Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Welcome
Thank you for your interest in joining us to learn more about Oaxaca. This experience has been created and curated to offer authentic insights into Oaxacan culture and the traditional ways of life of local indigenous people.
Our experience will focus on our pueblos, culture, mezcal, and cuisine. The trip lasts 5 days and 5 nights, from May 6th to May 11th, accommodating a maximum of 8 to 10 people. Prices will vary based on lodging, activities, transportation, and season. In May 2026, the trip will cost $2000 per person for double occupancy, plus a $54 online processing fee. Solo travelers will need to pay an additional $200 single supplement fee at the time of booking to secure a private room. These spots are extremely limited; we recommend early booking to secure single accommodations.
You can choose to pay in full or reserve your spot with a $1,000 down payment per person, plus a $27 online processing fee. If a down payment is made, the final installment of $1,000 per person, along with a $27 online processing fee, must be paid 30 days before the trip. For full payment details, please see our terms and conditions. Payments can be made on the Tequio Foods website under the store page (https://tequiofoods.com/store).
During our trip, we will explore indigenous communities, local markets, and various artisans' workshops. You will have the chance to learn about traditional crafts such as clay pottery, woodcut printing, weaving, and hojalata (tin work). Our accommodations will be at a hotel operated by a non-profit cooperative, where you will enjoy daily breakfast, snacks, and a mezcal tasting hosted by a Chatina maestra mezcalera (mezcal master).
You will also participate in a cooking class that features heirloom corn and local ingredients, guided by a traditional Mixtec cook (cocinera tradicional Mixteca). Additionally, we will visit a mezcal palenque (distillery) to learn from mezcal masters who produce some of the finest mezcal in the world.
Our itinerary includes a visit to Monte Albán, one of the largest Mesoamerican cities established by the Zapotec people. Below is a brief overview of the main activities scheduled for each day. I will provide a more detailed itinerary once the booking is confirmed.
Why is this trip so unique?
I believe in supporting our communities through fair payment, respect, and, most importantly, by highlighting the work of artisans who have honed their crafts for generations. While many companies may offer trips to Oaxaca, our journey emphasizes fair collaboration with indigenous people by compensating them for their time, knowledge, and products. Our experiences are led by an immigrant chef and activist born and raised in Oaxaca, currently residing in the USA.
Unlike most companies that operate on a commission structure—where artisans only earn money if you make a purchase—everyone involved in our experiences, including drivers, artisans, experts, and food providers, receives fair compensation. We honor the prices they have set for their time during our visit. Additionally, I will donate 12% of our profits to a local reforestation project in the Mixtec region called “Proyecto Rosenda” and to “Canica de Oaxaca” a nonprofit that improves health, education, and therapy services for low-income children in Oaxaca.
We stand out because many American travel tour companies do not feature voices from Oaxaqueños when visiting our state. Although there are several trips led by Mexican chefs, particularly with the growing popularity of Oaxacan cuisine, they often do not include chefs from Oaxaca itself. This presents a unique opportunity to benefit local residents.
When will the experiences take place in 2026? May 6th - May 11th June 3rd - June 8th *NEW*
Who am I?
Luis Martinez - Tequio Foods / Xolo CHS
I was born in Santa Catarina Loxicha, Oaxaca, Mexico, in a small Zapotec pueblo. I came to the US in 2005 after studying Fine Arts at the state university while working in kitchens around Oaxaca City. Upon arriving in the US, I experienced the harsh reality of migrant work and the shock of a different culture as a farmworker in Indio, California. After eventually moving to Los Angeles, I returned to the restaurant industry, working in several restaurants and cuisines alongside other Oaxacans in Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle. These chefs taught Luis how to infuse Oaxacan culture and cuisine into my cooking, using a range of methodologies, from traditional ingredients to Asian techniques. Now based in Asheville, NC, I combine my love for cooking with my passion for social justice.
One of the factors that pushed me to the US was the Mexican government’s designation of my community-building efforts in indigenous communities as politically dangerous. Because of my involvement, I experienced extreme abuse from the government, ultimately leading to my seeking and receiving political asylum in the US. Now an American citizen, I am dedicated to working alongside indigenous communities to overcome and flourish despite complex economic challenges and dangerous political encounters.
Essentials
We will be staying in a contemporary hotel built from the remains of an 18th-century home located in the heart of Oaxaca City—a hotel with a heart, a message, and a cause. When we stay with them, you help create a brighter future for the youth of Oaxaca, as they invest their profits in local education.
They operate the hotel as sustainably as possible, and they promote responsible travel, making their place amongst the best hotels for travelers who want to give back to the local community and travel consciously.
You’ll have your own private room with a double or queen bed for singles or a queen/king bed for couples, with the option of double beds if required, plus ample, beautiful common space.
For every experience outside the city, transportation is included in the price. If you are flying the same day as our hotel check-in, we can arrange a transfer to the hotel at no cost. We recommend arriving in Oaxaca City before 3 pm so you can relax in the hotel for a bit before we go to dinner at 6 pm.
On our final day, we will organize a complimentary transfer to Oaxaca airport for all guests whose flight home departs at 1 pm or later.
The package includes daily breakfast, four lunches, two Michelin-starred dinners, and one street taco tasting walk. We can accommodate all dietary restrictions with prior notice. During walking tours, beer, water, and snacks will be provided. Additionally, three mezcal tastings are included, along with welcome and farewell dinners featuring mezcal, beer, and cocktails. At the beginning of the trip, you will receive one bottle of mezcal, as well as two bags filled with traditional snacks and other gifts, one at the start and one at the end of your trip.
We aim to offer as sustainable an experience as we can. Trash is recycled whenever possible, and we avoid mass tourism activities that harm the environment or do not benefit local communities.
This tour requires a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 10 participants to ensure the best small-group experience. With such a small group, you’ll be able to enjoy unique, rewarding activities that wouldn't be accessible to larger groups.
Your tour will be led by an expert, licensed, and local indigenous guide. Our guides are always on hand, every day of the trip, to provide additional information, create spontaneous activities, join the group for non-included activities and meals, and to ensure that the trip is as memorable, fun, and informative as possible.
What’s included
What’s not included
What’s not included
- Five nights of accommodation in the heart of Oaxaca City
- Five days of activities both in and around Oaxaca City
- All mentioned activities and their entrance fees
- Transportation for all the listed activities
- Meals included as specified above
- A licensed local tour leader throughout the entire trip
What’s not included
What’s not included
What’s not included
- Flights to/from Mexico
- Passport/visa fees
- Meals not mentioned
- Travel insurance (which is required)
- Optional activities not listed
Cancellations
Information about our cancellation policy appears below, which we urge you to read carefully.
Any cancellations by you will result in the loss of your full payment or a portion of it, depending on how close your cancellation is to the start of the trip. We cannot make any exceptions to this refund policy. For this reason, we require that you have comprehensive travel insurance for every traveler in your group, including trip cancellation/interruption coverage, to help protect your financial investment in the trip. More information about our cancellation policy is below; we urge you to read it carefully.
If you decide to cancel your trip, the following policy applies:
- Upon receiving full payment, 50% of the trip cost is refundable. No refund will be issued if only the down payments were received.
- If the trip was paid in full, cancellations made within 30 days of the trip departure are eligible for a 25% refund of the trip cost. No refund will be issued if only the down payments were received.
- If the trip was paid in full, cancellations made within 15 days of the trip departure are eligible for a 10% refund of the trip cost. No refund will be issued if only the down payments were received.
- For cancellations made within 7 days of the trip departure, the trip is non-refundable.
All payments must be made by credit card. Prices are in US dollars, and all payments must be made in US dollars. Payments can be made on the Tequio Foods website under the store page (https://tequiofoods.com/store).
To cancel your booking, you must send a written notice to us by email at tequiofoods@gmail.com. Cancellation fees will be applied per person, based on the policy set forth above and the date we receive your written notification.
Terms and Conditions & Liability Waiver
FAQ
Of course! We don't like experiences that book every minute of your day. While we will be busy, there will also be plenty of time for you to explore on your own. Travel is about adventure and discovery. We want you to see things that interest you specifically.
We will be on hand to offer suggestions, help you decide what to do, and be around. If you want to go off on your own, we understand. We want you to explore and break out of your comfort zone! We are here to help, and once the tour experience begins, you will receive a list of potential activities you can do on your own.
No. You will be responsible for your own airfare and travel to the tour meeting place before the trip and to the airport after the trip.
Yes. Every traveler must provide proof of current travel insurance within 7 days of booking. If the traveler fails to provide this information within 7 days of the booking date, we will inform them and automatically cancel the reservation in accordance with the Cancellation Policy.
You must be at least 18 years old. There’s no maximum age!
Yes. You will be required to fill out and sign a full liability waiver for Tequio Foods
People sometimes rush to secure a spot but don’t always get the time off work and might need to cancel. Therefore, we have a waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis. Send us an email at tequiofoods@gmail.com with the dates you are interested in.
Of course! My email is tequiofoods@gmail.com
Ready to Book your Experience?
This website uses cookies.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.