a day in the life of a Zapotec village

Oaxaca City, Mexico

9 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

What's Included

Private transportation
Water
snack
explanations in english and spanish
Breakfast
Lunch

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

08:30 AM

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps

Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Hugo_E

Wonderful authentic experience. Cesar fielded our questions with thoughtful, articulate and insightful responses. His appreciation for sharing and conserving the Zapotec ancestral way of life is a warming to see in todays younger generation (fom historical references to modern day efforts to keep the land pure of pollutants, waste and contamination). Highly recommend this tour for those looking for a true authentic day in the life of a traditional Zapotec village that has yet to be fully engulfed with urbanization.

Reviews

5.0

34 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-6 of 34 reviews

Amazing experience !

Estefania_R, Oct 2023

This experience is so FULFILLING ! Cesar really does a beautiful job by inviting you to spend a whole day with his family at their actual house in his village, alongside with his mother, father & aunt. You'll share the table for breakfast and lunch (freshly made by his mom & aunt!) while you learn from their culture, as well as learning how to actually make traditional Oaxacan Chocolate & some traditional savory dishes. Cesar also takes you to get to know his village and see some very cool things, like a local hand-made shoe factory and also visit one of his friends (Samuel) to where he makes hand crafted Mezcal. Overall, it's a very humbling and wonderful experience, and Cesar makes you feel at home from the very beginning ! I would for sure re-do this experience again when I come back !

Amazing

Hugo_E, Feb 2023

Fascinating visit to Zapotec home and pueblo

Carole_R, Feb 2023

Our guide Caesar was great. He took us to visit his family. We had lunch, learned to make tortillas, chocolate, experienced the life of the pueblo including a wedding near his house.

Intimate. Authentic. Boutique. Special.

Donald_H, Apr 2022

Cesar picked us up at our hotel and drove us out to his community where he explained his culture and Zapotec way of life in a modern Mexico. This is not a mass-marketed, corporate brochure experience. Instead, we were introduced to Cesar's family, the women's co-op where shoes are made, a lady who sells and makes dresses for the community, and passersby in the community who at times joined us to see spectacular museum-worthy artifacts like an organ from the 1700s. This experience was like hanging out with a good friend at his house where we could talk and ask questions over freshly made food and drinks. When I expressed my interest in mezcal, Cesar took us out in his tuk-tuk to their land where his family grows, harvests, and distills artisanal mezcal. The ability to walk in the dirt fields next to years-old agave plants was truly special. Each time we thought we had had the greatest experience, Cesar would take us to see one more thing. We were so delighted at the end of our day to be gifted the chocolate we had made from roasting cacao beans, cracking them from their shells, grinding them on a metate and tasting all along to see how the flavors developed. The day with Cesar was the highlight of our trip to Oaxaca.

A visit to the Village in the Clouds

esklarew, Jan 2022

Cesar picked us up in a luxurious and comfortable van at our Airbnb. We drove through the Oaxaca countryside to his "village in the clouds." We were greeted by his parents, Abuella, and other family members who demonstrated the art of chocolate making from the beans to our luscious chocolate bars to take home. The family served us a delicious breakfast of bread, homemade tortillas and hot chocolate. After a tour around his town to meet artisans, visit a shoe making factory, an apron making shop, flower shop, food market and his town square, we had lunch of fresh tortillas, eggs, herbs and Oaxaca cheese. We then visited an artisan Mezcal place and met with the master Mezcal maker. He demonstrated and explained the process and then provided us with samples to try. We had a spectacular day in the company of the warmest, kindest people. It was a privilege to meet them and spend time learning about the Zapotec culture.

Excellent experience!

Emilia_J, Oct 2021

I'm so glad I booked this tour! I wanted an authentic Oaxacan experience and we got it for sure. There wasn't a tourist anywhere. The food was delicious, the artisnal tours were fun and educational. The chocolate making experience was a highlight I will never forget. Cesar is a warm, humble and conscientious tour guide. His family was welcoming and kind. I felt like I was visiting old friends. I would recommend this tour to anyone looking to experience what real life is like outside the city center. Book now! You won't regret it.