Mexico City · DAY OF THE DEAD TOURS
A short list to settle the question quickly: 12 day of the dead tours, each with its price, its traveller rating and the one detail to check before you pay.
On November 1, Amigo Tours LATAM takes you by coach from one of three Mexico City meeting points to illuminated landmarks, Panteón de Dolores, and Xochimilco. A guide leads the outing, which ends with a 75-minute trajinera ride and live mariachi. English and Spanish tours are offered; food and drinks cost extra.
“The guide had family members talk about their tombs. Nice touch.”
Starting at 6:00 pm, this 7-to-8-hour tour pairs a nighttime cemetery visit with a trajinera ride through Xochimilco, including live mariachi music. Transport and a certified guide are included; food and drinks are not. Guides have included Lilly and Pamela on past departures, though assignments vary.
“The canal ride was very chill and chilly. It was a good opportunity to have fun and there were opportunities to buy food and drinks as well at both places. The tour said it included La Llorona as part of the tour but it was not in fact included.Faleadvetisement but looks like they may have updated it since then (by taking it off). I love seeing the panteones with the group and having the guides inform us and keep us safe. I’d say overall it’s a great tour but not worth the current price in my opinion. Too much for what it was.”
Travel from Mexico City to San Andrés Mixquic in a small group or private vehicle. A local guide introduces the town’s Day of the Dead traditions, decorated streets, altars, and cemetery. The nine-hour outing includes pan de muerto and atole, with an earlier start intended to avoid the worst traffic and crowds.
“Excellent! Well-prepared guide, punctual, good length of stay, small group for the tour (about 15 people). The place is incredible, full of attractions, good food, nice people.”
Start at 10 a.m. for a guided, 9-to-11-hour trip from Mexico City to Xochimilco, San Antonio Tecómitl, and Mixquic. Expect a themed trajinera ride with tacos, drinks, mariachi, and a Catrina show, followed by two cemetery visits and Mixquic’s candlelit Alumbrada. English is offered. Guides named in feedback include Chandler and Alicia.
“Excellent tour at a relaxed pace The tour guide Chandler is American and a professional stand up comedian so as you can expect fluent in English with a great sense of humour We covered a lot of ground and Chandler educated us on Mexican history I loved the way the tour ended Chandler-style with lunch at a restaurant with great views of CDMX, money better spent on lunch than on entry tickets to a viewing platform a few floors above AND an invitation to a stand up comedy show at WOKO! Now, I’ve never had a tour end that way before I totally recommend Chandler!”
At Casa Dia de Muertos in Xochimilco, a bilingual guide leads you through a colorful house and year-round ofrenda, explains the celebration’s pre-Hispanic roots and later influences, then introduces the working Mexskeletons craft workshop. You can watch artists make tequila decanter sets and other pieces, browse the displays, and sample pan de muerto.
“Experiència molt recomanable per conèixer què s’amaga darrera del “Día de los muertos”. En Víctor, el nostre guia, va explicar-ho de manera molt amena i amb molt de coneixement. Anàvem amb els nostres fills i els va captivar la visita. Entorn únic, rodejat d’artesants treballant. Es pot arribar fàcilment amb taxi.”
Travel from Mexico City to San Andrés Mixquic for a guided walk through Day of the Dead traditions, decorated streets, the Church of San Andrés Apóstol and family ofrendas. On November 2, the cemetery’s Alumbrada fills the evening with candlelight and copal incense. The tour includes round-trip transport, pan de muerto and atole.
“Adriana was an amazing tour guide. The town has so much magic. It’s a really cool experience you won’t get to experience any other time of the year.”
This 2.5-hour evening walk starts at Hostal Amigo and ends at the House of Tiles, with stops at the Zócalo and a former convent. Expect Day of the Dead traditions, local legends and stories about the buildings along the way. Groups are capped at 15. Guides who have led the tour include Ara, Hector, Carlo and Adora, though your guide may differ.
“Carlo and Hector were fantastic! Had a great time! We also got to explore parts of the city we hadn’t been to.”
Travel from central Mexico City to Mixquic for an afternoon among local Day of the Dead altars, including a visit to a home, the pantheon and the town’s celebration. Transport and an English-speaking guide are included. Guides have included Tan and David, though your assigned guide may differ. Expect crowds, smoke and plenty of walking.
“This is a completely unique way to experience day of the dead. Seeing an ofrenda in someone’s home was an experience I will not soon forget. I do however want to caution those who do not do well with large crowds, smoke, and who have walking difficulties to think twice before booking. In our group we had a lot of issues with losing members and having regroup several times due to people not being able to keep pace. You have to be able to walk quickly and maneuver through small spaces in the markets and I don’t think that’s clear on the posting. This made our tour a little less…”
At Casa Día de Muertos in Xochimilco, an English- or Spanish-speaking guide leads you through a home filled with Day of the Dead art and an offering, then introduces the artisans who make tequila decanter sets for export. The visit lasts about an hour, costs $11.91 per person, and has a maximum group size of 15.
“It's worth it if you can't visit CDMX in Day of the Dead season. However, if it is the season, it comes out a little. It should also be noted that apart from the home tour, it is also a craft business, so there is a lot of sales.Auto-translated”
Travel from Fiesta Americana Reforma to Xochimilco for La Llorona, a night show of dance, song, and staged scenes aboard a traditional trajinera. A bilingual guide and round-trip air-conditioned transport are included. Plan for about six hours, though traffic and event delays can stretch the evening. Dinner is not included.
“It was a little chaotic with the other events happening that same day and the start time got bumped up. Other than that, the organizers were super friendly and helpful, the transportation excellent, and the experience was fun. Not scary as I expected, the show was more historical.”
Travel from central Mexico City to San Andrés Mixquic for a guided cemetery visit focused on Día de Muertos traditions, tomb decorations, and local history. Then spend about three and a half hours exploring the town and its Fair of the Dead, with music, games, food, and dancing. Ricardo has guided departures, but your guide may vary.
“Amazing experience to learn and understand a portion of the rich Mexican culture and their beliefs. A must do when in Mexico for the day of the dead!”
On November 1, a certified English- or Spanish-speaking guide leads this eight-hour evening tour from central Mexico City to a traditional cemetery and Xochimilco. Expect illuminated landmarks, a 75-minute trajinera ride with live mariachi music, and possible traffic delays. The guide’s name is not provided.
“Badly organised, a money grabbing gimmick. We were told to wait in line for a bus, and after waiting 30 mins, got on, and then told to get off the bus to join a different one, which we again had to wait for. We left an hour later than the meeting time. The guide was inexperienced, kept asking her co-guide what to say. There was no sightseeing as was listed in the itinerary. The cemetery we went to was frequented by the 10 large coaches they had operating so wasn't an authentic experience. We spent majority of the tour waiting around for 30 mins at a time. The xochimilco canals…”
Pick a pyramid, a canal or a taco stand.
