DISCOVER OAXACA
A Culinary & Cultural Tour
Join us for an unforgettable week in Oaxaca.
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February 13th-20th, 2025
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October 9th-15th, 2025
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December 4th-10th, 2025
Discover Oaxaca Culinary Tour
The Discover Oaxaca Culinary Tour is your gateway to exploring Oaxaca’s vibrant culture through its extraordinary gastronomy. Whether it’s your first visit or your seventh, this enchanting region promises new discoveries as you delve into its culinary traditions, rich history, and cultural heritage.
Known as Mexico’s gastronomic capital, Oaxaca is a feast for the senses, with bustling markets, colorful produce, and centuries-old recipes passed down through generations. On this journey, you’ll experience the heart and soul of Oaxaca through its kitchens, markets, and street-side eateries. From savoring the complex flavors of legendary moles to enjoying traditional tlayudas hot off the comal, sipping smoky artisanal mezcal, and crunching on perfectly seasoned chapulines, each bite tells a story of indigenous roots, colonial influences, and the creativity of Oaxacan chefs.
The Experience
This carefully curated tour offers a perfect balance between Oaxaca’s charming colonial city center—where we’ll stay in a walkable hotel with comfortable rooms, private bathrooms, Wi-Fi, and daily breakfast—and the surrounding countryside.
Daily Activities: Each day begins with a simple or sumptuous breakfast, followed by an activity designed to immerse you in Oaxaca’s culinary and cultural richness. In the city, we’ll wander through vibrant markets, sample local delicacies, and dine at restaurants led by lauded chefs who combine tradition with modern flair.
Excursions to Nearby Villages: We’ll also visit nearby towns to connect with Oaxacan culture and its people. Along the way, you’ll encounter artisans crafting goods by hand, learn traditional cooking techniques, and gain insight into the stories that shape this incredible region.
Cooking Classes: Most afternoons will bring us to the renowned Seasons of My Heart cooking school, where hands-on classes will celebrate Oaxaca’s rich diversity of ingredients and culinary traditions. Each class will culminate in a memorable six-course meal, expanding your culinary expertise and leaving you inspired to recreate the flavors of Oaxaca at home.
Cooking Classes
Maíz Masterclass:
This masterclass us centered on the region’s most cherished crop: corn. We’ll explore its history, demonstrate the nixtamalization process, and craft traditional dishes with fresh corn masa.Cacao Masterclass:
Discover chocolate as you’ve never experienced it before. Learn to toast and grind cacao beans in the pre-Hispanic tradition, and use them to make hot drinking chocolate, dreamy desserts, and more.Mole Masterclass:
Dive into Oaxaca’s most iconic culinary contribution: mole. These complex sauces incorporate up to 30 ingredients, including chiles, chocolate, nuts, seeds, and spices. You’ll prepare a variety of moles—each with its distinctive flavor—so you can find your favorite!
Each class builds on the techniques and ingredients introduced previously, to expand your culinary expertise and give you a deeper appreciation for Oaxaca’s culinary artistry.
Mezcal: Oaxaca’s Signature Spirit
No food tour in Oaxaca would be complete without celebrating mezcal, the region’s beloved spirit. Mezcal is a complex, artisanal beverage crafted from the heart of the agave plant. We’ll visit a dear friend and master mezcalero who will guide us through the distillation process, sharing insights into this centuries-old tradition. To top it off, you’ll enjoy a tasting of over 25 kinds of mezcal, discovering the incredible diversity of flavors of the wild agaves.
Artisan Traditions
Oaxaca’s villages are renowned for their artisanship, offering treasures like:
Handwoven rugs and textiles crafted on backstrap and pedal looms.
Intricate beeswax candles.
Pre-Hispanic pottery.
Brightly painted alebrijes (wooden animal totems).
During our excursions, you’ll meet the artisans themselves, learn about their techniques, and have the opportunity to shop for one-of-a-kind pieces.
Join Us!
Join Us!
Oaxaca’s celebrated gastronomy is a vibrant example of how food can preserve history, tell stories, and unite communities across generations and we can’t wait for you to experience it. Bring your appetite and curiosity for an unforgettable culinary adventure, and return home with cherished memories, new recipes, and exciting cooking techniques!
Meet your Guide
Kaelin Ulrich
Kaelin, the son of famed chef and the founder of the Seasons of My Heart cooking school Susana Trilling, was raised in Oaxaca and developed a deep appreciation for food and Mexican cultural traditions. Inspired by his mother's commitment to authenticity, Kaelin recognized the transformative power of cooking.
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Kaelin, Susana’s son, was raised in Oaxaca and developed a deep appreciation for food and Mexican cultural traditions. Inspired by his mother's commitment to authenticity, Kaelin recognized the transformative power of cooking. He values growing his own produce and sourcing quality ingredients, a practice he learned on his father's tomato farm.
Kaelin began his culinary career in 2010 as a line cook at Omni La Mansion del Rio in San Antonio, TX, progressing to lead line cook at Omni's Mokara Hotel and Spa by 2012. He advanced as a sous chef at Hugo's and Caracol in Houston, TX, then as executive chef at Bajo Sexto Taco in Nashville, TN, located in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Seeking new challenges, he staged at renowned restaurants like Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Eleven Madison Park, and Noma's pop-up in Tulum, MX. By 2018, Kaelin served as a Chef Consultant at the Michelin-starred Oxomoco in Brooklyn, NYC, and later opened La Calenda, an authentic Mexican restaurant by Chef Thomas Keller in Yountville, California.
Kaelin's journey has now led him to Seasons of My Heart Cooking School, where he has joined as a partner and CEO, bringing his passion for Mexican cuisine and commitment to authenticity.
“The Best Tour in Oaxaca …”
Wonderful Oaxacan Experience
Wow, just an over the top experience. The connections The SOMH family has with the local artisans and vendors is golden. Beyond the unique, regional recipes and techniques that were shared, were very special moments out in the Oaxacan world. I believe we got to meet and experience things most never get to see. Kaelin and his staff are SO helpful, knowledgeable and everywhere at once! Every bite we ate out at shared locations and in the cooking school were wonderful and so unique. For those who are wary of traveling to this area, the SOMH team will take care of you and assist with any issues that may arise. We highly recommend Kaelin and his staff.
Travis B.
Absolutely the Best!
I had taken a one day class from Seasons of My Heart in 2017 and was thrilled they offer a six day combined tour and cooking classes in Oaxaca. The tour, which included visits to the workshops of internationally famous artists, restaurants, and markets, was fabulous. We cooked authentic meals at the Seasons of My Heart cooking school in San Lorenzo. Not only were the recipes that Susana Trilling developed delicious, we had superb assistance by the staff to make sure we understood all the procedures so we could go home and duplicate what we had learned. I give special thanks to Susana's son, Kaelin Ulrich, who is carrying on Susana's legacy of creating recipes and teaching how to make marvelous Oaxacan food.
Joanne P.
Exceeded our expectations in a thousand delicious ways!
This historical, experiential journey into the Oaxacan food culture exceeded our expectations. It was fun and informative and delicious from start to finish and one we will always remember. We recommend it without a moment's hesitation.
James M.
Discover Oaxaca with us!
Investment:
$3,150 USD per person (double occupancy)
Payment plans available!
What’s included:
7-night hotel accommodations (double occupancy)
Transportation to tour-related activities and events
All activities, excursions and cooking classes
Most meals (you’ll have some free time to rest or choose your own adventure) and drinks
What’s not included:
Airfare
Transportation to and from airport
Gratuities
