The beautiful colonial city of Oaxaca is nestled in a valley in the highlands of southern Mexico. This lively city that hosts a large indigenous population has both interesting colonial architecture, large marketplaces with excellent shopping for traditional handicrafts, museums, festivals, Spanish language schools and inexpensive local restaurants. Oaxaca is surrounded by impressive ruined cities of the ancient Pre-Columbian cultures, and scenic countryside that can be toured by biking, hiking or horseback riding.
The historic capital and biggest city of the Mexican state of the same name, Oaxaca is located in a valley in the middle of Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains in Southern Mexico. Officially known as Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca is surrounded by a metropolitan area that has over 500.000 inhabitants. Oaxaca Valley has been inhabited for thousands of years, and hosted large cities of the Zapotec and Mixtec cultures. Aztecs conquered the valley in the late 1400s, and Spanish settlers founded the city in 1522. Oaxaca is the center of a large agricultural and artisan region, surrounded by forested mountains. Lately, Oaxaca has become a popular place to visit, but the growing city that is a center of a large and poor state of Oaxaca has also seen violent social protests in 2006 and 2007.
Museums & ancient ruins. Some of the many impressive museums in Oaxaca include the Museum of Oaxacan Cultures, located in Santo Domingo Cultural Center, Rufino Tamayo Museum of pre-hispanic art, the museum of the former president Benito Juárez, and several lovely art museums. The nearby archaeological sites include the famous World Heritage Site of Monte Albán, located just 9 km / 6 miles outside the city, as well as the ruined cities of Mitla and Yagul.
A lively city with a vibrant entertainment and cultural scene, Oaxaca hosts cultural centers, theaters and nightlife. There are also many festivals in Oaxaca, the biggest and most spectacular of which is the Guelaguetza, held on the first two Mondays after July 16, and featuring local folk dance and traditions of the local indigenous cultures. Oaxaca also hosts a large Day of the Dead festivals, and free concerts in the central plaza on Sundays.
The beautiful countryside areas around Oaxaca can be explored by hiking, biking and horseback riding. Mountain biking in Oaxaca is popular, and tours of varied length are available. Horseback riding in Oaxaca is enjoyable with green mountain scenery.
The historic capital and biggest city of the Mexican state of the same name, Oaxaca is located in a valley in the middle of Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains in Southern Mexico. Officially known as Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca is surrounded by a metropolitan area that has over 500.000 inhabitants. Oaxaca Valley has been inhabited for thousands of years, and hosted large cities of the Zapotec and Mixtec cultures. Aztecs conquered the valley in the late 1400s, and Spanish settlers founded the city in 1522. Oaxaca is the center of a large agricultural and artisan region, surrounded by forested mountains. Lately, Oaxaca has become a popular place to visit, but the growing city that is a center of a large and poor state of Oaxaca has also seen violent social protests in 2006 and 2007.
Sights and activities in Oaxaca: historical sites, shopping, museums, festivals & biking
Oaxaca is rich in colonial history, and the old city center around the main plaza, Zócalo, that dates back to the 1500s, is filled with interesting historical architecture. The cathedral of Oaxaca and several historical churches and monasteries can be visited, as well as the Governor’s Palace built in 1880s. The old city center is also filled with shops and markets that are great for shopping in Oaxaca, as well as museums, art galleries, bars and restaurants.Museums & ancient ruins. Some of the many impressive museums in Oaxaca include the Museum of Oaxacan Cultures, located in Santo Domingo Cultural Center, Rufino Tamayo Museum of pre-hispanic art, the museum of the former president Benito Juárez, and several lovely art museums. The nearby archaeological sites include the famous World Heritage Site of Monte Albán, located just 9 km / 6 miles outside the city, as well as the ruined cities of Mitla and Yagul.
A lively city with a vibrant entertainment and cultural scene, Oaxaca hosts cultural centers, theaters and nightlife. There are also many festivals in Oaxaca, the biggest and most spectacular of which is the Guelaguetza, held on the first two Mondays after July 16, and featuring local folk dance and traditions of the local indigenous cultures. Oaxaca also hosts a large Day of the Dead festivals, and free concerts in the central plaza on Sundays.
The beautiful countryside areas around Oaxaca can be explored by hiking, biking and horseback riding. Mountain biking in Oaxaca is popular, and tours of varied length are available. Horseback riding in Oaxaca is enjoyable with green mountain scenery.
Photo: phylevn, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
There are also many Spanish language schools in Oaxaca, and even traditional indigenous spas.
Oaxaca travel information and practical tips
Oaxaca has a warm tropical climate with hot days and cooler evenings around the year, making it a good vacation spot. There is a dry season with pleasant temperatures from mid-October to mid-May, and a rainy season between June and September. The hottest time of the year is from March to May, before the rainy season starts. Night-time temperatures can be cold during the midwinter months.Traveling to Oaxaca can be done by air or by road. There is a small airport with flights to Oaxaca from Mexico City and Houston, as well as from Tijuana and Cancún. You can also travel to Oaxaca by bus from all parts of Mexico. From Oaxaca, there are many buses to the beach resort towns along the Pacific coast of the state, such as Huatulco and Puerto Escondido. In Oaxaca City itself, there are numerous local buses, and the central part of the city can also be explored by foot. Taxis and bicycle and car rental in Oaxaca are available.
Accommodation & services. There is a growing number of hotels in Oaxaca, including charming historical hotels set in old colonial buildings or haciendas, as well as a range of inexpensive hostels and bed & breakfast places. There is also a large number of bars and restaurants in Oaxaca, serving interesting local cuisine as well as some international choices. Some Spanish skills are needed for independent travel in Oaxaca, as English is not commonly spoken.
Safety. Oaxaca is a welcoming city with no major crime problems, although pickpocketing in crowded places is not uncommon. However, social unrest does happen regularly, and visitors should stay away from any demonstrations and never try to cross police or army roadblocks.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Puerto Escondido
