Oaxaca Day of the Dead Mask-Making Workshop

Meet in Oaxaca City and travel to Etla to work with artisans connected to Monos de Calenda Los Gigantes. Learn how masks relate to folklore, muerteadas, parade culture and Oaxaca’s visual language, then choose a pre-made papier-mâché design and paint it with guidance on colour, motifs and technique. Take the mask with you afterwards; depending on conditions, it may need around 24–48 hours to dry fully.

We recommend this because it moves beyond observation and puts visitors into a real making process with local craftspeople. The workshop is accessible even without artistic experience, and the finished mask becomes a meaningful keepsake tied to the people, techniques and stories behind Oaxaca’s seasonal traditions.

The mask is painted rather than constructed from scratch and may need 24–48 hours to dry. One annual departure is listed for 31 October.