Plan Ahead for Day of the Dead

One of Mexico’s most important — and well attended — religious festivals is Day of Dead, celebrated on the first and second of November each year.  Far from being a morbid event, Day of Dead emphasizes remembrance of past lives and celebration of the continuity of life.

Day of the Dead is one of the most passionately celebrated events throughout Mexico, and especially so in smaller provincial towns and cities, although THE places to be on Day of the Dead are the colonial town of Patzcuaro (near Morelia) and Oaxaca City.

This year, the dates fall over a weekend, which means that there will be particularly high demand for buses, flights and hotel accommodation.  Booking ahead is essential if you plan to visit Morelia, Patzcuaro or Oaxaca between October 31 and November 3 this year.

Most hotel rooms in Patzcuaro are already booked up, but you may be able to find some late availability.  At the time of writing, Hotel La Parroquia and Hacienda Mariposas each had some space available.  Find Patzcuaro Hotels here.    If Patzcuaro is booked up, you may consider booking a Hotel in Morelia, about a forty-five minute road trip away from Patzcuaro.   Local buses connecting Morelia and Patzcuaro will cost you about $40 pesos (US$3.50), and a taxi ride about $250 pesos (US$22) each way.

Hotel availability in Oaxaca is still good, although most of the better hotels will book up by the end of October.  Find Hotels in Oaxaca.

If you’re traveling from or via Mexico City, a very comfortable and economical way to get to Morelia, Patzcuaro and Oaxaca is by luxury bus.  Buses to Morelia (with onward local connections to Patzcuaro) depart from the capital’s eastern bus terminal, Terminal de Autobuses del Oriente, also known as Observatorio; buses to Oaxaca City depart from the capital’s western bus terminal, Terminal de Autobuses del Occidente, also known as TAPO.  Read our guide Traveling by Bus in Mexico, for full details.

Flights from Mexico City to Oaxaca and Morelia depart daily.   Also see Flying in Mexico.

For details about the event, read Mexico Insight: Day of Dead.