We went there for 8 days & had a fabulous time! Things not to miss: Hierva de Agua, Monte Alban, and Mitla. The attached picture is of me at the Hierva de Agua (petrified waterfalls). This is up on the side of a mountain & has a wonderful view. 4 years ago

Airline tickets purchased!! Now all we need is our passports, which we are hoping to get rolling on this weekend. Yay! 5 years ago

We’re going this year! About a month ago I started a “quarter sleeve” tattoo on my left arm of a sugar skull. It got Rachel & I talking about how much we each have wanted to go for years, so we are finally making it happen! Hotel accomodations are already booked & we already bought a guidebook about Oaxaca. Now we just need to get passports & buy our airline tkts. We are SO excited! :D 5 years ago

I was living in Oaxaca during Day of the Dead/Dia de los muertos 2005. Almost the entire month of October leads up to the fiesta days (Oct 31-Nov 4?). Its an incredible experience to be in Oaxaca during those days, spiritually and artistically.
The fiesta is a very family and community oriented event, but there is plenty for visitors to take part in. However tourists should be careful not to intrude on private and family events.
One misconception that many “goth” visitors seemed to have is that its a dark or macabre event. Hardly. More like a family reunion where many of the guests happen to be returning from the other side.
In most of Mexico this holiday is losing out to Halloween. In Guanajuato where I lived in 2006, Muertos was hardly acknowledged at all. Another region with a strong celebration of Muertos is around Lake Patzcuaro, Michoacan. 6 years ago