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A Day in the Life of a Zapotec Village: Experience Traditions and Culture of Oaxaca
Immerse yourself in the traditions and culture of a Zapotec village in Oaxaca. Experience the art of making traditional chocolate, visit artisans, and indulge in authentic cuisine.
Immerse yourself in the traditions and culture of a Zapotec village in Oaxaca. Experience the art of making traditional chocolate, visit artisans, and indulge in authentic cuisine.
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Laxha tours - my driver and I will pick you up at your hotel at 8:30 am in the city of Oaxaca, we will travel 75 minutes to reach my hometown of San Dionisio Ocotepec, once at home my mother will receive us with a traditional breakfast. Later, my family will show you how to make traditional chocolate with an ancestral technique. Later we will walk…
- Laxha tours - my driver and I will pick you up at your hotel at 8:30 am in the city of Oaxaca, we will travel 75 minutes to reach my hometown of San Dionisio Ocotepec, once at home my mother will receive us with a traditional breakfast. Later, my family will show you how to make traditional chocolate with an ancestral technique. Later we will walk towards the center of the town to learn about the history and culture of this town, we will also visit a small typical clothing store. Lunch time arrives and my mother will cook for us in her traditional kitchen. After lunch we will take a little ride in my tuk-tuk around the town. Mezcal occupies a very important place in our Zapotec culture, so to end our day we will visit an artisan mezcal distillery where you will receive an explanation of the process of this drink as well as tastings. We will return back to the city after a day full of adventures
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Complimentary water
- Inclusive of lunch
- Snacks provided
- Breakfast included
- Guided explanations in English and Spanish
- Private transportation
- Complimentary water
- Inclusive of lunch
- Snacks provided
- Breakfast included
- Guided explanations in English and Spanish
Additional Information
In this tour you will be able to live the experience of sharing a day with my family in a Zapotec town in the central valleys of Oaxaca, this tour includes gastronomy, crafts, culture and history.
You will learn step by step about the elaboration of traditional chocolate with an ancestral technique, since for us this drink is very significant. We will…
In this tour you will be able to live the experience of sharing a day with my family in a Zapotec town in the central valleys of Oaxaca, this tour includes gastronomy, crafts, culture and history.
You will learn step by step about the elaboration of traditional chocolate with an ancestral technique, since for us this drink is very significant. We will also visit a couple of artisans of typical clothing and handmade footwear to see the products that they offer us. Mezcal occupies a very important place in Zapotec culture and ritual, so we will also visit an artisan mezcal distillery. Over lunch my mother will prepare fresh and healthy traditional food including tortillas that she makes in her kitchen.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(43 Ratings)
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Michaelph4404fn
Apr 17, 2025
Cesar engages you immediately in the Zapotec culture - 5-star review alert! We just spent an unforgettable day in San Dionisio Ocotepec (SOD) with Cesar from Yudiza Tours, and we're still buzzing from the experience! Cesar is a fantastic guide who's fluent in Spanish, English, and his native Zapotec - and his family's warmth and hospitality will make you feel like part of the familia.
From the moment we arrived, we were treated like honored guests. We met Cesar's parents, girlfriend, uncle, and half the town as we explored the village. The highlight of our day was the delicious breakfast served in Cesar's family's rustic kitchen - think handmade tables, dirt floor, and wood fire comal - it was like stepping back in time!
But that was just the beginning. We got to experience the real Oaxaca, from touring the local church and library to visiting Cesar's uncle's farm, where we saw corn and agave fields and even petted the cattle. We also marveled at his brother's stunning art gallery, saw the family business bicycle shop, and ended the day with a tour of a Mezcal distillery.
Cesar's storytelling skills will have you laughing, and his passion for his culture is infectious. The moto taxi ride was a fun bonus, and the entire tour was incredibly authentic. If you're looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience that will leave you with unforgettable memories and a new appreciation for Zapotec culture, book this tour. Trust us, you won't regret it! After you've done the touristy stuff in Oaxaca, come to SOD and experience the real deal with Cesar and Yudiza Tours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Boardingpass585569
Mar 15, 2025
An authentic experience with Caesar and his family - It was a special experience for us to spend the day with Caesar's warm family, eating, laughing and traditionally making chocolate from freshly roasted cocoa beans.
Also the village tour was interesting because the communal structures are so different, people regulate many things themselves and are there for each other. You help each other in all situations!
Caesar has a great general knowledge, whether it is world politics, religion, tradition or nutrition and health. We talked about God and the world with him, the exchange with him was a pleasure for us.
In the anzestral mezcal distillery we (after the 3rd edition) Sample) understood that mezcal is not just alcohol. It was very informative, enriching and last but not least a bit intoxicating!;)
Best regards, Michaela and Reiner
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dougg384
Mar 8, 2025
Great Day! - So after going on other great tours to all of the obligatory sights outside of Oaxaca (Monte Alban, Mitla, etc) we were looking for something a little different. I saw A Day in the Life of a Zapotec Village had gotten excellent reviews and so I made contact with Cesar. I’ll cut to the chase. This turned out to be among our most positive experiences in all of Oaxaca. This small village is the real deal. Cesar is very warm and his whole family, whose primary language is Zapotec, couldn’t have been more accommodating. We started with a delicious breakfast after which we were shown how authentic chocolate is made. This took about an hour and was really interesting. After that we walked around town which was also fun. Then it was back to the house for a delicious lunch. The day ended with a trip to an ancestral Mezcal distillery. We really enjoyed Cesar’s family along with his girlfriend, his brother and a neighbor who is a master chocolate maker. This was no dog and pony show but, rather, a real cultural exchange with an indigenous family. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ling
Feb 25, 2025
Unique and wonderful experience - We had such an amazing day with Cesar and his family. I loved watching his great aunt make chocolate and his mom cook lunch. Not to mention his uncle’s Mezcal was the best I have ever had.
We visited his brother’s art gallery and his friend’s Mezcal distillery as well to complete the wonderful and unique experience in Cesar’s hometown.
A truly memorable experience and when I visit Oaxaca in the future, I will bring friends to experience it all over again.
Thank you Cesar and your lovely family (and the two doggies) for such a wonderful day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Richardlh2448xn
Feb 25, 2025
An intimate experience - I had the pleasure of taking an incredible tour with Cesar to his home town San Dionisio Ocotepec, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, Cesar made us feel right at home. He welcomed us with open arms and invited us into his family home, where his mom prepared a delicious, authentic meal that was full of flavors unique to the region. To top it off, his aunt wowed us by making chocolate from scratch in the traditional way. Watching the process and tasting the fresh, handmade chocolate was such a treat!
After this, Cesar took us on a ride in his tuk-tuk to visit his friends' mezcal dispensary. There, we were treated to a fascinating and educational walkthrough of the entire mezcal production process. Cesar explained the ancient, ancestral methods used to craft mezcal, showcasing the care, knowledge, and passion that go into each bottle. We were able to see the entire journey of mezcal—from the harvesting of agave plants to the distillation process, and of course, tasting the final product.
This tour was not only a deep dive into the rich culture and traditions of the region, but it also felt like a personal, authentic experience that allowed us to connect with the people and practices that make this place so special. I highly recommend this tour for anyone seeking a unique, enriching experience! Thank you Cesar and to his family.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
673carolyns
Jan 22, 2025
Authentic cultural experience - Our experience with César’s was an absolute highlight of our stay in Mexico. The day began with a beautiful breakfast and chocolate-making session followed by a walk through the local market and town, where we sampled the refreshing, locally made drink tejate and fresh fruit. The meals supplied were made fresh by the lovely women in his family, and were some of the best we had. We also had the opportunity to create artwork with César’s talented brother and learn about the traditional mezcal-making process.
This distillery’s mezcal is far superior to any other we have tried in Mexico. What makes it even more special is their use of ancestral and sustainable techniques.
If you’re looking for an authentic experience, this tour is a must!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amanda_r
Jan 17, 2025
The best experience in Oaxaca! - This was hands down my favorite experience I had during my stay in Oaxaca. (And I did a LOT of tours/experiences)! We came as guests and left as friends. The family was so welcoming and we got to watch (and participate!) in the cacao process. We got to eat some delicious home-made food and explore the village. We also got to visit Cesar’s brother’s art gallery!! He does amazing work!! The mezcal tour was my favorite one that I did during my trip and hanging out with Cesar all day was a real treat! This experience was very different from others I did and it really was like going and visiting a friend for the day!
Review provided by Viator
Timcn5115gf
Nov 15, 2024
Lovely day trip outside of Oaxaca City - This was a great tour run by a wonderful human, Cesar. It was nice to see a town outside of the city center and he planned such a nice mix of activities and cuisines. Definitely worth doing if you're in Oaxaca City.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Quigdragon
Nov 11, 2024
Beautiful and unique experience - I booked a tour with Cesar for myself and 8 friends. We started out the day learning about ancestral chocolate making techniques, before talking a walk around the village, having lunch with his family and visiting agave fields and an artisan mezcal distillery. It was a wonderful experience from start to finish. We were made to feel so welcome by Cesar and his family and there were many unique thoughtful touches. We were there during day of the day so we also got to observe some local traditions surrounding this holiday and eat an absolutely delicious meal. The mezcal from the distillery he took us too was my favorite from my entire trip too. Highly recommend for those wanting a slow paced tour where you really get a feel for local life. It is not your typical tourist group tour experience and exactly what we were looking for. Thanks Cesar!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tourist99987
Mar 30, 2024
A wonderful day in a Zapotec village - Authentic, hands-on experience with family! Best mezcal distillery visit. Thanks Cesar for a great day ! Highly recommended !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
