This is the authentic Michoacán, Mexico Day of the Dead experience. Immerse yourself in local tradition when we visit small villages as they honor their ancestors during this famous and moving Mexican celebration!
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This is the authentic Michoacán, Mexico Day of the Dead experience. Immerse yourself in local tradition when we visit small villages as they honor their ancestors during this famous and moving Mexican celebration!
Arrive in Guanajuato Mexico, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with charming alleys and beautiful parks. Join your Inspirit guide and fellow travelers on the Mexico group tour this evening for a sampling of delicious street food. What better way to start your Mexican adventure?
The next morning, learn about the fascinating culture of Guanajuato with visits to the town’s historic monuments. Later, witness the Day of the Dead parade, where Mexicans take to the streets and dance with skulls and skeletons as a mark of respect to their ancestors. To truly immerse yourself in the experience, perhaps get your face painted in the Catrina style.
The next day on this amazing Day of the Dead Mexico tour begins with a visit to the magnificent city of Morelia in Michoacán state. This is your chance to experience the most authentic Dia del Muertos (Day of the Dead) traditions and soak up the lively atmosphere of a cultural heritage site. Later in the evening, we’ll drive to Tzintzuntzan and its breathtaking candle-lit cemetery.
On the most important day of the Dia de Muertos, you’ll travel to Patzcuaro, a magical town on the shores of a beautiful lake. Here, your Mexico tour group will sample delicious food, explore the town’s plazas, and soak up the festive atmosphere. Later, you’ll transfer by boat to the island of Janitzio for what is arguably the highlight of the trip, a visit to an ethereal candle-lit cemetery. The tour will end with departures from Morelia, unless you decide to stay longer for more exciting Mexico adventures.
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What's included on this trip?
Inspirit trip leader
4 nights accommodation
All transportation
Explorer walks, cultural experiences, and activities as indicated
Culinary experiences as mentioned
Expert local team
Physical rating
Normal
Group size
16 Maximum
Trip code
MXC
Minimum age
18
Maximum age
39
Your journey
Day 1 - Arrivals into Guanajuato
Trip starts in Guanajuato, Mexico
Day 2 - Guanajuato City Explorer
Explore Guanajuato's back alleys and paint your face "Catrina" style
Day 3 - Morelia & Tzintzuntzan Cemetery
Morelia City Explorer followed by Tzintzuntzan cemetery
Day 4 - Patzcuaro & Janitzio Island
Day trip to Patzcuaro & boat ride to famous Janitzio island
Day 5 - Morelia Departures
International departures from Morelia airport
With your Inspirit trip...
Get everything you want, and nothing you don't
All trips include accommodation, transportation, activities, food experiences, amazing leaders, and a hyper-organized, super experienced back office team!
Small groups
Small groups (16 max) make for amazing shared experiences, while minimizing local disruption. We get around in smaller vehicles, hop aboard local transport with ease, and navigate local markets without looking like we just stepped off a cruise ship.
Amazing leaders
Inspirit trip leaders are the secret sauce in our recipe for awesome trips. In addition to being certified guides, our local leaders are organized, professional, friendly, passionate, and most of all, fun!
Awesome experiences
Inspirit itineraries are packed with fun activities and local experiences, already included in the price. There will be free time for optional extras, but you won’t have worry about missing out on the main attractions with us.
Tasty eats
We include select culinary experiences like street-food tours and taco crawls, so you are sure to sample the best local food. By not including main meals you’ll get just what you want and pay less than if we charged for it in advance.
Comfy digs
We choose accommodation based on value, location, and vibe. Clean. Comfy. Safe. Simple. With itineraries packed full of cool things to do, we won't be spending much time in hotels.
Local transport
Getting around is a big part of the experience (and fun!) and we love to go local on chicken buses, tuk-tuks, water taxis, and even bicycles. Private shuttles and modern coaches make longer journeys comfortable.
Expert team
Travel comfortably knowing you are supported by an entire team of organized, experienced, and proven travel professionals in the back office. We have over 15 years of experience operating group adventures of all kinds in Central America.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrivals into Guanajuato
Upon arrival into the charming city of Guanajuato, declared a Historic Town by UNESCO World Heritage, wander amongst the beautiful streets, alleys and parks amongst the picturesque Spanish colonial architecture. This evening join with the rest of the group and your trip leader, and head out to try the fantastic street-food of this outstanding city.Arrivals into Guanajuato
Explore Guanajuato & meet your Inspirit trip leader
Hotel La Mansion del Cantador or similar
Day 1 - Arrivals into Guanajuato
Upon arrival into the charming city of Guanajuato, declared a Historic Town by UNESCO World Heritage, wander amongst the beautiful streets, alleys and parks amongst the picturesque Spanish colonial architecture. This evening join with the rest of the group and your trip leader, and head out to try the fantastic street-food of this outstanding city.Arrivals into Guanajuato
Explore Guanajuato & meet your Inspirit trip leader
Hotel La Mansion del Cantador or similar
Day 2 - Guanajuato City Explorer
In the morning your trip leader will take you on a fascinating city tour of Guanajuato, where you will learn the history and legends of this colonial Jewel. Visit the fascinating monuments and plazas where chapters of Mexican Independence are written. This evening there will be Day of the Dead parades, and you can get your face painted in the famous "Catrina" style.Official Inspirit welcome meeting
Explore Guanajuato with optional activities
Evening activities & "Catrina" face painting
Hotel La Mansion del Cantador or similar
Day 2 - Guanajuato City Explorer
In the morning your trip leader will take you on a fascinating city tour of Guanajuato, where you will learn the history and legends of this colonial Jewel. Visit the fascinating monuments and plazas where chapters of Mexican Independence are written. This evening there will be Day of the Dead parades, and you can get your face painted in the famous "Catrina" style.Official Inspirit welcome meeting
Explore Guanajuato with optional activities
Evening activities & "Catrina" face painting
Hotel La Mansion del Cantador or similar
Day 3 - Morelia & Tzintzuntzan Cemetery
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Transfer to Morelia by public bus
Morelia City Explorer
Transfers & visit to Tzintzuntzan cemetery
Gran Hotel Morelia or similar
Day 3 - Morelia & Tzintzuntzan Cemetery
This morning we travel to the magnificent city of Morelia in the state of Michoacán. This state is where the original traditions of the Day of the Dead are still most authentically practiced, and offers the best chance to experience this most fascinating Mexican tradition in person. Soak up the beautiful atmosphere in yet another city declared by UNESCO as cultural heritage site. In Morelia we will see some special "ofrendas" (ritual displays of offerings to the dead), then later in the evening we'll drive to Tzintzuntzan to visit its candlelit cemetery in almost unimaginable display. Prepare to be wow'd!Transfer to Morelia by public bus
Morelia City Explorer
Transfers & visit to Tzintzuntzan cemetery
Gran Hotel Morelia or similar
Day 4 - Patzcuaro & Janitzio Island
Today, November 2nd, is the main and most important day of the Dia de Muertos tradition. In the afternoon we will travel to the magical town of Patzcuaro, located on the shores of the famous lake of the same name. We'll explore several plazas, try some delicious local food, and soak up the festive atmosphere. This evening we will cross the lake by boat to the island of Janitzio and its famous candlelit cemetery -- a real highlight!Transfers & visit to Patzcuaro
Boat transfer to Janitzio island
Visit Janitzio island & cemetery
Gran Hotel Morelia or similar
Day 4 - Patzcuaro & Janitzio Island
Today, November 2nd, is the main and most important day of the Dia de Muertos tradition. In the afternoon we will travel to the magical town of Patzcuaro, located on the shores of the famous lake of the same name. We'll explore several plazas, try some delicious local food, and soak up the festive atmosphere. This evening we will cross the lake by boat to the island of Janitzio and its famous candlelit cemetery -- a real highlight!Transfers & visit to Patzcuaro
Boat transfer to Janitzio island
Visit Janitzio island & cemetery
Gran Hotel Morelia or similar
Day 5 - Morelia Departures
Our Mexican Day of the Dead adventure ends today, but there’s much more to do if you can stay longer. Your Inspirit trip leader can recommend the best activities and lodging based on your preferences and budget if you are not flying back home today.Departures from Morelia
Day 5 - Morelia Departures
Our Mexican Day of the Dead adventure ends today, but there’s much more to do if you can stay longer. Your Inspirit trip leader can recommend the best activities and lodging based on your preferences and budget if you are not flying back home today.Departures from Morelia
General information
Inspirit Welcome Meeting
Our welcome meeting takes place in the morning of Day 2 of each itinerary. You’ll have a chance to meet your fellow travelers as well as your guide. Get acquainted with an overview of the itinerary, destinations visited, the Inspirit travel style, and many more details on the experiences to come. Ask any questions you may have, and let the fun begin!
For those traveling on combination trips, you’ll have the opportunity to join the meeting each week and help welcome any new passengers that are joining the trip.
Emergency contact information
For any emergencies that cannot be immediately handled with the assistance of your trip leader, our operations staff is on call 24/7. You can call / SMS / Whatsapp / on +506 7025 9328 (Costa Rica). For local calls within Costa Rica you do not need to add the +506 country code.
Eating/dietary preferences
The food is local and delicious! Our guides will always suggest locally owned restaurants and will take you to the best value-for-your-money places we have found. A wide variety of options are available to cater for different tastes and dietary requirements. Outside of the more developed areas, it can be a challenge to cater to very specialised diets, but the locals are friendly and accommodating and will always make sure that you find enough to eat!
Water
In most areas we visit, it is not advisable to drink water from the tap (except Costa Rica). We provide you with refillable water bottles that we use throughout the trip, refilling them along the way from purified sources -- such as at your hotel, or at restaurants we visit along the route. Our aim here is to avoid single-use plastic bottles and containers to reduce our impact on the environment.
Money
Payments are best made by major credit cards. Visa is the most widely accepted card in the region. We recommend bringing emergency cash (around $300), as sometimes ATMs can be hard to find in rural areas, or the one ATM in town could be out of service.
Tour guide
Our trip leaders are Central America locals, and all are licensed tour guides in their country of origin and experts in their field. They are fun, charismatic, highly organized, and dynamic individuals with a passion for travel. Trained in areas of safety, group dynamics, effective communication, and much more, our leaders are ready to deal with any challenges that might arise on a trip.
Fellow travelers
Inspirit travelers are probably a lot like you. No matter your age, you are young at heart and have an adventurous spirit. You are interested in discovering new places, meeting new people, and having a ton of fun along the way.
Luggage
We recommend that you pack as lightly as possible. Backpacks are better than large suitcases, as we may be carrying our bags onto public buses where space is limited. Sometimes we may need to walk for a while over uneven surfaces to get between transportation hubs to to our hotel.
Keep the weight under 44 pounds (20kg). An additional day-pack is essential for excursions and transfers. Your main backpack may get stored on the roof of the bus, or in the luggage hold underneath, so you’ll want a smaller backpack that you can carry with you to keep your essential items safe. It’s a good idea to bring a TSA approved padlock to keep your bags secure.
Packing List
Things to bring to help reduce our eco footprint:
Recommended:
ATTENTION: Be sure to bring clothing that covers your knees and shoulders for visits to religious sites and during travel on public transportation (in case of chills from the AC). Avoid any kind of provocative clothing, such as military style, and shirts / jackets with slogans or images that may be offensive in the countries you visit.
Optional
Safety Guidelines
Cash: Bring small bills (No larger than USDS 20s). Most activities can be paid by credit card.
Credit cards: Do not write down passwords / PINs.
Out and about: Use common sense, take a taxi back if it's late, do not accept any drinks or rides from strangers.
Travel insurance
You must have travel insurance to participate in any Inspirit trip. Insurance must cover personal injury and emergency medical expenses, with a minimum coverage to include medical, evacuation, and repatriation. Insurance must cover all dates of travel with Inspirit.
Proof of insurance must be provided prior to the start of any trip. Without proof of insurance, you will not be allowed to participate in the trip.
We strongly encourage you to purchase additional insurance that covers trip cancellation, curtailment, and loss, damage, injury, delay, or inconvenience while traveling.
Transport
Our trips use a mix of private and public transportation. We may be in minibuses, inter-city coaches, local “chicken buses,” or taxis. We may also use water taxis, ferries, and local flights.
Responsible travel
As you see in our packing list, we strive to protect the natural surroundings that make our destinations so special. Our travel style incorporates environmental responsibility to minimize our carbon footprint wherever we go. Leading by example, we also educate our local partners about how they can make small but important changes in their day-to-day activities that will benefit the environment.
You can help by bringing a reusable mug for warm drinks, small bags for market purchases, and a reusable container (Tupperware style) for food. We provide you with a durable water bottle to refill throughout your trip, and we may even try some local eco-hacks such as eating off a banana-leaf instead of a plate made from Styrofoam! Check our packing list and please do your part to help us reduce our impact on the environment.
Fair play
Inspirit retains the right to dismiss from a trip any passenger for reasons affecting their own safety, the safety, well-being, and enjoyment of fellow travelers, or the safe and effective operation of the trip. Non-compliance with local laws and regulations of the countries and regions visited, or Inspirit’s own responsible travel policies, may also warrant dismissal. Refunds for unused services or costs related to travel arrangements required as a result of trip dismissal will not be provided. Travelers are responsible for costs incurred by Inspirit or Inspirit’s suppliers for property damage, destruction, or theft they cause while on a trip.
Medical
Inspirit does not provide medical advice, and travelers are responsible for assessing the risks and responsibilities of each aspect of a trip to determine whether it is suitable for them. Travelers should seek their physician’s advice on all medical matters, including travel precautions and vaccinations.
Inspirit trips may visit remote regions in developing areas, where medical care may not meet the standards of those found in a traveler’s home country.
In consideration of the safety and enjoyment of all travelers and the safe operation of a trip, pre-existing medical conditions that may impact a traveler’s ability to participate in any aspect of a trip, including pregnancy, must be disclosed at the time of booking.
Inspirit reserves the right to deny permission to travel or participate in any aspect of a trip at any time where Inspirit determines that a physical or mental condition represents a danger to the traveler or to others.
Age
Travellers under the age of 18 on the date of arrival are considered minors and must be accompanied by an adult. The minimum age for travel on any trip, unless otherwise specified, is 15 years. All bookings including minors are subject to approval, and accompaniment or written consent by a parent or legal guardian is required.
There is no upper age limit for our trips.
Changes
Where reasonably required an itinerary may need to be modified either before or after departure. If a change affects at least one in three full days of the itinerary (a major change), Inspirit will provide notice as soon as reasonably possible before departure. In the event of a major change, travelers may accept the change or request a full refund of the land-only portion of their trip.
Once a trip has departed, unforeseen circumstances may present operational concerns, or concerns for the health, safety, and well-being of passengers, and may require an itinerary change. Travelers are responsible for incidental expenses during a trip, including expenses arising from a change of itinerary. Inspirit will not be liable for losses associated with itinerary changes.
Flexibility
Travelers acknowledge that any foreign travel may require a certain amount of flexibility, and some changes or adjustments to the trip itinerary, schedule, activities, modes of transport, or other may be reasonably accepted due to local circumstances.
Risk
Travelers acknowledge that trips operated and sold by Inspirit are adventurous by nature, and participation involves a significant amount of risk to their personal health and safety. In full consideration and acknowledgment of the inherent risks involved in foreign adventure travel and participation in adventurous activities, especially in a foreign country that may not have the same standards of hygiene, accommodation, transportation, medical care, and other infrastructure as a traveler’s home country, travelers assume full responsibility for all such risk and release Inspirit from any and all claims and causes of action arising from loss, damage, injury, or death resulting from these inherent risks.
Travelers acknowledge that the degree of risk depends on the specific activity booked, and activities of a physical nature, extreme sports, or other high-risk activities, whether included on an Inspirit trip, or suggested by an Inspirit trip leader or other representative of Inspirit, may add additional risk.
Travelers must take all measures to help ensure their own safety by proper use of safety devices (seatbelts, harnesses, flotation devices, helmets, etc.) and obey all health and safety warnings, either written or verbal.
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