Day of the Dead: Mexico City, Mexico - María Mendez

Top Experience

Mexico A country of folklore, pyramids, art and flavor

Mexico City

Steeped in architectural and anthropological history, with a rich food tradition and a booming art scene, Mexico City has a lot to offer its visitors. Get a taste of local art with a visit to the Frida Kahlo Museum in the Coyoacan neighborhood. Explore the historic town of Tepoztlan – a mecca for artists and mystics, with a magical feel in the air. Tour the ancient city and ruins, and climb to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun at the Teotihuacán archaeological site. Here you can experience the true spirit of the traditions and rituals of the Day of the Dead festival, including taking part in making your own traditional altar offering. Remember to bring photos of your dearly departed.

Itinerary

Day 1 - October 28th: Arrive at Mexico City, Mexico

1. Flight to Mexico City, Mexico.
2. Ground transportation to hotel.
3. Accommodations.
4. Free afternoon/evening to explore on your own. You might want consider heading to the Ocala – the city's huge central square – to see Aztec ruins and colonial architecture or relax in one of the many parks, plazas and gardens. Consider having dinner at Balcón del Zócalo where you will enjoy a delicious meal and one of the best open-air views of the Zócalo. (Av. 5 de Mayo 61, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México. Ph: +52 55 5130 5134 - reservations recommended)

Day 2 - October 29th: Mexico City & Xochimilco

1. Walking tour of Mexico City’s historic centre.
2. A stop at the Mercado San Juan, where you might want to buy yourself some lunch.
3. Experience the Legend of La Llorona at Xochimilco (Nahuatl words xochitl and milli meaning “where the flowers grow.”) A special night boat ride through the ancient Aztec canals in Xochimilco that only takes place during the Day of Dead festivities.
4. After a 30 minute ride on a colorful trajinera (gondola-like boat) through the dark, candlelit canals, you’ll arrive at a lake where you can watch a colorful 2 hour sound and light show with a live musical performance telling the legend of “La Llorona”. During the performance other boats selling food, drinks, tacos, Mexican street corn, hot chocolate, and more will come up to your boat so you can snack during the show. You can also bring your own food and drinks on the boat. It’s the ultimate dinner and a show experience for Day of the Dead. This event sells out fast and tickets must be purchased in advance.

Day 3 - October 30th: Day of Dead Festivities

1. You’ll see children walking around in costume asking for candy between October 31 and November 2. If you want to join in on the fun and put a smile on these cute little kids’ faces, consider keeping some Halloween-sized candy with you to give out.
2. Day of the Dead Parade: starts at the Estela de Luz monument, continues on the Paseo de la Reforma street, and ends at the Zócalo plaza (the main square in Mexico City).
3. See the giant ofrendas and traditional dances and spiritual cleansing rituals in the Zócalo. 4. Across from the Zócalo plaza is the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral. Take a peek inside at the ofrenda inside the church.
5. See the Ofrenda Contest in Plaza Santo Domingo, a 10-minute walk from Zócalo. The plaza is filled with dozens of colorful ofrendas from students at UNAM University. You can even use your smartphone and the QR codes next to each ofrenda to vote for your favorite.

Day 4 - October 31st: Coyoacán - Frida Kahlo Museum, Anahuacalli Museum & Day of Dead Festivities

1. Tour of the leafy Coyoacán suburb. This artsy neighborhood goes all out for Día de Muertos with a 3 day fiesta with colorful altars, parades, costumes, live music, street vendors, carnival rides and more.
2. Visit to the Frida Kahlo Museum, located in the house Frida lived throughout her life, contains a collection of her work, as well as artifacts, photographs, and personal items.
3. Visit to the Anahuacalli Museum, built of black volcanic stone, the museum was established Diego Rivera, to display his extensive collection of nearly 60,000 pre-Hispanic pieces spanning nearly every indigenous civilization in Mexico’s history.
4. Free time to explore the Coyoacán market & the Parroquia San Juan Bautista church in Coyoacán to see their ofrenda.
5. Free evening.

Day 5 - November 1st: Tepoztlan Ruins & Day of Dead Activities

1. Early departure to Tepoztlan by private vehicle. This ancient Aztec city is considered to be the birthplace of the Mesoamerican god, Quetzalcoatl, making it an important indigenous site.
2. Tour the ruins with a local guide and take a one-hour walk to the pyramid.
3. Afternoon, get hands-on by creating your own traditional altar for Day of the Dead and then participate in the ceremony that follows.
4. Vist Mixquic cemetery - about 1.5 hour drive from downtown Mexico City, it is the most beautifully decorated cemetery near Mexico City. It is rumored that Mixquic was the inspiration behind the cemetery in the Disney movie, Coco. Plan to be there between 5 – 6 PM, at sunset. The later in the evening it gets, the more crowded it gets.