Oaxaca is a delightful colonial city with old stone buildings, fabulous arts and crafts, interesting galleries, fine archaeological sites, forested mountains and bustling indigenous markets. Oaxaca is both stimulating and relaxing at the same time. The main traffic–free plaza Zócalo is the hub of the city, brimming with interesting scenes and atmosphere. The city is home to a number of significant buildings including the former state government palace, the cathedral and the Santo Domingo church. In the evenings, free music and dance events often take place.
The city is renowned for its culinary delights - from Oaxaca comes ‘quesillo’, a ball of mild but tangy string cheese. It is used to make ‘queso fundido’, a delicious cheese fondue served with flour tortillas and often accompanied by mushrooms, chorizo sausage and hot chillies.
Grasshoppers fried in chilli are also a local speciality – try them if you dare!
The state of Oaxaca is rich in crafts including embroidered clothing, jewellery and different styles of pottery. Villages in some parts of Oaxaca still wear indigenous dress, shawls, belts and traditional blouses.
Just a few kilometres west of Oaxaca are the superb hilltop ruins and tombs of Monte Albán, the ancient Zapotec capital. It is one of the most impressive sites to be found in Mexico and boasts spectacular 360-degree views. At the entrance to the site is a very good museum.
The weaving village of Teotitlán del Valle is about 25 km from Oaxaca. Here, they have been making hand-loomed Zapotec rugs for centuries.
The city of Oaxaca enjoys warm weather for most of the year with rain falling between June and September. The average high ranges from 25°C in December and January (the coolest months when lows average 8°C to about 30°C between March and May, the hottest months.
Several daily flights link Oaxaca with Mexico City. Alternatively, the journey takes approximately 6 hours by road. From Oaxaca it is possible to fly onwards to Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the gateway to the state of Chiapas. From Tuxtla Gutiérrez, a visit to the Sumidero canyon can be made before proceeding to San Cristóbal.
