ELAC Archaeology in Oaxaca

East Los Angeles College

Archaeology and Culture in Oaxaca, Mexico

January 14-25, 2026

Professor Julienne Bernard
bernarjl@elac.edu

Deadline to register: October 8, 2025

Program Summary

This program takes students through the archeological treasures of Mexico’s Oaxaca valley. In addition to learning about the archeology of the area, students will immerse themselves in  the region’s exceedingly rich culture and history. 

The program includes site visits to numerous archaeological sites like the famous Monte Albán,  traditional artisan communities like San Bartolo Coyotepec, and to the unique community-based tourism programs of the Pueblos Mancomunados. A bilingual Learn From Travel guide will be the group throughout the itinerary.  

Itinerary

Day 1 Wed          Jan-14 Meals: (D)

• Afternoon arrival at the Xoxocotlán International Airport

• Program orientation on health, safety and logistics 

• Welcome dinner

Day 2 Thu          Jan-15 Meals: (B,L)

• 8am Breakfast at lodging

• 9am Faculty lecture - introduction

• 10am Tour of Oaxaca City

• Learn the pre-columbian, colonial and recent history of Oaxaca 

• Stops will include: City square, or “Zocalo,” Benito Juárez Market, Santo Domingo Cathedral and Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca 

• 12pm Group lunch

• 1:30pm Visit La Pozontlería in La Cosecha market

• Learn about this beverage and enjoy a cup (actually a hollowed out gourd).

• 4pm Faculty lecture Mitla y Yagul

• Free time and independent dinner

Lodging location: Oaxaca

Day 3 Fri          Jan-16 Meals: (B)

• 8am  Breakfast at lodging

• 9am  Travel about 1 hour to Guila Naquitz, a cave known to be the earliest evidence for domestication of any crop on the continent 

• 11am  Return to Oaxaca

• 12pm Independent lunch in Oaxaca

• 2pm  Free time 

• Students may opt to visit to the Ethnobotanical Garden (cost not included)

• In addition to conservation, the garden collaborates with local communities and organizations to promote sustainable practices and protect endangered plant species.

• Faculty lecture Monte Alban

• Independent dinner

Lodging location: Oaxaca

Day 4 Sat          Jan-17 Meals: (B)

• 8am Breakfast at lodging

• 9:30am Departure to the Monte Albán ruins (30-minute transfer)

• This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered to be Oaxaca’s most magnificent ruins.

• Guided tour will be followed by time to explore the site in small groups 

• 11:30am Return to Oaxaca

• Independent lunch in Oaxaca 

• Faculty lecture Black Pottery and Textiles

• Free time and independent dinner 

Lodging location: Oaxaca

Day 5 Sun          Jan-18 Meals: (B,L)

• 8am Breakfast at lodging

• 10:30am Visit to MACO Museo de Arte Contemporaneo Oaxaca 

• 12:30pm Travel about 45 minutes to Tlacolula, a town famous for its Sunday market

• Expect to find fruits and vegetables, baked goods, meats, chicharron, textiles, crafts, and of course edible crickets! 

• Guide will help students talk to merchants to learn about their products and shop for the best deal. 

• Group lunch at the market

• 4pm 1 hour return to Oaxaca for free time and independent dinner 

Lodging location: Oaxaca

Day 6 Mon          Jan-19 Meals: (B,L)

• 8am Breakfast at lodging 

• 9am Departure to visit the archaeological sites of Yagul and Mitla, two important city-states that emerged during the Postclassic Period. 

• 10am  Arrive at Yagul, one of the most studied and beautiful archaeological sites in the Oaxaca Valley, and is classified as one of Mexico’s four Natural Monuments.

• 1130am  Arrive at Mitla, one of Mexico’s best known ruins, and believed to have been a Zapotec religious center. 

• 1pm Group lunch

• 2pm 1:15-hour return transfer to Oaxaca

• Free time and independent dinner 

Lodging location: Oaxaca

Day 7 Tue          Jan-20  Meals: (B,L)

• 8am Breakfast at lodging

• 9am Travel 1 hour to two neighboring towns famous for their artisans 

• In Santo Tomás Jalieza students will  learn about local textiles made with the ancient backstrap loom weaving technique.  

• In San Martin Tilcajete students will witness the production of the famous Alebrijes, brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of mythical creatures.  

• 1:30pm Group lunch

• 3pm Visit to the potting community of San Bartolo Coyotepec

• Students will observe the work of local artisans, and learn about the black clay pottery that has been a part of the region’s history for hundreds of years.

• 4:30pm Return to Oaxaca 

• 6pm Independent dinner

Lodging location: Oaxaca

Day 8 Wed           Jan-21 Meals: (B,L)

• 8am Breakfast at lodging

• 9am Travel approximately 1 hour to the famous Zapotec weaving village of Teotitlán del Valle

• Textile-making demonstration

• Opportunity to buy textiles 

• 11:30am Lunch in Teotitlán 

• 12:30pm Travel 30 minutes to Tulé Tree (toward Oaxaca)

• This montezuma cypress is known to be the widest tree in the world, and estimates state that it is between 1,200 and 3,000 years old.

• 2pm Return to Oaxaca (30 minutes travel)

• Faculty lecture

• Free time and independent dinner 

Lodging location: Oaxaca

Day 9 Thu           Jan-22  Meals: (B,L,D)

• Breakfast at lodging

• 7:45am Travel approximately 2 hours to the pioneer community-based ecotourism town of  Benito Juarez, one of the Pueblos Mancomunados of the Sierra Norte.

• 9:40am  Arrive to Pueblos and meet the local guide

• 10am Start 3-hour hiking 

• Walk to the Mirador and Hanging Bridge where you will have a breathtaking view of the Central Valleys, if the day is clear you will be able to see the Pico de Orizaba.

• At the end of the hike you will meet the family of the community to enjoy a gastronomic experience of farm-to-table Oaxacan cuisine  

• Converse with the family learn about their way of life

• Group dinner

Lodging Locacion: Pueblos Mancomunados

Day 10 Fri          Jan-23 Meals: (B,L,D) Lodging: Pueblos Mancomunados or similar in Pueblos

• Breakfast at lodging

• 3-hour hike to Neveria along a rural trail used by farmers to reach their fields.

• During the walk you will be able to enjoy the incomparable beauty of the forests of

the Sierra Norte and get to know the diversity of flora and fauna.

• Upon arrival at La Neveria you will enjoy a lunch at the local restaurant in the community.

• Optional additional zipline of 1km (cost not included in base tour)

• After a little free time, you will meet the local guide for a tour Los Colores del Maíz

• Students will visit a local family and will learn more about corn through a gastronomic workshop based on this food.

• Faculty-led discussion of the Pueblos experience 

• Group dinner

Lodging Locacion: Pueblos Mancomunados

Day 11 Sat           Jan-24 Meals: (B,D)

• Breakfast at lodging

• Return to Oaxaca

• Independent lunch

• Free time to visit market and shopping

• Farewell dinner 

  Lodging location: Oaxaca

Day 12 Sun          Jan-25 Meals: (B)

• Breakfast at lodging

• Transfer to airport for departure 
  

Additional Details

Cost

$ 2,850, 12-15 students

$ 2,630, 16+ students

Invite your friends to reduce the price!

Single occupancy: +$300 (subject to availability)

Includes

• All lodging in double occupancy

• All ground transportation in private van or minibus

• Meals as listed in the itinerary, including one free non-alcoholic drink per student

• All activities described in itinerary, including entrance fees when applicable

• Carbon offset for air travel 

• Guide/translator with the group the entire trip from airport pickup to drop-off

• 24-hour emergency support 

Excludes 

• Tuition

• International airfare

• Travel interruption and medical insurance

Payment Process

$500 deposit and registration due between May 9 and October 8, 2025. Program will close if it fills up. You must pay the deposit in order to secure a place in the program.  Deposit is refundable 91 days or more prior to departure.

Balance amount due November 8, 2025

Cancellation policy is detailed in the terms and conditions below.

We recommend travel insurance which can be purchased at www.squaremouth.com

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel…

October 15, 2025 - 91 or more days prior to start of program, full refund 

October 16, 2025  - 61-90 days prior to start of program, we retain $500 deposit 

November 15, 2025 - 31-60 days or more days prior, we retain 50% of fee 

December 15, 2025 - 30 or fewer days prior to start, No refund

We recommend all participants to purchase travel insurance with cancellation and interruption coverage, which can be purchased at www.squaremouth.com

Course Information

Students who complete the required reading and a written assignment based on their observational experiences on the trip will receive 1 unit in Anthro 185 or Spanish 185.

Note: If you don’t have a passport valid through July, 2026 please submit a passport application now. The processing takes much longer than indicated on the Passport website. We recommend expediting it regardless of when you apply.

Registration Form

Deadline to register: October 8, 2025

If you wish to make a deposit payment after submitting your registration form you may do so at this link.

Do you have questions?