A Complete Guide to Visiting Oaxaca

Oaxaca is known for its bright colors, insane foodie scene, and it’s rich culture. A big city with a small-town vibe, Oaxaca has a bit of everything. But it often gets overlooked for the beach destinations in Mexico.

After living in Oaxaca for 6 months, I’ve pulled together all the best things to do with a mix of my favorite spots, bucket list items, and the best foodie spots!

Things to Know Before You Go

Pack comfortable walking sandals or sneakers as the streets are either broken or cobblestone and it’s very hilly

Holidays book up really quickly (Día de Muertos, Christmas, New Year, Dia de la Independence)

Climate: It’s warm year-round but the rainy season is between April-September and dry season October-March.

Best time to go: As far as temperatures go, Oaxaca is pretty ideal all year round. The city is extremely lively during the holidays; Dia de Muertos (last week of October through the first week of November) and Noche de Rabanos (December 24th) is a local Oaxacan tradition.

Language: Spanish, in Centro you’ll often find people that speak a little English

Money: Pesos ($MXN), 15-20% tips are the norm, and ATMs are located all over the city in Spanish and English. Many hotels, restaurants, and stores take VISA and AMEX cards.

Travel Insurance

SafetyWing is truly an insurance company for Nomads, by Nomads. It’s designed to meet the medical and travel needs faced by Digital Nomads and other remote workers while they are outside of their home country. Coverage is mainly intended for long-term travelers which makes it ideal for Digital Nomads!

In terms of payment, SafetyWing uses a subscription-based payment system on a monthly basis instead of all up front and the rates can be as low as $42/month. Therefore, it’s truly a budget-friendly option!

Get a quick quote for your travel dates 👇

One of my favorite features is that SafetyWing may even offer you some medical coverage in your home country which is extremely rare in travel insurance and makes SafetyWing stand out from the rest.

Pros of SafetyWing Travel Insurance

The monthly subscription model
Can cover medical expenses when overseas
Up to 2 children under 10 per family (1 per adult) can be included on your insurance free of charge
Limited medical coverage in your home country

Cons of SafetyWing Travel Insurance

Not as many travel insurance perks as other companies
No coverage for personal electronics

Read this post The Best Travel Insurance for Every Type of Traveler for an in-depth review of the top 3 travel insurances.

How to Get to Oaxaca

✈️ Airport: Oaxaca International Airport is located 40 minutes outside of Centro but doesn’t have a lot of direct flights. If you’re in the United States, the only direct flights are through LA, Dallas, and Houston and domestically in Mexico and within Latin America, most flights go through Mexico City or Cancun.

🚌 ADO Bus: The buses in Mexico are very clean and safe. As a solo female traveler, I’ve taken them a handful of times. The terminal is very easy to navigate in Oaxaca and centrally located.

Getting Around Oaxaca

Oaxaca is very walkable between the boroughs (Centro, Jalatlaco, Xochimilco, Reforma) during the day but at night it’s best to play it safe especially if you are alone. Here are some other options:

🚙 Didi: Didi is the Mexican version of Uber and around the city should cost about 40-80 pesos depending on the time of day.

🚕 Taxi: There are taxi stands around Centro where you can safely hail a taxi.

Eat Grasshoppers (Chapulines)

Trying chapulines in Mexico was definitely on my bucket list as it’s a very popular and unique foodie item to try. And let me tell you…THEY ARE SO GOOD! Once you get past the texture of the legs, the flavor is pretty mindblowing. There is a variety of different flavors and spice levels; I’ve tried about 3 different kinds. You can find them at all the markets or street stalls or even on the menu of the fanciest restaurants in towns. Many times chapulines are served on top of or on the side of an order of guacamole.

Jardin Ethnobotanical

Oaxaca’s botanical garden is located in Centro and hosts hundreds of species from the state of Oaxaca. There are a limited amount of daily visitors due to COVID-19 restrictions, so arrive early (try a weekday) to grab a spot!

Street Art in Jalatlaco Borough

This hidden gem in Oaxaca is not to be missed! Jalatlaco is the oldest neighborhood in Oaxaca and is just a 10-minute walk from Centro. Walk down the cobblestone streets, explore coffee shops, take in the charm of Mexico’s Colonial times, and enjoy the street art and colorful little borough of Oaxaca.

Markets

Oaxaca has some of the best markets that offer everything from locals. There’s artwork, woven baskets, cushions and rugs, leather sandals, traditional garments, and clay and ceramic pottery. If you’re looking to indulge in Oaxaca’s foodie scene, you can also find freshly ground local coffee beans, mole powder, traditional Oaxacan cheese, chocolate, and mezcal. These are the perfect places to pick up souvenirs or even stop for a bite to eat while out exploring the city! Here are some of the best markets in the region:

Mercado Benito Juarez
Mercado 20 de Noviembre
Central de Abastos
Mercado de Teotitlán del Valle
Mercado La Merced

Grab a Scoop at the Ice Cream Market

Out of all the markets in Oaxaca, this one is definitely the most unique! The Ice Cream Market in Oaxaca has hundreds of flavors of ice cream from your basic go-to’s like chocolate and strawberry to more traditional mole, elote, and mezcal. The best part? They’ll let you sample before buying! So don’t be scared, try the unique flavors, you might be surprised!

Lucha Libre

Thanks to the famous Jack Black movie “Nacho Libre” based in Oaxaca, Lucha Libre has become even more popular among locals and tourists. If you’re not familiar with Lucha Libre, it’s a little like WWE in the US with scripted and dramatic wrestling, except in Mexico it’s a lot more crazy!

Check out www.facebook.com/cmlloaxacaoficial or www.facebook.com/luchalibreoaxaca to find out if there’s an event when you’re visiting.

Cacao Ceremony

Take part in a cacao ceremony and learn the origins and legends of cacao in Oaxaca. Cinnamon is a must in all cacao found in Oaxaca and there’s a story behind it (and also a little controversy). Cinnamon was brought into Mexico by the Spaniards during their colonialism. Their palates weren’t accustomed to the bitter taste of the original chocolate, so they mixed in cinnamon to add sweetness.

The ceremony of making chocolate has become such a tradition in Oaxaca, that you can now find ceremonies all throughout the state. And of course, you’ll have a taste of all the varieties! Many Temazcal ceremonies include a cacao ceremony like mine did!

But if you’re not interested in doing a full ceremony, then try one of the many variations of chocolate found all over the city. You’ll literally be able to sniff it out. One of my favorite things about Oaxaca is walking around and getting a big whiff of cacao; it’s delicious!

Templo de Santo Domingo

You can not miss the baroque-style church of Santo Domingo. It’s one of Oaxaca’s most known landmarks and sits just a few blocks away from the Zocalo. As you enter you’ll go back in time as you pass through 14 rooms with the history of the state of Oaxaca. It’s best to hire a local English-speaking guide to learn the history as most of it’s all in Spanish.

Cool Off at a Rooftop Pool

Alcala Parador Hotel has a rooftop pool and offers a day pass for 250 pesos which includes food and drinks
Hotel Fortin has a pool that offers a day pass for 300 pesos which gives you credit for their restaurant
City Centro Hotel has a rooftop pool with a restaurant that offers food and drinks

City Centro Hotel Rooftop Pool in Oaxaca

Food in Oaxaca

Locals and tourists from all over the world come to Oaxaca for the food, it’s the gastronomic hub of Mexico!

These are the must-try street foods:

Tlayudas
Mole
Tacos
Memelas
Tortas
Cangreburger

Best Restaurants

Here’s a list of some of my favorite restaurants in Oaxaca:

Adamá is a Mediterranean restaurant in Xochimilco and it’s one of my favorite restaurants in Oaxaca
Pisa Pizza in Jalatlaco has the best pizza in town
Vaca Mariana for the best rooftop views of Santo Domingo and Centro
Don Juanito has a few locations around Oaxaca and they’re also on UberEats
Conzana Rooftop offers a great view of Templo de Santo Domingo y Centro and great cocktails/mocktails
Sur a Norte is another great rooftop in Centro with delicious fresh food – love their cauliflower tacos
Ancestral Cocina Tradicional is tucked away in Xochimilco offering upscale local cuisine
Los Danzantes is perfect for a date night or to treat yourself
El Son Istmeño in Jalatlaco has amazing tlayudas
Mixtacos has cheap but tasty tacos that aren’t street tacos

Check out my post with the Best Brunches in Oaxaca here!

Vaca Mariana in Centro with views of Santo Domingo

Coworking Spots

Mosso Cafe
Cafe Brujula
Convivio
Cafe Bre
Selina Oaxaca

Day Trips

Mont Alban Archeological Site

This is a must-see archeological site in Oaxaca. Mont Alban Zapotec ruins play a vital role in the history of modern Mexico. When the Treasure of Tomb 7 was discovered at Mont Alban, the National Institute of Anthropology realized the importance of uncovering more of the ruins within Mexico.

The tour will take you about a full day but it’s definitely worth it! It includes an English-speaking guide, a guided tour of the ruins, and a visit to the village of Arrazola where you can see how the famous Alebrijes (wood-carved fantasy animals from the Disney movie Coco) are made.

Book your tour here

The Ruins of Mitla

El Pueblo Mágico de Mitla or the Magic Town of Mitla is the second most important archaeological site in the state of Oaxaca. During different periods, it was inhabited by the Mixtecs and the Zapotecs. For the Mixtecs, it meant “place of the dead” and for the Zapotecs “place of rest”. It holds cultural importance to both groups and you can see the mixture in the architecture.

Book a tour to visit Mitla, Hierve el Agua, and Teotitlan del Valle in a full-day trip!

Here is the Mitla tour I went on, you can book it directly here!

Teotitlan del Valle

If you’re interested in textiles, the weaving process, or just want to pick up some unique textile pieces, Teotitlan del Valle is the place! This local Zapotec family has been working for generations making different textiles and you’ll learn the entire process while there.

Hierve el Agua

The petrified waterfalls and natural pools of Hierve el Agua are an otherworldly experience. It’s best to arrive early -like as soon as it opens at 9 am, to avoid the crowds and the midday heat. Between the entrance and the parking lot, there’s a little market of vendors where you can grab a meal, snack, or beverage. The entrance is $50 pesos ($2.50 USD).

When you arrive, a guide will offer to take you on a hike around the petrified waterfall. It’s worth it as they’ll provide lots of history, fun facts, and even take pictures for you! Tips usually range from $50-100 pesos ($2.50-$5 USD). You’ll get to see different angles and up close and personal.

Don’t forget to pack your swimming suit! Take a dip in one of the natural pools that have formed on top of the waterfall; the high content of minerals in the water is said to have healing properties.

Book your day trip to Hierve el Agua here!

Lake Area of Huayapam

Huayapam is located less than 40 minutes from Centro and is the perfect place to escape from the city and connect with nature. If you’re here for a longer period, it’s a great place to come on the weekend, walk around, and barbeque.

Temazcal Ceremony

Temazcal ceremonies can be found all over Mexico and you’ll find that every experience is different and unique due to the ancestral rituals. A Chaman will lead you through the ritual and cleansing of the mind and body which can be anywhere from an hour to 3+ hours.

The Temazcal ceremony I went to included a tarot card reading, a cacao ceremony, and lunch, so it was a full-day experience.

Alebrijes Workshop in San Martin Tilcajete

This is the town that inspired the Disney movie, Coco. Known for their wooden colorful fantastical figurines, alebrijes, that are hand-carved by local artisans. The workshop in San Martin Tilcajete is family-owned and operated and walks you through the various stages of production from the wood carving to the detailed painting. Pick up a piece for yourself or they make great souvenirs!