Oaxacan Craft and Culinary Tour
About the Trip
Join us for an unforgettable 5-night, 6-day stay in the vibrant city of Oaxaca. This experience is perfect for food and art lovers. With Chef Zaida’s expertise in traditional cuisine and Caroline’s strong connections with local artisans, we’ve crafted a unique tour that truly captures the spirit of Oaxaca.
Explore pre-Hispanic Indigenous knowledge through interactions with skilled artisans, and discover why Oaxaca is a top travel destination. Enjoy a variety of dining experiences, from local markets and home-cooked meals to exceptional five-star restaurants. Chef Zaida will host a private cooking class, where she’ll share her insights into traditional Oaxacan cuisine right in her hometown.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of stunning art, including pottery, candles, and textiles. We’ll also visit the agave fields to learn about artisanal mezcal production and sample mezcal varieties. Each day will end with a restful stay at one of Oaxaca’s top boutique hotels in the city center.
Hosted by:
Zaida Soriano of Zaida’s Kitchen and Caroline Kent of Mano Made are a mother/daughter duo who are combining their knowledge of food and artisan crafts to form a curated travel experience connecting you with the land of their ancestors.
The Oaxacan food world is incredibly vibrant and diverse. We’ll start our day with a traditional Oaxacan breakfast, learn about the local varieties of food at local mercados, and sample a variety of street food. After immersing ourselves in these local delights, we’ll take part in a private cooking class led by Zaida. She will guide us through the preparation of traditional Oaxacan dishes, and we’ll then gather around the communal table to savor our creations, celebrating the exceptional flavors of Oaxaca together.
Oaxacan Gastronomy
Traditional Cacao Cooking Class in Tlacolula, Oaxaca
Artisan Craft
You will learn about pottery, textiles and candles from master artisans themselves. The day will be filled learning the process behind the techniques that date back to pre-hispanic times. Each object is made with sustainable materials and is a slow, intention-based process.
Example Itinerary. Please note that each of our tours is unique and may vary.
Day 1
A private driver will pick you up from the airport and take you to Grana Hotel. We’ll meet in the lobby at 5 p.m. to start our evening. We’ll begin with a stroll around the city, soaking in the sights and getting acquainted. Our first meal will be on a rooftop at one of Oaxaca's top restaurants, where you can savor the flavors of Oaxaca as the sun sets. Afterward, we’ll walk back to the hotel together.
Day 2
On our first day, we’ll embark on an excursion to Teotitlán del Valle, a Zapotec village just outside the city. We’ll visit artisans who specialize in weaving traditional rugs with natural dyes and learn about candle-making from master artisan Viviana. After a day of immersive learning and discovery, we’ll break for lunch. You’ll return to Oaxaca in the evening to explore on your own and enjoy the city at your leisure.
Day 3
It’s market day in Tlacolula! We’ll dive into the vibrant atmosphere of the market, sampling foods and shop for local crafts. Afterward, we’ll visit a friend who will teach us the art of traditional pottery making. She is a master artisan, who learned her craft from a young age and has a warm, generous spirit. She will walk us through the entire process from start to finish.
Day 4
We’ll start the day by venturing into the world of mezcal. You’ll learn the entire process of making ancestral mezcal from start to finish. Under the guidance of a master mezcalero, we’ll explore and taste a variety of mezcal varieties.
Day 5
Cooking Class Day! Chef Zaida will take us to the market to select fresh ingredients, which we’ll use to prepare vibrant Oaxacan dishes in the kitchen. You’ll learn how to make tortillas, delicious tamales, rich moles, and other traditional specialties.
Day 6
Our goodbyes will take place at our final breakfast at a local favorite hotspot. We’ll share one last meal together and reminisce about the memories we’ve created. Check-out is at 11 a.m., and a private van will be ready to take you to the airport.
“The entire trip was a highlight! But if I had to pick one, it's the day of the cooking class where we went to the market, prepped, cooked and shared a meal in the company of our new friends in that beautiful table setting. I also loved that first evening when we had dinner at the roof deck of Casa Oaxaca, with an amazing view of the church and the sun setting in the backdrop, that was a magical evening.”
Frances T.
“This trip was everything I was hoping for and more! I loved our little group, all of our stories shared and getting to know each of you more.
Thank you so much Zaida and Caroline for being lovely and generous hosts. I truly feel honored to have been part of it.”
Kami L.
“What makes this tour special are Zaida and Caroline. Their love for their city clearly shows and you can't help but feel the same affection towards it by the end of the trip. A place takes on a different meaning when you're with people who bring it to life with stories and context.”
Road To Oaxaca February 2024
What’s Included
5 Nights at Grana Hotel in center of Oaxaca, Mexico
Welcome dinner at 5-star restaurant on the rooftop at sunset
Breakfast provided at hotel, most lunches and dinners are included (between market days, fine dining, and cooking class communal meal)
We provide airport pick-up and drop-off services via van to your hotel on the start and end dates of the tour. If you arrive earlier or depart after the tour concludes, we're happy to assist in arranging additional pick-up and drop-off services for you.
Transportation to daily activities
Examples of activities range from natural dyeing workshops, pottery sessions, to candle demonstrations. Each tour is unique, with activities curated for each experience. Therefore, no tour is exactly the same.
Mezcal tour and tasting
Private cooking class with Chef Zaida and communal meal
What’s Not Included:
Airfare
Alcohol (Except during Mezcal tasting)
Personal Travel Insurance (We highly encourage travel insurance)
Tips
Get in touch
We’re here to answer all of your questions.