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Call 1-800-387-1483 or email us
Call 1-800-387-1483 or email us
SIGNATURE MOMENT
Celebrate the festivities like a true insider
SIGNATURE MOMENT
Soak in the vibes at the Catrina parades
SIGNATURE MOMENT
Get inspired by the works of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo
SIGNATURE MOMENT
Connect with a local chef for a traditional cooking class
SIGNATURE MOMENT
Contemplate and discuss great works of Mexican literature

Celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico

Oct 25 - Nov 03, 2022

10 days | Mexico | Literary Adventures

Readings:
Selected poetry and essays of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz and of Octavio Paz, including The Labyrinth of Solitude; selected contemporary fiction TBA.
 
Visiting Mexico during the extraordinary Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festivities is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the history and culture of Mexico past and present. While it may seem ghoulish to gringos that death and festivities can go hand-in-hand, for most Mexicans, it’s very natural. Prepare to enter the world where Mexicans celebrate with their beloved dead. We will learn how they prepare, what they do and why, and how they return to ordinary time when the spirits go back where they came from on November 2.

Our journey begins in busy, elegant Mexico City, where we will weave together threads of history, art and literature. We’ll see and discuss the works of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, and dig deeper into their fascination with death. We’ll also visit the stellar National Museum of Anthropology to learn about the Aztec empire. Discussions of essays and poems by Octavio Paz and Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz will deepen our understanding of the influences on contemporary Day of the Dead celebrations: Aztec beliefs and rituals, medieval Catholic traditions from Spain and France, and the move to define mexicanidad in the decades following the 1910 revolution.

We will then make our home base in San Miguel de Allende. After being devastated by the 1918–1919 flu pandemic, this beautiful baroque town recreated itself as an artistic centre. During the days leading up to Day of the Dead, we will visit markets, public squares and cemeteries to see the extent of preparation. In the cemeteries, families arrive early in the day laden with brooms, buckets, flowers, candles, favourite food and drink of the dead, and everything else they need to set up their ofrendas (altars) on top of the graves. Each is different, and some are stunningly creative.

During the celebration, join the merriment at San Miguel’s four-day La Calaca Festival, which includes a parade of Catrinas (Mexican characters dressed as “elegant death”).

No words, no picture can do justice to describe the beauty, the tradition, the feeling of Día de los Muertos.
Literary Adventures Cultural Explorations
Tour Cost (per person):
Approx. US$4495 (Incl. taxes and gratuities)
Group Size:
12 - 16 participants

What’s included: Airport transfers; accommodation based on double occupancy; most meals; transportation by private air-conditioned coach; discussions led by Melanie Blake; readings; all activities and entrance fees including a cooking class and market visit; services of specialized English-speaking guides; headsets for walking tours and within galleries and museums; taxes and gratuities; fully escorted by Melanie Blake

Itinerary at a Glance

DayActivity
1Arrive Mexico City
2The obsession of Frida Khalo and Diego Rivera
3Exploring Aztec ruins at the Zocalo
4Travel from Mexico City to San Miguel
5 - 9Day of the Dead festivities in San Miguel de Allende
10Depart Mexico City
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Your Tour Leader

Melanie Blake is the executive director of Classical Pursuits and organizer of the annual Toronto Pursuits cultural salon. She studied English and French at Fordham University and the Université de Montpellier, and has an MA in literature and linguistics from the University of Nottingham. She loves languages, cocktails, and the unexpected.

Email Us

Or call 1-800-387-1483 with any questions or to reserve your spot!

Literary Adventures Cultural Explorations
Tour Cost (per person):
Approx. US$4495 (Incl. taxes and gratuities)
Group Size:
12 - 16 participants

What’s included: Airport transfers; accommodation based on double occupancy; most meals; transportation by private air-conditioned coach; discussions led by Melanie Blake; readings; all activities and entrance fees including a cooking class and market visit; services of specialized English-speaking guides; headsets for walking tours and within galleries and museums; taxes and gratuities; fully escorted by Melanie Blake

What You'll See:
What You'll Taste:
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Celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico

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Privacy Policy:

We abide by the new Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) and take your privacy very seriously. We will not share, sell or otherwise make your mailing list subscription information available to any third parties. By submitting your email address, your grant us explicit consent to send you e-newsletters as detailed above. You may withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link found at the foot of every email that we send to you. You may also withdraw consent by sending an email request to: travel@worldwidequest.com.

We use your address information and details that you provide about your personal preferences or past trips to mail you selected brochures. If at any point you wish to have your name removed from our mailing list, please email or call us toll free at 1-800-387-1483.

We invite you to read our full Privacy Policy.