NOTE: This 4-day tour can be combined with the 4-day Tequila tour to turn it into an 8-day tour

RSVP
619-295-3939

DATES
Your choice of 2 tour dates
TOUR #1 ~ Feb 12 - 15, 2019 (Tue - Fri) ~ 8 SEATS AVAILABLE
TOUR #2 ~ March 5 - 8, 2019 (Tue - Fri) ~ 4 SEATS AVAILABLE

COST
Oaxaca Only
$875 per person based on double occupancy
$155 single occupancy upcharge

Tequila + Oaxaca Combo (includes one extra night in Guadalajara between tours)
$1,865 per person based on double occupancy
$285 single occupancy upcharge

Price includes all breakfasts, all lunches, all dinners (except transition night between tours in Guadalajara if adding on the Tequila tour), all beverages (except optional extra drinks), all hotel accommodations, all distillery tours and tastings, and all bus transportation.  Air and taxi fare is NOT included.  We reserve the right to adjust the final price accordingly if the exchange rate drops below 18 pesos to the US dollar.

DEPOSITS
15% non-refundable initial deposit due upon making your reservation
35% non-refundable second deposit due 120 days before tour start date
50% non-refundable final payment due 75 days before tour start date
We will send out trip insurance information when you RSVP.

AIR FARE

I highly recommend that you fly Volaris Airlines (https://www.volaris.com/) out of Tijuana.  All of the flight schedules listed in the itinerary at the end of this email reference exact flight numbers.  (These, of course, are subject to change.)  Volaris is like the Southwest of Mexico and I actually find their planes to be smoother and more comfortable than Southwest.  Their prices are ridiculously cheap to begin with but if you sign up for their email newsletter on their website, you’ll routinely get crazy cheap email offers of up to 70% off.  If you play your cards right you can get your flights for well under $100 each.  You may also want to think seriously about extending your stay in Mexico before or after our tours as you can fly from any of our destinations to Mexico City and from there to pretty much anywhere in Mexico (think Cabo, La Paz, Cancun, etc.)  I recommend that you sign up for their email newsletter right now so that by the time you're ready to make a reservation hopefully you'll have received a discounted offer!

And, if you’re flying out of San Diego, the new CBX (Cross Border Xpress) bridge in Otay Mesa is a total game changer.  It takes you directly from Otay Mesa straight to the Tijuana airport for $16.  When I went down for my initial recon, I took Lyft (for some reason Lyft was less than half the price of Uber going to CBX) from our restaurant to CBX for about $30, got my CBX pass, went through security, went through customs, bought a visa (you’ll need to buy one on the spot; they cost $30), walked across the bridge, went through security on the Mexico side and was at the boarding gate in 55 minutes flat from my front door.

CASH PESOS

I would recommend bringing at least 2,000-3,000 in pesos (about $100-150) for taxi fare, tips and miscellaneous personal expenses.  You’ll find the best exchange rates at the money exchange houses in San Ysidro but if you don’t have time to go there most banks can also provide that service.  You can also get pesos at the airport for a bit of a premium or at an ATM once you’re down in Mexico.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Please scroll down for the hour-by-hour itinerary at the end of this email but here’s a detailed overview of both tours.  While we're definitely planning on sticking to this itinerary, there's a chance that one or two of the venues may be substituted.

On Tuesday morning, those of you continuing on to Oaxaca from the Tequila tour, will check out of Hotel Morales by 6:30 in the morning in order to make it to the Guadalajara airport by 7:00 in order to get on your flight by 7:39.  It's a non-stop flight scheduled to arrive in Oaxaca at 9:19.  Add some time for the taxi (about $5-6 per person) and with any luck we should be at the hotel by 10:30 at the latest which will give everyone 5-6 hours of free time to unwind, enjoy the pool, or get a head start on exploring the town which is a five-minute walk away.  Those of you who are not going on the Tequila tour just need to get to Oaxaca on your own and meet up with everyone at the hotel that afternoon.

Around 4:30 or so, we'll meet for an impromptu cocktail reception in the small park less than a block from the hotel.  There are two restaurants there that make great to-go cocktails for about $3-4 so we'll order up and hang out in the park for a bit until our private double-decker bus shows up to give us a tour of the city.  (And yes, of course you can bring your cocktail on board!)  Those of you not interested in the optional cocktail hour just need to show up at the park by 5:30 to meet the bus.  The bus will tour the town for about an hour or so, so you can get your bearings and see the landmarks.  Then we'll be dropped off in the historical central district and walk a few blocks to Las Quinces Letras for a cocktail reception and a mole cooking demonstration.  The demo will be hosted by none other than Celia Florian, the owner and internationally acclaimed expert on Oaxacan cuisine.  There are seven basic moles in Oaxaca (and over 130 variations of those), but the most difficult one to make is called Mole Chichilo.  I'm probably getting into way too much detail here but that's the one Celia is going to make for us.  Its dramatic preparation involves igniting tlayuda (Oaxacan-style tortillas) which produces a fireworks show of sparks over the mole as it's cooking.  After the class we’ll enjoy a traditional Oaxacan dinner including some of the mole that was just made paired with some Valle de Guadalupe wine.  After dinner we’ll make the ten-minute walk back to the hotel (or take a taxi if you wish) and call it an early night.

After breakfast (included) at the hotel the next morning, our bus will pick everyone up at 9:00.  From here we’ll head to Matatlan, a tiny village that's also home to the most Mezcal distilleries in the world.  First stop will be at Gracias a Dios Distillery where you’ll get an overview of the distillation process from start to finish.  This is the only distillery in Matatlan that also makes an agave-based Gin which is actually quite delicious.  We’ll start with a gin cocktail and then conclude with a sampling of their Mezcals, some of which are made from wild agaves.

Next stop will be one of the most respected producers in Matatlan, Mal de Amor.  This is where the well-known "Ilegal" brand of Mezcal is made and also where my friend Larry of Cantina Mayahual right here in San Diego makes his Casa Don Lorenzo Mezcal.  They’ve got a beautiful facility and make about a dozen different types of Mezcal (many from rare wild agaves), and yes, you can taste as many as you want.  After the tour and tasting, we’ll have a traditional “parrillada” lunch of grilled meats, chorizo, guacamole, tortillas and all the accompaniments on their patio along with some specialty Mezcal cocktails and cervezas.

Final distillery stop of the day will be at Casa AGP, a large-scale producer Mezcals.  (Think "Cuervo" of Oaxaca.)  We’ll visit their state-of-the-art production facility and beautiful tasting area within a museum-like boutique that showcases the work of local artisans and artists.  This area is brand new, so we'll be among the first people in the world to visit it.  After the tour we'll enjoy a Mezcal-based cocktail followed by a tasting of their premium Mezcals.

From there we’ll start heading back towards the hotel, but we'll make a detour along the way into the tiny village of El Tule.  El Tule's claim to fame is that they are home to the widest (yes widest, not tallest!) tree in the entire world.  We'll make a quick stop to see the tree and then walk two blocks to La Soledad restaurant.  La Soledad is owned by my new friend Victor who is the cousin of one of our regulars who made the introduction.  It's a very traditional, definitely not fancy restaurant that serves amazing local cuisine.  We will be enjoying a parrillada (an assortment of sliced meats and sausages) served tableside on a hibachi-like, coal-fueled contraption.  Basically, Victor puts a couple of glowing coals in the base, places a large pizza-tin-like plate on top, and then loads up the plate with the meats.  Everything then sizzles away right in front of you on the table.  Then you grab a fresh tlayuda, add the meats you want, plus guacamole, pico de gallo and salsa and chow down.  But wait!  There's more!  So when I was doing recon, I obviously had this dish, but my only complaint was that it cooked too fast and dried out the meats before you had a chance to eat them.  While the first serving to come off the plate was perfect, subsequent ones were cooked a tad more than this "California-boy-who-likes-his-steaks-cooked-medium-rare" preferred.  So, on the DL, I took the liberty of discreetly pouring a couple ounces of my beer onto the sizzling plate.  It obviously instantly turned to steam, but in the process, basically braised the meats into succulent tenderness.  Viola, mission accomplished, and even die-hard traditionalist Victor was impressed with my new technique.  But we're going to kick it up a notch for the tours.  Basically, we're going to let everyone take their first serving just as the sizzling meats come to the table.  But then we'll add pico de gallo directly to the dish (so the diced tomatoes "melt" into the meats and the onions caramelize), then add a squeeze of fresh lime, then a shot (or two) of Mezcal, and finally a couple ounces of beer.  The result should be an amazing blend of complex wonderfulness from the liquids deglazing the pan and the resulting tenderness of the meats as the liquids steam through.  I don't know about you but I'm getting hungry just reading this!

After this simple yet incredibly satisfying dinner we'll make the short drive back to the hotel for the night.  I purposely made this an early return time to the hotel to give everyone ample time to explore the town on their own, or to just call it an early night.

After breakfast at the hotel our bus will pick everyone up at 10:00.  Our first and only distillery visit of the day will be at Don Agave distillery.  This is one of the more progressive distilleries in Oaxaca that definitely still adheres to tradition but also utilizes a few slightly more modern techniques.  (Everything in Oaxaca is painstakingly labor intensive and adamantly adheres to not-necessarily-efficient traditions, so there’s no rushing anything.  It happens when it happens … which can take a little getting used to for any of us "Type-A" personalities.)  At Don Agave you’ll see the entire Mezcal production process from the agave roasting pits, to the horse-drawn mill stones going around in endless circles pulvarizing the roasted agave, to the wood fermentation tanks, to the stills.  While it’s unlikely that we’ll see every aspect of the entire production process at any one distillery (because the entire process takes about a month), my hope is that we’ll be able to see all of the individual aspects in action over the course of visiting several distilleries.  This way you'll get an overall perspective of the entire process even if you see it out of order.

By this point in the tour everyone will be a walking encyclopedia on Mezcal so I thought it would be fun for a non-Mezcal diversion.  Each village in Oaxaca is known for a specific artisanal craft and, since we're going to be right next door to Teotitlan which is the weaving capital of Oaxaca, I thought it would be fun to see that fascinating art in action.  But wait, it's time for lunch right?!  So we'll first stop at Tierra Antigua for a casual lunch.  Owner Carina, who like Celia at Las Quince Letras, is a well-known chef in Oaxaca and a master at making moles.  Upon arrival, we'll be greeted with a Mango Mezcal cocktail with some appetizers while Carina demonstrates how to make one of her moles.  So, you'll get two mini cooking lessons from two rock star chefs on this tour: one from Celia at Las Quince Letras and one from Carina here!  After the demo we'll have a lunch of traditional chicken and rice served with a duo of moles ... one of which you will have just saw being made!

After lunch we'll take a five-minute drive into the heart of Teotitlan to visit Bulmaro at Father and Son's Rugs.  Bulmaro is hands down the most famous weaver in the entire area, and has been featured on many documentaries around the world.  He will first demonstrate how he make the dyes from 100% natural ingredients.  The red dye is perhaps the most fascinating to watch as it is literally made by crushing a tiny bug that burrows into cactus plants.  The addition of lime, crushed limestone, nutshells, etc. each change that single color into an amazing spectrum of over 100 different and distinct colors.  It's absolutely fascinating to watch!  After that you’ll see the master weavers in action on their lightning fast looms.  Then, of course, there will be plenty of hand-woven items for sale at uber ridiculous low prices if you’d like to take anything home.

After that we’ll head back to the hotel where we’ll have a couple hours free time before dinner.  The finale dinner will be at my favorite restaurant in Oaxaca, Restaurante Catedral, less than a ten minute walk from the hotel.  We’ll start with an awesome "Mezcalina de Maracuya" welcome cocktail followed by a barrage of creative small plates.  Then we’ll have giant platters of rib eye steak served family style along with bottles of Protos wine from Spain.  (Those of you who went on our Spain tours a couple years ago will have fond memories of visiting the caves at Protos!)  Finally, we’ll have an amazing assortment of desserts before calling it a wrap.  Then it’s back to the hotel for the night ... unless, of course, you want to stop for one final nightcap on the walk back ...

The tour is officially over when you wake up the next morning.  For those of you returning back to reality in San Diego, there’s a 7:46am direct flight that will get you into Tijuana at 9:53am local time (remember, you're now re-gaining those two hours you lost coming down).  And for those of you extending your tour to other parts of Mexico, well, as my daughter Katie would say, "Have a scandalous time!"

HOUR BY HOUR ITINERARY

TUESDAY ~ February 12, 2019 or March 5, 2019

>>> FOR THOSE OF YOU GOING TO OAXACA FROM SAN DIEGO

Find a flight that will get you into Oaxaca no later than mid afternoon

04:30pm          Meet up with everyone else in the park for cocktails (see below)

>>> FOR THOSE OF YOU CONTINUING ON TO OAXACO FROM THE TEQUILA TOUR

TUESDAY ~ February 12, 2019 or March 5, 2019

07:39am          Dep GDL on Volaris #Y4 152

09:19am          Arr OAX

10:00am          Taxi to hotel

10:30am          Check into Holiday Inn Express Centro Historico as soon as rooms are ready

11:00am          Free time to explore downtown Oaxaca

04:30pm          Meet in park next to hotel for no-host cocktails; take cocktails “to go” on bus

05:30pm          Double decker bus picks everyone up at square next to hotel; tour of Oaxaca

06:45pm          Double decker bus ends downtown; walk to Las Quince Letras

07:00pm          Mole cooking class and cocktail reception at Las Quince Letras

08:00pm          Dinner at Las Quince Letras

10:00pm          Walk back to hotel after dinner

Spend night at Holiday Inn Express in Oaxaca

WEDNESDAY ~ February 13, 2019 or March 6, 2019

07:30am          Breakfast included at hotel

08:45am          Board bus

09:00am          Bus leaves hotel

10:00am          Gracias a Dios Distillery tour and tasting

11:30am          Dep Gracias a Dios

11:45am          Mal de Amor Distillery tour, tasting, cocktails and lunch

02:00pm          Dep Mal de Amor

02:15pm          Casa AGP Distillery tour and tasting

04:30pm          Dep Casa AGP

04:45pm          Arr village of El Tule

05:00pm          Visit El Tule tree

05:30pm          La Soledad Restaurante in El Tule

07:30pm          Dep La Soledad

08:00pm          Bus returns to hotel; free time for rest of the night

Spend night at Holiday Inn Express in Oaxaca

THURSDAY ~ February 14, 2019 or March 7, 2019

08:30am          Breakfast included at hotel

09:45am          Board bus

10:00am          Bus leaves hotel

10:30am          Don Agave Distillery tour and tasting

12:00noon       Dep Don Agave

12:15pm          Lunch at Tierra Antigua in Teotitlan del Valle

02:15pm          Dep Tierra Antigua

02:30pm          Weaving demo at Father & Sons with Bulmaro

04:30pm          Dep Bulmaro

05:15pm          Bus returns to hotel; free time until dinner

07:45pm          Walk to Restaurante Catedral

08:00pm          Dinner at Restaurante Catedral

09:45pm          Walk back to hotel after dinner

Spend night at Holiday Inn Express in Oaxaca

FRIDAY ~ February 15, 2019 or March 8, 2019

07:46am          Dep OAX on Volaris #Y4 541 (or extend your stay in Mexico)

09:53am          Arr TIJ >>> CBX bridge to Otay Mesa >>> Lyft/Uber home

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

1. You MUST have a current passport to get back into the US and it must be valid for a minimum of six months past your return date.

2. You can bring ONE liter of Tequila or Mezcal back into the states.

3. Please note that this is a physical tour that involves lots of walking.  Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes.  Flip-flops are OK but make sure they have a thick sole as the rough cobblestone streets of Tequila and Oaxaca will otherwise wreck havoc on your feet. 

4. The weather should be fantastic with daytime highs in the 75-82 range with virtually a zero percent chance of rain