Oaxaca is one of the top states we always suggest when traveling to Mexico. So much to see & do! From its extraordinary culinary action (which you can read about it here) and beautiful handmade crafts to its amazing pre-Hispanic ruins and natural sceneries.
Here are 8 amazing trips from Oaxaca City that we took and loved. Just rent a car at the airport and enjoy!
1. Hierve el Agua
A natural spring that has created a set of pools and the famous 200 meters petrified waterfall overlooking Oaxaca’s green mountains. Not only is the place itself absolutely stunning, but the landscapes you’ll get to see along the way are also breathtaking. Especially in August, when everything is still very green.
Curious fact: although Hierve el Agua translates as ‘Boiling Water’, the water in this place isn’t hot at all (especially before the sun goes up!). The name actually comes from the bubbling effect of the water coming out from the ground.
See these tips before you go.
2. Monte Albán
It was the biggest and most important pre-Hispanic city in Oaxaca for 13 centuries, and the second most important after Teotihuacán in Mexico City. World Heritage ruins that date back to 500 b.C and offer 360 breathtaking views of Oaxaca. Actually, one of the most important archaeological discoveries in Mexico happened here, in one of the tombs.
You can read more about it here: 10 curious facts about Monte Albán.
3. Mitla
Unlike Monte Albán, Mitla doesn’t have pyramids. But the palaces, administrative buildings and tombs that you’ll see still preserve their mural paintings and beautiful carvings. Plus, you’ll feel like Indiana Jones going through small tunnels and doors and discovering a whole new world.
You’ll fall in love, as we did. Oh, and on your way back you can make a quick stop in Santiago Matatlán, the land of Mezcal!
Learn more about this World Heritage Site here.
4. Teotitlán del Valle
This town specialises in making beautiful rugs, all the way from transforming the wool into yarn and preparing natural dyes to achieve the exact colors they need, to doing their magic in the pedal looms. How long it takes to finish a rug depends on the design and the size, but some may take months. You’ll find many shops, but if you want a full demonstration of the process, we recommend ‘Taller El Colibrí’.
5. Santiago Matatlán
You know you’ve reached Matatlán when the landscapes turn into agave plantations and the side of the road is bustling with mezcal shops and ‘palenques’ (the “factories” where the agave plants are cooked and turned into mezcal). To give you an idea, without counting the non-registered ones, there are +200 palenques in Matatlán. This area is actually the reason why Oaxaca is considered the world capital of mezcal.
The palenque we visited is called ‘Palenque Mal de Amor’. They produce mezcal for many labels, but they also have their own brand called ‘Ve Lua’ that’s fantastic. Here’s your chance to try different types of agave plants that aren’t Espadín, like Madre Cuishe –which has floral undertones–, Cuishe –with citric undertones (our favorite!)– or more rare ones like Sierruda, Arroqueño or Tobalá. They also sell a cute set of mini bottles that would make a great gift for family and friends.
6. San Martín Tilcajete
A 40 minutes drive from Oaxaca City that leads to the land of Alebrijes and one of the towns that inspired the movie Coco. Although San Martín Tilcajete is not really what one would call picturesque, behind those beige houses lies an incredible hard-working colorful world that will blow your mind…
Read this post to see the amazing process behind every alebrije.
7. Santo Tomás Jalieza
This is a town where simple cotton threads become pieces of art. Groups of women spend 8hrs a day sitting on the floor or on small wooden stools while they make the most beautiful things in their traditional back-strap looms. Everything from quilts and tablecloths to handbags and bracelets. In fact, although they’re super fast, it still takes them eight hours to make only four thin bracelets– which then sell for only a dollar each.
There are two markets available for shopping: one up the hill near the highway that opens everyday, and another that opens every Friday in the town square (that’s the one in the pictures).
8. Santa María del Tule
It’s a nice stop before heading back to Oaxaca City. The main attraction is a +2,000 year old ahuehuete tree, which weighs approximately 600 tons and has the thickest trunk in the world. It even has the title of Cultural World Heritage by UNESCO for being one of the oldest trees in the world.
Part of the attraction is letting a kid give you the ‘tour’ of the tree (a tip is expected) and point out curious formations in the trunk, like an elephant, a lion and a crocodile. But you can also look them up by yourself– they’re printed in the back of the ticket.
Hope this helps with your Oaxaca itinerary planning, and let us know if you too think it’s one of the best spots in Mexico!
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Useful information
Map
We’ve pinpointed all the sites mentioned above on to this map, to save you some time!
