Day of the Dead tour Oaxaca: Pantheons October 31

Families stay in the cemetery all night, and you stay with them.

A six- to seven-hour tour of Oaxaca's Day of the Dead vigil on October 31, visiting the Pantheon of Atzompa and Pantheon of Xoxocotlán as families gather to light candles, leave offerings, and wait for the spirits of their ancestors. You'll share a traditional dinner of mole, tamales and mezcal, receive face paint for the occasion, and see altars prepared for the dead explained by your guide in English or Spanish.

Step-by-step itinerary

Celebrate Day of the Dead in Oaxaca

• Face paint decoration
• Visit altar of the dead exhibition
• Tour Pantheon of Atzompa
• Tour Pantheon of Xoxocotlan
• Enjoy traditional dinner with mole and mezcal

The experience

What makes October 31 different in Oaxaca is not a daytime event. It's the all-night vigil families keep in the cemeteries. Around 5 or 6 in the evening, Oaxacans begin arriving at the pantheons with flowers, candles, mud skulls, and the favorite foods and drinks of their deceased. The tradition holds that if families do not keep watch through the night, the spirits will not visit. You join this gathering at the Pantheon of Atzompa and the Pantheon of Xoxocotlán, where the atmosphere is full of music, food, and mezcal: far from somber, it is a celebration of life and memory that continues until 4 or 5 in the morning.

The tour includes a traditional dinner of mole, tamales, hot chocolate, dead bread and mezcal, so you eat what families eat on this night. Your guide will walk you through the meaning of the altars Oaxacans prepare, each one filled with the things their loved ones enjoyed most in life. You'll also receive face paint so you can dress for the occasion and blend into the festivities. An air-conditioned vehicle transports you between the two pantheons, giving you time to rest between the long stretches of the vigil.

Because demand is high during these dates, the operator asks that you book well in advance. The tour operates in English and Spanish, and children from age one are welcome, though the late hours and the emotional weight of the occasion mean this works best for families prepared for a long night away from routine.

What’s included

• Exquisite dinner featuring mole, tamales, hot chocolate, dead bread and mezcal.
• face makeup for the occasion.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport between the two pantheons.
• guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 19:00 and 19:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 70 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupUp to 33

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by turisteando en oaxaca

Is this one for you?This tour works best for small groups or families ready for a full night away from routine, since the vigil runs until dawn and the emotional significance of the occasion means you'll be present for something deeply personal to Oaxacan culture. Children from age one can attend, though the late hours suit families comfortable with an unconventional schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

What exactly happens at the pantheons on the night of October 31?

Families gather at the cemeteries to keep an all-night vigil, lighting candles along the graves, leaving offerings of flowers and food, and sharing meals and mezcal to honor and welcome back the spirits of their deceased. The tradition dates back many years and is rooted in the belief that the spirits arrive around 3 in the morning and must be guided home to the altars waiting for them.

How long does the tour actually run, and what time does it end?

The tour lasts six to seven hours and continues until the early morning, ending around 4 or 5 in the morning when families begin to leave the pantheons. You'll be in the cemeteries for the core of the vigil, when the atmosphere is most active.

What is an altar of the dead, and why do Oaxacan families make them?

An altar of the dead is a carefully arranged display in the home filled with the favorite foods, drinks, flowers, candles and objects of the deceased person. Families prepare them as a way to welcome the spirits home and honor what their loved ones enjoyed most in life. The altar serves as a bridge between the living and those who have passed.

Will I need to bring a costume, or is the face paint enough?

The tour includes face paint so you can participate in the festive spirit of the night. You're welcome to bring a costume if you wish, but the face paint provided is designed to prepare you for the occasion without requiring advance planning.