Day of the Dead is not a Halloween costume party; it is a living remembrance where families welcome their loved ones. In Oaxaca streets filled with flowers and candle scent, ask before photographing altars. Some cemeteries stay open at night—silence and distance are the baseline.
Pan de muerto and mole belong to the celebration; ask about sharing context instead of treating the plate as exotic content. Local guides know which neighborhoods welcome visitors; do not force entry into private family rites.
Early November hotels fill fast. Keep plans flexible and leave one day for walking, scent, and light alone. Respect is the real ticket to this feast.