Sample Tour Schedule

We are planning another Gluten-Free adventure to Oaxaca this Fall. In addition to visiting artists in their homes and workshops, we will be sharing the wonderful world of the Zapotecs, who know there is little difference between life and death. We will create our own alter, call our own dead, visit their graveyards, and participate in the reunion of Zapotec families with their ancestors.

We will also visit markets and explore the fabulous cooking styles of Oaxaca. We will create dishes to savor there, and to bring the recipes home with us. We will sample and create sauces, drinks and desserts. Oh and by the way, chocolate and chilis come from Oaxaca, and a large number of dried chilis and chocolate are legally allowed entry to the U.S.A., so we can come home with the authentic ingredients.

We have 10 spaces for this adventure and the price is only $1850.00 for the trip. This price covers everything except drinks in restaurants and the air fare. We will stay in our own private villa with a huge kitchen and a great view. The meals will all be gluten -free, delicious, and served with wine if you choose. Please phone 512-327-9660 (Wild Wood) or 512-797-9559 for more information.


Many other activities have been added over time.

Our group, which is always kept to less than 15, will stay in accommodations selected for your safety, comfort and tranquility. The hacienda in Huayapam sits above the astonishingly beautiful Oaxacan valley, and has a view you will not soon forget. We have cooks to prepare our 3 delicious meals per day; however there will also be the opportunity for us to eat out, as well as to shop together for indigenous foods, and to prepare & enjoy them together ! (If you have dietary restrictions - and ours is a restaurant which specializes in helping people with dietary restrictions - please make us aware of these as early as possible.)

There will also be many opportunities for shopping in Oaxaca and its outlying areas. We will explore the workshops of artisanas whose art is rendered in cotton, wool, wood, metals, paper, and various clay media.

So contact us soon (800/420-4207, or 512/327-9660, or via e-mail at wildwoodartcafe@gmail.com) if you wish to come along, as the limited number of spaces available are already filling up. Come and see magnificent Oaxaca in the full flowering of its celebratory beauty ! You'll understand why a favorite saying of the Zapotecs is: We are not here for a long time, but we are here for a good time!

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Our tours are rather active, and are greatly enjoyed! See a sample schedule from our most recent tour (left). For instance, we may do some of the following:

We will of course also visit the local ANIMAL CARVERS, including visits to Jacobo Angeles, Isodoro Cruz, Jose Hernandez, Manuel Jiminez, and many others, too!

In TEOTITLAN DEL VALLE there will be a demonstration of wool and mohair hand weaving. We will also learn how natural dyes from the region are used to create incredible colors.

ORCHIDS are the order of the day when we visit a site with 600 of the 700 varieties indigenous to Oaxaca.

POTTERY production is delightful and unique in the Oaxaca valley. Our presentation includes visits to 6 different production areas, such as Ocotlan, Atzompa & San Bartolo. Artists visited include Josefina & Guillermina Aguilar.

SAN MAGOTE, ETLA is the oldest site of Zapotec civilization. We will also visit the last pre-Columbian site of MITLA. We have an excellent guide, and we will also view the museums, and local cotton weaving markets.

CANDLE MAKING is the ancient art of creating large, decorated beeswax candles, used in weddings and local celebrations.

69 PIPE ORGANS have been recovered to date in Oaxaca valley's churches. We are very fortunate to have a private concert played in a 500-year old church in the pueblo of Tlacochahuaya
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Rates are based on double occupancy, but there are 2 single rooms available for people with medical restrictions. Our price includes lodging, all meals (except a few which are taken at local restaurants), all admission fees, and all local, ground transportation. The price does not include travel insurance or airfare to Oaxaca and back, but please contact us and we will help you with obtaining a flight at reasonable rates.

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Wild Wood Tours (referred to as Operator) acts only as agent for tour members in regard to hotel accommodations, restaurants, meals and services, sightseeing tours and transportation of whatever nature. Operator assumes no responsibility or liability in connection with the services of any of these companies or their servants. By acceptance of tour membership, tour member agrees to the foregoing and also agrees that Operator shall not become liable for any loss, damage, injury or inconvenience caused by or resulting from occurrences, negligent or otherwise, due to the malfunction of transportation equipment, strikes, acts of God, war or civil strife, delays, fire, theft, itinerary changes, or cancellation of services by suppliers.

Refund Policy: 100% refund if we cancel the tour.
$300 deposit is non-refundable. Other payments may be refundable up to 60 days before the day of departure.
Receipt of deposit assures your space, and is your agreement to fulfill the financial (contractual) obligations of the trip. We cannot reimburse expenses if you fail to appear for the tour, without notification 60 days or more in advance. We do recommend that you take out trip insurance in the event that sickness or other personal obligations prevent you from participating.

Our price includes:

Hotel accommodations
Transportation to & from our activities
Guide(s) to introduce you into our artists' worlds
All meals including those at restauarants (where the alcoholic beverages are NOT included in the price)
Translation services as needed during the activity times
Transportation to and from the Airport in Oaxaca City, if you arrive and leave on first & last days of the tour
Meals at our villa (most breakfasts and suppers eaten in, plus brown bag lunches as needed)
We can help to arrange your flights to and from Oaxaca, but airfare is not included in our price.

What our fees do not include:

Airfare to and from Mexico
Transportation to and from your airport at point of departure
Any alcoholic beverages at restaurants(including scheduled & unscheduled meals, snacks and/or beverages)
Personal shopping, incidentals, & souvenirs
Telephone/internet fees
Anything not listed in our services above

Banks, ATMs and Exchange houses are readily available in Oaxaca City, but you may wish to change some money at the airport in Oaxaca or Mexico City when you first arrive.

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What to bring/wear:

The average temperature in Oaxaca in October is 75f to 55f.
Suggested items might include:


2 pairs of walking shoes—in case of rain
sweater or warm jacket
comfortable clothing not harmed by a little mud
Earplugs if you’re not used to country night noises
hat
sunscreen
waterless hand sanitizer
a large suitcase to bring things home (since the shipping prices will scare you)
film is more expensive in Mexico and can be older than rolls purchased in the states
atm machines are available and dollars can be used almost everywhere
Raincoat or poncho
insect repellent
spare socks

the villa offers laundry service


Dress comfortably (cotton): wear jeans or a comfortable skirt, and good walking shoes. Bring light rainwear. But even so, don't forget your sun-glasses, bathing suit and sun lotion! Nights can be cool so bring a lightweight sweater or jacket. Relax and bring a variety of clothes you don't care about.

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Past tours have been enormously successful. Read a few comments by past participants:

"This celebration [the Guelaguetza], which has been held for centuries, includes activities all over the city, but the events most eagerly awaited are the presentations of the dances... Music, colorful dress, enjoyable dances, and humor all join in this wonderful spectacle. It is an experience of a lifetime to be able to view this ancient traditional celebration." (Terry Tannert, of Mexicarte Museum, Austin, and of Austin Friends of Folk Art)

"The Guelagutaza trip is the best tour I have ever been on."

Joan + David: I enjoyed my visit to Oaxaca and congratulate both of you for your patience, organization, and safe & excellent driving skills during our tours and visits in the Oaxaca area."
(May, 2005)

"You have put togeter THE ultimate, informative, exploratory, adventurous and thoroughly enjoyable trip to Oaxaca. Everything - the accomodations, the food, the planned events, the transportation, the constant courtesy, the relaxed schedule - all were close to perfect. Grade: A+. Never have I been on a tour with such experts in the field. Wonderful and exciting! And this specificaly includes Roque, the best birding expert guide I have had the pleasure of experiencing. Thank you for a memorable vacation!" (J.J., July 2005)

"It was excellent, Joan, I'd do it again!" (Jim R., July, 2005)