Mexico’s Magical Oaxaca8 Day Tour from USD $1495#1 In Value

Dear Traveler, Welcome to a great vacation at an affordable price. Your Mexico’s Magical Oaxaca tour is fully guided and includes most meals, all hotels, and all activities. Happy Travels! Caravan
Monte Albán
Teotitlán del Valle
Tour Map

Caret DownCaret Up Red2027 Daily Tour Itinerary

2027 Daily Tour Itinerary

Day 1 • Mexico City

Caravan welcomes you to Mexico. Fly to Mexico City International Airport (MEX). Transfer on your own using the airport’s taxi service. Rates are fixed based on city zones. Pay for your taxi ticket in advance at the booth inside the airport terminal and then go outside and stand in line for your official verified taxi. Mexico City is 7,349 feet above sea level. Your downtown hotel rooms are available for check-in after 4:00 p.m. Dinner is on your own. Join Caravan for an 8:00 p.m. welcome briefing.

Tule Tree

Day 2 • Mexico City - Historic Center, Museum of Anthropology

Morning sightseeing drive of Mexico City’s world-famous Historic Center. See El Zocalo (Main Plaza), the National Palace, Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Palace of Bellas Artes (traffic conditions permitting). Then, visit Mexico City’s world-famous National Museum of Anthropology. See the immense Aztec Calendar Stone. Visit the Oaxaca Hall. See fascinating archaeological treasures from Monte Albán and Mitla. Lunch is on your own. Next, afternoon drive to Puebla. This colonial city is famous for its hundreds of churches. Enjoy a relaxing two-night stay. Puebla is 7,005 feet above sea level. Enjoy dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3 • Cholula, Puebla

Morning visit to the Great Pyramid of Cholula, over 3,000 years old and the largest pyramid by volume in the world. See the colonial church of Our Lady of Remedies which sits atop the pyramid. Return to Puebla. Enjoy lunch. Then, stroll Puebla’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Talavera marketplace. See the main plaza and the nearly 400 year old Basilica Cathedral of Puebla. The rest of your afternoon is at leisure. Dinner is on your own.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Mitla

Day 4 • Oaxaca - Historic Center

Scenic morning drive through the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains. Enjoy lunch. Then, continue your journey to Oaxaca. Founded in 1529, Oaxaca is a blend of Spanish charm and indigenous heritage. Oaxaca is celebrated as the romantic heart of Mexico. Enjoy a relaxing four-night stay at your centrally located hotel. Oaxaca is 5,012 feet above sea level. Dinner is on your own.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 • Oaxaca - Monte Albán, Marketplace

Morning drive to Monte Albán. These ancient Zapotec ruins are perched high on a mountain plateau. Take in sweeping views of the Oaxaca Valley. Explore the pyramids, temples, and public plazas of this ceremonial center. Return to Oaxaca. This afternoon, visit the historic center which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the main cathedral. Next, visit the traditional marketplace. Experience the sights, sounds, and aromas of Oaxaca’s culture. Lunch and Dinner are on your own.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 • Oaxaca - Teotitlán del Valle, Mitla

Morning drive to the Zapotec village of Teotitlán del Valle, renowned for its colorful rugs. Then, visit the archaeological site of Mitla. See intricately carved stone mosaic walls. Enjoy lunch. Next, visit a mezcal distillery. Sample a taste of this distilled agave beverage. On your return to Oaxaca, see a 2,000-year-old cypress tree, El Tule. The trunk has a circumference of 147 feet, making it the widest tree in the world. Dinner is on your own.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

San Bartolo Coyotepec

Day 7 • Oaxaca - San Bartolo Coyotepec

Morning visit to nearby San Bartolo Coyotepec, famous for its black pottery. Enjoy a pottery-making demonstration featuring “barro negro,” a unique black mud found only in this region. Return to Oaxaca. Afternoon is at leisure. Free time to shop for Oaxaca’s alebrijes, whimsical, brightly colored carvings of animals, people, and imaginary creatures, or indulge in Oaxaca’s famous dark chocolate. Farewell dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8 • Oaxaca

Your tour ends this morning at your hotel in Oaxaca. Breakfast is included only after 7:00 a.m. Caravan includes departure transfers on the day the tour ends from your hotel to the Oaxaca Xoxocotlán International Airport (OAX) in Oaxaca, Mexico, arriving at 5:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. If you wish to go at a different time or extend your stay in Mexico, you will need to transfer on your own at your own expense. Thanks for vacationing with Caravan. ¡Muchas Gracias!

Meals: Breakfast

Artisan Marketplace
Mitla
San Bartolo Coyotepec
Artisan Marketplace

Caret DownCaret Up Red2027 Hotels

2027 Hotels

Accommodations in the hotels and lodges are usually rooms with two beds and private bath or shower. A limited number of single rooms are available. Triple rooms are usually two beds.


Barcelo Mexico Reforma

Day 1 • Mexico City

Barcelo Mexico Reforma

Barcelo Mexico Reforma

It is ideally located on the Paseo de la Reforma, within easy walking distance of historic Alameda Park and Monumento a la Revolución, the tallest triumphal arch in the world. The Barcelo has an on-site coffee shop, bar/lounge, and a full-service restaurant. Your hotel features an indoor heated pool, fitness center, and spa. Free WiFi.


Intercontinental-Presidente

Days 2, 3 • Puebla

Intercontinental-Presidente

Intercontinental-Presidente

The Intercontinental-Presidente is a modern mid-rise hotel with two full-service restaurants and a lobby bar. Your hotel features an outdoor swimming pool and a 24-hour fitness center. Free WiFi.


Holiday Inn Express Oaxaca-Centro Historico

Days 4, 5, 6, 7 • Oaxaca

Holiday Inn Express Oaxaca-Centro Historico

Holiday Inn Express Oaxaca-Centro Historico

The hotel is located in the historic center, just 4 blocks from the Tourist Walkway, the Santo Domingo Temple, and the Cultural Center. The Holiday Inn Express is centrally located to restaurants, shops, and galleries. Your hotel features an outdoor pool and gym. Free WiFi.

Caret DownCaret Up RedAirport Transfers

Airport Transfers

Arrival Transfers

Transfer is on your own to the Hilton Mexico City Reforma (Av. Paseo de la Reforma 1) in the Centro Historico using the airport's taxi service. Rates are fixed based on city zones. Pay for your taxi ticket in advance at the booth inside the airport terminal and proceed outside to wait in line for your official verified taxi. The ride to your hotel should take approximately 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.

Departure Transfers

This tour includes departure transfers from your hotel in Oaxaca to Aeropuerto Internacional Xoxocotlán (OAX) in Oaxaca, Mexico on the day the tour ends. Transfers are scheduled to arrive at the airport at 5:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. Transfers are only available on the day the tour ends. If you wish to extend your stay in Mexico, you must transfer on your own, at your own expense. Please ask the hotel bellman to arrange a taxi. Expect to pay $30.00 U.S. Dollars per taxi, plus tip. The driving time from the hotel to the airport is approximately 30-45 minutes, depending on traffic.

Airfare is not included or sold by Caravan.

Caret DownCaret Up RedPassports & Visas

Passports & Visas

To enter Mexico, U.S. citizens will need a passport valid for 6 additional months after the date of your arrival into Mexico. Non U.S. citizens, please check passport and visa requirements. Note: If you are travelling with children under 18 years old without both parents or legal guardians, you should carry a notarized letter of authorization signed by the missing parent(s) or guardian(s). A notarized birth certificate showing only one parent, a parent’s death certificate, or a court order of child custody may also be permissible. Failure to have proper documentation could result in denial of boarding by the airline, due to international child protection laws.

Caret DownCaret Up RedWeather & Clothing

Weather & Clothing

Temperature °F (high/low) Rainfall (inches)

Mexico CityPueblaOaxaca
TempRainTempRainTempRain
Jan71/440.369/420.378/480.3
Feb74/460.272/440.382/500.3
Mar77/490.275/470.385/540.3
Apr79/530.577/500.687/581.0
May80/561.578/531.985/602.9
Jun77/574.575/545.181/616.5
Jul74/564.974/535.179/606.1
Aug74/564.774/535.179/595.8
Sep73/564.672/535.178/596.5
Oct73/522.072/502.279/562.9
Nov72/470.471/450.579/510.5
Dec71/440.170/420.278/480.2

Temperature °F (high/low) Rainfall (inches)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Mexico City
temp71/4474/4677/4979/5380/5677/5774/5674/5673/5673/5272/4771/44
rainfall0.30.20.20.51.54.54.94.74.62.00.40.1
Puebla
temp69/4272/4475/4777/5078/5375/5474/5374/5372/5372/5071/4570/42
rainfall0.30.30.30.61.95.15.15.15.12.20.50.2
Oaxaca
temp78/4882/5085/5487/5885/6081/6179/6079/5978/5979/5679/5178/48
rainfall0.30.30.31.02.96.56.15.86.52.90.50.2

Clothing Tips

This is a casual tour. Casual wear is suggested for sightseeing and daytime travelling. Dress code for evenings is casual. Suit jackets for men and dresses for women are not required. During the middle of the day, the sun is hot and bright. Caravan recommends shorts or light pants, a light shirt, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Also essential are comfortable, sturdy walking shoes with good treads. See Travel Tips for more details.

Caret DownCaret Up RedTravel Tips & FAQs

Travel Tips & FAQs

These are only the first 10 Travel Tips. Read all 42 Travel Tips

Are meals included?

Included meals for each tour are listed at the end of each day. Meals are shown by B (breakfast), L (lunch) and D (dinner). Full, buffet, or deluxe continental breakfasts are included everywhere. Free bottled water is provided on the motorcoach. Alcoholic beverages are not included unless specified.

My Tour Price Includes

Virtually everything! Hotels, most meals, all of the activities described in the itinerary, airport departure transfers, gratuities to hotel porters and restaurant staff. Caravan’s professional Tour Directors and local guides will be with you every step of the way, ensuring a worry free vacation. They are fluent in English, experienced and fun, ensuring a worry-free vacation.

My Tour Price Does Not Include

Prices do not include air travel, country entry or departure fees, airport porters, visas, phone calls, valet, laundry, all items of a personal nature, extra food and beverages not on the regular menu, and tips to the Caravan Tour Director, driver, and local guides.

A Well-Paced Itinerary

A well-paced and unhurried itinerary is our goal, after all, you are on vacation! Touring days begin and end at reasonable hours and include frequent stops. While the occasional early morning departure is necessary, we do our best to ensure a leisurely vacation.

Fully Guided Tours Since 1952

Caravan has been offering fully guided tours worldwide under the same family ownership and management since 1952. Caravan understands and truly cares about your great expectations.

Many Tours Sell Out Each Year

The farther in advance that you book, the more likely it is that your preferred tour will be open. Late bookings are welcome if the space is still available.

Family Trips

Families are always welcome on any of our tours, but we do not have any programs specifically for or limited to families. Families can make specific requests for connecting, adjacent, triple or quad rooms, when available. Children must be at least 5 years old.

Caravan’s Travel Protection Plan

Caravan Travel Protection offers peace of mind if you cancel for any reason whatsoever prior to the departure of the tour. The travel protection plan also includes air, baggage, evacuation, medical, and quarantine coverage.

Children on Tour

Children age five (5) and older are welcome on tour when accompanied by an adult. Usually, children travel during the school vacation months of June, July and August, and also during spring and winter school breaks.

International Travel with Minors

If you are travelling with children under 18 years old without both parents or legal guardians, carry a notarized letter of authorization signed by the missing parent(s) or guardian(s). A notarized birth certificate showing only one parent, a parent’s death certificate, or a court order of child custody may also be permissible. Failure to have proper documentation could result in denial of boarding by the airline, due to international child protection laws.

Read All 42 Travel TipsClick Here for All 42 Travel Tips

Caret DownCaret Up RedCustomer Reviews

Customer Reviews

These are only the first 7 Customer Reviews. Read all 10 Customer Reviews

"We loved the artisanal stops, specifically the black pottery, rug making and mescal places."

S. S. &. K. H., Germantown, Wisconsin

"I LOVED the archeological sites and churches."

P. C., Burien, Washington

"I loved every minute...I want to go back to all the places again."

G. P., East Haddam, Connecticut

"This tour was outstanding. The educational value was very important to me -- gained so much knowledge about the history and culture of Oaxaca. Had great food and stayed in wonderful hotels. I have taken several Caravan tours and was never disappointed. I will continue to recommend Caravan to friends."

C. T., Chicago, Illinois

"The hotels were FIVE stars. Everything was so well planned and we were totally amazed by the hotels."

e. &. m. t., Fayetteville, North Carolina

"Oaxaca was busier, more touristy than I had anticipated. I had wrongly assumed I would be off the beaten path but I enjoyed the trip. Puebla was also touristy but then I am the tourist! The bus driver, Raul, is a master driver, I was awed by his skill in navigating such a huge bus in tiny, seemingly impossible corners. I got to see a part of Mexico I was afraid to explore solo and I appreciate the wide array of places and experiences of this trip. Anyone, no matter how anxious, would be in the best of hands with our tour director."

Client, Anacortes, Washington

"This was a great highlight of the region. There was plenty of time to see the sites, and have some down time."

J. S., Mount Prospect, Illinois

Read All 10 ReviewsClick Here to Read All 10 Customer Reviews

Caret DownCaret Up RedWhy Travel with Caravan?

Why Travel with Caravan?

Excellence Since 1952

You can trust our years of experience with tours of superb quality and excellent value. Caravan has enjoyed the same family management and ownership since 1952.

PanAm Jet
In 1959, Pan Am invited Caravan to be the very first tour company to fly their clients on its new line of Clipper Jets.
Vintage Motorcoach
In 1964, Caravan introduced the very first fleet of air conditioned motorcoaches in all of Europe.
Leather Back Turtle Park
Caravan is a proud supporter of the Leatherback Turtle National Park and Costa Rica's efforts to protect this endangered giant.
Federal Reserve Bank Of Chicago

Caravan Care

For your safety, Caravan cancelled most 2020 and all 2021 tour departures and refunded 100% of all payments received.

Caravan's Proud History

In 1965, Roger Mudd hosted a two-hour CBS TV special on Caravan Tours. This TV production took about one month to make and was so successful it inspired the 1968 romantic comedy movie “If it’s Tuesday this must be Belgium.” In the early 50’s the Mayor of Dublin presented Caravan with the Key to Dublin for bringing the first American tour to the city after WWII. Since then, Caravan has been recognized as a pioneer in travel. You can trust in our stability, experience and dedication to quality.

Great Hotels

Stay at park lodges, scenic resorts, and excellent hotels in great locations. See hotel descriptions on each tour page.

Meals

Most meals included within Latin America. For USA and Canada tours, included meals are listed on each itinerary page. Bottled water is provided on motorcoaches in Latin America.

Complete Sightseeing

Enjoy complete sightseeing with more visits, extra features, and local guides.

Fully Guided by Tour Directors

All tours conducted from start to finish by professional tour directors, who are fluent in English, experienced, and fun.

All-inclusive

Caravan includes all activities listed in the tour itinerary page. Caravan does not sell any optional activities which can add hundreds of dollars to your tour price. Your free time is scheduled in great settings where there is no need to buy additional expensive activities.

Shopping Freedom

Caravan will not bring you to overpriced shops in exchange for payments. Caravan gives you ample opportunity and time for great shopping, and the freedom to choose where and when to shop.

Great Value, Book Early

Caravan’s strong buying power gives you great vacations at prices much lower than you can find anywhere. Most of our tours sell out quickly. Book early for the date you prefer and the best airfare.

How does Caravan Tours sell these tours for such a low cost?

Caravan delivers volume to our suppliers, who in turn reward us with their very best prices. We in turn pass these savings on to you, and you reward us by buying our tours. As volume continues to rise, we then receive even better prices from our suppliers, and we pass even greater savings on to you. This year our tours are better than ever.

Trade Association Memberships

Caravan is a member of NTA (National Tour Association), ABA (American Bus Association), CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), and ACMA (American Commerce Marketing Association).

NTA, ABA, CLIA, and ACMA