Oaxaca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is more than a destination—it’s an immersion in living history, dazzling biodiversity, and unforgettable flavors.
So why visit Oaxaca? With Southwest Discoveries’ boutique tour of Oaxaca, Mexico, you’ll experience the city and its natural surroundings with art and cultural historian Teresa DÃaz, and naturalist and hiking expert Mitch Stevens. This isn’t just another trip. It’s a way of seeing the world in a whole new light in an inclusive environment.
ART
We’ll stroll the streets of this magical city, where art and history greet us at every corner.
We’ll explore major printmaking centers, vibrant street-art vendors, world-class museums, and exquisite art galleries featuring the best current exhibitions guided by Teresa Diaz, owner of Red Dot Art Gallery.
HIKE
We’ll step into nature on refreshing hikes with Mitch. He’ll take us through valleys and forests that connect indigenous towns to experience their welcoming environs first-hand while providing fascinating insights to the region’s natural wonders. We’ll trek through San AgustÃn’s forest to its waterfalls. We’ll experience beautiful plantlife and spectacular wildlife endemic to Mexico’s most biodiverse state.
EAT
We’ll savor Oaxaca’s culinary treasures—from market delicacies to mezcal tastings and the region’s famed moles. Along the way, explore the birthplace of corn, squash, and ancestral foodways that shaped the world. We’ll learn about the process of making mezcal at a renowned palenque accompanied by a delightful array of Oaxacan cuisine. We’ll visit the Sunday Tlacolula tianguis—one of Mesoamerica’s greatest outdoor markets, shopping alongside indigenous locals, feasting on goat barbacoa and roasted grasshoppers wrapped in heritage corn tortillas. We will indulge in locally sourced dishes with inventive mezcal cocktails at a top-notch restaurants, visit the local market to taste the 8 rich moles, experience the other regional delights like tlayudas, mole empanadas, memelas and desserts, try a famed Asian eatery, and finish with a cold artisanal beer in a hidden private cactus-and-art garden.
CULTURE
We’ll trace Toledo’s legacy at CASA, his textile factory reborn as a world-class arts center. We’ll admire San Bartolo Coyotepec’s legendary black pottery, the magical textiles of Teotitlán del Valle, Jacobo and MarÃa’s vibrant wood carvings, San Antonino’s exquisite embroidery, the Velázquez family’s painted ceramics, and the breathtaking Rodolfo Morales Museum. We’ll take an excursion to the hillside town of Tlapazola to visit a red-ceramic woman artisan’s home to find that perfect piece.
HISTORY
Step back in time to Zapotec splendor at the sacred city of Monte Albán, then descend to Cuilápam de Guerrero’s grand Dominican monastery—a prime example of early 16th Century architecture and muralism. We’ll admire the golden Santo Domingo church, visit Zapotec and Mixtec sites Dainzu and Yagul, hike to caves and petroglyphs, and follow Coco’s route to the underworld through the mysterious ruins of Mitla. We’ll see colonial architecture, archeological wonders, and historic landmarks that tell the story of 16 Indigenous groups who still honor their traditions in 32 living languages.
JOIN US JUNE 5-12, 2026!
Trip price per person is $2950, includes 7 nights at a 4-star, boutique hotel in downtown Oaxaca, daily tours, all entrance fees, hikes and guides, land transportation, breakfasts, and lunch. (Transportation to and from Oaxaca, as well as alcoholic beverages, are not included.)
Want to find out more? Join us at REI Tucson on October 25th for a free informational presentation! All attendees of REI’s presentation receive a 10% discount if registered by November 30, 2025. To register, a $500 USD deposit is necessary to secure your space. Space is limited to 12 participants. The full amount is due February 28, 2026. Cancellation with 50% refund accepted by May 30 (except deposit). No refund 30 days prior to trip departure (unless extreme circumstances, only a 50% refund will be honored). Paypal and personal checks accepted. To register, contact us.
