Oaxaca, Mexico

A highland city famed for mezcal, mole, indigenous textiles, and the nearby Monte Albán ruins.

oaxaca and lake in Oaxaca, Mexico

🏛️ Sights & Attractions in Oaxaca

  • Monte Albán — is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site in the Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán Municipality in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. The site is located on a low mountainous range rising above the plain in the central section of the Valley of Oaxaca, where the latter's nor
  • Benito Juárez — Benito Pablo Juárez García was a Mexican politician, military officer, and lawyer who served as the 26th president of Mexico from 1858 until his death in 1872. A Zapotec, he was the first Indigenous president of Mexico and the first democratically elected Indigenous president in
  • Hierve el Agua — Hierve el Agua is a set of petrified waterfalls and mineral pools formed by spring water over thousands of years. Visitors can swim in natural pools and walk along the cliff edges.
  • Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca — Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca is inside Santo Domingo and displays Zapotec and Mixtec artifacts. Its collections include the Tomb 7 treasures from Monte Albán.
  • Rufino Tamayo Museum — The Rufino Tamayo Museum houses a collection of pre-Hispanic art assembled by the famous Mexican painter. It is located in a restored colonial building.
  • Tule Tree — The Tule Tree in Santa María del Tule is one of the widest trees in the world. It is a Montezuma cypress estimated to be over a thousand years old.

🍽️ Restaurants in Oaxaca

  • Mercado 20 de Noviembre — Mercado 20 de Noviembre is a busy Oaxaca market with food halls serving meats, tlayudas, moles, and fresh juices. It is a central place to try regional street food.
  • Casa Oaxaca — Casa Oaxaca is a respected restaurant in a colonial house serving refined Oaxacan cuisine. It is known for its moles, market-fresh ingredients, and rooftop views.
  • Los Danzantes — Los Danzantes is a Oaxaca restaurant with a courtyard setting and a menu of modern Mexican dishes. It is known for mezcal cocktails and tasting menus.
  • La Biznaga — La Biznaga is a Oaxaca institution serving Oaxacan specialties in a colorful courtyard. Its mole dishes and tlayudas are popular with locals and visitors.

🍸 Bars & Nightlife in Oaxaca

  • Sabina Sabe — Sabina Sabe is a mezcal bar in Oaxaca with an extensive selection and knowledgeable staff. It is a respected place for serious mezcal tastings.
  • Selina Oaxaca bar — Selina Oaxaca bar is a social spot in the hotel with drinks, music, and events. It attracts a mix of travelers and locals.

🎯 Activities & Tours in Oaxaca

  • Traditional Oaxaqueña Cooking with Grandma's Recipes — We welcome you into our home with open arms! Immediately, you will feel part of our family and our traditions. We begin our welcome, the same way my abuela did with me, with hot chocolate and pan. I love to share my stories and traditions of my culture with you. Classes can be in
  • Oaxacan Vegetarian Cooking Class — This cooking class is developed through deep research with people specialized in pre-Hispanic food, we seek to spread the heritage value of Oaxaca vegetarian food. Together with a traditional Cook we will tour the neighborhood and buy the freshest products for our dishes.
  • Street Art Tour With An Artist in Oaxaca — Join us for an unforgettable Street Art Tour in Oaxaca with a local artist and explore the city's most iconic murals and street art. This guided tour will lead you through Oaxaca's vibrant streets, showcasing stunning artworks that tell the story of the city’s cultural and artist
  • Oaxacan Journey — Ideal for people who have little time to visit the city of Oaxaca and want to explore the most emblematic places in the surrounding area in terms of nature, gastronomy, culture and natural beauty, since we will visit Hier el agua very early to avoid crowds and tour the only place
  • Art walk & Cacao delight — During our ART & CACAO TOUR you will discover the secret corners and murals of Oaxaca in Jalatalco and Centro areas. Meeting and mingling with the artists in their studios and galleries you are embedded into the magical Oaxaca art scene. As you soak up the back stories behind the
  • Hierve el Agua 2.5 hours, Mitla, Tule, Rugs and Mezcal for a Day — Experience the best of Oaxaca in one unforgettable day. Marvel at the majestic Tule Tree, the ancient ahuehuete known for having the widest trunk in the world, and spend 3 hours at Hierve el Agua, exploring its impressive petrified waterfalls and refreshing natural pools. Enjoy
  • Hierve el agua half day tour — (we include a hiking) Enjoy the natural pools and be amazed by the height of the waterfalls. Embark on an excursion where you will visit only Hierve el Agua, a set of two waterfalls that have been petrifying for millions of years due to the calcium carbonate mineral solution in
  • Full Day Tour of Oaxacan Wonders — Discover the best of the Central Valleys of Oaxaca in one day, combining history, culture and unique landscapes. Admire the imposing Tule Tree, get to know traditional textiles in Teotitlán del Valle and tour the archaeological area of Mitla. Be surprised by Hierve el Agua and
  • Hiking in Sierra Norte the most spectacular trails in Oaxaca — Discover the stunning Sierra Norte de Oaxaca on an unforgettable hiking trail through Mexico’s most beautiful forests. Immerse yourself in the lush vegetation and enjoy spectacular scenery of the mountain range that runs through the beautiful State of Oaxaca as you walk an easy a
  • Oaxacan Urban Mythology and Colonial Art — Come with me, an art historian, to explore the Urban Mythology and Colonial Art in Oaxaca’s Historic Center. Guided by a compass that doesn’t point north, but to the past, and a vintage map marked with legends, symbols, and colonial architecture, we’ll begin an exploration throu
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🏨 Hotels & Stays in Oaxaca

  • Quinta Real Oaxaca — Luxury hotel in the restored 1576 Convent of Santa Catalina with 91 rooms, El Refectorio restaurant, pool, and UNESCO heritage gardens.
  • Hotel Camino Real Oaxaca — Colonial hotel in a 16th-century convent with 91 rooms, 2 restaurants, pool, gardens, and walking distance to Santo Domingo church.
  • Parador de Alcala — Boutique hotel on Alcalá street with 35 rooms, restaurant, bar, pool, and easy access to the Zócalo and temples of Oaxaca.
  • Hotel Marques del Valle — Hotel on the Zócalo with 84 rooms, restaurant, bar, and prime location for exploring Oaxaca’s historic center and markets.
  • Hotel One Oaxaca — Budget hotel in central Oaxaca with 143 rooms, breakfast, and walking distance to the Zócalo and Santo Domingo church.
  • Hotel Siglo XVII Art Gallery — Boutique hotel in a colonial art gallery building in central Oaxaca with pool, fitness center, and individually decorated rooms.
  • Hotel Casa Santo Origen — Luxury boutique hotel with infinity pool, Mediterranean restaurant, and panoramic views of Oaxaca valley near Monte Albán.
  • Azul Cielo Hostel — Central Oaxaca hostel with complimentary breakfast, free WiFi, rooftop terrace, and dormitory and private room options.
  • Hotel Fortin Plaza — Accommodation in Oaxaca from $79/night Rated 8.2/10 by guests. Book on Agoda for the best available rates and confirmed availability.
  • CASA CEMPOAL — Accommodation in Oaxaca from $34/night Rated 8.8/10 by guests. Book on Agoda for the best available rates and confirmed availability.
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