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Testimonials
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The trip was outstanding. The hotel, food and itinerary exceeded my expectations. The night visit to the cemetery was a highlight I will remember for years. Carlos went out of his way to ensure that everyone experienced Oaxacan culture. I would not hesitate to take this trip again.
Gloria B.
28 jul 2013 12:33
We went with a 6 of our best friends and had a fabulous time..everything was well organized... great tour guide...nice hotel and wonderful restaurant selections...I highly recommend MOC if you want to experience Day of the Dead in Oaxaca
Gunther M.
29 jul 2013 12:02
We were thrilled with our 2011 Oaxacan adventure. We really enjoyed Omar and Carlos of MOC Adventures. They took very good care of us. There were plenty of new and exciting things to experience in Oaxaca and the surrounding villages. The history and culture were so interesting. Tour highlights were the Dia de los Muertos activities. We especially loved the Comparsas parade and the fascinating evening cemetery and town visits. Quite a touching experience! The crafts, excellent food (top notch restaurants), and camaraderie topped of this amazing tour opportunity. We would love to do it all over again some day.
Terry and John P.
29 jul 2013 15:30
Experiencing the Day of the Dead with MOC Adventures was unforgettable! The visits to the cemeteries was a highlight as was the comparsa in Etla. I loved building our own ofrenda and holding a huge armful of marigolds. The choice of restaurants was incredible - I had been in Oaxaca before and had not known how exciting the authentic cuisine could be. I was always able to find great vegetarian food, and our trip leaders were sensitive to this need. For me, getting to know Carlos, Omar and Monica, young progressive, interesting people who were willing to share their views on contemporary Mexico, added an important dimension to the trip. I have traveled a lot on my own, but there was real value in going with such thoughtful and knowledgeable leaders. The accommodations were lovely, too. I highly recommend this trip!
Joan M.
13 ago 2013 11:57
In 2009 we experienced the “mother of all Day of the Dead celebrations” with MOC Adventures. And it was indeed an experience of a lifetime. We rarely repeat an adventure since the world is so full of excitement. But be that as it may, we’re yearning for another bite of the apple and plan on a repeat Oaxacan lifetime experience with MOC in the future.
Marilyn and Art Z.
19 ago 2013 0:17
I loved the tour and the cultural experience. I really loved the fine restaurants we visited and the wonderful cuisine, plus the great shopping. I would like to come back to Oaxaca again.
Don P.
1 sept 2013 9:12
We couldn’t thank Monica, Omar and Carlos (MOC Adventures) enough for sharing their beautiful Oaxaca with us. What an unforgettable trip! The perfect balance of culture, history, art, food and fun! The level of service was fantastic from the very first inquiry email we sent. The accommodation was gorgeous, we loved staying in such a traditional style Casa. While the food throughout the trip
was always the very best Oaxaca has to offer and never disappointed!
It’s so hard pick one highlight of the trip. I think no one will forget the magical night spend among the marigold and candle at the nearby cemeteries. Arty people like myself will love the mask making workshop and visits to the art workshops in the neighboring towns. While my husband’s highlight was the in Comparsa Etla with it’s all its crazy colourful chaos! The cooking class was yummy, we often create the recipes at home for friend. The only shame is we can’t source many of the very local ingredients used here in Australia, but we've substituted some OK.
We’ll always have a soft spot for Oaxaca and fond memories of our new friend Monica, Omar and Carlos and all of themselves they put into their tours. From Carlos' family run institute to Monica and Omar’s passion for their homeland. A once in a life time trip we’ll never forget!
Michelle and Stephen
7 abr 2015 23:10
Hello! My husband and I went on the MOC Adventure tour to Oaxaca for Day of the Dead 2016. I recommend this group most highly. They planned and implemented everything perfectly. We enjoyed every moment of our trip with them. And, we enjoyed and learned so much about Oaxaca and traditional and contemporary crafts. We participated in the Day of the Dead and felt very much a part of a beautiful and fun celebration and observation. Don't miss traveling with Monica, Omar and Carlos. This is a GREAT trip! Niko and Steve
niko m.
21 ene 2017 15:12
What a wonderful trip! Monica, Omar, and Carlos were fantastic guides. If you want to experience another culture in a small group rather than a large tour, this is the trip for you. We experienced shopping at the local market, cooking classes, time with local artisans, ruins, churches, shopping, mask-making class, parades, plenty of free time, and a thorough understanding of what the Day of the Dead means to the Mexican culture. And let’s not forget the food! Your tour will include eating at several of the best restaurants Oaxaca has to offer.
And let me mention the personal touch. The day we were travelling home, one of our party had a lost passport scare. Monica and Omar did all the legwork, talking with agents to get us from Oaxaca to Mexico City without proper ID, checking with lost and found, finding us a hotel to stay in until the Embassy in Mexico City opened, etc. We finally found the passport, but want to express how safe they made us feel by taking such good care of us. We can’t recommend MOC Adventures highly enough!
Peggy C.
6 nov 2017 10:30
Thank you, Monica, Omar, and Carlos, for another wonderful experience with MOC! As you know, I was so captivated by the tour last year that I signed up again and brought another couple to join me this year, and it was even BETTER than last year! The hotel was wonderful and so helpful, right down to carrying down my bags at 4AM on Friday when I left! I recommend the Textile Museum. I was absolutely overwhelmed by its architecture, installations, and beauty. Textiles are so important to Oaxaca, and every visitor on the MOC tour should at least be encouraged to use free time to visit that museum! Thank you all again. And thanks to Carlos and Omar for dancing with me at the Campers on Wednesday! Much love, Shannon
Shannon
7 nov 2017 9:59
It was a true pleasure to meet Monica, Omar, Carlos, and Juliet.
You all orchestrated our tour with cell phones, good humor, and one of a kind Oaxacan experiences.
I really appreciated the unique opportunity which you facilitated with the woodcarving artist. We had one of those universal art language exchanges over a stump carving copal together. I brought the pieces of a giraffe home wrapped in a bag to be finished in my studio. So pleased that he invited me back to Arrazola to carve on our next trip.
The choice of restaurants was truly remarkable. We picked up a copy of “Bite”, beach, village, and urban eating in Oaxaca, and realized we had been eating at the best! The final dinner on the rooftop of Casa Oaxaca with fireworks, and a sound and light stage presentation benind Santo Domingo was almost a Hollywood ending. Each of us disappearing into the crowds after and each carrying a different set of memorable moments.
We will be back!
Thanks so much for your gracious hospitality.
Stan
Portland, Oregon
Stan P.
7 nov 2017 9:57
If you have dreamed of attending the Day of the Dead in Oaxaca....DO NOT MISS THIS TOUR; it is small, personal, intelligent, great fun, great food and wonderful involvement from the owners and guides. Monica, Omar and Carlos are greatly invested in their community and love of Mexico; they do this tour only during The Day of The Dead celebration because of their pride in their country and this community.....and well invested pride it is; I have been home 2 days and all ready forwarded information to several friends.
The people of Oaxaca are kind, gentle and eternally patient with, we ,the tourists.
We learned so much concerning archeology, culture, and oh yes, did I mention the food....you are right I did. I normally am not too excited about tours....but this was the best .Nancy B.
Nancy B
10 nov 2017 7:52
The 2017 tour to Oaxaca organized by MOC was extraordinary. Monica, Omar and Carlos love Oaxaca and know how to reveal and celebrate its traditions and history to participants. The tour provides a carefully crafted introduction to the Day of the Dead festivities as well as to the artists, crafts, archaeological sites, food and natural beauty of the region around Oaxaca City. We were warmly welcomed and taken care of by the people of Oaxaca and most especially by MOC. We’ve been on tours around the world. This is one of the very best. Michael and Ann W.
Michael and Ann W.
13 nov 2017 9:21
We just returned from a spectacular 10 day outing with MOC Adventures in Oaxaca. It was a perfect size group (11), great accommodations, fascinating excursions, and the best restaurant experiences. We had the pleasure of visiting
and chatting with woodworkers and weavers in their studios. We had a fun (and delicious) day in Teotitlan del Valle visitng a local market to buy the fixings for our cooking class where we learned to make mole and other delicious Oaxacan specialties. MOC arranged for a knowledgeable and good humored guide (Coco) to take us to Monte Alban, Mitla, and a tour of the historic areas of Oaxaca City. And the food was great. We got to visit a number of excellent Oaxacan restaurant where we could order off the menu and weren't restricted to a set menu (that larger tours might do). Then to cap off a fabulous week, we participated in DAys of the Dead activities (mask making and ofrenda building) and visited the Xoxo cemeteries the first night of the Days of the Dead. Our tour leaders: Monica, Omer, and Carlos were friendly, helpful, well spoken, and knowledgeable. It is their love of Oaxaca that caused them to come up with the idea for the MOC Adventures and it shows in the itinerary and care they show to all the participants. They were also very helpful in arranging for extra nights accommodations for us as we wanted to arrive a few days early and arranged for someone to meet us at the airport when we arrived. We highly recommend this group and tour for discovering the delights of Oaxaca. Annette.
Annette S.
15 nov 2017 15:36
This was my second Day of the Dead tour with MOC and it was as good as the first, with some new and different outings. My partner and I arrived a few days early to enjoy wandering Oaxaca City on our own, then joined the tour at Casa Catrina. Our accommodations and staff were wonderful. Meals in the best restaurants were exceptional. The highlights for me were the cooking class with Reyna in Teotitlan, and the mezcaleria tour. We met fun people and had a great time. Monica, Omar and Carlos and Juliet were very professional and helped us arrange extra activities like carving with local woodworkers and eating at street carts. Highly recommend this tour!
Marlene R.
27 nov 2017 11:56
We had a wonderful visit to Oaxaca for the Dia de los Muertas holiday with MOC Adventures. Monica, Omar and Carlos were perfect hosts. There was just the right blend of planned activities and free time. The meals were excellent in very fine restaurants and one of our hosts was always with us. Transportation in and around the surrounding areas was very comfortable as we visited Mount Alban and Mitla archaeological sites, learned how Mezcal was ‘grown’ from agave over many years and the juice was fermented and distilled, and visited interesting artists and weavers, as well as a cooking class to learn how traditional Mexican dishes were prepared. The city tours were broken up into comfortable segments with an excellent and very animated guide. Perhaps the highlights were making our own Day of the Dead plaster of Paris masks for parading through Oaxaca with our own brass band and visiting the old cemeteries with many, many others to remember those no longer with us as they ‘return!’ on October 31st at midnight. Our group of eight from Durango, Colorado enjoyed our boutique hotel with outdoor breakfasts and a verdant courtyard for ‘happy hour’ libations. Just a wonderful time relaxing in the warm climate of Oaxaca!
Willa & Jim Beatty
Durango, Colorado
Willa and Jim B.
5 dic 2017 13:37
I had an amazing experience with MOC adventures. Everyday offered a new activity to learn about Oaxaca and the surrounding villages. Most evenings were free to explore the city solo and get a feel for the Oaxacan community. I felt extremely safe in the city and had no qualms about the fact I was a young woman traveling by herself during my adventures in the evening. Monica, Omar, and Carlos are kind individuals that work very hard to serve their guests, educate them on cultural traditions & norms, and provide guests with positive experiences. I really loved my week in Oaxaca and will treasure the memories I collected there for the rest of my life.
Autumn W.
7 nov 2018 11:38
I had a wonderful time with MOC Adventures. The team went out of their way to provide great experiences from eating, to cooking and mask making. I highly recommend the Dia de los Meurtos trip
Jan T.
7 nov 2018 13:54
A big shout out to MOC Adventures! I had the time of my Life in Oaxaca. The Dia de los Muertos tour exceeded all expectations and the enthusiasm and fantastic organisation by Monica, Omar, Daniel and Carlos was second to none! I shall hold the memories in my heart forever! xoxoxoxo
Joss M.
12 nov 2018 22:36
W.O.W. Friends at work are wondering why I now have a constant smile on my face after this 5 day vacation. It was amazing. What a city, what a culture, great people, and INSANE FOOD. I loved that the group maxes out at 10, we were 8 of those 10 and the other 2 were a great addition. The bed and breakfast, La Betulia, was very comfortable and very clean and the lovely ladies who served our breakfast were cute as can be. Daniel was our host and he was a hoot. So helpful with our pitiful Spanish, funny, engaging, energetic and just a great host for us. He greeted each of us by our names as we got off the plane! Every event/day was so organized and well planned. Everyone we were arranged to see was expecting us and ready to go. We traveled by a very comfortable big van and the driver was professional and so nice. MOC knows how to manage a tour, no doubt there. From the medieval style market (think Raiders of the Lost Ark) which we visited with the chef giving the lesson was so cool, the cooking classes, the wood carving/painting school, the weavers, the walking tour, the local margaritas, the mezcal distillery, and seriously the most amazing restaurants for dinner. The love of food in this city is real and these restaurants are top notch. Authentic Mexican. No cheesy enchiladas. Tamales in banana leaves, mole of all kinds (yes you will learn to love mole after this trip), sauces, soups, homemade tortillas, it all made for a fantastic trip. Always felt safe, great walking city and beautiful. Thank you MOC and Daniel for a culinary tour experience I am loving telling my friends about!!
Joan M.
10 oct 2019 10:07