Experience true cultural immersion during the Día de los Muertos Mexican holiday.
At the end of October in the highlands of Mexico, marigolds bloom, fireplaces are lit to warm chilly evenings and the dead return. This is your opportunity to experience Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a beloved Mexican holiday, at Casa Carmelita in Tlaxcala. Marvel at the beauty of traditional ofrendas (offering tables) and other holiday decorations throughout the home. Learn more about the history and celebration of the holiday through a guided Dia de los Muertos cultural tour in Puebla. And, for a truly immersive experience, cook traditional holiday recipes, along with other regional favorites. This week's tour is specially designed, and has very limited availability. So book now to secure your space!
Day of the Dead Mexican Culinary Holiday
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ItineraryAccommodationsMapFAQTestimonials
VACATION HIGHLIGHTS
Please note:
Tour inclusions can change depending upon
seasonality and weather conditions.
•6 Nights B&B Accommodations
•Mexico City Round-Trip Transfers
•All Meals & Beverages During Tour
•Day of the Dead Festival in Puebla
•4 Traditional Pueblan Cooking Classes
•Cultural History Tour of Old Tlaxcala
•Guided Produce & Spice Market Tour
•Festival & Holiday Recipe Focus
•Free Day for you to Design
•Farewell Dinner with Music
While our tours are designed as soft adventure experiences, walking, climbing stairs,
and in rare cases mild hiking may be required. If you have mobility issues, you should
speak with one of our culinary travel specialists to determine if this tour is
appropriate for your situation.
AVAILABLE DATES
This holiday tour is offered one week only each year and runs from Saturday, October 28th to Friday, November 3rd, 2023.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Please note: Actual itineraries are subject to change due to seasonality.
Click arrows (▶) to show details
Day 1
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Airport Transfers from Mexico CityOnce your private driver has met you at the airport, your vacation begins, and you are here to relax, unwind, and enjoy yourself while you learn Mexican home cooking. From Mexico City Airport, your 1.5-hour drive will be via a modern 4-lane expressway over pine-covered mountains. Your package also includes a return to Mexico City airport via the Luxury Airport Shuttle, which departs every half-hour from Puebla non-stop to your airline at the airport.
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Welcome Dinner with Magical Margaritas!Upon arrival at Casa Carmelita, you will enjoy a delicious, festive welcome. Relish light appetizers, drinks, and the chance to meet fellow vacationers and your hosts. Choose from soft drinks, beer, wine, or the classic Mexican drink: Margaritas. After you are settled into your room, you will enjoy a classic Pueblan dinner prepared by Doña Estela, which will set the tone for the type of cuisine you'll learn to create in your cooking classes during the week. Get ready to discover secrets passed down through generations that create the unique flavors of this delightful region.
Day 2
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Pueblan BreakfastEach morning you will enjoy a typical breakfast of Puebla Cuisine. Weather permitting, breakfast is served on the Hacienda’s outside patio, amid the lush greenery for which this part of the country is known.
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Hands-On Cooking ClassThe real gourmet cooking secrets and traditions of Puebla cuisine remained in households for special occasions; it is almost never found in restaurants. During your culinary vacation, Estela will be teaching you traditional classic recipes from the city of Puebla, as well as dishes that are unique to her family. For each day’s class, guests will work alongside Estela, preparing dishes for lunch and dinner. Classes are small, so that the close interaction with Chef Estela offers the full learning experience so vital an ingredient in any cooking class.
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Lunch on the PatioEach day, weather permitting, lunch is served on the Hacienda’s outside patio, along with your choice of wine, beer, or a margarita. Your meal today will include: Sopa de Hongos (mushroom soup), with squash blossoms and nopal cactus, Ensalada Traditional (Traditional Salad) with Nopal, avocados, Cotija cheese, tomatoes, onions, and radishes. This is a traditional pre-Hispanic salad. Your main course will be Tortas de Papa (Mexican Potato Pancakes) with spinach, and/or shrimp, lobster or crab (depending on the season) and a Salsa Roja (red sauce), made the traditional way in a molcajete (mortar and pestle) with a cascabel chile base.
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Cultural History Tour of Old TlaxcalaThe tour of Tlaxcala’s historic center will begin at the very heart of the city. On this tour, you'll walk through almost 500 years of history, from the Holy Cross Fountain, a gift from Spanish King Felipe IV in 1646, to the former Royal Guest house in the Parish Church of Saint Joseph, which was built in 1526. Other important landmarks that you’ll visit on this tour include the former Chapel for Indigenous People which was located in Tlaxcala back in 1528 and the Royal Guest House of the Indigenous Government which was built back in 1551 to house distinguished visitors.
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Traditional Dinner Featuring Pueblan CuisineEach day, weather permitting, dinner is served on the outside patio of the Hacienda. You will have your choice of beer, wine, or a margarita with your meal. The menu tonight will include Amendrado (Almond Pork, duck, or chicken) usually with duck depending on availability, a luxurious sauce with Serrano chiles, tomatoes, almonds, cloves, cinnamon, and sesame seeds, adding a touch of the Middle East. This dish will be served with white rice and dill. For dessert, you will be served Buñuelos, a traditional thin fritter-like dessert dredged in vanilla sugar.
Day 3
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Pueblan BreakfastEach morning you will enjoy a typical breakfast of Puebla Cuisine. Weather permitting, breakfast is served on the Hacienda’s outside patio, amid the lush greenery for which this part of the country is known. The menu today will be fresh juice, sincronizada (lightly sautéed flour tortillas filled with ham and Oaxacan cheese, topped with a typical sauce of the day) followed by sweet pastry, coffee or tea.
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Hands-On Cooking Class with LunchYour lunch today will include Crema de Flor de Calabacitas (Cream of Squash Blossom Soup), traditional Poblano soup that is a very delicate milk-based squash blossom soup with roasted poblano chile and requeson cheese (goat cheese, ricotta, or feta), finished with epazote or dill; Pipian Verde con bistec en Relleno (this dish is sometimes called a Mole Verde, stuffed beef rolls in Pipian sauce). It is a traditional Pueblan interpretation of French stuffed meat rolls with a nod to Emperor Maximilian who brought the French Court to Mexico City, and a nod to the Near East with sauce featuring sesame seeds, cumin, and cloves, and includes the indigenous pumpkin seeds. This dish is served with traditional Mexican red rice.
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Traditional Dinner Featuring Pueblan CuisineThe menu tonight will include Bistec de Puerco o Pollo en Chile Pasilla (Beef, Pork or Chicken in Chile Pasilla Sauce). This dish features the meat in a hearty sauce based on toasted chile pasilla, tomatoes, and tomatillos with potatoes. It has the feel of a good stew, with a surprising spark and special flavor added by the pasilla. Gasnates (cream filled pastry tubes) is a traditional Poblano desert, consisting of very delicate pastry tubes filled with cream and topped with a dusting of powdered sugar. Try your “piping” skills to fill them. This can also be used with a savory filling for canapés!
Day 4
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Pueblan BreakfastEach morning you will enjoy a typical breakfast of Puebla Cuisine. Weather permitting, breakfast is served on the Hacienda’s outside patio, amid the lush greenery for which this part of the country is known. The menu today will be fresh juice, Mexican eggs, fresh fruit with pastry of the day, coffee or tea. Chef may add a seasonal surprise.
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Hands-On Cooking Class with LunchYour lunch menu today includes Crema de Chile Poblano (Cream of Chile Poblano Soup) which is a light cream soup with a base of pureed charred Poblano chiles and Mexican sour cream (similar to crème fraiche) which has a very light green color. You’ll enjoy Chipotles en Conserva, a family recipe of Estela’s, which is a sweet and sour conserve with brown sugar, apple vinegar and more. This can be used like a chutney. Your main dish is Tinga (Shredded Skirt Steak), served with tomatoes and Estela’s Chipotles. It will be served with Sopes, which are small tortillas covered with Tinga and topped with lettuce and cream, as well as Guacamole. This is a poblano rendition that uses tomatillos for acidity rather than limes. You will have a choice of beer, wine, or a margarita with your lunch.
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Day of the Dead Festival & Guided Puebla TourDelight in the sights, sounds and tastes of the Day of the Dead festival in Puebla. On this guided tour, you'll learn more about the history and traditions of the holiday, as well as take part in the festivities! Enjoy seasonal specialty foods, while you take in elaborate ofrendas, calaveritas and other artistic expressions of the Día de los Muertos holiday. Folk songs and other musical accompaniments make this tour a feast for all the senses!
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Traditional Dinner Featuring Pueblan CuisineA multi-course, traditional Pueblan dinner will be enjoyed this evening. This is your opportunity to discover dishes far beyond what is normally thought of as Mexican Food. The main course will be Pipian Rojo (red Pipian with meat) in a tasty red sauce with a toasted chile guajillo, ancho sauce, and a nod to the Near East with cinnamon, tomatoes, and onions, and topped with sesame seeds. This is traditionally served with fresh rolls rather than tortillas.
Day 5
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Pueblan BreakfastEach morning you will enjoy a typical breakfast of Puebla Cuisine. Weather permitting, breakfast is served on the Hacienda’s outside patio, amid the lush greenery for which this part of the country is known. The Menu today will be Tamales Jarocho (Tamales Veracruz Style), coffee or tea.
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Holiday & Traditional Pueblan Cooking Courses with Market TourEnjoy cooking classes that focus on the Día de los Muertos holiday and utilize family recipes from the kitchen of Chef Doña Eulogia Silva Castillo. Pueblan flavor is a mixture of four different cuisines. One way to get acquainted with the ingredients of the traditional dishes you will be preparing is by visiting the market in Tlaxcala. Here, you will find the most common ingredients for the endless varieties of today’s Mexican cuisine. Tomatoes, onion, cinnamon, tortillas and all varieties of chiles can be found here. Chiles anchos, pasillas, mulattos and chipotles as well as pumpkin seeds, raisins, cloves, sesame seeds, almonds, tomatillos, oil, and garlic will all be at your disposal.
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Lunch on the PatioYour meal today will include Sopa de Tortilla (Tortilla Soup). Traditionally from Puebla, Tortilla Soup is served throughout Mexico with variations on the theme. Estela’s recipe is a tradition in her family. Chiles en Nogada is the Mexican National Dish first made for Emperor Iturbide on a visit to Puebla following a battle during the revolution from Spain in the early 1800’s. It is a luscious combination of fruit, almonds, raisins, ground pork, beef or lamb as stuffing for charred poblano chiles, which are then dredged in flour covered with batter, deep fried, covered with a light walnut sauce and topped with pomegranate seeds. The result includes the green chile, white sauce and red garnish - the national colors and the national dish. The filling of course takes a very large bow to the Near East and only lacks a cooked prune to be a Moroccan dish. Chile Rellenos: Again, very Pueblan, a more toned-down version of a stuffed Poblano. A nice counterpoint to the more outrageous chile en nogada, this is stuffed with your choice of Oaxaca or other cheese (perhaps Monterey Jack in the US) and then topped with Salsa Basica (Basic Red Sauce). This is a nice light basic red sauce with some cinnamon and cloves that is used in the Puebla area as a topping for Chile Rellenos.
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Traditional Pueblan DinnerTonight’s menu includes Puerco en Adobo (Pork in Adobo Sauce). Estela uses rabbit if it is available. Often you find that Adobo sauce in the US is very hot. In Pueblan cuisine, the sauce is based on Ancho Sauce for the special flavor of ancho, but as always in Estela’s classes, the heat is adjusted to the tastes of the students. The result is a very special joining of the chiles with a sugar base creating a light, almost barbeque-type sweet and sour sauce. This dish is served with white rice.
Day 6
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Pueblan BreakfastEach morning you will enjoy a typical breakfast of Puebla Cuisine. Weather permitting, breakfast is served on the Hacienda’s outside patio, amid the lush greenery for which this part of the country is known. The menu today will be fresh juice, Molletes, a tasty combination of toasted roll covered with refried black beans, bacon, grated cheese, and topped with avocado and Mexican sour cream. You may have your choice of coffee or tea.
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Free Day to Design with Optional ActivitiesFree Day Optional Activities (priced separately, and not included in the base price of this tour). Some suggestions for optional excursions so you can make the most of your time in this enchanting land. Let your hosts arrange transportation for you to visit Cacaxtla, an important archeological site where well-preserved murals dating back to the Mayans await you. You can also visit La Corona Talavera factory to learn the process of making beautiful ceramic jars, pots, vases and platters, as well as other pieces. For a more active excursion, you can hike Tlaxcala’s highest peak, the dormant volcano La Malintzin. The three-hour, moderate hike to the summit results in breathtaking views, so bring your camera! If you’re looking for a guided excursion, try the Haciendas of Tlaxcala tour, where you’ll gain access to two haciendas typically closed to the public and a gorgeous church in the city of Tlaxcala.
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Cocktails, Music and Farewell DinnerTonight’s menu includes 5 types of Pueblan style Tamales: green tomatillo, pork/mole, chicken/ mole, tinga and red tomato with cotija cheese, serano chiles, epasote and Oaxaca cheese. Dessert will be “Suspiros de Novia,” a traditional Puebla treat. Your dinner this evening will be accompanied by a local musician serenading you with Mexican favorites under the stars.
Day 7
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Pueblan BreakfastYou will enjoy yet another wonderful breakfast consisting of fresh juice, chilequilles (toasted tortilla chips with a sauce of the day and topped with cream), accompanied by sweet pastry, coffee or tea.
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Airport Transfer Back to Mexico City AirportIt is now time to say goodbye to this beautiful part of Central Mexico. The memories are free, so take as many as you want! Your package includes a return to Mexico City airport via the Luxury Airport Shuttle, which departs every half-hour from Puebla non-stop to your airline at the airport.
Tlaxcala Bed & Breakfast Accommodations
This intimate Bed & Breakfast is located about 5 miles outside of the city of Tlaxcala on a beautiful Mexican high plateau. A double room with private bath and fireplace; a two-room Suite (the Stone Suite); and a private cottage called "La Casita" are available as part of the first class, comfortable accommodations at this traditional Mexican home, with a very large kitchen perfectly configured for culinary instruction. Unlike an impersonal resort or hotel, the Casa hosts are always available to respond to individual needs and take every precaution to ensure your comfort.
Tlaxcala, Mexico•Puebla, Mexico
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What Currency is being quoted?
The Currency Code is listed directly after the published amount. If it states USD, then the quoted price is in United States Dollars. If it states CAD, then the quoted price is in Canadian Dollars. If it states EUR, then the quoted price is in European Union Dollars…etc. However, please note that all charges are processed in USD, and Epitourean’s Merchant Bank automatically calculates the currency conversion on the day of the charge.
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What does Double Occupancy mean?
Two persons traveling together, and staying in the same room. Tour prices are normally quoted as “per person, double occupancy” in case two people are traveling together and staying in the same room, but paying separately. The cost of the lodging is also shared by two people, thereby reducing costs. This could be a married couple, two friends or relatives.
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What is a Single Supplement?
Whenever a person travels alone, the cost of their lodging cannot be shared by another person. When tour products are priced, they are normally stated as “per person, double occupancy.” Whenever a guest occupies a room as a solo, the whole cost of the lodging must be incurred by that one individual. Tour companies accommodate this by charging a Single Supplement. Epitourean does its best to keep the single supplement as low as possible, but it is a real cost that tour companies must absorb, and must pass along to the single traveler.
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If I am a Solo Traveler, will I be paired with another person?
Epitourean never pairs a solo traveler with another person without a special request. If you book Single Occupancy, you will have a room entirely to yourself. However, should you wish to be paired with another solo traveler to save on the single supplement, you may make this request. We cannot guarantee that we can accommodate such requests, since it would take another solo traveling on the same tour for the same dates. But if requested, we will certainly try.
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Are flights included in the tour price?
No. Flights are never included in the price of our land-only tours. Epitourean does not provide air, rail or sea travel, unless expressly noted in the itinerary.
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May I give a culinary tour as a gift?
Yes. Epitourean has a special program designed specifically for this purpose. Our Gift Packages come with features such as special messages to the recipient, gift box option, gift link (without pricing), and floating dates (should you not know when the gift recipient wants to travel). Contact a Culinary Travel Specialist at 800-390-3292 or customerservice@epitourean.com to receive additional information about this unique offering.
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May we request separate beds if sharing a room?
Yes. In most cases, Epitourean can accommodate a request for two beds to be placed in one room. Just make sure to make this request in the comments section of the reservation process.
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Does each guestroom have a private bathroom?
Yes. Epitourean partners with the best lodging options in each destination, and private (en suite) bathrooms are a requirement. However, you should inquire as to the configuration of bathrooms should you have a special need. For example, some tours include accommodations in medieval villages, where either a shower or bath(but maybe not both) are present.
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Can your tours accommodate my dietary restrictions?
In almost all cases, Epitourean can accommodate dietary choices and restrictions. But we do request that you ask a Culinary Travel Specialist prior to making your reservation so that we can assess your individual situation.
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If I am unable to use a portion of the tour, can I get a partial refund?
Unfortunately, due to vendor and supplier contracts, we are unable to provide partial refunds for unused portions of any tour or tour component.
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Are Transfers included in the Itinerary?
Round-trip transfers from the airport or train station are normally included in our international tours. Transfers to the destination (for both international and domestic tours) are not included in the tour price. Please see the Sample Itinerary. If it mentions that transfers are included, then yes, transfers are included at no additional cost.
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What meals and excursions are included in the tour?
The Sample Itinerary should be your reference. If the meal or excursion is described in the Sample Itinerary, then it is included at no additional charge. For those days where it expressly notes Free time, then any optional activities you elect to participate in might have an additional cost. In addition, if the itinerary states "evening on your own," it would imply that you have the opportunity to visit a restaurant of your own choosing, and at your own expense. If you have any question about inclusions, please submit an inquiry by clicking on the blue "Ask Us a Question" button under the price section.
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Is it possible to book pre or post tours or stays through Edible Destinations?
Yes, we often do have optional 2 and 3 night excursions that are priced separately from the tour. We can also assist with pre and post night stays in a hotel if you choose to come in early before the tour starts, or stay on after a tour ends. The price of those hotel stays are not included in the price of the tour, but we would be happy to provide a quote. Simply ask your Culinary Travel Specialist, or submit an inquiry by clicking on the blue "Ask Us a Question" button.
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Are Guide or Host Gratuities included in the price of the tour?
Since tipping guidelines and customs vary widely between countries, we do not include gratuities in the price of the tour. Your Culinary Travel Specialist can provide you with recommendations. But the general rule is to tip modestly when you are pleased with a guide’s services, either at the end of the tour, or at the conclusion of a specialty day excursion where you will only be with that guide (or chef) on that day.
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Should we plan on any personal expenses during the tour?
All lodging, meals, transfers, classes and excursions mentioned in the Sample Itinerary and Vacation Highlights are included in the price of the tour. However, we highly recommend taking local currency for purchasing personal items, souvenirs, tipping, etc. You can either get the local currency at an airport exchange service, ATM or from your local bank prior to travel. However, you should note that many hosted destinations do not accept credit cards for personal purchases.
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Do you recommend Travel Protection?
We recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and
your travel investment against the unexpected. Travel protection plans can include
coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency
Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Delay and more. For more information
on the available plans or to enroll, click on the link below or contact Travelex
Insurance Services at 800-228-9792 and reference location number 06-0248.
The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries
and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including
limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex CA
Agency License #0D10209. All products listed are underwritten by, Berkshire
Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (formerly known as Stonewall Insurance Company),
1314 Douglas Street, Suite 1400, Omaha, NE 68102. 11.17 E7N
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I have used Epitourean 3 times so far and each trip has been a delight. A chance to experience local culture, food, and wine in a small group format with a lot of attention paid to all the details that make a trip memorable. I have been to the trip in Puebla, for the Day of the Dead festivities in 2021, Piedmont for the alba truffle hunt in 2022 , and most recently to Santa Barbara in 2023. I always leave full not only with food and wine, but great memories, and new friends. I plan to travel with them again as soon as I can.
Gifts and Gift Cards
The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries
and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including
limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex CA
Agency License #0D10209. All products listed are underwritten by, Berkshire
Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (formerly known as Stonewall Insurance Company),
1314 Douglas Street, Suite 1400, Omaha, NE 68102. 11.17 E7N
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