DIA DE MUERTOS
A PATH OF MARIGOLDS
STARTS: Patzcuaro, Michoacan
ENDS: Patzcuaro, Michoacan
DATES: October 24 - November 3, 2025
DURATION: 10 Nights / 11 Days
PRICE: $34,000 MX
Please Note: It is crucial to book your hotels early for this tour. Please contact us ASAP for assistance! The price does not include your hotels, as folks who live in our region often join our tours. Please check out price inclusions and contact us if you have any questions.
WHY BOOK THIS TOUR?
Dia de Muertos is the most iconic cultural celebration of Mexico, and the Lake Patzcuaro region is renown for maintaining some of the more traditional observations in all of the country. We would like to take the opportunity to explain what you will be doing on our tour in comparison to other things that are happening in our area that may appeal to you more. For starters, if you are looking for a fun party with lots of dancing and alcohol, you will find this in the cities of Morelia and Patzcuaro, and also in the village of Tzintzuntzan. There are countless huge tour operators who bring 80-400 guests each, on chartered buses loaded with 40 tourists per bus, for cemetery tours in an area that has become overwhelmed by traffic, party-goers and tourists in Catrina costumes.
Please keep reading and we will explain why we prohibit Catrina make-up on our cemetery tour, while offering some information about what you can experience with us during this sacred time.
Our Path of Marigolds tour begins on October 24, well ahead of the famed vigils of Dia de Muertos. We offer this as a cultural immersion so guests can connect with P'urepecha communities prior to our tour climax. One of the most important take-aways from this experience is your participation in traditional protocols that are adhered to in indigenous communities here. We will be working with you and our other guests throughout the week to collect select items for our hosts, which we will present to them during the vigils. We have other days planned that involve spending the day with local indigenous families to learn from them and participate in their preparations, which begin long before the vigils happen. We are able to offer these experiences because we work with these families throughout the year, and they have not only given their permission for you to come, but have invited you to learn. While the party-goers are clambering over the graves of strangers in crowded cemeteries, you will be received by local families and fed tamales and pozole as we observe their family traditions during the Vigil de los Angelitos and Noche de Muertos rituals. You will be invited as an honoured guest, and you will bring your offering to them, just as their relatives and community members do. This is a truly intimate sharing experience and immersion, and one that must be carefully respected. (more below)
The reason we do not refer to this as a cultural "exchange" is due to the fact that our mission is to leave no trace. Exchanges have their time and place, but as we are visiting communities that do not often receive outsiders into their homes, we must be aware of our actions and take care to refrain from influencing the young children here. An example includes how Halloween arrived in the Lake Patzcuaro region, which has now infiltrated the holiday with ghosts, witches, goblins and plastic pumpkin buckets for pesos and candies. Yes the kids are having a lot of fun, and our hope is that as they outgrow the witchy costumes, they will settle back into the traditions of their parents and grandparents - but this development arrived here with foreigners who wanted to "exchange," and inadvertently changed Dia de Muertos forever.
The addition of La Catrina as an iconic symbol of Dia de Muertos is an example of pan-American influences that have blurred the lines between Mexican, indigenous and respectful. We certainly are not criticizing those who have come in make-up because they were not aware of the affront to indigenous elders of the Lake Patzcuaro region who have never dressed in costumes or makeup for their sacred Noche de Muertos rites, but we would like our guests to understand why we prohibit Catrina costumes and makeup during our vigil tours. Whenever you are in a cultural region, pay attention to your hosts. Follow their lead. It's their house - so we follow their rules - and you will never see a P'urepecha adult or elder in costume during their vigils. These are sacred observations of ancestor worship, not entertaining photo-ops for bragging rights.
Does this mean you can't get dressed up, have your face painted and have some fun? Heck no! We actually used to host a really fun Catrina party every year, because dressing up is fun - and doing so outside of the cemeteries is not harmful. (more below)
If you are interested in dressing up and having your photo taken, please contact us ahead of time so we can schedule an appointment for you with a photographer and make-up artist. There are various possibilities for some real fun for those who are enthusiastic.
Our hope is that your time with us will inspire you to learn more about harm-reduction while travelling, through time spent with local families. A feature focus of this tour is for us to reciprocate within the context of P'urepecha culture, though we certainly encourage you to bring something special and simple from home that you would like to add to your gift, such as a box of chocolate almonds, small bottle of maple syrup, or something consumable from your culture that would be shared among the family members here. The offerings that are given during Dia de Muertos are specific, but the altars also represent many favourite things of the deceased. Included with our offering is a financial contribution to each family who hosts us, to help them with the high costs they accrue during this time. So many times, spiritual journeys speak about arriving empty and leaving full - but in this circumstance, we want to arrive with something to offer, so everyone is full by the time we say goodbye. The reciprocity here is bountiful, as you will witness once you reach your first vigil experience.
Please click here to read our trip report from our 2024 tour, as it was a game-changer for our company - and many more doors continue to open as we respectfully navigate this beautiful path of marigolds each year.
We hope you will join us for this enchanting, heart-warming experience.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?
WEATHER:
Dia de Muertos falls at the end of our rainy season, so guests should pack rain gear, an umbrella and sturdy hiking shoes. The cemeteries get very slippery when it rains, so good footwear is a must. During the day, it can also get very hot here and being at a high altitude makes the sun more potent. Please bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat, especially if you are fair.
ALTITUDE:
It is very rare for anyone to get altitude sickness here, but it has happened. Patzcuaro is seated at an altitude of 2140 meters (7020 feet) above sea level, so we are below the danger zone. Over the course of 9 years here, we have personally known of 2 visitors who had to leave due to altitude sickness. This generally manifests with a feeling of dehydration, headaches and trouble getting air.
MOBILITY:
Though we do not engage in a lot of hiking during this tour, guests do need to have decent balance and sturdy feet because we will be boarding a few boats, including one at night (there is light and we will assist you). In some of the places we visit, there are a few flights of stairs and lots of cobblestones, which are uneven and unpleasant to fall on. We will always move slowly in these areas so guests an be mindful of your footing.
PATZCUARO IS COLD AT NIGHT:
If you're used to the beaches of Mexico, please be warned! Many homes in Patzcuaro feature wood or gas fireplaces because it gets cold here at night, during the winter. We advise warm pyjamas, a warm sweater or coat, and a toque for the boat ride, if your ears get cold. Layers are always recommended for travel, and bringing a small day-pack is ideal for adjusting with the climate and changing body temperature (from all of those stairs we have to climb).
HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT LOCALS?
Besides the fact that our guides, drivers, art workshops and restaurant choices are local, the most important part of this tour includes the financial obligations we have to the families who host us. Dia de Muertos is an expensive tradition, fraught with grief and family responsibilities. When you visit the flower market, you will be charged $100 Pesos just for one bunch of marigolds, and when you see how many are required by each family, along with everything else, you will get a greater understanding of the incredible expense accrued by our hosts. To assist the families with this sometimes unexpected financial burden, we offer a contribution to each family we visit, as part of our offrenda. As per local protocol, we also bring fruit, flowers and candles for our hosts. These situations are private and closed to tourism, and are only available to our guests through National Guide Jaime Hernandez of Animecha Tours due to the relationships he has harnessed with these families over more than 25 years working in this region. We are deeply grateful to work with such an esteemed guide, and to have had the honour of getting to know many artists and their families over the years we have worked here.
We have one activity during our Noche de Muertos tour that some guests have grappled with - and that is a short performance by the local children in one of the communities we visit. Guests have complained about the quality of the performance without considering the fact that the performance isn't really for us - it's for them. These children do not have the opportunity to share their culture with foreigners, as their living situation is quite sheltered and remote. Being an audience for them is about honouring their culture and encouraging pride in their traditions. The music performance will only last for about 15 minutes.
Indigenous communities across the world still endure rampant oppression and racism, which often renders shame and humility from an early age, and we want to do what we can to mitigate this by showing genuine interest and heartfelt attention. The kids are adorable, especially when they are dressed proudly in their beautiful dresses and suits - so we ask our guests to consider them as though they were your own children or grandchildren. We will also pass a hat for tips, which are given to their teacher to be shared through a meal later, as their community is communal. (Much to the delight of everyone, these children also put on an incredibly charming dance, of which nobody has ever complained).
WHAT HAVE OUR GUESTS SAID?
Please Note: Our company was registered as Soul of Mexico Tours in 2018, but was Trademarked by someone unscrupulous in 2023. We changed our company name to Copper Moon Travels in April 2023.
From Darren 2024
I went on Jen's weeklong Dia de los Muertos tour this past fall. It had been a lifelong dream of mine to get to experience these celebrations, and I was not disappointed. Despite the chaos that can ensue when a group of people with competing needs and desires come together, Jen and the people she works with managed to give us experiences that I won't stop thinking about for a long time. She introduced us to many local people (and art! and foods!) and managed to do it in a way that didn't feel touristy or intrusive but felt as genuine as one could hope for. She is herself very knowledgable but then also manages to find tour guides and locals who can fill in any gaps that she has. I imagine that not everyone would want the kinds of experiences that Jen provides and might prefer a more traditionally tourist time in Mexico, but they were exactly what I look for and I hope to take more tours with her in the future.
From Astrid 2024
I participated in a one day Día de Muertos Workshop with Jen and her Copper Moon Tours company on October 30th 2024. We went to make altars with Marigold flowers and to have a home cooked lunch on one of the Islands in the lake Patzcuaro with the Purépecha people. Jen put together such an amazing experience for our group. The impressions I was able to collect I will keep in my heart forever and can highly recommend to anyone reading this review to go on a tour with Jen. You will not regret it.
From Cate 2023
My 12 year-old and I participated in Día de Muertos adventures with Copper Moon Tours from October 30 through November 3, 2023. Jen put together such an amazing experience for us that I never could have organized on my own. Our guide Jaime was an incredible storyteller and we both learned so much about the Purépecha people and the customs surrounding Día de Muertos. The tours were conducted with the upmost consideration and respect for the holiday and the people who actually live in Pátzcuaro and the nearby islands and towns that we visited. Thank-you so much, Jen and Jaime!
From Bill 2022
The Dia de Muertos tour was a wonderful experience. Jen and her talented colleagues created a fun-filled itinerary with history, culture, delectable cuisine, rich colors and the people of Pátzcuaro and thesurrouding environs. We visited places rarely included on most tours. The logistics, of which there were many, were handled with aplomb and professionalism. I very highly recommend this tour.
From Carmen 2022
I participated in Jen's tours of Dias de Muertos this year and it was so special. We visited places that were only accessible because we were on Jen's tour. Small cemeteries, being invited to go into people's home to celebrate the special day with them. I highly recommend it!
From Nora 2021
Jen, thanks so much for such a marvelous tour for Dia de Muertos! It was magical, enchanting, unique and delightful! You are so lovely and kind and that spilled over to the people in our small group! I posted compliments to your Soul of Mexico Tours wall also. I look forward to seeing you and sipping some more mezcal in beautiful Patzcuaro! Very warmest regards and many thanks.
From David 2021
Soul of Mexico Tours’, “Día de los Muertos” is the perfect way to immerse yourself in this incredible, colorful, magical time in the Patzcuaro/Purépecha indigenous people’s region of Mexico. It’s a once in a lifetime experience! Jen organized a wonderful itinerary that took us into many small pueblos; showing a different and unique aspect to the holiday celebrations. We got a closeup look into some of the local traditions and even got to actively participate with the townspeople. We were always welcomed with open arms, big smiles and warm hearts. The daytime and nighttime excursions into the elaborately decorated and candlelit cemeteries was memorable beyond … striking images sharply remain. There was ample time to shop the big, festive markets and fairs being held simultaneously, too. Overall, it was a thrilling time from start to finish. Jen’s tour covers a lot of ground and showcases Día de los Muertos in the best way possible.
From Jayne 2021
Jen and Soul of Mexico's Dio de Muertos tour this year was beyond anything I could have imagined. This small-footprint carefully curated tour was a once in a life-time experience. If you would like to read more about it and my experience you can find it and more here: Thanks, Jen and Jaimi! intothefireventures.com
To read more reviews, please click here. We also have some reviews on Trip Advisor, which we are trying to grow. If you come on tour with us, please consider leaving us a review, as they are so crucial for small businesses like ours!
PRICE INCLUSIONS & RESERVATIONS
The tour price of $34,000 MX does not include your hotels. Please be sure to secure accommodations before confirming your tour, and contact us if you need assistance finding lodgings. We are here to help!
Once you have secured your accommodations, we require payment to confirm your tour. We will send you information for payment methods, as we have several ways you can pay.
The price for this tour includes 4 Breakfasts, 7 lunches, 3 dinners and 1 mezcal tasting. All other meals are separate. All drinks are separate.
All entrance fees, activities, ground transportation and boat rides are included.
Financial contributions for the families we visit are included.
Please bring $500 Pesos to collect various items for one of our participation projects. This will be donated to the families.
Please bring something you love, such as a box of chocolate covered almonds, or a special treat that is easy to transport. We will be giving these to the families we visit, so if each guest brings 1 or 2 things, we will have a collection of treats to share.
Guided services with bilingual National Licensed Guide included
Tips for your team leaders are discretionary and appreciated.
CONTACT US
Contact: Jennifer Bjarnason
Email: coppermoontravels@protonmail.com
WhatsApp / Text: +52 443 639 2782
