Things to see and do in Oaxaca

Its history, rich culture, amazing archaeological sites, and fantastic food make this city a top destination. Read my list of top things to do in Oaxaca.

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Oaxaca was a place that my friends from central Mexico often talked about as a place everyone just had to visit.  They talked about Oaxaca’s history, rich culture, amazing archaeological sites, and fantastic food. After taking a road trip on this southern state I have to tell you Oaxaca had all that, and more!  There is plenty to see and do in Oaxaca!

Getting There

We started this trip by flying into Mexico City, where we rented a car and started driving that same day. The trip actually included a stop in the town of Puebla, which is another place that you must also absolutely visit at some point.

This was the first time we had decided to rent a car and take a road trip through Mexico. Because we got to see and experience so much of Oaxaca using this approach, we were inspired to take other road trips in the rest of the country. 

Oaxaca City

Oaxaca is an amazing city with plenty of things to see and do. You could easily spend a few days here exploring all that the city has to offer.

Like most other small cities in Mexico, there is a central plaza or zocalo ringed with stores and a beautiful 18th century cathedral. Spend some time here shopping, eating or just people watching. This is always an interesting place to just hang out.

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Mercado 20 de Noviembre

The Mercado 20 de Noviembre is not far off from the zocalo and you must simply stop by to experience it. You can find all sorts of neat things here: clothing, souvenirs, meats, fruits, and, most importantly, delicious food. Stop by for a pan de yema con chocolate or sink your teeth into a humongous tlayuda—a large, thin, toasted tortilla covered with refried beans and just about any topping your heart desires! Perhaps a tamal oaxaqueño is more to your taste? Or maybe you want a more “exotic” dish: chapulines (crickets) in a quesadilla! In fact, you could write a whole blog about the food of Oaxaca.

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Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad

Not far from the zocalo and the Meracado 20 de Noviembre you will find the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad. Construction on this beautiful Roman Catholic church began in 1682.

After admiring this impressive structure hang around for a traditional helados de leche quemada y pitaya. This ice cream treat is a must when visiting Oaxaca. Ask any local about “nieves de la Soledad” for directions on where to find these! You won’t be disappointed!

Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán

Another stop in Oaxaca is the Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. Founded by the Dominican order, this church took over 200 years to complete between the 16th and 18th centuries. In the adjoining buildings you will find the Museo de las Culturas (Museum of [Oaxacan] Cultures) where you can learn more about the history and cultures of the region.

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In summary Oaxaca is a very charming city with plenty of attractions to keep you busy for a few days. Oaxaca also serves as an excellent base for day trips such as Monte Albán, Mitla, Hierve el Agua, and Tule.

Monte Albán

Just 6 miles (9 kilometers) from the city of Oaxaca you find Monte Albán—Zapotec and Mixtec archaeological ruins that are one of the most important in Mexico.  It is one of the earliest cities in Mesoamerica whose construction has been placed around the 8th century B.C.  Its ruins, temples, and buildings give a great insight into the Zapotec and Mixtec empires. 

Monte Albán in my top 10 archaeological sites in Mexico.

I recommend you hire a local guide which can give you a great explanation of the history and the structures located around the site.

Mitla

Mitla—“The Place of the Dead” in nahuatl—is a Zapotec ceremonial center about 28 miles (45 kilometers) from Oaxaca city.  These ruins are relatively small in contrast to Monte Albán, but you get to have a very personal experience since there are hardly any tourists here.  It is also located next to a small village, with hardly any cars.  This is a great day trip from Oaxaca city.

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Hierve el Agua

While in Oaxaca city, we got some hints from the local people to go visit Hierve el Agua. It turns out this is a popular spot for the people from Oaxaca. People come here to get in the water and have picnics.

Prior to going on this trip, we had never heard of this place.

Most noteworthy are the series of mineral springs and rock formations with a very dramatic look.

Update: Hierve el Agua has unfortunately closed indefinitely due to a local dispute between land owners and tour companies. Lets hope this gets resolved in the future 😞

Travel with Iván

Tule

El Árbol del Tule sounded almost like an urban legend: a “giant tree” that was hundreds of years old.  We just had to see for ourselves if the rumors were true.

The small town of Santa Maria del Tule is located about 6 miles (9 kilometers) east of the city of Oaxaca on the way to Mitla.

The town of Tule seems to be brought to life because of this tree. With a diameter of 46 ft (14 m) and a height of 138 ft (42 m), this tree is massive! The pictures below were shot with a wide-angle lens to try to get the tree on frame.  Notice the size of people next to the tree.

Tip: Hire one of the local kids to point out all kinds of different shapes in the tree (crocodile, elephant, lion, deer, and even a famous derrière).

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A plaque by the tree reads:

• Common name:  Ahuehuete or Sabino
• Age:  > 2000 years
• Height: 42 meters
• Diameter: 14 meters

After admiring this grand tree, you can walk two blocks to the local market for some delicious, local food.  We can still hear the ladies cooking the food at the market calling out to us: “tlayudas, quesadillas, caldo de pollo!”

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In this post I have given you a small taste of all the things to do and see in Oaxaca. However, Oaxaca is a place you must simply experience it for yourself. I can guarantee you will fall in love with this place whenever you visit. In fact, we can’t wait to go back!

Let me know in the comments what you think of my list of things to see and do in Oaxaca. If you have been there and would like to add something to the list, let me know in the comments!

If you are ready to plan a trip of your own to the beautiful state of Oaxaca be sure to checkout my logistics for this trip.