Things to do in Oaxaca
Oaxaca is a UNESCO-listed colonial gem in southern Mexico renowned for its indigenous culture, world-class cuisine, and vibrant arts scene, all at prices that make it one of the best-value destinations in Latin America. Your dollar stretches remarkably far here, with outstanding mezcal, mole, and markets costing a fraction of what you'd pay in Mexico City or abroad.
Why go to Oaxaca
Monte Albán
Stunning Zapotec hilltop ruins with panoramic valley views that rival any ancient site in Mexico.
Mercado Benito Juárez & Mercado 20 de Noviembre
A sensory feast of mole pastes, tlayudas, and chapulines, the true heartbeat of Oaxacan daily life.
Hierve el Agua
Otherworldly petrified waterfalls and natural infinity pools perched dramatically above mountain valleys.
Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca (Ex-Convento de Santo Domingo)
A jaw-dropping 16th-century baroque convent housing priceless Mixtec gold treasures from Tomb 7.
Árbol del Tule
The world's widest tree, a colossal 2,000-year-old Montezuma cypress just 15 minutes from the city center.
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Good to know in Oaxaca
- Transit: Use colectivos (shared minivans) for day trips, a ride to Mitla or Árbol del Tule costs under $2 each way; depart from second-class bus terminal on Trujano.
- Tipping: 10% is the local norm at sit-down restaurants; rounding up a few pesos is appreciated at market stalls and mezcalerías.
- Tap water: Do not drink tap water anywhere in Oaxaca, buy a large garrafón (5-gallon jug) from a convenience store for about $1.50 rather than buying individual bottles.
- Free-entry days: The Ethnobotanical Garden and several INAH-run sites (including Monte Albán) are free to Mexican nationals on Sundays; foreigners still pay, but smaller local museums like MACO offer free admission on Sundays.
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