo (plaza) in central Oaxaca. 6:30 pm orientation,
cocktails and Cena (supper) at the Terra Nova restaurant on the Zócalo,
Oaxaca’s beautiful central plaza.
Meals(1)- D
Tuesday 28th-Day 2
Breakfast at the hotel. 10 am-2:30 pm cooking
class at La Casa de los Sabores with chef/owner Pilar Cabrera where we
will prepare traditional tamales and enjoy a five course Oaxacan meal.
Walking tour of the Central Historic area
afterwards.
Independent dinner and free evening with optional
street food and Casa de Mezcal adventure with Daniel
Meals(2)-B, Comida (afternoon main
meal)
Wednesday 29th-Day 3
6:30 am departure to Teotitlan de Valle where we
will pick up the manager of Del MagueyPremium Mezcal. Ron Cooper,
my good friend, fellow Taoseño, and president of the company produces
single-village mezcals in the 18th century tradition. We will have
breakfast along the way and traditional Zapoteca comida with the family that
runs the mezcal palenque (distillery) and will observe the process of
growing, fermenting, bottling and also have an opportunity for tasting. This is
a special treat where we will get a much more intimate insight into the
Indigenous life in Oaxaca and what goes into producing a top-quality mezcal at a
palenque employing hands-on artisanal techniques rather than the mediocre
“factory” operations that most tours visit. When we return to Teotitlan, we
will visit some of the famous rug weavers and enjoy a demonstration of dyeing
and natural wool weaving techniques. On the way back from Teotitlan we will
have a snack and then stop at El Tule, one of the largest trees in North
America reputed to be over two thousand years old. Return to the hotel around 6
pm.
Free evening, independent dinner.
Meals(2)-B, L, snack
Thursday 30th-Day 4
At 8 am we
will stroll to the 20 de Septiembre Mercado to have a market breakfast and tour
of the mercado followed by a Oaxaca chocolate making demonstration at El
Mayordomo de Chocolate. Afterwards we will have a walking tour of the
central historic district, which will include stops at the Casa de Artesanas
for local crafts shopping, the Oaxaca women’s craft cooperative, galleries,and a
tour of the Rufino Tamayo Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
2:30 pm comida at La Biznaga for modern Oaxaqueño fare.
Optional visit
to the Mercado Abastos (main Oaxaca market) to purchase items from the
special Muertos market to be used to construct our own Day of the Dead altar at
the hotel.
Free late
afternoon and evening for siestas, shopping, and independent dining, or to
continue observing the Day of the Dead preparations.
Meals(2)-B, Comida
Friday 31st-Day 5
8:45
am breakfast on the Zócalo. 10 am tour of the anthropological museum at the
famous Cathedral Santo Domingo. Construction of our Day of the Dead altar
at the hotel. Free early afternoon for a light lunch, sightseeing,
shopping, watching Day of the Dead parades and activities, siestas or just
relaxing over coffee and people watching on the plaza. Day of the Dead dinner
and lecture, 5:30-7 pm at Pilar Cabrera’s La Olla restaurant. 7:30 pm
departure to the highly-decorated, huge Xoxocotlan cemetery to
participate in the local procession and ceremonies for the Day of the Dead.
Meals(2)-B, D
Saturday November 1st-Day 6
Breakfast at the hotel. Travel to Santo Tomas
Jalieza, a Zapotec village. We will spend the rest of the day cooking with
the Navarro family in their outdoor, wood-fired, traditional kitchen. The head
of the family, Gerardo, is a well-known painter, and his mother and three
sisters are unbelievably talented cooks as well as accomplished weavers. Sra.
Navarro will share her widely-admired method of preparing Tejate, a
popular indigenous beverage made from cacao and several fruit seeds. The
sisters will assist us in preparing the masa in the stone metate and then cook
blanditas, large, paper-thin, Oaxaca-style corn tortillas. We will also
make several salsas and other Zapotec dishes traditional to Dia de los Muertos
and enjoy the results at our comida together.
Optional visit to the Panteón General
(main cemetery) Independent dinner.
Meals(3)-B, L
Sunday 2nd-Day 7
Breakfast at the hotel. Travel to Tlacolula for
the Sunday Tianguis (indigenous market) where the local Zapotec villagers
gather to sell their food and crafts. We will have the opportunity to taste
local foods, including the Barbacoa de Chivo (goat stew), Tepache
and Tejate (pre-Hispanic beverages) and view the Muertos items for sale
in preparation for the holiday. Tour of the 16th century Capilla
Del Santo Cristo. Visit the ruins at Mitla. Return to Oaxaca to enjoy the
afternoon music on the plaza, dine at one of the Sunday buffets, have dinner out
on the town, shop, relax or take an optional Temazcal, the traditional
herbal sauna and massage For more info on the Temazcal go to http://www.lasbugambilias.com/temazcal.html)
7:30 pm dinner at Danzante for
contemporary Oaxaca fare.
Meals(2)-B, D
Monday 3rd-Day 8
Breakfast at the hotel followed by an 8:30 am
departure for a guided tour of the Monte Alban Zapoteca archaeological
site and museum. While you are there, Daniel will oversee the staff at El
Naranjo Restaurante in the preparation of our farewell comida. At noon,
Daniel will give a lecture and demonstration about the cooking techniques that
we have experienced in Oaxaca along with some pointers on some special cocktail
preparations that we will taste. Afterwards, we will sit down to a multi-course
comida at the restaurant and enjoy our final meal together as a group. Free
evening for a final night out in Oaxaca, dining, shopping, etc.
Meals(3)-B, L, D
Tuesday 4th-Departure day
Breakfast at the hotel, checkout and shuttles to
the airport.
Meals(1)-B
Tour Information & Tips
Travelstyle FUN, relaxed (most of
the time), educational, with comfortable accommodations and minimal hardships.
Group size Minimum 6, Maximum 14
Accommodation 8 nights in Oaxaca at
Hotel Aitana 4 blocks from the Zócalo
Transport Chauffeured
Air-conditioned vans, walking.
Physicalrating-This
is a relatively undemanding trip. There will be some moderate walking.
Culture shock rating- The hotel used in this trip is clean, cool, friendly and comfortable.
The emphasis of the trip is primarily on food, cooking and culture, and there
may be a wide range of food qualities. Every effort is made to ensure that
meals are taken in known quality establishments but occasionally the group will
be eating “pot luck”. There will be opportunities to try unfamiliar foods and
beverages. Some areas will have limited English speaking; however an interpreter
is available most times. The tour also includes some opportunity to pursue
individual interests.
Local Payment - Allow
USD $200 per person for the local payment.
This will be collected by Daniel at the start of the trip and is included in the
total quoted cost of the trip. The local payment is to facilitate the payment
of fees for the tour that often are in cash.
Travel insurance Travel insurance
including emergency medical repatriation coverage is highly recommended. You
will not be permitted to participate in the trip until evidence of travel
insurance has been shown to Daniel or a signed waiver is executed.
Health Please contact your
doctor for up-to-date information and prescriptions for vaccinations,
anti-malarial requirements (not usually necessary) and any reasonably
foreseeable illnesses while traveling in Mexico. We recommend that you carry a
simple First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements (including a
spare pair of glasses). Please be aware that at times we are in remote areas and
away from medical facilities during this trip, and for legal reasons our guides
are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets,
antibiotics, etc. Please ensure that you are adequately prepared.
Spending money Personal Spending
Money
How much you take is obviously a personal matter. If you intend to purchase many
souvenirs or if you enjoy a couple of glasses of wine or beer with meals, we
would recommend that you take more than the daily average estimate. Credit cards
and debit cards are very useful for cash advances. Visa cards are the most
widely accepted cards. While ATMs are widely available, there are no guarantees
that your credit or debit cards will actually work in Mexico. Check with your
bank. You should be aware that to purchase products or services on a credit card
a fee of 5%-10% may apply. Do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only
source of money. A combination of US dollars cash, traveler’s checks and cards
is best. Always take more rather than less, as you don't want to spoil the trip
by constantly feeling short of funds. Tipping
There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the
local guides or service industry personnel. You may do this individually, or
Daniel will be happy to collect the money and tip as a group. Tipping is
strictly optional. All guide services, hotel personnel, drivers, etc.,
are paid a gratuity for their contracted services, and Well Eaten Path-Chef’s Tours pays at or above the going rate for services, however, there
may be circumstances where extra service or assistance was required, or when
outstanding services were rendered. A little generosity can go a long way in
creating good will!
Optional Tipping
suggestions: (US
dollar bills are ok for tipping but US coins are practically worthless. If
tipping less than a dollar you should use pesos.)
·Hotel rooms 10-15 Pesos per
person per night for room cleaning, etc.
·Bell person 10-15 Pesos for luggage assistance per person
·Taxi rides independent of the
group -10% of the fare
·Cooking instruction (classes
and demos) 25-50 Pesos/person to the local instructor
·Independent tour guides and
interpreters- as you see fit (25-50 Pesos per day for an interesting and
helpful guide is nice)
·Driver- 20-30 Pesos per day
Budget Meals not included -
$75-250 USD per person (depending on your choices)
Snacks and beverages $50-150
USD depending on your personal habits. (All provided meals come with a beverage,
sometimes this is beer or wine, if desired; if you want additional drinks you
should budget for that. The hotels provide drinking water, but water away from
the hotel must be purchased.
Additional sightseeing –
optional at your pleasure-Daniel can often get you significant discounts on
these activities.
Tips- nothing required, I
would bring between $50-150 USD to cover the optional contingencies.
Local Payment - $200/person US
(part of quoted tour price) Note on Paying Locally: Most of our tours involve a local
payment. Paying locally allows us to keep the overall cost of our tours
competitive and pass the savings on to you. These funds are put towards local
expenses. In some developing countries the transferring of funds is at times
problematic so this is a way to help us serve you while saving you money.
Payment is to be made to Daniel upon arrival.
Shopping- depends on your
desire for souvenirs, gifts, artwork, etc.
Film/video tape- also depends
on what you use. It is more economical to bring these with you but you will
have opportunities to purchase if you need to.
Keeping in touch - communication while on
the road If you need to be
contacted while traveling we recommend that you set up an email address that can
be accessed on the road, rather than relying on postal mail. Hotmail, Gmail or
Yahoo is good for this. Email cafes are becoming increasingly commonplace and
cheap throughout the regions we visit, and have quickly become the preferred way
for our leaders and travelers to stay in touch.
If someone wishes to contact you in an emergency while you are on the trip we
recommend that they contact your email address. If you plan to phone home
during the trip it is recommended that you purchase a phone card in Mexico, they
are easy to come by. Hotel phones can be more than expected and collect calls
home are out of sight. Many US cell phones will work in Mexico but you should
check with your carrier as to the options.
Arrival complications
We don't
expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you are unable to
commence your trip as scheduled, please make the following contacts as soon as
possible:
The first contact should be your starting point hotel. You will receive this
information when confirmed.
If
this is unsuccessful, contact Daniel by email on daniel@welleatenpath.com
Your group leader Daniel Hoyer will be the
group leader. Some of you have met Daniel through cooking classes. Daniel’s aim
as the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you
have the best trip possible. He will provide information on the places you are
traveling through, offer suggestions for extra things to do and see, introduce
you to our local friends and participate in all the scheduled activities. While
not being a guide in the traditional sense you can expect him to have a broad
general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, food especially, but also
including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local
guides and interpreters where we think more specific knowledge will add to the
enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds.
Responsibletravel We believe strongly in
low impact or rather positive impact tourism. Broadly speaking this means that
we try to minimize the negative aspects of tourism on the local cultures and
environments that we visit and highlight the positive aspects. We always show
respect for the local culture and customs. Conservative attire is sometimes
required when visiting religious sites. Always ask before photographing
indigenous people. A smile goes a long way. Daniel will keep you informed on
special customs or dress requirements.
Meals Most meals are provided
(see itinerary for details), in fact you will help prepare several of them. All
efforts will be made to accommodate differing tastes of travelers; however, we
ask that you bring an open mind (and palate) to enjoy the regional specialties.
Visas Visas are not required
for US citizens in Mexico. Tourist cards are, and are issued at the border
crossing or on your incoming flight. Well Eaten Path-Chef’s Toursand US immigration do require that you carry your passports. IT IS YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CORRECT TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION.
What to take
Check list Documents:
*Passport (with photocopies)
*Travel insurance (with photocopies)
*Airline tickets (with photocopies)
*USD cash and travelers checks
*Credit or debit card (see
personal spending money)
*itinerary Items
- First-aid kit**
- Sun block and sunburn treatment
- Sunglasses
- Toiletries
- Watch or alarm clock
- Water bottle
Clothing (suggested minimum, less is better to keep your baggage light)
- Light jacket or sweater and/or windproof/waterproof jacket (October is not the
rainy season but it is always a possibility)
- Small towel and swim wear (if desired)
- 4 shirts/t-shirts
- Sun hat
- 1or 2 pair of shorts
- 2-3 pairs of long trousers (1 long skirt, dress or wrap for women)
-plenty of cotton socks (it is
often very humid)
- Sturdy, comfortable walking shoes
- Sport sandals and/or casual shoes
**First aid kit should contain lip salve, Aspirin or Tylenol, Band Aids,
anti-histamine, Imodium, pepto bismol or similar tablets for mild cases of
diarrhea, motion sickness medicine (if needed), extra prescription drugs you may
be taking.
Optional
Camera, batteries and memory card or film, reading/writing material, Spanish
dictionary or phrase book, binoculars, cover for backpacks, flashlight,
concealable money belt.
Safety We
recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while traveling, for the safe
keeping of your passport, air tickets, travelers' checks, cash and other
valuable items. Leave your valuable jewelry at home - you won't need it while
traveling. Many of the hotels we use have a safety deposit box that is the most
secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your
luggage.
Note that your group leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the
trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your leader
will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have
some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore
at your leisure. While your group leader will assist you with options available
in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are
not part of your itinerary, and
Well Eaten Path-Chef’s Tours
makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the
operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an
independent activity.
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