By Kaitlin Murray
Discover the top destinations to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), taste delicious food and immerse yourself in Mexican culture.
A typical Mexican ofrenda. Chris Luengas. Pexels.
Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a holiday that remembers and honors loved ones who have passed on, drawing from thousands of years of Indigenous and Catholic rituals to create a syncretic holiday unique to Mexico. It is best known for its cempasuchil, or marigold flowers, painted skulls, Catrina skull makeup and the ofrenda, or altar with photos of loved ones. Filled with humor and festive tones, the holiday is not a time of sorrow, but rather one of color, music and family.
Before the Spanish colonization, Indigenous communities across Mexico and Central America had many rituals and traditions surrounding the afterlife, depending on their region and culture. The Mexica, also known as Aztecs, celebrated a spiritual holiday honoring the Lady of the Dead, Mictecacihuatl, the Queen of Mictlan or the underworld. After the Spanish colonization, most Indigenous practices were outlawed; however, the cults of the dead from both groups were blended into one, becoming the holiday we have today.
Visiting Mexico during this time of year lets travelers experience cultural festivities that tell the story of thousands of years of tradition and family legacies. Travelers can witness both grandiose spectacles such as parades and parties alongside quiet moments of remembrance. With each region having its own foods, rituals and art, travelers will have plenty of options for celebrating Dia de Muertos and experiencing the deep-rooted traditions that connect the people of Mexico to their ancestors.
The Dia de Muertos Parade in Mexico City. Ludovic Delot. Pexels.
1. Mexico City
For travelers seeking to experience Dia de Muertos for the first time, Mexico City is a great place to start. Each year, a variety of parades take place throughout the city center, including the Catrina parade, the Dia de Muertos parade and an alebrije, an animal spiritual guide, contest. Across the city, shops, bakeries, restaurants and museums set up decorations and ofrendas, with cempasuchil flowers gracing roads, sidewalks and markets.
While Mexico City used to be the Mexica city of Tenochtitlan on a lake, today very few areas of the city have waterways. One is Xochimilco, with hundreds of canals and floating islands where tourists ride trajineras, long, flat-bottomed colorful barges, to eat, party and have fun. During the Day of the Dead, Xochimilco is transformed with fields of cempasuchil flowers, decorations and even a spooky show on the water dedicated to the legend of La Llorona.
Celebrations in Oaxaca for Dia de Muertos. Marco Carmona. Pexels.
2. Oaxaca, Oaxaca
Located in southern Mexico, Oaxaca is one of the most colorful and magical places to celebrate the holiday. The city comes to life, with its colorful houses, cobblestoned streets and markets decked out in decorations. Visitors can see celebrations and parades; try traditional dishes such as mole, tlayudas and chapulines (crickets); and see ofrendas set up around the city. On the night of Nov. 1, they can visit the panteon, or cemeteries in Santa Cruz Xoxocotlan, where families gather near their loved ones' graves, feasting, playing music or lighting candles.
Don’t miss the neighborhoods of Jalatlaco and Xochimilco, known for their colorful murals and art.
Ready to experience Oaxaca during this holiday? Check out our Mexico: Day of the Dead trip by Under30 Experiences and get $100 off!
Cemeteries in Janitzio. Miguel Angel Mandujano Contreras. CC BY-SA 4.0.
3. Patzcuaro, Michoacan
The state of Michoacan is home to the indigenous Purepecha people, whose distinct traditions blended with Catholic traditions to create their own rich Day of the Dead celebrations. The best place to experience the holiday is Patzcuaro, a small lakeside town dating back to the 1300s that overlooks Janitzio Island. This town is one of the places that Pixar drew inspiration from to create the film Coco, with its small cobblestoned streets and rich heritage.
What makes this region so unique is its candlelit boats tradition, where hundreds of fishermen light candles on their boats in the darkness of night, creating an eerie, evocative sight as flickering candles are reflected on the water.
An altar in Guanajuato. Jorge Acre. Pexels.
4. San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
As one of the country's most popular tourist destinations, San Miguel de Allende is a colorful pueblo magico filled with aesthetic cobblestone streets, delicious food and artisanal markets. Visitors can experience parades, festivals and food tours throughout the city during Dia de Muertos. They can visit the cathedral in the center of town, the nearby vineyards and many artisanal shops and high-end restaurants.
San Miguel is also a short drive from the historic city of Queretaro and its surrounding colorful towns.
Dia de Muertos celebration inside a Guanajuato tunnel. Gerardo Pantoja. Pexels.
5. Guanajuato, Guanajuato
Located only an hour from San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato is one of Mexico's most famous colorful towns, home to spooky mummies, extremely narrow streets and local legends. Travelers can explore its quaint downtown and see the tapete de la muerte, a large “carpet” that runs down the street, with images and designs made from sawdust, flowers, seeds, corn and sand. For those interested in the macabre and the spooky, Guanajuato is home to a mummy museum, with mummified bodies from the 19th and 20th centuries on display.
Preparing mukbilpollo for hanal pixan. Marysol. CC BY-SA 2.0.
6. Merida, Yucatan
In the Yucatan Peninsula, the Mayan people celebrate a tradition similar to the Dia de Muertos festival called Hanal Pixan. Translating to food for the souls, this festival honors and welcomes loved ones back to the land of the living. Visiting the Yucatan Peninsula for Hanal Pixan, travelers can see elaborate ofrendas and try unique Yucateco dishes, such as mukbilpollo, a tamal made with pork or chicken and cooked in an underground oven. The best place to stay in the Yucatan Peninsula to experience the holiday is Merida, a colorful historic town with museums and restaurants, and close to many Mayan ruins and beach towns.
GETTING THERE:
Ready to check off celebrating Dia de Muertos in Mexico from your bucket list?
Learn more about the Oaxaca, Mexico: Day of the Dead trip, offered every year by Under30Experiences.
On this trip, travelers will experience the best of the Dia de Muertos celebrations, enjoy a Zapotecan home-cooked meal, visit the Mitla archaeological site, explore traditional markets and celebrations and take part in multiple cultural workshops.
Kaitlin Murray
Kaitlin Siena Murray is a travel journalist and global storyteller documenting cultures, historical places, and the people and social impact movements helping the world. Raised worldschooling across more than 129 countries with degrees in anthropology and history, her writing is driven by a commitment to global citizenship, capturing the diversity and beauty of the world through the lens of culture, history, and social change.