Itineraries for Your Trip to Oaxaca
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It had been a lifelong dream of mine to visit Mexico for its Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) celebration, so my expectations of Oaxaca were sky high, due to spending so long imagining it. But I needn’t have worried about this compact yet culture-rich city disappointing me—one glimpse of its mural-clad walls and trendy taquerias had me enchanted. And this adoration only grew after spending time exploring its street food markets, mezcal bars, and the natural attractions within day-tripping distance.
If you’ve got three days in Oaxaca City, firstly, lucky you, you’re sure to have an absolute ball. Secondly, here’s how to make the most of 72 hours in Mexico’s capital of cool.
If you only have time for one thing, make it feasting on local delicacies, such as mezcal and mole.
If you don’t mind the heat, visiting Oaxaca in July is well worth it to witness the all-singing, all-danging Guelaguetza cultural festival.
Spend your first day getting your bearings in the historic centre of Oaxaca. For local insight that you wouldn’t get if exploring alone, take a walking tour. Tours typically stop at markets such as 20 de Noviembre or Benito Juárez Markets and reveal traditional Oaxacan breakfast foods and local coffee. Observe local life in the zócalo (plaza) with a homemade ice cream or spicy elote (corn) before strolling along Calle Alcalá to the Santo Domingo Temple.
In the evening, enjoy dinner at one of Oaxaca City’s restaurants—trying traditional mole sauce is a must for food lovers—and sample mezcal or pulque afterwards. If it’s Guelaguetza season, skip dinner in the city and take an excursion to the festival’s hilltop music and dance performance which spotlights indigenous cultures—you won’t go hungry as dinner is typically included with these packages.
Then, educate your palate about the complex flavors of mezcal (a smoky spirit made using the agave plant) and mole (a rich sauce that features a minimum of 20 ingredients) during a tasting session led by a sommelier. You’ll leave knowing exactly what to order at In Situ Mezcalería, home to what the owner claims is Mexico’s largest mezcal collection.
Rise early this morning to beat the heat and discover the archaeological site of Monte Albán on a history-focused tour. A guide helps bring the ruins of one of the oldest cities in the Americas to life with insights into the region’s Zapotec heritage.
Back in town, spend the rest of the day ticking off must-see Oaxaca attractions on a private tour that helps you go beyond the guidebook. Visit top spots such as the Santo Domingo de Guzmán Church, whose baroque facade is adorned with intricate carvings, and the bustling square reigned over by the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad.
Now that you’ve seen the best of the center, go beyond the city limits to see some of the natural wonders in the wider Oaxaca region on a day trip. Marvel at the petrified waterfalls at Hierve el Agua, home to clifftop pools you can soak in, before visiting the Tule Tree, which botanists estimate to be 2,000 years old.
Once you return, reward yourself after a busy day of sightseeing with some sweet treats during a cacao and chocolate tasting experience that teaches you traditional ways of preparing and (of course) eating cacao beans.
