Tracts of untouched forest, coral reefs, and mangroves characterize the UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve Huatulco National Park (Parque Nacional Huatulco). Unlike other stretches of the Oaxacan coastline, Huatulco National Park is a meticulously preserved hotspot for rare creatures, virgin beaches, and hiking trails.
Nestled in the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca, the Cascadas de Llano Grande (Llano Grande Waterfall) is an ideal spot for hiking, swimming, and rappelling. Its shallow pools and multiple cascading waterfalls give ample opportunity for all kinds of water activities: Climb a tree, leap off the rocks, or swing from a rope into the pristine waters below.
Maguey Bay (Bahía Maguey) is an easily accessible bay with a popular beach of the same name. A handful of busy seafood shacks line the beach, and visitors can sip cold beers on patio chairs, or splash around in the bay’s calm, clear waters. You’ll find lots of amenities here, too, as Maguey tends to be one of Huatulco’s busier bays.
One of just two so-called “petrified waterfalls” in the world, Hierve el Agua—which literally translates to "Water Boils"—is a rock formation with cliff-top pools above it. Visitors can cool off in natural spring waters, which are touted to have healing properties, then hike down to the base of the waterfalls.
Hierve el Agua is currently closed to the public as a result of a local land dispute.
Chachacual Bay (Bahía Chachacual) is just half a mile (one kilometer) long, but its world-class snorkeling, impressive birdlife, and serene setting continue to attract travelers to its sunny shores. This tiny bay in Huatulco is best reached by boat and still relatively untouched, making it the perfect destination for those seeking a bit more privacy.
La Crucecita sits just inland from Santa Cruz Bay on the coast of Oaxaca. Originally built as the service town for the Huatulco resort area, today La Crucecita has an authentic atmosphere draws that visitors from the beaches to its lively streets. Highlights include a traditional market, a historic church, specialty shops, and restaurants.
Cacaluta Bay is the largest and least accessible of the Huatulco bays. This heart-shaped Oaxacan inlet, which served as a stunning backdrop to the blockbuster Mexican film Y Tu Mamá También, has good snorkeling just a short swim from shore. Its serene setting offers a nice alternative to the noise and excitement of Santa Cruz Bay.
Let it all hang out on Zipolite Beach (Playa Zipolite), the only legal nudist beach in Mexico. Popular among LGBTQ+ travelers, hippie spiritualists, and adventurous backpackers, Zipolite Beach is characterized by clean sands, swaying palms, and rough seas better suited to surfing than swimming.
One of the oldest cities in the Americas, Monte Albán—an ancient Zapotec capital—is perhaps the most important archaeological site in Oaxaca and among the largest in Mexico. Head to Monte Albán’s flat mountain top for views of the city, then explore the vast site’s temples, tombs, underground tunnels, and ball court.
Home to Huatulco’s harbor, Santa Cruz Bay (Bahía Santa Cruz) is located just minutes from La Crucecita and offers shops, restaurants, hotels, and easily accessible beaches. It’s the jumping-off point for boat tours of Huatulco’s bays, or for hiring small fishing boats to visit some of the coast's more remote spots.
Still relatively unknown to tourists, the Copalita Ecological Park and Ruins (Parque Eco Arqueológico Copalita) sit on the shores of the Pacific Ocean in the Huatulco resort area. Remnants of pyramids, temples, a ball court, and a pre-Hispanic lighthouse dot the lush landscape of the archaeological park, which also includes a massive stone believed to have once been used in sacrifices.
Teotitlán del Valle—best known for the handwoven rugs, blankets, and textiles made by its inhabitants—has been a historic weaving town since the pre-Hispanic period and remains a key Oaxacan handicraft destination. Visitors can browse and buy handmade products throughout the town, admire the surrounding Sierra Juárez scenery, and visit the modest colonial church.
Estimated to be around 2,000 years old with a 177-foot (54-meter) circumference, the gnarled Tule Tree (Árbol del Tule) is one of the world’s oldest and widest trees that was once thought to be multiple trees merged together; however, it's actually a single Montezuma cypress specimen. Visitors can admire its girth both up close and from a distance, as well as explore the pretty church courtyard it calls home.
Steeped in history and mysticism, the ancient burial site of Mitla—which translates as the “Place of the Dead”—dates back to 900 BC. Notable for its mix of Zapotec and Mixtec architecture, adorned with elaborate mosaics and ornate stonework, it’s one of Oaxaca’s most important archaeological sites.
Home to fewer than 100 people—mostly fishermen—San Agustin Bay (Bahía San Agustín) has no electricity or running water. The bay itself is known for its prime snorkeling opportunities. Visitors head into the ocean straight from the shore and are immediately surrounded by schools of tropical fish, coral plates, crabs, snails, bivalves, and sea urchins.
Opened in response to the dwindling turtle population in Mexico, the Mexican Turtle Center (Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga) is a 10-acre (4-hectare) attraction located in Mazunte, Oaxaca. Here, you’ll find a variety of sea and freshwater turtles across over a dozen aquariums, including hawksbills, leatherbacks, and green turtles, all of which you can learn about on a guided tour of the center.
Luxurious all-inclusive resorts and private beachfront villas line the rocky cliffs ofTangolunda Bay (Bahía Tangolunda) in Huatulco. Some of the big names that you’ll find here include Dreams, Barcelo, and Las Brisas. It’s a top choice for those wanting to stay right on the bay, and the endless stretches of sandy shores are perfect for early morning walks.
Órgano Bay (Bahía Órgano) is an isolated stretch of beach just south of Santa Cruz in Mexico. Recommended for travelers who want to get away from it all, it’s an ideal spot for snorkeling and diving with calm, clear blue-green water and several interesting rock formations. Organo Bay is very near Maguey Bay, but not as popular or easy to access.
Situated beneath the Monte Albán archaeological site, the artisan town of San Antonio Arrazola offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of Oaxaca. Best known for its fantastical painted wooden figurines called alebrijes—and the street art dotted around town dedicated to them—San Antonio Arrazola is the ideal spot to pick up some souvenirs from your time in Oaxaca.
La Ventanilla—a popular ecotourism destination on the Oaxacan coast—incorporates a small coastal village, undeveloped beaches, and the Tonameca River lagoon, all scenically sandwiched between the Pacific and the Sierra Madre mountains. Visitors to La Ventanilla can explore mangroves with a guide, ride horseback, and visit crocodile farms on the Costa Chica.
The Benito Juárez Market (Mercado Benito Juárez), which takes up two blocks and is just a short walk from the city center zócalo (square), is one of four markets in close proximity in downtown Oaxaca City. Home to a wide variety of typical foodstuffs and artisanal handicrafts, the market is the ideal spot to browse for souvenirs or just get lost among the stalls.
Popular with surfers and river rafters alike, the Copalita River (Río Copalita) is one of the region’s most popular water sports destinations, surrounded by beautiful flora and fauna. From the river rafting opportunities offered inland to the boogie boarding and surfing conditions you’ll find as the river empties into the ocean, the Copalita River is a must for adventurous travelers in Oaxaca.
Replete with fresh produce, grilled meats, fragrant spices, and lots of mole (a spicy sauce), the 20 de Noviembre Market (Mercado 20 de Noviembre) is a must visit for food fans and casual visitors alike in Oaxaca City. Located just outside the city’s central zócalo, the market is also a great place to grab lunch from one of the many fondas and vendors.
Situated 30 minutes outside of Oaxaca proper, this former Dominican convent in Cuilapam de Guerrero is an impressive complex which includes cloisters and a roofless chapel. Once home to praying monks and the place where former Mexican president Vicente Guerrero was executed, the 16th-century Cuilapam Convent is now a place to enjoy religious murals and sweeping views over the valley below.
EN
