Spectre locations: Where to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico
Mexico is the first Spectre location and where the country's famous Day of the Dead celebrations feature in the opening sequence of the film. The colourful festival was recreated in Mexico City in one of the most spectacular openings in the history of James Bond films. So that you can experience the real thing, we've picked three of the best Day of the Dead holidays for you to soak up vibrance of the amazing annual event next year.
The Day of the Dead takes place between 31 October and 2 November and is particularly exciting in the Central and Southern regions of Mexico. It is a chance for people to celebrate the memories of family and friends they have lost over the years by elaborately decorating altars and cemeteries and participating in certain customs.
See also: James Bond-inspired holidays in Spectre locations
Mexico City
For a terrific opportunity to party with the locals and gain an exclusive insight into the Mexican way of life, adventure tour operator Intrepid Travel offers a five-day Day of the Dead-themed tour in Mexico City, where you can join the lively festivities, play dress-up and head to a Halloween costume party for a great night out and take part in a traditional Day of the Dead ceremony in a cemetery at the town of Mixquic. The tour combines a walk around Mexico City and visit to the zocalo (main square) to see the decorated altars on display, with a trip to Xochimilco to visit Isla de las Munecas, or Doll's Island, which is dedicated to the lost soul of a girl who drowned in mysterious circumstances. The holiday costs from £515 per person and departs on 30 October 2016, including four nights' accommodation, transport and a local guide (flights extra).
See also: What to see, where to stay and what to do in Puerto Vallarta
Riviera Maya
If you can't visit Mexico without going to the beach, a Day of the Dead holiday at the five-star Grand Velas Riviera Maya, on the beautiful Yucatan Peninsula, is the answer. The Día de los Muertos package, from 18 October to 16 November 2016, provides you with an exclusive itinerary of tequila tasting, Mexican cooking classes, gourmet dining and spa time in an indulgent setting. Guests receive complimentary tickets to the eco-archaeological park of Xcaret for The Festival of Life and Death on 2 November to experience the Hanal Pixan ritual (food for the souls), as well as traditional Day of the Dead dishes and treats such as candied pumpkin and pan de muerto, skull making, art exhibitions, theatre and dance. The holiday costs from $5,600 (£3,680) per person, based on two sharing, and includes seven nights' all-inclusive accommodation in a Zen grand suite, a cooking class, tequila tasting, private dinner on your terrace and airport transfers.
Oaxaca
Be part of the preparations and celebrations of the Day of the Dead festival on an exciting tour in the magnificent Oaxaca region with Rainbow Tours, where you can enjoy the best of Mexican culture on a nine-day holiday. You will visit the ancient town of Santo Domingo Tomaltepec to see traditional Day of the Dead bread being prepared, go to a local market where ornaments such as strings of beads, marigolds and sugar skulls are sold, and witness a late-night wake by a local family. Other highlight include the Comparsa Parade in the village of Soledad Etla, where you can march alongside stilt walkers dressed as spirits and marching bands playing loud 'banda' music – an event similar to that portrayed in Spectre. The Day of the Dead Culture and History Tour runs from 28 October to 5 November 2016 and costs from £2,795 per person, including flights from London Heathrow to Oaxaca via Houston, transfers, shared sightseeing and eight nights' accommodation in Oaxaca on a B&B basis.
