Itinerary for a four-day trip to the state of Oaxaca which includes the city of Oaxaca, the ruins of Monte Albán and Mitla, Tule, and Hierve el Agua.
Table of Contents
About This Trip
In this itinerary we describe our trip to the southern state of Oaxaca. We got to explore the city of Oaxaca, the ruins of Monte Albán and Mitla, the giant tree in the town of Tule, and the local favorite watering hole of Hierve el Agua. And of course, we got to taste the amazing food of this part of the region.
Oaxaca
Oa·xa·ca | /wa:’ha:ka
1. State in southern Mexico bordering the Pacific ocean.
2. Place where everything you eat tastes delicious.
Travel with Ivan
We used the Mexico City airport as our landing spot. Flights were very cheap, and there were several options to rent a car. We flew in around 9:30 pm. By the time we picked up the car, it was past 10:30 pm, so the traffic had subsided. If you are interested about renting cars in Mexico City, check out my travel tips page.
You have a couple of options when driving to Oaxaca from Mexico City. One option is to make the 6 hour drive straight to Oaxaca. The second option, and my suggestion, is to make a stop in Puebla which is also a splendid place to visit. The drive form Mexico City to Puebla is about two hours and from Puebla to Oaxaca is about four hours.
For this particular trip, we started driving that same evening we arrived in Mexico City, making a stop in Puebla. We stayed in Puebla a couple of nights and then drove off to Oaxaca.
Itinerary
Day 1: Oaxaca City
Transportation: We drove our rental car from Puebla to Oaxaca, which is about a four hour drive.
Lodging: We stayed at Holiday Inn Express Oaxaca-Centro Historico. This was a very comfortable hotel with continental breakfast and parking. However, it was about a 15 min walk from downtown. Furthermore, it was an American-style hotel, so you would not get the full experience. This served as our central hub for the rest of the trip.
Getting Around: We mainly walked around town, absorbing all that there was to see.
Attractions: There is absolutely so much to see and do in Oaxaca. The zocalo (main square) is lined with shops and restaurants and a beautiful cathedral. Nearby you will also find the Mercado 20 de Noviembre which you must experience for yourself. Other attractions include the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad and Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán.
More than points of interest, Oaxaca has a rich culture and history which you just have to experience for yourself. And the food….wow! Try the chapulines (crickets) at the market, eat some Oaxaca cheese at a local shop, snack on a pan de yema con chocolate, scarf down a few tamales oaxaqueños, or sink your teeth into a gigantic tlayuda with all your favorite toppings—there is so much to try here. Oh and don’t forget to relax with some mezcal which is locally produced in this region.
Mercado 20 de Noviembre 
Tlayuda 
Tamal Oaxaqueño
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad 
Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Day 2: Monte Albán
Transportation: We drove our rental car to the nearby ruins of Monte Albán—just 6 miles (9 kilometers).
Lodging: We continued to stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Oaxaca.
Getting Around: You can walk the ruins once you get there.
Attractions: This day we got to spend the majority of the day at Monte Albán. We hired a tour guide at the entrance, and that was an excellent choice. Usually guides cost ~$20-30 dollars. Monte Albán is well worth the visit and should be included in your Oaxaca itinerary.
Day 3: Mitla, Hierve el Agua, and Tule
Transportation: We drove our rental car to all these places. We left early in the morning in our car towards Mitla which is about 28 miles (45 kilometers). We spent about 3 hours there before heading to Hierve el Agua. The drive there was a thrill, as we drove through a hill and we got some great views. From Hierve el Agua we made a dinner stop in Tule before heading back to Oaxaca.
Lodging: Holiday Inn Express in Oaxaca
Attractions: The archaeological site of Mitla was a very peaceful visit. Compared to Monte Albán, Mitla a relatively small site, but there aren’t many tourists, which made it a great experience.
Hierve el Agua was a happening spot with a lot of locals on their bathing suits going for a swim.
Tule was a great way to close the evening. This small town has a lot of personality, and the food was phenomenal at the market. The giantic Árbol del Tule is the main attraction here.
Day 4: Drive back to Mexico City
The next day we made the six hour drive from Oaxaca to Mexico City which was not bad at all, especially since the highways are toll roads and are very well kept. There are always a lot of options for food and gas, so it felt like we were driving in the U.S.A., but with much better food options.
I hope find this Oaxaca itinerary useful for planning your next trip to Mexico. Be sure to check out my other itineraries for other locations in Mexico.