Flashpackers, welcome to Oaxaca. Framed by lush mountain scenery, Mexico’s culinary capital is brimming with flavor, color and creativity. From rainbow-hued colonial streets to the tree-lined Zócalo, you’ll find treasures at every turn. Your adventure begins at your oasis-style hotel, where you’ll meet your Pack Leader and group for a three-hour cooking masterclass. This fun, informal session is a great way to familiarize yourself with the region’s cuisine, as you get hands-on making memelas (toasted cakes), mole sauces and handmade tortillas, under the guidance of a local chef. Typical Oaxacan desserts and a welcome tipple are all part of the experience, too. ¡Salud!

Start your day with a stroll to Cerro del Fortín hill for sweeping views over the city, and check out Oaxaca’s 17th-century aqueduct. In Barrio de Jalatlaco, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, you’ll find cobblestone alleys filled with art galleries, coffee shops and color-popping murals. Street food in the historic center awaits, as you sample delights from the 20 de Noviembre and Benito Juárez markets (home to El Compadre, where chef Anthony Bourdain famously enjoyed the best pork tacos of his life), including quesillo (Oaxacan cheese), chapulines (grasshoppers), tamales and more. Later, you’ll take part in an ancient temazcal ritual involving a steam bath, indigenous chanting and aromatic herbs. Emerge feeling revitalized and ready for a free evening in downtown Oaxaca. 

This morning, you’ll travel into the mountains of Hierve el Agua (“the water boils”) to visit the a rare petrified waterfall. Marvel at the ethereal sight of this age-old landscape, where giant rock shelves emerge from the valley amid cascades of calcified water. Make tracks for the weaving village of Teotitlán del Valle to see how artisans work their magic with natural dyes, and visit a local family who create elaborate Velas de Concha (Zapotec shell candles), thought to emit positive energy. After lunch, you’ll bask in the beauty of El Árbol del Tule, a 2000-year-old Montezuma cypress tree. See which animal figures you can spot in the evocative trunk (a colossal 14 meters in diameter) before returning to Oaxaca.     

Oaxaca is known as the birthplace of mezcal, so it’s only polite to study tequila’s much-loved “father” spirit. Heading into the countryside, you’ll be met by a certified mezcal maestro (yes, that’s a thing) to discover the secrets of this centuries-old drink. You’ll visit two family-run distilleries and an agave field, learning about production techniques and, of course, sampling some of the good stuff. More treats await upon return to Oaxaca with a special lunch at a garden restaurant. On the menu: a feast of local dishes, each expertly paired with mezcal (there are 34 different varieties). From smokey and earthy to floral and fruity, get to know the flavors that distinguish this fiery tipple. This evening, still bathing in a post-mezcal haze, you’ll gather for a farewell meal.

Flashpackers, we can hardly believe it but the time has come to say adios to our spectacular Oaxaca escape. After breakfast, you can make your own way to the airport – or you might choose to extend your stay a few days (the food alone is worth it). Alternatively, a few other Flash Pack trips in the region may tempt, including a longer Mexican getaway or nearby Guatemala, Costa Rica or Belize. Wherever you’re headed next, you’ll be fueled on by five days of friendship, fun and memories.