Oaxaca
Your getaway to Oaxaca
Start with the icons done gently — a morning at Monte Albán, then the gilded interior of Santo Domingo before lunch. Lunch is a tlayuda and an agua fresca at a market counter, pointed at rather than pronounced. The afternoon is a wander through Jalatlaco, cobbled streets, murals, and a coffee in a quiet courtyard. Golden hour belongs to a rooftop near the Zócalo with a small mezcal and the city turning amber. Dinner introduces mole negro at a family-run spot where the menu is short and trustworthy. One day goes to the countryside — Hierve el Agua's mineral pools or a weaving village, whichever pulls harder. The botanic garden fills a slow morning with agaves and mountain views. You browse a market without a list and leave with something delicious and unplanned. Evenings stay easy: a plaza bench, marimba music, an early night or a late one, your call. It is a trip with a little of everything, and all of it good.
Places to love in Oaxaca
Zona Arqueológica de Monte Albán
A major pre-Columbian Zapotec capital set on a leveled mountaintop overlooking Oaxaca, featuring monumental pyramids, plazas and tombs. Travelers visit this UNESCO site for its impressive ancient architecture and sweeping valley views.
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Hierve el Agua
A set of petrified mineral waterfalls and natural spring-fed infinity pools set on a cliffside in the Oaxacan mountains. Travelers come to swim in the pools and take in dramatic valley views.
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Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán
A grand 16th-century Baroque church and former monastery in Oaxaca, renowned for its ornate gilded interior and stunning ceiling decoration. Travelers visit to admire the elaborate colonial religious architecture and art.
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Zócalo de la Ciudad de Oaxaca (Plaza de La Constitución)
Oaxaca's central plaza lined with cafes, arcades and shaded by trees, serving as the social heart of the city. Travelers go to people-watch, relax and soak in daily local life and events.
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Mercado Benito Juárez
A bustling covered market in central Oaxaca selling food, crafts, chocolate, mezcal and local goods. A sensory hub for sampling regional products and shopping.
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Oaxaca
Duplicate entry referring to the city of Oaxaca, a colonial capital famed for its cuisine, mezcal, crafts, and cultural heritage. Travelers explore its historic center, markets, and nearby ruins.
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Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca
A botanical garden dedicated to the native plants of Oaxaca, set behind the Santo Domingo cultural complex. Visitors take guided tours to learn about regional flora and its cultural uses.
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Museo Textil de Oaxaca
A textile museum displaying Oaxacan and international woven works, embroidery, and indigenous garments in a restored colonial building. Travelers go to appreciate the region's rich textile artistry.
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Museo de Arte Prehispánico de México Rufino Tamayo
A museum housing a pre-Hispanic art collection donated by painter Rufino Tamayo, displaying artifacts arranged for their aesthetic value. Travelers visit to see ancient Mesoamerican sculpture and ceramics.
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