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Oaxaca (Oaxaca de Juárez) is a city in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico.

[edit] Get in

As of July 2007 tourism in Oaxaca City is up from last year. The city has returned to its peaceful and tranquil state. It is an ideal place to visit for families and independent travelers. Oaxaca City continues to be welcoming, peaceful, friendly and inexpensive. Oaxacan Spanish language schools are excellent. Each school has classes of all levels and will find inexpensive lodging for you in a Oaxacan home.

The Guelaguetza marks its 50th anniversary this July. Dancers wearing indegenious costumes celebrate the culture during a two week long festival.

Oaxaca has a small but fully functional airport which mainly has flights to Mexico City. Most major airlines can offer cooperative service to Oaxaca through Mexico City via Mexicana airlines or another Mexican carrier. Continental flies directly from Houston to Oaxaca on regional jets. The more adventurous Spanish speaking traveler can fly directly from the United States to Mexico City or Huatulco and then take a bus to Oaxaca (6.5 hrs from Mexico City, 8 hrs from Huatulco). The services are excellent and run on-time. A site for bus tickets is www.ticketbus.com.mx. For the bus option, basic Spanish is essential.

Go to Oaxaca City and experience the best of Mexico.

[edit] Get around

The central, tourist-oriented part of town is easily walked, although taxis are somewhat plentiful and buses numerous and cheap.

[edit][add listing] See

Oaxaca's streets have a very tranquil and organic feel to them. Much of the joy of a Oaxaca trip comes from simply strolling the downtown streets, sitting in a sidewalk cafe on the Zocalo, and soaking up the atmosphere. On your strolls, try to see a few of the outstanding local landmarks.

• Oaxaca Mio, Zocálo Tourism Booth, [1]. Oaxaca Mio you will find information that will help navigate your time here in the city as well as other places of interest in Oaxaca; including,but not limited to Puerto Escondido and Huatulco. The map and magazine can be found at the tourism booth in the Zócalo as well as at the office, Alcalá 917.  edit

[edit] Downtown Landmarks

• Ex Convento de Santo Domingo - Alcala; open 10am-8pm daily except Monday; 50 peso admission fee, free on Sundays. Spectacular historical church that's undergone a recent renovation. Includes the adjacent Cultural Center with frequent concerts.
• Museo Regional de Oaxaca - Alcala; next to the Ex Convento de Santo Domingo, this is a museum of regional history and culture, with exhibits on Zapotec, Mixtec, and Olmec civilizations, as well as colonial and revolutionary era history. It's most stunning highlight is the collection of treasure excavated from Tomb 7 at Monte Alban by archaeologist Alfonso Caso in the 1930s.
• Catedral Metropolitana - Oaxaca's largest church dates from 1533 and is known for its unique interpretation of baroque style architecture.
• Casa de Benito Juarez - Garcia Vigial 609, Tel: 951-516-18-60. Historic childhome home of former Mexican President Benito Juarez. It's an unassuming home fitting for a man of humble roots.
• Rufino Tamayo Museum - Morelos 503 between Porfirio Diaz and Tinoco y Palacios; open Monday-Saturday from 10AM-2PM and then 4PM-7PM and Sunday from 10AM-3PM; A beautiful museum originally founded by Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo, you'll find excellent artifacts that are very well displayed.

[edit] Archaeological Sites

• Arbol del Tule This tree has the largest base of any tree in the world. Legend has it that it is over 1400 years old. It is located 13 km from the city of Oaxaca on the road to Mitla.
• Mitla is approximately 40 kilometers from the city of Oaxaca and was a very important Zapotec city and religious center. Famous for its pre-Columbian Mesoamerican buildings. Inside Tomb 1 there is the famous "Column of Life" that you can embrace to find out how many years you have left to live. Spanish is helpful here as the ruins officials can explain how to use the column correctly.
• Monte Alban - Monte Alban has the largest set of ruins near Oaxaca city, and, as such, can become very crowded. You can book tours through most hotels in Oaxaca city, and you can also take the bus or a taxi out to the ruins. The tour guides are excellent at Monte Alban, providing more than just standard information about the ruins. Monte Alban is impressive for its huge plaza and northern and southern platforms from which you can see much of the countryside. The Zapotec people (also known as "rock people") built this site atop some of the highest mountains in the area. Unlike Chichen Itza, you can climb most of Monte Alban, but you cannot enter any tombs.
• Yagul Although frequently overlooked in favor of more extensive ruins at Mitla and Monte Alban, the ruins at Yagul are more pastoral (and therefore more similar to its original setting) and much less overrun with tourists.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] Events

• Oaxaca is well-known for having one of the best Dia de Los Muertos festivals in Mexico, housed in and around the large candle-lit city cemeteries.

• Guelaguetza festival takes place in July. The Guelaguetza highlights the traditional practices of the various indigeneous cultures from the state of Oaxaca.

Guelaguetza Photos

The term Guelaguetza, the most important custom of the Oaxacan people, derives from the Zapotec term "guendalezaa" which means "offering, present,fulfilment" because, during colonial times, the wealthy Spanish elite had the legal right to receive the first and best of the harvest collected by the indigenous people.

[edit] Sports

• Baseball Oaxaca has a popular and successful baseball team, the Guerreros, who play from March through late August at the Estadio del Beisbol. Tickets start at just 10 pesos. [2]
• Rugby Rugby is played on Saturdays with the Zinacantli Rugby Club, which hosts the annual Torneo de Dia de los Muertos.

[edit] Learn

[edit] Language Lessons

• Amigos del Sol, [3]
• Becari - Becari has a friendly and flexible staff, and a central location at M. Bravo 210.
• Instituto Cultural Oaxaca, Av. Juarez 909 Col. Centro, info@icomexico.com. This is the longest established school in Oaxaca, with a very lovely campus, most appropriate to university students who are in Mexico for course credit. A great place for independent travellers to study, as well, as it provides an easy way to meet other travellers and local Oaxacans. Its program includes academic courses to teach Spanish grammar, workshops ranging from cooking classes to weaving to teach about Oaxacan culture, and an "intercambio" session, which links a Oaxacan student studying English with an Instituto student so they both may practice their languages.
• Vinigulaza - this is a lovely little school with small, friendly classes and helpful teachers. The school is conversation focused, and advanced students can actually speak Spanish.
• Oaxaca Spanish Magic Flor Bautista has a small school that operates in a lovely garden, Oaxaca Spanish Magic, near Santo Domingo on Berriozábal. There, you will find caring and patient teachers who focus on both grammar and conversation skills. The teachers make great efforts to help the students adjust to Oaxaca and offer extras such as salsa and cooking classes, as well as weekend excursions to pueblos and other events.

[edit] Cooking Lessons

• in Oaxaca cuisine classes are given by Pilar Cabrera owner-chef at "La Olla" in Oaxaca
• with Reyna Mendoza in Teotilan del Valle about 30 minutes outside of Oaxaca.
• also classes at La Casa de Mis Recuerdos and La Olla.
• Seasons of My Heart - Susana Trilling offers courses of different lengths. See her web page for details. She also has a cook book, Seasons of my Heart, A Culinary Journey through Oaxaca, Mexico. Her classes are often full, book ahead.
• Cookbook author/chef Daniel Hoyer leads cooking and cultural tours to Oaxaca and other regions of Mexico. Visit his website for further information and schedules-www.welleatenpath.com [4]
• A native of Oaxaca, Nora Valencia instructs cooking classes and culinary tours in both English and Spanish www.almademitierra.net
• Instituto Cultural Oaxaca. Offers cooking workshops which can be taken in conjunction with, or independently of, Spanish language classes.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Chocolate. Mina Street smells of chocolate and the city's most famous warm beverage is hot chocolate.
• Mezcal. The state of Oaxaca also is well-known for its Mezcal and there are several tours that visit the distilleries.
• The Pochote Market is an outdoor organic market held every Friday and Saturday. It goes from 9:30 or so until 4 pm. It is located in a small park under the aquaduct at Garcia Vigíl #819. There is delicious prepared food that makes a great breakfast or lunch, as well as fresh vegetables.
• Mercado Benito Juarez, C. Cabrera south of Zócalo (from the southwest corner of the Zócalo, walk one block south; the market is the whole block ahead of you and to your right). Everything from clothing and leather goods to mole, fresh fruits, flowers, and bulk grains. For meats, prices are a bit high for being unrefrigerated, you might want to try a supermarket instead. One of the few places in town to find brown rice (ask the bulk grain vendors for "arroz integrál") or cigarette lighters (check the sidewalk vendors in the area).  edit
• Gigante (Gigante Supermarket), C. Independencia and Periferico West (from the northwest corner of the Zócalo, walk one block north and about 8 blocks west, crossing the Periferico; you'll see the market ahead of you and to your right). One of the few places to buy fresh refrigerated meats. Other supermarket staples are of course there as well, but you may get better prices at Mercado Juarez on some items. Has lots of other stuff, like a small department store.  edit
• Soriana, Ave. Universidad (from the Zócalo, walk about 12 blocks east to the Periferico and cross it. Turn right, walking south, until the Periferico bears right (west); cross over to the far side of the Periferico, continuing south, and you are now on Universidad. Continue until you pass a huge playing field on your right, reaching a T-junction; the Soriana is right in front of you, across the road.). The Mexican version of Wal-Mart, everything under one roof: supermarket, department store, services.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Como Agua Pa' Chocolate www.comoaguapachocolate.com Hidalgo 612 Altos (overlooking the Alameda park and Cathedral), Tel: (951) 516-2917 - First-class food in a romantic atmosphere. Spectacular dishes flambéed by the table and interesting fusion cuisine mixing Mediterranean style with Mexican ingredients. Can't go wrong with the quails in rose petal sauce, the champandongo, the chiles en nogada or the king prawns flambéed in orange sauce.

• Casa Oaxaca - Constitucion across the street from Santo Domingo church and in the same courtyard as the Galleria Quetzalli; If you're looking to splurge on a meal that you won't be able to find in other restaurants in Oaxaca, Casa Oaxaca fits the bill. Ask for a rooftop table and enjoy the 5-course tasting menu for $32USD/person. Treat yourself to corn mushroom soup, fresh fish with tomato marmalade and succulent sorbets. The wine list is decent with some excellent Spanish wines and good local options. There is another Casa Oaxaca restaurant, in the same location as Casa Oaxaca Hotel.

• Marco Polo - Pino Suarez 806 (located next to the Paseo Juarez), 01 (951) 513 43 08; Famous for its seafood, Marco Polo is a local favorite. Try the ceviche and the beer with chiles. There is also a smaller location on Cinco de Mayo closer to the Zocalo.

• La Biznaga - Garcia Vigil 512, (951) 51 18 00; Dine in a covered courtyard surrounded by art and wireless web surfers. Prices are reasonable for creative Oaxacan cuisine, and the people watching is a bonus.

• La Casa del tio Guero - Garcia Vigil 715. Centro Historico.; Typical oaxaca cuisine. They have a very cheap menu for 60 pesos (including drink and desert). It was a good deal and the food was good, all made with purified water.

• El Naranjo - a block and a half west of the Zocalo on Valerio Trujano 203, 514-1878, famous for serving all seven moles, one each day of the week. (It is under new ownership and still serves excellent Oaxacan cuisine.)

• La Red - on the corner of Bustatmante and Colon, a block south of the Zocalo. Serves fabulously fresh seafood for lunch fixed in dozens of different styles.

• La Toscana - 5 de Mayo 614 Col Jalatlaco Telephone 513-8742. It is best to take a taxi to this restaurant because of the out of the way location. They serve the best martinis in Oaxaca and delicious seafood with italian flair.
• Mercado Benito Juarez - From the southwest corner of the Zócalo, walk down (south) one block. The block then ahead of you on your right is one huge market of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, leather goods, and numerous other items. For ready-to-eat hot meals, and a place to sit and eat them, see Mercado 20 de Noviembre below.
• Mercado 20 de Noviembre - the block just south of Mercado Benito Juarez, the 3rd block south of the Zócalo, is another huge market; Food stalls line the streets outside the market serving up hot, savory tlayudas and tostadas. Local women offer up chapulines (grasshopper), and you'll find countertops inside that serve up moles, soups and desserts. There are 4 entrances, at the center of each street that surrounds the market. The east-side entrance, facing C. Cabrera, has meat vendors who will cook your purchase for you right there; arguably one of the best deals on ready-to-eat meat in town.

• Cafe Los Cuiles, [5]. Good coffee, free wifi, friendly staff, good atmosphere. moderate.  edit

• Los Danzantes - located in the Santo Domingo church street ¨walking street¨ andador turistico is a comformatble and authentic mix of Oaxaca & modern restaurant, food is great the place is packed with european traveles who enjoy to eat fancy food prices are a bit expensive but are worth the byte, great to have a drink at night as well.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Oaxaca is famous for at least two drinks: Mezcal and hot chocolate. The state also has a thriving coffee industry.

• Casa de Mezcal, Miguel Cabrera, south of the Zócalo. A local bar serving several mezcales as well as bottled beer and other drinks  edit
• La Embajada, 501 Porfirio Diaz Ordaz, corner of Allende. AKA Fandango. Beers are a bit high, at MX$20 and up per bottle, but the atmosphere is pleasant and it has free wifi and electrical outlets.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Rates go up significantly during the high season and rooms are difficult to reserve during high season. National holidays and religious holidays are very busy. Budget Hostels can be found for around 70 Peso /7 USD per night.

• Hotel Aitana, Manuel Sabino Crespo No. 313 Col. Centro, 68000, Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico, ☎ (52 951) 514 3788, [6]. Hotel Aitana is located in the historic Oaxaca City, Mexico. Housed in an 18th century building with charming traditional fittings, the four-star hotel gives you a taste of the city's colonial charms. You'll be even more captivated when you join the organized tours, with the sights evoking a sense of awe and nostalgia.  edit

• Casa de las Bugambilias - Reforma 402, (866) 829-6778 (Tel from USA Direct), [7], bugambilias@lasbugambilias.com; Nine-room bed and breakfast that is also home to La Olla restaurant. Free long distance calls to many destinations including USA, Canada, and Western Europe(except mobile phones). Wireless internet and guest computer. Range is $65-$115USD/night.

• Hotel Las Mariposas - Pino Suarez 517, [8], (951) 515-5852, From the US and Canada (619) 793 5121, ventas@lasmariposas.com.mx; Family-owned hotel, B&B and studio apartments only 2 blocks from the Santo Domingo church. Rooms off the back courtyard are extremely quiet, a treat in Oaxaca. $45/night single room, $55/night studio apartment with a kitchenette, includes continental breakfast with excellent coffee.

• Casa de los Ángeles - 2a. Privada de M. Alcala #207, (951) 515-9609 [9], A small and intimate family-run guest house offering bed and breakfast. Convenient, quiet location, excellent food and warm hospitality. Rates from $29 US Dollars per night include breakfast.

• Casa de Mis Recuerdos - Pino Suarez 508, 01 (951) 515 56 45, [10]; A small bed and breakfast with a lovely courtyard and delicious meals. Many rooms are on the street so bring ear plugs. Range is $50-$100USD/night.

• Hacienda La Noria - Av. Eduardo Mata #1918 Oaxaca, Oax. 68120 Mexico , Tel 01 (951) 514 7555 Fax 01 (951) 516 5347. Hacienda La Noria Hotel's stucco walls, tile roof, brick pathways and well-manicured garden bursting with vibrant colors are reminders of a forgotten era of self-indulgent siestas and unrivaled relaxation. Online reservation at best rates with instant confirmation on the official website starts near US$60.

• Hacienda Los Laureles - Hidalgo 21, (951) 501-5300, [11], A historic 5-star hotel with 23 rooms and suites, traditional Mexican architecture, a world-class spa, and a gourmet restaurant.

• Hotel de la Parra - Vicente Guerrero #117, Col. Centro, C.P. 68000, Oax., Mexico, Tel +52 951 514 1900 and 516 1558. Hotel de la Parra was an original Colonial residence converted to a luxury hotel. It offers spacious pueblo-style accommodations, a secluded pool, and gourmet dining at its courtyard. It also arranges for tours around Oaxaca's Zapotec ruins and centuries-old buildings. Published rates start at US$75. The website delivers instantly confirmed bookings.

• Hostal de La Noria - Av. Hidalgo 918 Centro, Oaxaca, Oax. 68000 México [12], Tel 01 (951) 501 5400 Fax 01 (951) 516 3992. The Hostal de La Noria Hotel (truly a hotel, not a hostel as its name indicates) is located at the center of historic Oaxaca City. Famous for its distinct, personalized service, the Hostal De La Noria was actually a beautiful colonial mansion. Online reservation at best rates with instant confirmation on the official website starts near US$120.

• Parador San Agustin Hotel Armenta y Lopez #215. Comfortably spacious and charming 4-star rooms from Parador San Agustin Hotel in Oaxaca, Mexico. The hotel also has its own multicuisine courtyard restaurant called “Los Angeles”. Online booking accepted.

• Hostal Santa Isabel, C. Mier y Teran between Aves. Hidalgo and Independencia (From the northwest corner of the Zócalo, walk 4 blocks and make a right, it will be on your right about 3/4 of the way up the block). Nice, clean hostel, friendly staff, kitchen, warm showers, drinking water and wifi included, Armadillo Bar adjoining. Locker MX$10 per day, you can use that service while you're scouting around instead of schlepping your backpack all over town. If you then decide to spend the night at Santa Isabel, you might even get your MX$10 back. $MX70 and up.  edit

• Hostal CasAntica. Experience the old-world charm of a former 16th century convent in the heart of Oaxaca, Mexico. Enjoy the rustic comforts and conveniences this hotel offers, from cozy accommodations to venues for your special moments. Address: Av. Morelos #601 Col. Centro, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico. Tel. No.: (951) 516 2673 Fax No.: (951) 5011577.

• Suites Bello Xochimilco, ☎ (951) 132-4210, 132-4211, 132-4212, [13]. This hotel's location in Xochimilco is 10 minutes from the city center. Oaxaca Regional Museum, Catedral Metropolitana, and Mitla are some of the famous destinations you can visit while staying at this hotel. It has five (5) three-bedroom suites and one (1) two-bedroom suite. 2A Cerrada de Alcalá No. 223, Xochimilco, Oaxaca, Mexico. Rates start at MXN 1,300.  edit
• Hotel Aaitana, Manuel Sabino Crespo No. 313 Col. Centro, 68000, Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico, ☎ (52 951) 514 3788, [14]. Hotel Aitana is located in the historic Oaxaca City, Mexico. Housed in an 18th century building with charming traditional fittings, the four-star hotel gives you a taste of the city's colonial charms. You'll be even more captivated when you join the organized tours, with the sights evoking a sense of awe and nostalgia.  edit
• Hotel Eclipse, calle Valeria Trujano (About three blocks west of zocalo). Excellent budget dive. About three blocks west of Zocalo, shares a wall with identical other hotel. Rooms run from 150 pesos. Shared baños. Some rates by the hour, to give you an idea of how budget.  edit

[edit] Get out

• Hierve el Agua. is a two hours drive from Oaxaca by bus or taxi. Natural warm hot springs at an altitude of about 3000m near a massive petrified waterfall. From the plateau you have a breathtaking view over the mountain ranges. Travel advisory -- this site is sometimes closed due to conflicts between neighboring villages.
• Teotitlan del Valle - famous for its weaving, this village is approximately 30 minutes outside of Oaxaca city. You can book a longer stay here at the Casa Sagrada. Be sure to check out the cooperative in Teotitlan that is striving to use and instill organic methods in its dyes.

• Yoga in Mazunte Take up the spiritual adventure in paradise beach town Mazunte and explore as much of your inside as the beautiful coastal scenery. There is an awesome international yoga school, Agama Yoga Mexico, which many travellers rave about. They offer daily drop in classes, monthly courses, meditation retreats, workshops, etc. [15].

• Investours Investours is a non-profit microfinance organization combining the power of microfinance with the power of tourism to fight poverty around Oaxaca. They provide socially-responsible tours to communities like Teotitlan del Valle where participants visit women in need of small loans to improve their lives. 100% of the tour fees are given to the entrepreneurs as an interest-free micro-loan. [16].

[edit] Contact

[edit] Free wifi

• Cafe Los Cuiles (q.v. under "Eat") SSID: "cafe los cuiles"
• Armadillo Bar (q.v. under "Sleep", "Hostal Santa Isabel") SSID: "INFINITUM8242". Ask bartender for WEP key.
• La Embajada (q.v. under "Drink") SSID: "3Com"

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