Oaxaca Indígena

Asking what makes Oaxaca such a distinctive part of Mexico will no doubt inspire many responses. We believe that because Oaxaca is made up of so many diverse indigenous cultures, languages, and communities, it stands out amongst all other Mexican states and regions. We started our ethical travel program to honor and pay respect to the indigenous communities here, sharing their beliefs and tremendous accomplishments with guests from around the world.

Our guests experience a side of Oaxaca that many visitors miss if they only visit the city or coastal resort areas. Traveling with our guides who are from traditional Central Valley Zapotec pueblos like Teotitlán del Valle, visitors can immediately notice a different approach to travel and hospitality. We take time to open family homes and welcome you into artist studios where generations share work and daily life together, learning how cultures endure and change over time. The concept of beneficial exchange is inherent within indigenous communities and it informs everything we do together.

Oaxaca recognizes sixteen distinct indigenous cultures, each of which speaks distinct languages or dialects depending on where they live in this geographically diverse part of the country. Over half of Oaxaca’s population speaks their own language in addition to Spanish, creating a liguistically rich and complex social structure. Zapotec, Mixtec, Chinanteco, Mixe, and many other languages spoken across Oaxaca form a stunning array when taken as a whole. They are roadmaps to distinctive cultural traditions going back thousands of years. We will follow some of those paths as we travel across Oaxaca together.

We are guided by a profound history and sense of belonging to this place, and that is what we most hope to share with our guests. Your guides will share their personal stories and experiences with the shifting landscape of contemporary Oaxaca as we investigate the origins and roots of some of the most closely held beliefs and traditions.