Visit the most beautiful of Oaxaca?s churches! The cathedral was formerly a monastery and was built between the years of 1570 and 1608. Artisans from all over colonial Mexico were brought to Oaxaca to help in its construction. The inside of the church is a dazzling array of baroque ornamentation and gilded ceilings. Housed next to the cathedral is the Oaxacan Regional Museum. Here you will find such rarities as the treasures of the tombs of Monte Albán, such as jewelry, bone, and clay artifacts. Behind the church is an extensive botanical garden full of endemic desert plants.

The Teatro Alcalá was built during the reign of Porfirio Díaz. This beautiful theater was designed in a French style and often has concerts and other theatrical events. Constructed in 1903, its marble stairway and five-tire auditorium attracts visitors from around the world. This is a magnificent theater to visit and see a performance.

Experience the traditional cooking of Oaxaca and learn to make the world famous local dishes. These are great skills to take back home to share with friends and family. Oaxaca is famous for its unique dishes. At the top of this list are the molés. There are at least eight basic varieties of molé made in the region. These include: negro (black), amarillo (yellow), coloradito (reddish), almendrado (almonds), verde (green), rojo (red), manchamanteles (tablecloth stainer) and chichilo negro. Some of these molés have more than 20 ingredients! Other typical dishes are tamales with molé, tlayudas, entomatadas and empanadas de molé amarillo.

Welcome Event & Program Orientation

Oaxaca is a place of natural practices and ancient beliefs. The deep rooted traditions of the many indigenous populations have created an ambiance of alternative customs. Falling right in line with this is this growing popularity of yoga in the city. For those who enjoy yoga there are many opportunities to practice this ancient ritual. Join us each week for yoga sessions. Awaken your senses to the surroundings and beauty of Oaxaca.

Farewell Event

Guelaguetza comes from the Zapotec word meaning ?offering?. It was the term used to describe the ceremony and celebration held each year to honor the gods in return for sufficient rain and a bountiful harvest. Today the Guelaguetza celebration takes place every July in and around Oaxaca. Costumed dancers from the seven regions of Oaxaca State perform elaborate dances handed down from generations past. Before the festivities begin the delegations make colorful processions. One of the most famous dances, the Zapotec Feather Dance, is a passionate and symbolic reenactment of the Spanish conquest of Mexico.

Take part in dance classes for salsa, meringue, and cumbia with local instructors. Learning about these dances will greatly increase your experience at any Oaxacan gathering!

Market & Cotton Weaving Tour

The Pochote Cinema is an art cinema located beneath the 17th century aqueduct that runs along the northern edge of the historical center. The cinema offers art films from around the world with Spanish subtitles. Every evening you are sure to find something interesting to watch and expand your horizons. We will plan outings to this cinema to see films that highlight aspects of the Spanish-speaking world.

This market began in 2003 with the support of the internationally famous Oaxacan artist, Francisco Toledo. The market was created as a way for organic producers to sell their products for a fair price and to promote the benefits of organic agriculture. Here you will find strong Oaxacan coffee, local honeys, jams, and many other foods. Something you must try is tejate, the traditional beverage once drunk by Zapotec kings. Not only are there wonderful food items here but you will also find fine handicrafts and traditional healers.

San Agustin Etla Art School & Studio Visit

Arts & Crafts Workshop (Oaxacan Jewelry Making)

Arts & Crafts Workshop (Skull Mask Making)

Bike Tour of Oaxaca

"El Día de los Muertos" is considered Mexico's most characteristic and unique celebrations. Oaxaca is one of the best places in Mexico to witness this traditional event. It is a ritual that has been practiced by the indigenous cultures of Mexico since pre-Hispanic times. When the Spaniards arrived the ancient practice took on aspects of Catholicism. Supposedly, during this time, the souls of the deceased return to the homes of their loved ones. Graves are adorned with flowers and candles, while the foods and drinks the deceased enjoyed most in life are laid out on the tombs and around altars that are made in people?s homes. Truely a once in a life time experience!

Oaxaca City is a Mecca for Mexican and International artists. Besides the contemporary art museum there are almost 100 galleries around town. New exhibits open weekly and we will take full advantage to expose you to this rich cultural side of Oaxaca. We will visit the Museum of Contemporary Art which has temporary exhibitions throughout the year as well as permanent displays. Here you will find works by the five most famous Oaxacan artists - Francisco Gutiérrez, Rodolfo Nieto, Francisco Toledo, Rodolfo Morales and Rufino Tamayo.

With its rich history and artistic influences Oaxaca has many wonderful museums. We will tour several of these museums to learn more about the area, its present and its past. Museums include the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Rufino Tamayo Museum of pre-Hispanic art, and the Oaxaca Regional Museum among others.

Alebrijes are a truly unique Mexican craft carved from the local Copalillo tree. They were first created in Mexico City by Pedro Linares in the 1940s, after suffering from a bout of high fever spells, he began carving and painting fantasy creatures and the results were his famous Alebrijes. You will visit Eco-Alebrijes, a non-profit based out of the town of Arrazola, which is one of the largest producers of this beautiful work of art. Eco-Alebrijes' goal is to create sustainable forests that will secure their livelihood as artisans of this rare craft in the future. The organization created a protected forest of Copalillo trees which has been divided into twelve sectors (it takes 12 years before the tree can be harvested to produce Alebrijes). Not only will you see how these wonderful works of art are created but you will also see the conservation aspect of this art form. This is a hands on experience into the fantasy world of the Alebrijes.

Arts & Crafts Workshop (Graffiti & Stencil Making)