5 amazing places to experience Mexico's Day of the Dead

Mexico‘s Day of the Dead festival is a fiesta for the senses. With carnivalesque street parties, foodie rituals, folk dances and skull-laden processions, one thing’s for sure; revellers here know how to throw a good party. Our fellow Rickshawian, Hannah, jetted off to join the fun for herself. Read on to find out more about Day of the Dead and where to experience it.

I’d heard of the Day of the Dead, but it wasn’t until I’d sat down to watch the animated film, Coco, that I began to understand what it was all about beyond the sugar skulls and facepaint. For me, the film beautifully captured the spirit of Dia de los Muertos and its deep roots in family connection. I was so inspired that I made Mexico my next destination and was lucky enough to stay in the cultural hub of Oaxaca to experience the festival for myself. But Oaxaca’s not the only place to go to get involved in the party. Here are some of the top places to go in Mexico for Day of the Dead.

1. Oaxaca

Oaxaca is considered by many to be the ultimate place to witness Day of the Dead. Pronounced ‘wah-ha-kah,’ Oaxaca is both a city and state in the south-east of the country. With UNESCO status for Human World Heritage, it’s home to some of the strongest cultures in the whole of the country.

The main zócalo (town square) is lined with trees and a patchwork of marigold flower beds, set beside an impressive church, artisan markets and some wonderful galleries and museums.

If you arrive a little ahead of Day of the Dead, you can head to the tourist centre at the main zócalo to pick up a schedule of Dia de los Muertos activities. Events usually kick off from the 31st October up until the 2nd or 3rd of November and include a whole host of things to keep you entertained; from art exhibitions to musical performances. 

During the evenings of the 1st and 2nd of November, the city is filled with raucous parades, which you can either experience on street level (if you don’t mind skeleton-clad crowds!) or from atop a rooftop bar (highly recommended). Wander the candle-lit cemetery of Panteon General, muse at the tongue-in-cheek skeleton figures lining the streets and drool over the loaves of the pan de muertos at the market.

2. Mexico City

Mexico City is the oldest capital city in the Americas, first built by the Aztecs in 1325, making it an important cultural centre. This is a fine city to begin your Mexico adventure and even better if you can coincide it with the Day of the Dead festival.

You’ll find plenty to keep you entertained in the buzzing metropolis which, after finding inspiration from James Bond: Spectre in 2015, launched its own parade the following year.

Join in the fun here to witness streams of colourful Catrinas and mythical creatures who march for miles down the grand Paseo de la Reforma.

As well as joining the parades, I’d also recommend having a wander around the City’s main Zócalo. This huge plaza is dolled up for the occassion, where colourful alters (known as ofrendas) are decorated with bunting, skulls, candles and rows upon rows of marigolds.

Venture beyond the outskirts of the plaza and you may even stumble upon traditional dance routines performed by indigenous communities, and even spiritual cleansings, known as “limpia” where incense is wafted around your body. The setting for these performances and rituals is pretty apt; set in the historic center of the city, by the ancient Aztec ruins of Templo Mayor.

3. Yucatan

The Yucatan is a state known for its beautiful beaches and Mayan ruins. Here, they hold the Maya version of Day of the Dead – Hanal Pixan, which means “feast for the souls.”

In the municipality of Merida, the locals celebrate their own twist on the occasion, eating specially cooked chicken tamales and holding foodie festivities and colourful parades. 

Locals place food and drinks on alters, alongside tokens of love (candles, flowers, incense, crosses and sweets), to entice their loved ones home to eat with their family. They spend time reminiscing and catching up over the past year.

Merida‘s main celebrations start on the 31st October with the Paseo de las Animas, or ‘Passage of the Souls;’ a parade where hundreds of revellers dressed in face paint and traditional costumes, singing songs and wafting incense as they journey from the main cemetery to the Church of Santa Isabel.

4. Chiapas

If you fancy a more low-key alternative to the buzzing festivities Mexico City and Oaxaca, head high up to the hill-country and you’ll be rewarded with a real flavour for how the indigenous communities celebrate Dia de los Muertos.

Chiapas is a fine place to base yourself for the Day of the Dead and is home to a number of indigenous villages, including San Juan Chamula, just outside of the colonial town of San Cristobal. Here, the Tzotzil people practice their own church rituals, and are often dressed in traditional woolen clothing. During the Day of the Dead, locals decorate gravesites with colourful ribbons and candles. By night, live music lingers in the air as families gather to pay tribute to the dead.

5. Michoacan

Situated on the island of Janitzio in Lake Patzcuaro, Michoacan is a hub to a host of cultural traditions and rituals that come to life during Dia de los Muertos. Locals hold graveside vigils until dawn-break, take part in private meditation and make offerings upon the many ofrendas. While many indigenous people sail by candle-lit boat across the lake at dusk- a spectacular sight to see.

Michoacan is well-known as an important place for Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico, so much, that it draws thousands of visitors each year, which is worth bearing in mind if you want to avoid crazy throngs of spectators.

Psst… Dia de los Muertos makes November a popular month for travellers heading to Mexico. Availability in our locally-run accommodation can be tight during this time, so we recommend planning well ahead. For more information or to speak to one of our Mexico travel specialists, give us a call on 01273 322398 or email us at mexico@rickshawtravel.co.uk.