Day of the Dead, “Noche de Muertos” is a holiday where it is believed the souls of your departed loved ones rise to the earth during one night. Families sit with their dearly departed through the night; they bring offerings of their favorite food and drink; photographs of memories past and tell stories of what they missed during the past 12 months. The spirituality and beauty of the preparation are just as important as the ritual; and flowers, candles and sugar skulls fill the markets and streets. This is one of the most magical times in one of the most beautiful places in Mexico. You’ll step back in time and experience a celebration filled with all the traditions of the past. And, if that’s not enough, all the artists from the State of Michoacan gather in the Plaza to display and sell their beautiful works. And, one of the most important folk art competitions takes place and opens to the public the day of the night of the cemetery visits.
Friday, October 29:
Arrivals in Morelia, Michoacan. Take a taxi to our charming hotel in the center of Morelia. If you arrive early, we'll be walking distance from the main Plaza and several cultural gems in this gorgeous colonial city. We'll meet for a group dinner and get acquainted.
Saturday, October 29:
After breakfast in our hotel, we'll head to Patzcuaro and check into our hotel. Each room has its' own fireplace to keep you toasty in the chilly evenings. Then, we'll spend the entire day in the Plaza enjoying the artisans and their work and exploring Patzcuaro. We'll make arrangements to have our truck parked in a central location so you can shop all day and drop things off throughout the day. In the evening, we'll attend a mask show opening at a local restaurant. There is always great food and music.
Sunday, October 31:
We'll spend most of the day in Tzin Tzun Tzan, once seat of the Purepecha empire. (There might be a parade.) You can explore the pyramids and a beautiful church. In the center of town is a crafts market and during Day of the Dead, other streets are lined with artisans selling their wares. We'll stop along the way and visit a Cantera carver and a wood carver. Time permitting, we'll venture around to the other side of Lake Patzcuaro and visit a wonderful carver. For those who are interested, there is a fun, fund raising party during the evening to benefit the local spay/neuter clinic. It is hosted by the owners of a beautiful B&B in a renovated colonial home in the heart of the city.
Monday, November 1:
Today will be a full day that will last long into the night. We'll begin at the competition tent that opens at 11am. You'll have the opportunity to see and buy some magnificent pieces. There is always a huge crowd, but it's worth it. The afternoon can be spent as you please, resting or shopping. You should plan on a late lunch somewhere. In the evening, we'll first head to the Basilica where you'll enjoy a concert (usually Mozart's Requium) performed by the Michoacan State Symphony and accompanied by a 100 person choir with 2 soloists. This massive and gorgeous building has beautiful acoustics and the music is wonderful. After the concert, we'll head out to the cemetaries. We prefer to visit 2-3 smaller villages that are quieter and less crowded. And, we feel that are more authentic in their traditions than some of the larger villages that have now begun catering to tourists and television stations. It will be a magical evening.
Tuesday, November 2:
We'll sleep in and ease into the day since we will have been up late the night before. We'll spend the day in Patzcuaro again. If you choose, you can take a walking tour of the "big houses" organized by the community. There are several large colonial homes that open their doors to tourists during this time. Or, you may like to visit Patzcuaro's beautiful churches and museums. There is also a trolley tour through the city that will give you a quick education about the history and architecture. Or, you may choose to take a boat ride out to Janitzio, the island in the middle of Lake Patzcuaro famous for Day of the Dead. (We don't go to the island cemetary as it is usually filled with young people who tend to party too much.)
Wednesday, November 3:
We'll head out to Santa Clara del Cobre, a nearby village known for its copper craftsmen. Several of the artisans offer demonstrations of this ancient craft. There is a great museum with prize winning pieces for you to explore. In the afternoon, we'll head back to the square in Patzcuaro where we'll continue to make the rounds with the artists. Late afternoon we'll head out to Ihuatzio where our friends Arminda and Kevin will cook us a traditional Purepecha meal and we'll enjoy Arminda's family altar and perhaps a few traditional songs.
Thursday, November 4:
After some last minute errands, it will be time to get organized and get all our treasures packed for shipping. As of today, there is an early morning flight out of Morelia to Houston. In the afternoon, we'll head back to Morelia and have our final comida together so those that need to leave early will be closer to the airport. We'll say our goodbyes after a culturally rich week together.
Friday, November 5:
Departures out of Morelia.
Our trips also include shipping your purchases back to Boerne. Space will be limited to boxes that can fit on pallets. If you wish to purchase larger items, we can make special arrangements for an additional cost. We will help with organizing your packing needs (bubble wrap, tape, boxes, etc.). Trust us, we've packed super fragile items hundreds of times and can give you our best advise. But, ultimately you will be responsible to safely pack all your own items. COSAS cannot be responsible for any breakage. It is a good idea to pack a little each day so you know what your materials needs may be.A $500 deposit is required to hold a spot for each person. (Please make checks payable to COSAS.) Groups limited to no more than 8 on a "first come/first served" basis. No children please.
A non-refundable $1000 deposit is required to hold a spot for each person. (Please make checks payable to COSAS.) Groups limited to no more than 8 on a "first come/first served" basis. No children please.
Day of the Dead Trip Cost: $1950 per person
For single occupancy, please add $700.
Deposit required no later than July 15 with full payment prior to October 15.
All of our trips include lodging based on double occupancy. We prefer to stay in small, quaint hotels or B&Bs as opposed to large commercial hotels. Full breakfast is included each day and most dinners are included. We leave lunches open since the custom in Mexico is to have a late "comida" as opposed to traditional US lunches. When we are on day trips, we always stop for snacks and usually have a cooler along to keep beverages cold and available. Transfer to/from airport is included and all ground transporation is included.
Our trips also include shipping your purchases back to Boerne. Space will be limited to boxes that can fit on pallets. If you wish to purchase larger items, we can make special arrangements for an additional cost. We will help with organizing your packing needs (bubble wrap, tape, boxes, etc.). Trust us, we've packed super fragile items hundreds of times and can give you our best advise. But, ultimately you will be responsible to safely pack all your own items. (Help will be available for an additional charge if you do not wish to pack your own things.) COSAS cannot be responsible for any breakage. It is a good idea to pack a little each day so you know what your materials needs may be.
*Ground transporation provided to events listed in the details of the itinerary. Activities may change if unforseen circumstances occur. Transportation to/from Morelia airport included. Airfare not included. Personal items including alcoholic beverages, snacks, laundry, phone calls and other incidentals are not included. No refunds for breakfasts not consumed; events/services not used; early departures. If for any reason COSAS cancels the tour, a full refund will be issued.
