OaxacaMexico
foodculturalhistoricalbudgetspiritual
Mexico's gastronomic and cultural heart — mole negro, mezcal, Zapotec ruins, and Day of the Dead celebrations that put Coco to shame. Oaxaca city is a colonial gem surrounded by indigenous villages and Monte Albán.
Best Time to Visit
October to April
Daily Budget
$30-70/day
budget tier
Weather
Mild year-round at 1,550m altitude. Dry season October-April (20-28°C). Rainy season May-September with afternoon downpours.
Top Things to Do in Oaxaca
- Monte Albán — pre-Columbian Zapotec city on a flattened mountaintop
- Oaxaca street food tour — tlayudas, chapulines (grasshoppers), tejate
- Hierve el Agua — petrified mineral waterfalls with natural infinity pools
- Mezcal distillery tours in Santiago Matatlán
- Day of the Dead celebrations (late October-November 2)
Travel Tips
- 1.Take a cooking class — Oaxacan cuisine is UNESCO-recognised and deeply complex
- 2.Colectivos (shared taxis) are the cheapest way to reach outlying villages
- 3.Visit during Day of the Dead for one of Mexico's most profound cultural experiences