Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido: Day of the Dead (Self-Launched)
7 days · Mexico
G Adventures charges £730
No-markup version: ~£430 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, budget-friendly take on the classic Oaxaca-to-Puerto-Escondido Day of the Dead week. Base yourself in Oaxaca's hostel-filled centre for four nights to soak up the parades, markets, mezcal and sand-tapestry art of Día de Muertos, then take a comfortable ADO bus over the Sierra Madre to the surf town of Puerto Escondido for two nights of beach, waves and cenotes. Everything is bookable independently — no group, no fixed schedule, and roughly half the price of the guided version.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Oaxaca — Mezcal & First Night Out
Oaxaca
Fly or bus into Oaxaca de Juárez and check into a hostel in the Centro Histórico, walking distance from the zócalo. Spend the late afternoon orienting yourself around the main square and the Andador (pedestrian street) before heading to a rooftop mezcalería for a flight of locally distilled mezcal. Break the ice with other travellers at a hostel social night — most Oaxaca hostels run group dinners or bar crawls, and the city's nightlife (clubs like Txalaparta) is an easy walk from the centre.
🚌Arrive by air (OAX) or overnight ADO/Futura bus from Mexico City (~£25-35). Local airport colectivo/taxi to centre ~£4-6.
🛏Hostel in Centro Histórico (dorm ~£12-16/night)
- →Rooftop mezcal flight (~£5-8)
- →Zócalo evening wander
- →Hostel social night / bar crawl
Oaxaca Market Visit & Day of the Dead Prep
Oaxaca
Start the day at Benito Juárez Market (Mercado 20 de Noviembre) — the same markets the guided tours visit — to see the altars, cempasúchil marigolds, pan de muerto and sugar skulls sold for the festivities. Wander the stalls independently or join a small-group food tour on GetYourGuide/Klook (~£25-35). In the afternoon, join an optional hands-on mole cooking class (~£25-35) at a local cooking school like Casa Crespo or Alma de mi Tierra, which includes a market walk and learning to toast chiles, grind spices and balance the 'mole more than meets the eye'. Evening is free to build your own altar or prep a costume for the parade.
🚌Walking; short taxi/colectivo to cooking school (~£2-3)
🛏Hostel in Centro Histórico
- →Mercado Benito Juárez & 20 de Noviembre market visit
- →Optional mole cooking class (~£25-35)
- →Marigold & sugar skull shopping
Day of the Dead Parade & Zócalo Celebrations
Oaxaca
The big one. Put on sugar skull makeup (buy supplies cheaply at the market or get it done at a street stall) and head into the centre for the daytime and evening Día de Muertos processions through the streets around the zócalo. Expect fantastical comparsas, catrinas on stilts, bands and the famous sand tapestries (tapetes de arena) laid out in the plaza. The city's free public celebrations can be accessed entirely on foot — no tickets needed, just get there early for a good spot. End the night with mezcal and street food around the square.
🚌Walking only
🛏Hostel in Centro Histórico
- →Day of the Dead comparsa/parade
- →Sand tapestries in the zócalo
- →Street food & mezcal crawl
Free Day — Monte Albán or Artisan Towns
Oaxaca
Use today flexibly. Options include a half-day independent trip to the Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán (site entry ~£6, shared taxi or local bus from Oaxaca ~£3-5 round trip) with sweeping views over the valley, or a colectivo to the artisan villages of San Bartolo Coyotepec (black pottery) and Teotitlán del Valle (woven rugs) — both easily reached by local transport for a few pounds. Alternatively stay in town for churches, the Ethnobotanical Garden, and more festival events. Return to the zócalo in the evening for the final night of vigils and celebration.
🚌Local bus or shared taxi/colectivo to Monte Albán (~£3-5) or Teotitlán (~£2-3)
🛏Hostel in Centro Histórico
- →Monte Albán ruins (entry ~£6)
- →San Bartolo Coyotepec & Teotitlán artisan towns
- →Ethnobotanical Garden & churches
Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido
Travel from the mountains to the coast. The fast, comfortable ADO GL bus runs Oaxaca–Puerto Escondido in around 6.5-7 hours (around £25-30) over the stunning Sierra Madre switchbacks. Book online or at the ADO terminal a day or two ahead. Arrive in Puerto Escondido and check into a beachside hostel — Zicatela for surf vibes and nightlife, or Playa Carrizalillo/Manzanillo area for calmer swimming. Spend the late afternoon on the sand and catch the sunset at Playa Zicatela.
🚌ADO GL bus Oaxaca–Puerto Escondido (~6.5-7 hrs, ~£25-30)
🛏Beach hostel in Puerto Escondido (dorm ~£12-18/night)
- →Sunset at Playa Zicatela
- →Beach time
Surf, Beaches & Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido
Grab a surfboard and take a morning lesson at Playa Zicatela (lessons ~£15-20 or board hire ~£8/day) — one of Mexico's most famous point breaks. Afternoon options: turtle release at nearby beaches (seasonal, ~£10), a boat trip to spot dolphins and humpbacks (seasonal, ~£15-20), snorkelling at Playa Carrizalillo, or a walk along Bahía Principal. Enjoy a final seafood dinner (tlayudas and fresh ceviche) and an optional night out with your hostel crew — Puerto Escondido's beach bars are legendary.
🚌Local taxis between beaches (~£2-3); taxis are shared by negotiation
🛏Beach hostel in Puerto Escondido
- →Surf lesson at Zicatela (~£15-20)
- →Optional turtle release or boat tour (~£10-20)
- →Snorkelling at Carrizalillo
Depart Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido
Check out at any time. Fly out from Puerto Escondido (PXM) to Mexico City or Oaxaca, or take a bus onward. Prices and schedules vary, so book flights early in peak festival season — accommodation and buses around Oct 30-Nov 2 fill up fast.
🚌Local taxi to PXM airport (~£5-8) or onward ADO bus
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Morning beach walk
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£430 | £730 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £300 per person (41%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£430
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido: Day of the Dead (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £430 per person for 7 days in Mexico. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £730 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £430 — a saving of roughly £300 (41%) per person.
How long is the Mexico trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Mexico.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, festivals, foodie trip through Mexico, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.