Día de Muertos: marigolds, mezcal and an open invitation

Marigolds appear first. Thousands of them, strung in arches and heaped on altars, their colour so concentrated it seems to vibrate against the October light. Then the smoke, incense drifting through the streets of Oaxaca, mixing with the smell of roasting corn. Día de Muertos smells and sounds like nothing a photograph can hold.“The perception of a lot of travellers is that <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/mexico-bespoke">Mexico</a> is a beach destination,” says Dane Tredway, B&amp;R’s Experience Designer for Mexico. “But there is so much opportunity to explore the vibrant culture here, enjoy the outdoors by biking and hiking while staying at design-led boutique hotels. And with Oaxaca being known as one of the best places in the entire country to celebrate the Day of the Dead, it’s something very different.”

The three-day festival, October 31 through November 2, has a progression of tone that most outsiders don’t expect. “In the first few days, as families are creating altars for loved ones, it’s more of a time of quiet reflection,” Dane explains. “As the festivities progress, it becomes more of a celebration of life. The idea is that they’re welcoming the dead back into the land of the living—a time to rejoice and reconnect.” Each village around Oaxaca City marks the days differently: some cemeteries are contemplative, others alive with comparsas, brass bands who wear elaborate costumes.

What surprises most visitors is how welcome they are in all of it. “You’ll be walking through the parade and people are handing you mezcal shots,” Dane says. “You’re very much encouraged to participate, as opposed to looking in from the other side of the looking glass.”The days between festivities are equally full, and equally distinct. Easy bike rides through near-desert landscape, hiking in the Sierra Madre foothills between two of the Pueblos Mancomunados, eight Zapotec villages that turned away from mining to protect their culture through ecotourism.One morning begins at the petrified waterfalls of Hierve el Agua, mineral-rich water frozen mid-cascade over centuries into formations that look more like architecture than geology. From there, the route continues on foot through an agave-studded landscape to Casa Silencio, a design-forward mezcal distillery that sits in an agave field. The tour moves through the palenque and fermentation areas before settling at a stone table for a five-course sunset dinner paired with special-edition mezcals. “It’s truly spectacular,” Dane says.&nbsp;

Día de Muertos is one window into Mexico, and there are many others. Across the country, centuries-old traditions still shape everyday life, from the family table to the village square. Whether you begin in Oaxaca or somewhere else entirely, Mexico rewards those who arrive curious and take the time to look closer.

In Oaxaca, Día de Muertos means marigold altars, brass bands and an open invitation to join in, plus hikes, Hierve el Agua and a sunset mezcal dinner.

Inside Day of the Dead in Oaxaca, Mexico

Discover Mexico

Mexico offers far more than just beaches—especially when your journey winds through the culturally rich heart of Oaxaca and the storied landscapes of the Yucatán Peninsula. In Oaxaca, the rhythm of life is rooted in centuries-old traditions: vibrant street markets brim with textiles, pottery and smoky mezcal, while ancient Zapotec ruins like Monte Albán rise above the valley. In Yucatán, a different cultural tapestry unfolds. Cities like Mérida pulse with music, pastel-coloured buildings and a thriving arts scene. Beyond the cityscapes, dense jungles guard majestic Mayan ruins like&nbsp;Chichen Itza. Cenotes—natural limestone sinkholes filled with crystal-clear water—offer a mystical alternative to the beach. And the food and the people? Equally unforgettable.

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Mexico hums with colour, flavour and culture. Where smoky mezcal flows from generations-old distilleries and markets pulse with energy. Kayak quiet mangroves and unwind in design-forward haciendas that feel blissfully off the map. Hike and bike the Sierra Norte’s quiet foothills, wander Monte Albán’s ancient heights and embrace the warmth of the people—and the food. Vibrant, layered and full of soul, Mexico doesn’t follow a script. It dances to its own rhythm.&nbsp;

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Step into Oaxaca when it’s at its most magical: Día de Muertos, when streets glow with colour, music fills the air, and ancient rituals honour the dead. From bustling markets and hands-on cooking workshops to candlelit altars and late-night parades, every day blends active adventure with intimate, immersive encounters—celebrating life, honouring the past, and creating memories that will linger long after the candles burn out.

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Día de Muertos: marigolds, mezcal and an open invitation

Mexico

In Oaxaca, the Day of the Dead moves from quiet reflection to full celebration, and you’re invited to join in, mezcal in hand.

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