Insider Travel Reviews

Oaxaca Day of the Dead had been on my bucket list for ages. I finally had the time to dedicate to researching what was the best tour possible that would bring to life what Oaxaca truly represented. That’s when I found Trusha’s Insider Travel Day of the Dead Tour. It offered me an authentic cultural and beautiful experience that one as a tourist can only dream of. It’s like going with a best friend that’s from Oaxaca- the name of the company is perfect- it’s like going with an Insider- one that knows the ins and outs of the great Oaxaca, Thank you Trisha for having our best experience at the forefront of your vision. Our girl trip of educators will always have the memories and fun had as a treasured core memory. We hope to unite again on another adventure with Inside Travel.

Insider travel is a joy to deal with, with their planning, responsiveness and genuine willingness to ensure your trip is memorable. We had the pleasure of having Trish as our guide, she ensured we experienced Oaxaca in such an immersive way. The food, the people and beautiful families we got to meet, the culture and the abundance of Oaxaca. Thanks Trish and Insider travel for an experience that will be unforgetable!

Did the Dia de los muertos (day of the dead) group tour with Trisha in Oaxaca. The activities that were arranged were good. Special shout out to the Mezcal Farm, Cooking Class and Textile Making session we attended. The families that run those were very hospitable and ever willing to share their story and knowledge. They were such great hosts! The day trip to the Hierve el agua was also a great addition and fun day out. Tour guide Trisha and her husband Andre were friendly, very welcoming and efficiently dealt with any issues that were encountered. Trisha is an avid photographer and generously shared the photos from the various activities we attended. Oaxaca is an interesting town and during Dia de los muertos is the best time to visit it!

This was a great way to experience day of the dead in Oaxaca. We did everything that was advertised and had time to explore on our own.

Unfortunately, the Oaxaca Day of the Dead tour didn’t deliver as advertised. First, we were sold a four-star hotel but stayed in a hotel that clearly wasn't four star and was unacceptable. We had several incidences of no running water. Our toilet wouldn’t flush for several days. Every room had a bucket so you could store run off water from the shower in case the water stopped running. The hotel was about one mile from the town center without any amenities around it and located in an unsafe neighborhood where we were told not to walk outside after 9 p.m. The positive about the hotel was the staff was kind and it was clean but I would not recommend staying there. Breakfast was not provided so tourists had to plan the night before or try to order through an online app that wasn’t reliable or on time. Many of the folks were frustrated that there were no food options nearby. Coffee was provided but no cream, sugar, or tea. The tour overall was disorganized. Tour included updates via WhatsApp, Google Calendar, and email. Each activity was sent in these three programs independently but often conflicted from one app to another. Some events were missing altogether from these deliver methods which added further confusion. Once we arrived, none of it mattered anyway. The schedule changed frequently which made it very difficult for guests to plan free time to explore the city. The tour provided Catarina makeup but was scheduled the day before the Day of the Dead celebration. Some guests were disappointed and scheduled private makeup at additional cost on the actual day of the celebration. The tour included a cemetery visit during the day vs. at night when the celebrations take place. Trisha, our guide, sent out a note around 10 p.m. the night of the celebrations telling folks which cemetery they could visit that night but the cemeteries were already closed. Several folks got ill. One was confined to his room for several days and relied on other guests to help him with basics like drinking water and medicine so he didn’t get dehydrated. The tour guide did a good job engaging locals for the tours including the cooking class, mescal and textile tour. The best part of the tour for us was the cooking class. The family that ran the home was friendly, knowledgeable, and the food was wonderful. “VIP Transport” was supposed to be included in the tour but also wasn’t delivered except on the first day of the tour when we were picked up at the airport in an air-conditioned car. For the cooking class, we had a van and pick up truck for overflow guests where we were asked to put four adults across a backseat of a truck made for three people. That didn't work so the host rode in the bed of the pick-up. Trisha, our tour guide was kind and friendly. She traveled with her husband and baby. Most of the time she had a nanny for the baby. When unavailable, she sent her husband, Andre, with the group. Andre was also friendly and kind but wasn't familiar with the city or the schedule so he had trouble answering questions. The city of Oaxaca and the Day of the Dead festivals are fantastic, but the tour we took has room for improvement.

I had an incredible experience on the Day of the Dead tour in Oaxaca with Trisha! The highlight was visiting local families who warmly welcomed us into their homes to share their traditions. The vibrant decorations, delicious traditional foods, and intimate atmosphere made this tour feel truly special. It was such a privilege to witness firsthand how they set up their ofrendas (altars) and hear their heartfelt stories about honoring loved ones. Highly recommend this for anyone wanting an authentic and meaningful Day of the Dead experience! It wasn’t just a tour—it was a deep cultural connection! Thanks Trisha

This by far has been one of the best trips I have ever taken to Mexico. I have always wanted to visit Oaxaca to immerse myself into the Día de Los Muertos traditions. I along with 3 close friends signed up to be part of this journey and was incredibly thankful for a lead guide like Trish who was exceptional connecting us to this beautiful place. Mexico is part of my roots and knowing more about my culture has always been important to me. Trish made us all feel like family and was very knowledgeable about the locations we toured. Her connections with the families from Oaxaca gave us a sense of peace knowing at all times we were welcomed as visitors. The food we ate was nothing but the best, and all the sites visited were breathtaking!!!! I will never forget this experience, we have Oaxaca in our hearts and Trish will be a big part of our “why” we love Oaxaca! Gracias! Every moment will be cherished. Great job and thankful to have met everyone we did on this journey. Oh….. and that chocolate… it was always as delicious as my abuelitas, and my madrecita’s. Viva Oaxaca! Viva Mèxico! Viva Trish!!! Viva our new friends!!!!

Experience was amazing! Beautiful time to travel during all the festivities with Oaxaca's Day of the Dead celebration. Trisha was an excellent guide and really created a positive, high energy, and fun time for our group!

First time using Mexico insider and scored. They’re an amazing group to book through. Maria, from the company, reached out almost immediately after my booking to advise what was to come. The whole experience was seamless and there was always multiple channels I could reach out to them. Amazing service to cap off an amazing experience on the multiple activities I booked through them. Thank you and I highly recommend using Mexico Insider

Very responsive and helpful. Organized my trip last minute, thank you!

Maria was very friendly and helpful. All questions and support were provided in a timely manner and she even went out of her way to help provide me with transportation to the experience at no extra fees.

The customer service for this trip was top notch. There was confirmation quickly about the tour via multiple applications and answers to questions and updates were timely provided as necessary. The tour was well-led and well-planned. You were well fed mentally and physically!

Juan was great! I was traveling solo and felt totally safe with him. Highly recommend!

We had an amazing time with Victor. He picked us up directly from our hotel and drove us to an ancestral palenque about an hour away. During our drive, he provided information about mezcal, the region, and its history. When we reached the palenque, we were given a tour in Spanish by Eva - one of the employees. She shared information about the various agaves, their cultivation, and the production of mezcal. Since we speak very little Spanish, Victor was able to translate everything! After our tour, we tasted all of the palenque’s mezcals (approximately 22!) and then had a wonderful lunch. I would recommend this tour to anyone, those who are new to mezcal and those who already love the drink! We will absolutely be using Victor (and Mexico Insider!) for any future tours.

I used Insider Travel for our roundtrip transport from Puerto Vallarta Airport to Sayulita. Juan was fantastic on time and easy to find. Clear communications via WhatsApp. Maria in customer service awesome. We needed to change our pick up time and she was able to accomadate us no problem! She even checked in to make sure we were at the airport! I will definitely use Insider Travel for our next trip! Thank you! )

The driver was an hour late picking us up when we arrived. The day prior to our day of departure, I messaged him to confirm that he'd be picking us up at noon the following day. When he wasn't there at 12:20, I messaged him and he responded he was on his way. Then he messaged that he had arranged for another driver to pick us up, which she did at 1:00p. It was a good thing that we had ample time and weren't in jeopardy of missing our flight. I would not use this service again nor would I recommend it to others. While we were there, we used Uber and booked taxis on our own, which is what I will do in the future to get to and from the airport.

Juan was great! He was punctual, friendly, safe yet effective at negotiating traffic, and helpful with his local knowledge.

Awesome tour. Must do if you ate in Ssyulita. Loved our guide There was so much food I couldnr eat anythi g more at our last stop. We had mahi mahi. Tuna. Poblano, etc many many different kinds to choose from. Great tour for families.

Easy booking online and good communication both before the booking and the day of. We were lucky enough to have just the two of us in a boat, but I believe they take up to 6. These are fairly small fishing boats (the ones you see on South Sayulita beach) and if the seas are rough, it's a bit of a rough ride. We didn't have any issue with that, but some may not enjoy that part. Our captain Javier was very down to earth, easy to be in a boat with all day, and knowledgeable. We had some unbelievable whale interactions both on the way to and from the islands. We were able to enjoy hidden beach, a tour of the islands, and snorkeling. I would recommend this tour for anyone who is looking for a bit of an adventure, and is reasonably fit. They did bring some water and fruit and there is a cooler with ice if you want to bring your own drinks/snacks. It's about an 4 hour trip in total.

I had a great time, great vibes and learned alot about Mezcal. Would highly recommend! I did the tasting with my girlfriends and we all enjoyed our time/night!! 5/5