A Closer Look Tours Announces Spring Tour to Oaxaca
PHOENIX, Arizona (April 7, 2009) – Colonial architecture, indigenous culture, ancient tradition, exquisite cuisine, unforgettable landscapes, brilliant artistry… Oaxaca (wah-ha-ca) is all this and more. The diversity of this state is a huge part of its allure, and A Closer Look Tours is ready to be your guide through this astonishing land.
Art is at the top of Oaxaca’s list of captivating attractions. Its folk art is among the most famous in the world, including the lustrous black pottery of San Bartolo Coyotepec; the intricate, fanciful creatures made of papier maché or wood known as alebrijes; and the vivid hand-loomed textiles—a true reflection of the customs and traditions of its different indigenous groups.
World-class collections of religious art make their home here also, as does contemporary art, represented in names like Rufino Tamayo, Francisco Morelo, Rodolfo Nieto and others on exhibit in museums tucked away in meticulously restored colonial buildings. One of these famous artists—Rufino Tamayo—established his own museum in one of the city’s 17th century buildings. As a gift to his fellow Oaxacans, Tamayo lovingly filled the museum with his personal collections of pre-Columbian art.
The pristine colonial city of Oaxaca City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, welcomes visitors with cobblestone streets winding through historical buildings of green quarry stone, many converted into galleries, boutiques, bookstores or restaurants. Traditional markets, or mercados, abound in and around Oaxaca, where you can buy the famous black pottery, baskets, textiles and the vibrant alebrijes. It is also home to some of the richest, most inspired food dishes in Mexico—a combination of pre-Hispanic traditions and the baroque concoctions of the colonial table. Known as the “Land of the Seven Moles”, every dish is a work of art.
The region to the south and the west of Oaxaca City was an important cultural and historical center since the 7th century BC. A tour through the ruins of Monte Albán and Mitla—testimony to the origins of the Mixtec and Zapotec cultures—is a must. Standing on a hilltop overlooking the Valley of Oaxaca, the holy Zapotec city of Monte Albán is the perfect spot for breathtaking views.
Oaxaca is a land of extraordinary contrasts, an adventure for the senses, and A Closer Look Tours will bring it to life for both first time travelers and those wishing to explore the city again.
Prices begin at $1,615 per person (land only) based on double occupancy and include all meals, transfers, tours, bags, taxes, gratuities and the company of an experienced bilingual tour director. A Closer Look Tours provides deluxe land transportation with frequent stops to allow passengers to stretch their legs, and purified bottled water is always available on the motor coach.
For more information, dates and details visit www.ACloserLookTours.com or call at 877-938-0951.
A Closer Look Tours is a unique family owned and operated company. Our interpretive tour directors bring the local history, culture, and folklore of Mexico to life. Every tour is a continuing educational and cultural adventure, a time to share the vivid experience of travel with old friends and develop new ones. A Closer Look Tours is committed to providing tour experiences that venture onto the road less traveled. We specialize in tours that extend into generally uncharted territory, exploring parts of Mexico not usually known to the traveling public. Our experience and expertise allows you to live your journey, revel new environments, discover hidden nuances, and look more closely at culture, and capture the real essence of Mexico.