Who: Rich Haber of Denver with Day of the Dead calavera
Where: Oaxaca
Best meal: Homemade open-faced chile relleno, cooked on an opened-faced traditional brick oven. Opportunities to stay with local families are plentiful and a great alternative to hotels. You can find information at the Oaxaca Forum on the Internet.
Best deal: Hierve el Aqua, a two-hour drive from the center of Oaxaca, where there are natural bubbling springs and petrified waterfalls. Very unusual formations and great climbing opportunities. There is also a great 1 1/2-hour walking path that takes you to the bottom of the cliffs. A swim in the natural pool is a must.
Best time to go: For Dias de las Muertos, go Oct. 28-Nov. 3 or during Christmas week.
Don’t leave home without: Swim shorts for Hierve, a tad bit of Spanish and a big-hearted smile.
