the vast Oaxacan cuisine it is distinguished by its tradition and the use of regional ingredients. Not for nothing has it positioned itself as the Best Tourist City in the World and the Best Gourmet Destination.
At the presentation of the 2021 edition of The Gastronomic Mexico Guide "The Great Restaurants of Mexico” 278 restaurants located throughout the Mexican Republic were recognized, on this occasion, there were 16 Oaxacan restaurants that were placed on the list.
It is worth mentioning that for a restaurant to occupy a place on the list, it has to meet certain requirements such as the continuity of the gastronomic project; excellence in service; quality in food preparation; participation in community initiatives, facilities and that the visit to the restaurant turns out to be a great gastronomic experience for the diner.
In the case of the chosen Oaxacan premises, these are also characterized by the preservation of ancestral techniques and respect for the origin of the products, whether it is a traditional cook or a chef who is in charge of the project.
The Oaxacan restaurants chosen for this edition are:
In the state of Oaxaca there are many customs and traditions throughout the year, and within the state, said that they have the same purpose of celebration but with different things, in fact from one region to another or even more from one town to another, the Customs vary for perhaps details but that is what makes them authentic. Oaxaca has deep-rooted customs and traditions. All the holidays are celebrated, the profane and the religious ones. The festival calendar is extensive due to the diversity of ethnic groups, which they still conserve.
The Santo Domingo Cultural Center is a cultural complex that is located in what was one of the most important convents in the colony. It is a large convent in which the Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca, the Fray Francisco de Burgoa Library and the Ethnobotanical Garden have been established. The Néstor Sánchez Public Newspaper Library is located in a building that is part of the complex but dates from the 19th century. Apart from all these institutions brought together, the Santo Domingo Cultural Center has multipurpose spaces in the former convent, in which temporary exhibitions, conferences, courses, book presentations and concerts are held, among many other activities.
The name mezcal has its roots in one of the ancient native languages of the area and translates as 'agave (also known as maguey) cooked'. Although pre-Hispanic Oaxaqueños used maguey to make pulque (an undistilled alcoholic beverage), it seems that the real advances in mezcal production occurred when the Spanish arrived in Oaxaca; by bringing with them their knowledge of distillation processes.
Crafts in Oaxaca are so varied and of such good quality that they have become a tourist attraction. The ancestral traditions, the diversity in the ethnic groups, as well as the richness in the history of the state have been manifested in the great diversity of creations of more than half a million artisans that are registered in Oaxaca. In the center of the state is the City of Oaxaca, a fascinating and hospitable capital in whose surroundings various towns are located, each with its own personality and craft tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes.
The Guelaguetza is an ancient tradition with pre-Hispanic roots related to agricultural ceremonies of gratitude to the gods for the arrival of the rains and the lifting of the harvest at the end of July and is the largest festival in Oaxaca. La Guelaguetza is a celebration of gratitude for the arrival of the rains and the harvests, in which representatives from all regions of the state gather in the capital to share their culture through dances, crafts and food.
Oaxaca City, the state capital, is famous for its architecture and rich cultural traditions. Oaxaca also has a splendid and varied cuisine and a spring climate throughout the year. UNESCO declared the city a Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Oaxaca is the most diverse state in Mexico. It has peaks that reach more than 3,000 meters in height, caverns that are among the deepest in the world, pristine beaches, secluded forests and sunny valleys. Oaxaca is rich in traditions and customs and has the largest ethnic population in Mexico.
The City of Oaxaca is a destination that offers a great variety of tourist attractions and charms that leave anyone surprised. However, there are other places that are also worth knowing and are in the surroundings of the city, in whose surroundings various populations are located, each with its own personality and artisan tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes. .
In Oaxaca we are proud to have 5 communities that have been awarded the title of Magic Towns of Mexico, a Magic Town is a town that has symbolic attributes, legends, history, transcendent events, everyday life, in short magic that they emanate in each of their socio-cultural manifestations, and that today mean a great opportunity for tourist use. The Magical Towns Program contributes to revalue a group of populations in the country that have always been in the collective imagination of the nation as a whole and that represent fresh and different alternatives for national and foreign visitors.
An ideal space for Alternative Tourism, Oaxaca offers activities such as walking, mountain biking, rappelling, climbing, zip-lining, horseback riding, observation of flora and fauna and more, in close contact with nature. The visitor can also witness the various aspects of local life, savor the gastronomy and enjoy the warmth of its people, as well as an offer of accommodation in hotels, ecotourism cabins, local houses or excellent camping areas. In its varied geography, it brings together not only a vast biodiversity, considered among the largest in the world, but also insurmountable cultural and ethnic riches, and the most different and beautiful natural settings.
Oaxaca's culinary tradition is extraordinary and deeply rooted. There are fourteen different ethnic groups, with their own dishes. It is an area of incomparable wealth for the tourist interested in gastronomy, ethnology and culture in general. Oaxaca is the land of mezcal, tlayudas and the famous seven moles. You have to dedicate several days to it. Oaxacan gastronomy is one of the cultural manifestations that identify and define its people, due to its variety, richness and complexity that have been preserved through the centuries. The best way to enjoy Oaxacan food is by tasting it, from the “strong” dishes that are used to enjoying at lunchtime; like the traditional Oaxacan snacks that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
Monte Albán is the most important archaeological zone of the Oaxacan entity, of unique regional importance due to the religious, political and economic control that the Zapotec state exercised over the population of the Valley of Oaxaca for more than thirteen centuries. It has been named by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage of Humanity along with the city of Oaxaca on December 11, 1987. The heritage of the Zapotec world reaches us through the magnificent archaeological sites designed in the Valley of Oaxaca. Of these, the city of Monte Albán stands out for its enormous importance as an economic, political and religious hub (it was the first urban complex in Mesoamerica); by its extension, almost as big as the current capital of Oaxaca; and for its long life, started around 500 BC and concluded around 850 AD
Oaxaca is famous throughout the world for its archaeological sites and the history they keep. Discover Monte Alban, Mitla, Yagul and more of these remote sites, which have made Oaxaca a World Heritage city, according to Unesco. The original Zapotec and Mixtec peoples of Oaxaca lived in the cities and religious centers of the valley of this city until the time of Spanish colonization. Today, there are still vestiges of these towns and places where you can meet them.
The beaches of the coast of the state of Oaxaca are among the most beautiful and complete in Mexico, thanks to a developing tourist infrastructure and the rich gastronomy of the Pacific. Along the 533 kilometers of coastline, the beaches of Oaxaca offer a wide variety of activities for lovers of water sports: snorkeling, diving, sport fishing, surfing, among others ... there is something for everyone!
Places such as Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, Zipolite, Carrizalillo, Puerto Ángel or the beaches of Huatulco will offer you the possibility of contemplating beautiful sunsets, delighting in intense adventure tourism or witnessing the exciting release of newborn turtles.
Oaxaca is the most diverse state in Mexico. It has peaks that reach more than 3,000 meters in height, caverns that are among the deepest in the world, virgin beaches, secluded forests and sunny valleys. Oaxaca is rich in traditions and customs and it has the largest ethnic population in Mexico.
Oaxaca City, the state capital, is famous for its architecture and rich cultural traditions. Oaxaca also has a splendid and varied cuisine and a spring climate throughout the year. UNESCO declared the city a Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The historical heritage attracts attention when traveling through the city; you can visit the old Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, the art nouveau style kiosk, the Cathedral with its baroque façade and the portals with shops and restaurants. The sidewalk cafes are a favorite with locals and tourists alike. Here you can enjoy, under the shade of huge laurels from India, the famous Oaxaca chocolate as well as the mezcal with orange juice and "little worm" salt. This is also a common place for concerts or fireworks displays.
The museums and galleries of Oaxaca house many of the most valuable treasures of the region: from the jewels of Monte Alban to internationally distinguished contemporary artists. The small art galleries in the shops are full of provocative and wonderfully unique proposals. And the markets offer an incredible variety of colorful designs. Oaxaca is one of the richest places for crafts in Mexico. The climate goes from semi-dry-semi-warm in the valleys to humid in the eastern mountain range.
Santo Domingo de Guzman
Tourist Attractions in Oaxaca City
TOUR 1
Arquitos de Xochimilco
The Arquitos of Xochimilco. This aqueduct was built in 1727 and completed in 1751. It is approximately 300 meters long and is made up of green quarry walls. It begins in the town of San Felipe and ends at the water box at the corner of the Temple of Carmen Alto. There are sections that remain intact and it is a pleasant walk.
Oaxacan Institute of Crafts (ARIPO). It is located in a beautiful colonial house. Here the most varied crafts that are made in the state are exhibited and sold.
Juarez House Museum. Construction dating from the 18th century that was the house of Don Antonio Salanueva where Don Benito Juárez lived as a child. The museum reveals the daily life of Juárez during his stay in Oaxaca. The rooms house the bookbinding workshop, some documents from the Reform, the Intervention and some personal belongings of Don Benito Juárez. Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m..
Temple and Former Convent of Carmen Alto. Its construction, as well as that of the convent, was carried out at the end of the 17th century by the order of the Discalced Carmelites in the place and with some of the materials of an old pre-Hispanic temple. The name of Alto is because this temple was exclusively for the Spanish, since there was another Del Carmen Bajo temple that was for mestizos and mulattos. On the façade there is a relief of the Virgen del Carmen. The main altar is of a sober neoclassical. On one side of the Temple is the Plazuela del Carmen Alto.
Institute of Graphic Arts of Oaxaca (IAGO). Its collection shows the best of universal and contemporary graphics. It was founded by the famous painter Francisco Toledo and his collection is considered one of the most important in Latin America. It has a specialized art library, Cineclub, Photographic Center, Music Library, Shop and Gallery. Schedule: Monday to Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Santo Domingo de Guzman
Santo Domingo Cultural Center. It is a complex that is located in the Ex Convent of Santo Domingo. It has the Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca; the Public Newspaper Library of Oaxaca Néstor Sánchez, with an auditorium where exhibitions, conferences, forums and concerts are organized; the Fray Francisco de Burgoa Library with a collection of more than thirty thousand titles, with volumes published from 1484 to 1940; and the Ethnobotanical Garden with more than a thousand species of plants native to Oaxaca. The garden has guided tours where not only plants are discussed, but also their history.
Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca. It is located in the beautiful Ex Convent of Santo Domingo. It is the most important museum in the state and offers an archaeological, historical and ethnographic panorama of the Oaxacan cultures. The museum has 14 rooms that cover 10,000 years of the history of the state of Oaxaca. It exhibits Mixtec and Zapotec archeology and the treasure from tomb No. 7 of Monte Albán, which consists of beautiful pieces of gold, silver, jade, turquoise and obsidian. It also has important colonial pieces and an interesting ethnological sample of the 15 indigenous groups of this region. In what were Dominican cells, "interactive rooms" have been installed, where the public can learn more about the various artisan trades in the state with the support of multimedia technology. Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Santo Domingo Temple
Temple of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. The first construction projects date from 1551, however the conventual complex was inaugurated until 1608, still without being finished. Monumental architectural complex of the Dominican order that consists of the Temple, the Former Convent, the garden and a small square that is used as the setting for some popular festivals. It is one of the most beautiful examples of the Baroque in Mexico. The façade made of quarry has a sobriety that contrasts with its interior. The temple decoration is sumptuous and elaborate, most of the walls and ceiling are covered with stucco decoration in bright colors and gold leaf. It includes a genealogical tree of Santo Domingo de Guzmán carved on the ceiling and 36 paintings depicting landscapes from the Old Testament. The beautiful chapel of the Rosary upholstered in gold and the main altarpiece also stand out.
Temple of the Precious Blood of Christ. Dating from the seventeenth century, it was used as a city cemetery. This temple was consecrated in 1689. Here the traditional Procession of Silence takes place in Holy Week.
Museum of Philately (MUFI). It is the only museum dedicated exclusively to postal art in Latin America. It is located in a beautiful colonial building that has been adapted with modern museography equipment to guarantee the conservation of the small stamps. It exhibits a collection of more than 200,000 pieces from around the world, arranged chronologically. The Black Penny stamp, the first postage stamp in Mexico and some letters sent by the painter Frida Kahlo to her doctor stand out. It has a library and souvenir shop. Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Manuel Álvarez Bravo Photographic Center
Manuel Álvarez Bravo Photographic Center. It has an important photographic collection of important authors such as Francis Alÿs, Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Hugo Brehme, Henri Cartier-Bresson, among others. It offers a library specialized in photography and a music library with more than 3,000 recordings of various currents such as classical, jazz, ethnic and Mexican popular music. The museum conducts workshops and encourages the rescue and conservation of photographic archives.
Museum of Contemporary Art of Oaxaca (MACO). It is representative of the constructions of the 18th century. The museum displays works by Oaxacan artists such as: Rufino Tamayo, Toledo, Nieto and Aquino among others. The ceiling of the museum's staircase stands out, where an interesting work by Toledo was captured, and a sculptural patio where conferences and film performances are held. Schedule: Open Wednesday to Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m..
State Public Library. A house with beautiful corridors and spiky green stone columns built at the end of the 17th century. It has 5 rooms that house more than 6,000 publications on topics related to the history of Oaxaca. Exhibitions and cultural activities of different kinds are held regularly.
TOUR 2
Church of San Agustín
Church of San Agustín. In 1596 the temple and its convent were completed, however the current church dates from the 18th century. It is the widest temple in the city and lacks a dome and bell tower. Its Baroque style doorway is one of the most beautiful in the city. Inside, it houses authentic jewels such as the main altarpiece in the Solomonic Baroque style completely covered in laminated gold, its beautiful oil paintings and niches with polychrome sculptures.
Textile Museum (MTO). It is located in a fully restored 18th century mansion. The museum displays the wealth of handicrafts and the beauty of textile designs from the state as well as from other parts of the world. It houses six private collections with almost 6,000 pieces from different places and times. It also offers temporary exhibitions, conferences and workshops. Schedule: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00. Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
government palace. Sober green quarry building that began to be built in 1832 and was completed in 1887. The great mural of the main staircase was made by the painter Arturo García Bustos, as well as another magnificent mural located in the vault and walls of the lateral staircase that overlooks to the east patio of the Government Palace. Schedule: Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Zócalo or Constitution Square. The square has existed since the first design of the city made in 1529 and due to its monuments and buildings that surround it, it is considered one of the best examples of colonial architecture. It is the place where the Night of Radishes is celebrated on December 23 and the Cry of Independence on September 15. The center of the city is surrounded by portals with pleasant restaurants and shops that are the obligatory meeting place, where you can enjoy the Music Band and the Marimba that play in the central kiosk.
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. Its construction began in 1535 and was consecrated to the Virgin of the Assumption in 1733. It is dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption, brought from Europe and made by the sculptor Tadolini. The façade dates from the 12th century and is made of green quarry in a baroque style. Inside there is an important collection of paintings; The highlights are a canvas representing Saint Christopher, dated by an anonymous author in 1720, and the oil paintings of the sacristy.
Alameda de Leon. Its construction began in 1535 and was consecrated to the Virgin of the Assumption in 1733. Also known as the Plazoleta de Cántaros, for being the place where artisans met to sell their products. It was renovated a few ago and is a nice gathering place.
Museum of Oaxacan Painters (MUPO). It is located in a 17th century mansion. It has spacious rooms where works by national and international artists are exhibited. Works by Rodolfo Morales, Alejandro Santiago and Francisco Toledo stand out. Its two patios are stages for various events. Schedule: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m..
Macedonio Alcalá Theater
Macedonio Alcalá Theater. It was inaugurated in 1909, its Versailles style is characteristic of the Porfirian era. The important cultural enclosure shows a unique façade, since it is located in a corner and is composed of three doors topped with green quarry arches. Inside there is a clear French style with a white marble staircase and on its ceiling there is an allegory representing the Temple of Art. The curtain with a pictorial composition of the Parthenon and Mount Parnassus also stands out.
Antonia Labastida Garden. In 1881 the City Council named it "Plazuela de Orden y Libertad". It was renovated in a modern style and was inaugurated in 1894. Some time later it was renamed the Jardin Antonia Labastida. On the esplanade you can find a sample of local art. There are colorful handicrafts, exceptional scale altarpieces, and paintings and watercolors by Oaxacan painters.
Former Convent of Santa Catalina de Siena (Hotel Quinta Real). It dates from 1577, it was a public jail, Municipal Palace and in 1976, it was remodeled and converted into a hotel. Its marvelous hydraulic works from the colonial era stand out. The hotel dining room has a collection of sacred art.
TOUR 3
Market November 20
Market November 20. The history of the market dates back to the late 19th century. In this market you can enjoy the rich gastronomy of Oaxaca such as moles, jerky, tlayudas, grasshoppers and yema bread, as well as the famous hot chocolate. Handicrafts are also sold. It is a place to enjoy the flavors, smells and colors of Oaxaca.
Temple of San Juan de Dios. Here the Ermita de Santa Catarina Mártir was built, which was the first church in Oaxaca. From the arrival of the Juaninos, at the end of the 17th century, it was dedicated to San Juan de Dios. Its façade is in the neoclassical style and inside the 17th century oil paintings that illustrate the life of Oaxaca and the paintings on the ceiling by Urbano Olivera stand out.
Benito Juárez Market. It is the most traditional market, here you can buy handicrafts, flowers, leather objects, hats, knives, as well as typical products such as mezcal, moles, cheese, chocolate and grasshoppers. Here you can find products at good prices.
Artisan market
Artisan market. Here you can find the largest variety of crafts in the State, such as: Carpets, huipiles, dresses, sarapes, bags and ceramic pieces, among others.
Temple of the Society of Jesus. Beautiful temple built by the Jesuits in 1579. With the departure of the Society of Jesus, the temple was occupied by the Nuns of La Concepción. With the exception of a few columns, most of the original temple has been lost. Its façade is in the Baroque style with some Plateresque elements. The main altarpiece preserves part of its old forms and its gold cover.
TOUR 4
Basilica of the Solitude
Basilica of the Solitude. Built between 1682 and 1697, the temple exhibits an extraordinary baroque doorway in the form of a screen richly carved in various quarries, considered one of the most beautiful in the city. Inside, the statue of the Virgen de la Soledad, declared patron of Oaxaca since 1909, a beautiful organ from the 18th century and the 18th century paintings on the sides of the presbytery stand out. The Ex Convent is currently the Municipal Palace. The Religious Museum annexed to the temple is worth visiting. On December 18, the Virgen de la Soledad is celebrated here.
Church of Carmen Bajo. The church dates from the 16th century and was first called "Tears of San Pedro". This church was the one that mestizos and mulattos could visit. The current temple is a reconstruction of the first hermitage that was seriously damaged by an earthquake in 1801 and by a fire in 1862. Its exterior architecture is voluminous and rich in finishes, which contrasts with the simplicity of the interior decoration where they stand out. the altarpieces from the 19th century, and some paintings from the early 20th century.
Temple of San José de Gracia. Its construction was carried out between 1588-1594, it housed the Spanish Capuchin nuns and is currently a school of Fine Arts.
Dance Square. Right at the foot of Cerro del Fortín, the square is built with green quarry, taking advantage of the natural slope of the land to make the stands. Various cultural and artistic activities are presented here.
Socrates Garden. Formerly it was the Plazuela de La Soledad. It is the place to enjoy ice creams and sorbets recognized worldwide for their quality and variety of flavors.
Rufino Tamayo Pre-Hispanic Art Museum
Rufino Tamayo Museum of Pre-Hispanic Art of Mexico. It is located in a 17th century house built with green quarry. The museum exhibits in its five rooms, the collection of pre-Hispanic art donated by the Oaxacan painter Rufino Tamayo that consists of more than a thousand pieces. It is considered one of the best collections of pottery and pre-Hispanic sculpture in the country. Schedule: Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 16 to 19 hrs. Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays.
Temple of San Felipe Neri. The temple has a beautiful façade made of green quarry that is one of the most extraordinary examples of the baroque stipe from the late 18th century. Its golden altarpiece is a marvel of art and beauty. Four huge oval medallions with beautiful paintings of archangels and other paintings by José de Páez and Agustín de Santaella also stand out. Here they were married in 1841, Don Benito Juárez and Doña Margarita Maza.
Belber Jiménez Museum. It has an exhibition that includes jewelry and goldsmiths of exquisite designs, reliquaries from the 16th century, wooden trunks from the 12th century, beautiful textiles from the 19th century and a beautiful display of popular art. Schedule: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..
Temple of San Cosme and San Damián. Temple built in the middle of the 16th century. It was rebuilt in the late 19th century using two types of quarry.
TOUR 5
Macedonio Alcalá Tourist Walker
Macedonio Alcalá Tourist Walker. This is the main pedestrian walkway in the city. Walking through the walkway you can find museums, shops, restaurants, temples, galleries, as well as cafes and bars, making it an always interesting walk and a lively night scene.
Paseo Juárez or El Llano. It is one of the largest and oldest places of recreation in Oaxaca. The park has an internet signal so you can see both tourists and locals enjoying the garden and its fountains. In this garden, they are celebrated during Lent, the “Fridays of the Llano”, where the students give flowers to the ladies who walk to the rhythm of the music of the state and collect more roses is the winner.
Temple and Ex Convent of Guadalupe
Temple and Ex-Convent of Guadalupe or Betlemitas. It was built in 1686 and was occupied by the Bethlehem friars who were entrusted with health and education. The Belem Chapel was built in 1807 and is currently a school.
Temple of San Juan Matías Jalatlaco. It dates back to the 18th century, its façade decorated with geometric figures carved in the quarry and an impressive 19th century organ stand out. One of the 9 neighborhoods that make up the city of Oaxaca is located in the Barrio de San Matías Jalatlaco. This neighborhood seems to take you on a journey back in time, with its cobbled and quiet streets lined with colonial buildings.
Temple of Our Lady of Patrocinio. The date of construction is not certain, like many other temples in the city, it has suffered damage and has been remodeled several times. The ornamentation of its facade is different from the other temples in the City.
The City of Oaxaca is a destination that offers a great variety of tourist attractions and charms that leave anyone surprised. However, there are other places that are also worth knowing and are in the surroundings of the city, in whose surroundings various populations are located, each with its own personality and artisan tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes. .
Oaxaca is famous throughout the world for its archaeological sites and the history they keep. Discover Monte Alban, Mitla, Yagul and more of these remote sites, which have made Oaxaca a World Heritage city, according to Unesco. The original Zapotec and Mixtec peoples of Oaxaca lived in the cities and religious centers of the valley of this city until the time of Spanish colonization. Today, there are still vestiges of these towns and places where you can meet them.
An ideal space for Alternative Tourism, Oaxaca offers activities such as walking, mountain biking, rappelling, climbing, zip-lining, horseback riding, observation of flora and fauna and more, in close contact with nature. The visitor can also witness the various aspects of local life, savor the gastronomy and enjoy the warmth of its people, as well as an offer of accommodation in hotels, ecotourism cabins, local houses or excellent camping areas. In its varied geography, it brings together not only a vast biodiversity, considered among the largest in the world, but also insurmountable cultural and ethnic riches, and the most different and beautiful natural settings.
Monte Albán is the most important archaeological zone of the Oaxacan entity, of unique regional importance due to the religious, political and economic control that the Zapotec state exercised over the population of the Valley of Oaxaca for more than thirteen centuries. It has been named by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage of Humanity along with the city of Oaxaca on December 11, 1987. The heritage of the Zapotec world reaches us through the magnificent archaeological sites designed in the Valley of Oaxaca. Of these, the city of Monte Albán stands out for its enormous importance as an economic, political and religious hub (it was the first urban complex in Mesoamerica); by its extension, almost as big as the current capital of Oaxaca; and for its long life, started around 500 BC and concluded around 850 AD
The Santo Domingo Cultural Center is a cultural complex that is located in what was one of the most important convents in the colony. It is a large convent in which the Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca, the Fray Francisco de Burgoa Library and the Ethnobotanical Garden have been established. The Néstor Sánchez Public Newspaper Library is located in a building that is part of the complex but dates from the 19th century. Apart from all these institutions brought together, the Santo Domingo Cultural Center has multipurpose spaces in the former convent, in which temporary exhibitions, conferences, courses, book presentations and concerts are held, among many other activities.
In the state of Oaxaca there are many customs and traditions throughout the year, and within the state, said that they have the same purpose of celebration but with different things, in fact from one region to another or even more from one town to another, the Customs vary for perhaps details but that is what makes them authentic. Oaxaca has deep-rooted customs and traditions. All the holidays are celebrated, the profane and the religious ones. The festival calendar is extensive due to the diversity of ethnic groups, which they still conserve.
Oaxaca's culinary tradition is extraordinary and deeply rooted. There are fourteen different ethnic groups, with their own dishes. It is an area of incomparable wealth for the tourist interested in gastronomy, ethnology and culture in general. Oaxaca is the land of mezcal, tlayudas and the famous seven moles. You have to dedicate several days to it. Oaxacan gastronomy is one of the cultural manifestations that identify and define its people, due to its variety, richness and complexity that have been preserved through the centuries. The best way to enjoy Oaxacan food is by tasting it, from the “strong” dishes that are used to enjoying at lunchtime; like the traditional Oaxacan snacks that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
The beaches of the coast of the state of Oaxaca are among the most beautiful and complete in Mexico, thanks to a developing tourist infrastructure and the rich gastronomy of the Pacific. Along the 533 kilometers of coastline, the beaches of Oaxaca offer a wide variety of activities for lovers of water sports: snorkeling, diving, sport fishing, surfing, among others ... there is something for everyone!
Places such as Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, Zipolite, Carrizalillo, Puerto Ángel or the beaches of Huatulco will offer you the possibility of contemplating beautiful sunsets, delighting in intense adventure tourism or witnessing the exciting release of newborn turtles.
In Oaxaca we are proud to have 5 communities that have been awarded the title of Magic Towns of Mexico, a Magic Town is a town that has symbolic attributes, legends, history, transcendent events, everyday life, in short magic that they emanate in each of their socio-cultural manifestations, and that today mean a great opportunity for tourist use. The Magical Towns Program contributes to revalue a group of populations in the country that have always been in the collective imagination of the nation as a whole and that represent fresh and different alternatives for national and foreign visitors.
The Guelaguetza is an ancient tradition with pre-Hispanic roots related to agricultural ceremonies of gratitude to the gods for the arrival of the rains and the lifting of the harvest at the end of July and is the largest festival in Oaxaca. La Guelaguetza is a celebration of gratitude for the arrival of the rains and the harvests, in which representatives from all regions of the state gather in the capital to share their culture through dances, crafts and food.
Crafts in Oaxaca are so varied and of such good quality that they have become a tourist attraction. The ancestral traditions, the diversity in the ethnic groups, as well as the richness in the history of the state have been manifested in the great diversity of creations of more than half a million artisans that are registered in Oaxaca. In the center of the state is the City of Oaxaca, a fascinating and hospitable capital in whose surroundings various towns are located, each with its own personality and craft tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes.
The vast Oaxacan cuisine is distinguished by its tradition and the use of regional ingredients. Not for nothing has it positioned itself as the Best Tourist City in the World and the Best Gourmet Destination. In the presentation of the 2021 edition of The Mexico Gastronomic Guide "The Great Restaurants of Mexico" 278 restaurants located throughout the Mexican Republic were recognized, on this occasion, there were 16 Oaxacan restaurants that were placed in the list .
The name mezcal has its roots in one of the ancient native languages of the area and translates as 'agave (also known as maguey) cooked'. Although pre-Hispanic Oaxaqueños used maguey to make pulque (an undistilled alcoholic beverage), it seems that the real advances in mezcal production occurred when the Spanish arrived in Oaxaca; by bringing with them their knowledge of distillation processes.
Oaxaca City It is a destination that offers a great variety of tourist attractions and charms that leave anyone surprised. Upon arrival, the most common is to visit the historic center, the Santo Domingo Temple, the Macedonio Alcalá Tourist Walker, the gastronomic delights in the Benito Juárez market, the Basilica de la Soledad, among other attractions. And one of the places that you cannot miss is the archaeological zone of Monte Alban, which is approximately 30 minutes by car from the historic center.
However, there are other places that are also worth knowing and are in the surroundings of the city. For this reason we recommend the following tourist routes.
Surroundings of Oaxaca de Juárez
Route to Mitla
San Jerónimo Tlacochahuaya
Tlacochahuaya. Religious complex dedicated to San Jerónimo built by the Dominicans in the 16th century. Its façade is baroque and inside it houses frescoes painted with cochineal and indigenous features. It contains some altarpieces by the famous indigenous painter, Juan de Aruebe, highlighting that of San Jerónimo, which has been considered one of the most outstanding works of the viceroyalty in Oaxaca, and a tubular organ dating from 1620 that has been restored and is working.
Dainzu. Small archaeological zone in which the interesting low-relief stone gallery stands out that shows ball players in pre-Hispanic outfits that are reminiscent of the figures found in Monte Albán. It features a well-preserved ball court and the Tomb of the Jaguar, with a jaguar head on top of the door. Built a few centuries before Monte Albán, in 600 BC
Teotitlán del Valle. The textile tradition in Teotitlán dates back to pre-Hispanic times. For centuries the inhabitants of this town have kept the tradition alive by making wool rugs on domestic looms, using natural dyes for their coloring. His designs range from frets, glyphs and codices to pictorial reproductions of Tamayo, Frida Kahlo, Miró, Matisse, Toledo and Picasso.
Teotitlán del Valle
In the town there are more than 100 workshops where you can see the production of rugs, sarapes, ponchos, covers, bags and dresses. The community museum exhibits various pre-Hispanic objects, as well as pieces related to the making of rugs. The church is located in the central part of the town and is dedicated to the precious Blood of Christ, its construction began in 1581 and was completed in 1758. On its walls there are great idols engraved in stones, since the Spanish used stones from the ancient pre-Hispanic temples for its construction. On one side of the church there is a small archaeological zone.
In its surroundings you can visit “El Picacho”, a hill considered sacred and that offers a spectacular view of the Tlacolula valley; and the Piedra Azul Dam, a favorite place for those who like to watch birds.
Lambityeco. Its occupation occurred between 600 BC to 800 AD and its peak was between 700 and 750 AD. C., coinciding with the process of abandonment of Monte Albán. Headquarters of an important Zapotec commercial center, it was a salt production center that provided up to 90% of the salt consumed in the valley between 600 and 700 AD. The salt was extracted from the land called "tequezquite", located in the southern part of the site. The city comprises around 197 mounds of which only a small part has been explored. The site is notable for the extraordinary artistic quality of urns, engravings and mural paintings located in some tombs. The most important structures of the site are mounds 195 and 190, on the latter there are two stucco masks of the Zapotec god of rain “Cocijo”. Schedule: Monday to Sunday from 09:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Santa Ana del Valle
Santa Ana del Valle. The inhabitants of this place are weavers, they make wool textiles, sarapes, jorongos, using natural dyes. In its 18th century temple, a beautiful golden Baroque altarpiece and oil paintings are preserved. The Shan-Dany Community Museum has four rooms where archeology, the Mexican Revolution, the making of textiles and the feather dance, a choreographic art commemorating the conquest, are addressed. It opens every day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tlacolula. Its Sunday market is famous, distinguished by its color and indigenous character, where all the merchants from the nearby communities come down to sell their products. It is worth visiting the Temple of the Assumption built by the Dominicans in the 17th century. It has one of the greatest jewels of Mexican Baroque art, the chapel dedicated to Santo Cristo de Tlacolula.
Yagul. Archaeological zone founded by the Zapotecs, contemporary to Mitla. It flourished as an urban center after the decline of Monte Albán (800 AD). The site is made up of three parts: the Fortress, located on the highest part of a hill, offers a panoramic view of the Tlacolula valley. The ceremonial center, with a huge artificial platform that brings together the main temples and palaces in stepped terraces. And the residential areas. The Ball Court, the largest in the Oaxacan region, stands out, as well as the Palace of the Six Patios, an enormous almost labyrinthine structure dedicated to the room of the chief, or chiefs, of the city. Schedule: Monday to Sunday from 09:00 to 17:00.
Mitla. Its name is of Nahuatl origin and means “Place of the Dead”. It is a Zapotec ceremonial center, residence of the ecclesiastical power. Its maximum growth and apogee occurred between 950 and 1521 AD. The harmony of its buildings and the proportion of its patios are highlighted by the extraordinary fretwork decoration of its walls, it is a unique representation in Mesoamerica. The frets are made up of thousands of polished stone tablets, crimped together without any mixture. There are five groups of buildings, surrounded by a fence of cacti, known as: Grupo del Sur, Grupo del Adobe, Grupo del Arroyo, Grupo de las Columnas and Grupo de la Iglesia. The first two are classified as ceremonial complexes, made up of mounds and central squares, the other three are classified as organized palaces with rooms around quadrangular courtyards. In the seventeenth century, the temple of San Pablo was built over the rooms of Patio C, with materials from old pre-Hispanic palaces. Schedule: Monday to Sunday from 08:00 to 17:00.
Boil the water
Boil the water. It is believed that it was a sacred place of the ancient Zapotecs. The fossilized waterfalls stand out: one 30 m high and the other 12, formed by carbonated water that falls from springs located at the top of the rocks. The spring area that gives rise to this has been used to create a large pool that has become a natural spa for its thermal waters and has an incredible view. The water temperature fluctuates between 22 and 25ºC. Here is a complex irrigation system and terraces built by the Zapotecs some 2,500 years ago. Currently, it has bathrooms, dressing rooms, palapas and small eating establishments, as well as cabins.
Monte Albán - Zaachila directions
Monte Alban. Former capital of the Zapotecs, later occupied by the Mixtecs until shortly before the arrival of the Spanish. It is part of the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. At its peak, Monte Albán covered an area of 40 km2 and had a population of approximately 40,000 inhabitants. On an immense esplanade at 1,940 meters above sea level, is this area formed by a large rectangular Plaza surrounded by palaces, temples, shrines, ball court and tombs.
The Danzantes Building stands out, covered with numerous stelae in which there are representations of characters in eccentric positions; So far, about 300 stelae of "Danzantes" have been found, some exhibited in the museum. Building J is one of the most interesting due to its orientation and shape, it is believed that it was used for astronomical observations. The Palace, with a central staircase and thirteen rooms around a central courtyard, was occupied by the noble or priestly class. System IV is a ceremonial complex consisting of a temple, a patio and a shrine with characteristics similar to those found in Teotihuacán. Along with this System is the Monte Alban -Zaachila Estela 18 Route, which at 5.80 meters high is the highest in Monte Alban and is also one of the oldest; in it the phenomenon of the summer and winter solstice is represented.
The South Platform has a majestic 40 meter wide staircase that ascends 15 meters to reach the huge platform (140 m. North-south x 108 m. East-west) where two temples are located; in the corners are stelae with zoomorphic figures and glyphs. Tomb No.7 was discovered in 1932 and a burial was found with a rich amount of offerings that are exhibited in the Regional Museum of Oaxaca, it has a Site Museum, bookstore and a cafeteria. The museum is very modern and has the exhibition of pieces from the area and the history of the discovery and exploration of Monte Albán. Schedule: Monday to Sunday from 08:00 to 17:00.
Atzompa. Pottery has been its most important activity since its founding, which goes back to the days of Monte Alban. In the House of Handicrafts, you can see the making of beautiful pieces of natural clay and green glazed clay, a technique that characterizes the Atzompa pieces. In 2012, the archaeological site called Monumental Ensemble of Atzompa was inaugurated, located at the top of Cerro El Bonete. The archaeological site was a satellite city of Monte Albán and was inhabited from 250 to 900 AD. It has three ball game courts, one of them 45 meters long, which makes it the largest in the area. Other important structures on the site are the Casa de Oriente and the Casa de los Altares.
San Antonio Arrazola
Arrazola. In this place, the ingenuity of the artisans is reflected in the carvings of the copal wood, creating a fantastic zoology that is exhibited and sold in the artisans' own houses under the name of alebrijes.
Cuilápam de Guerrero. Majestic 16th century Dominican convent complex where the Open Chapel, the unfinished basilical church and the Ex-convent stand out. The frescoes of the Church stand out. Here General Vicente Guerrero was shot. Currently, the ex-convent is used as a museum and church. Schedule: Daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m..
Zaachila. It reached its peak between 1100 and 1521 AD and was the last capital of the Zapotec empire, although by the time of the conquest evidence suggests that it was in the hands of the Mixtecs. The area has been partially explored and includes a great pyramid and some mounds. The most relevant are Tomb 1 with ornaments of stucco figures that represent feline heads, owls, a human figure covered with the shell of a turtle and snakes; and Tomb 2 where a rich offering with gold objects and precious stones was found. Schedule: Daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. The town preserves pre-Hispanic traditions and customs that can be enjoyed in the weekly tianguis on Thursdays that takes place in the central square with a display of color and flavor. It stands out for its black clay pottery and its gastronomic richness. It has a great variety of typical restaurants.
Coyotepec - Ocotlán directions
San Bartolo Coyotepec
San Bartolo Coyotepec. Ancient Zapotec settlement dating back more than 2,500 years. Its main attraction is the black clay pottery made by local artisans, making pieces of extraordinary beauty, with the technique of openwork and burnishing. This tradition dates back to pre-Hispanic times. There is a beautiful 16th century church, a Museum of Ceramics and the State Museum of Popular Art.
San Martin Ticajete. Its history dates back to 1150 AD when the Zapotecs settled in the region. It is a town dedicated to the making of carved and polychrome wooden animal figures, called alebrijes. You can visit the Temple of San Martín. In April the Alebrije Fair is celebrated.
Saint Thomas Jalieza. It is known as the "Town of Belts" for the artistic way of adorning them. In the center there is a market where you can buy belts, as well as beautiful shawls, huipiles, overcoats and shawls.
Ocotlán de Morelos. One of its main attractions is the "tianguis" on Fridays. The red clay pottery, cutlery, apaxtles and rustic kitchen utensils stand out.
Ocotlán de Morelos
In the town you can visit the Temple and Ex Convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. The complex was built in various stages between the 16th and 19th centuries; In the church you can see the statues of saints from the colonial era and the monastery was restored and turned into a museum that exhibits works by Rodolfo Morales, a famous artist from this town, crafts from the region and art from the 16th and 17th centuries. The Casa de Rodolfo Morales, an 18th century mansion converted into a House of Culture, exhibits some of the artist's works and has an open-air theater. The Municipal Palace also has some murals painted by Rodolfo Morales. Mezcal is one of the best in the Valleys of Oaxaca.
In the heat of the forge and in the midst of the rhythmic and incessant blow of the marro, it is closely known how the ocoteco artisans turn crude metal into beautiful and sharp blades, tempered by fire. Swords, knives, letter openers, daggers and sabers, bear inscriptions of names or popular sayings, and their polished handles, made of leather, bone, bronze or horn, show the painstaking meticulousness of this art, centennial legacy of Toledo steel. traditionally used for the manufacture of swords and other weapons of war.
San Andrés Huayapam - Capulálpam - Sierra Juárez Route
Ixtlán de Juárez. The town is surrounded by mountainous landscapes and is characterized by its architectural beauty. The Temple of Santo Tomás Apóstol stands out, built in the 18th century in a Churrigueresque style. It has become an ecotourism center, where you can practice various extreme sports and admire the more than 500 species of birds in the region. Interesting wooden crafts and clay utensils are made in the town. Mountain biking and horse riding are possible in the surrounding area.
Sierra Juárez of Oaxaca
Sierra de Juárez. It has an area of approximately 1,700 km2 of high mountains and deep ravines, separating the Central Valleys of Oaxaca from the coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico. It is one of the richest areas in plant and animal species at the national level, and has a diversity of ecosystems. It has 6,000 plant species, 400 of birds and 350 of butterflies. These beautiful and spectacular natural areas are excellent for various activities such as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, flora and fauna observation, and zip lining. In the area you can also find centers that offer traditional medicine in temazcal, clean with herbs from the mountain and massages with mud. Here you can buy delicious canned fruits such as apple, tejocote and peach.
There are several tours through the Sierra. In La Nevería, you can go horseback riding or cycling to two panoramic viewpoints. Llano Grande, one of the cleanest communities in the country, ideal for mountain biking. Santa Martha Latuvi, with spectacular landscapes that can be seen on walks, on horseback or by bicycle, the specialty of the place is trout stuffed with mushrooms. There is a route that connects this town with San Miguel Amatlán, which runs through a beautiful forest that is believed to be part of one of the roads that connected the Zapotec cities. Santa Catarina Lachatao, with a beautiful wooded setting. All these places have local guides, cabins and camping areas.
San Andrés Huayapam. In this picturesque town you can enjoy its peaceful atmosphere strolling through its cobbled streets and enjoying its mountainous landscape. Here is a 16th century temple built by Dominican monks. Inside you can admire beautiful paintings such as "The Last Supper" and splendid altarpieces, a beautiful organ from the 18th century also stands out. Nearby is a small dam and several waterfalls. Cradle of the thousand-year-old drink of the gods "El Tejate", a drink made from roasted corn flour, fermented cocoa beans, mamey seeds and cocoa flower, also known as rosita de cacao; With all these ingredients, a paste is made that is mixed with water. It is served cold in red clay gourds making sure that each one has enough foam on top. Every year in April the Tejate fair is celebrated.
Capulálpam de Méndez
Capulálpam de Méndez. It has been named a Magical Town, since through the years it has preserved its traditions and customs reflected in its gastronomy, crafts and music. Its streets are cobbled and adapt to the irregularities of the topography of the place. The architecture of the town is characterized by the use of adobe, wood, tile and yellow quarry. Here is the Temple of San Mateo Apóstol, a 16th century building in which baroque and neoclassical styles are combined. They have a simple façade and inside are magnificent altarpieces from the 17th and 18th centuries. Woolen textiles and embroidered dresses are produced in the town that can be purchased at the municipal market. You can also visit the toy and art gallery. There is a center for Traditional Medicine, where “clean”, temazcal baths and natural medicines are offered, as well as a herbal pharmacy that offers courses on various medicinal plants.
From September 11 to 22, the annual fair in honor of San Mateo Apóstol is held with the traditional calenda, jaripeos and fireworks. It is surrounded by natural beauties so you can take pleasant walks and bike rides and admire the wooded landscape of pine and oak, as well as the colorful bromeliads and the large number of birds in the region. You can visit "Los Sabinos" with tall and old trees; "El Calvario", viewpoint with a spectacular panoramic view of the town; "La Cueva del Arroyo" with its capricious figures formed over time; the "Los Molinos" Recreational Center with a 100 meter long zip line that crosses the river from a height of 30 meters; and the "Cerro Pelado", where you can walk through an old path or "royal road", used in colonial times to communicate with other towns in the mountains.
Mixtec Route (Route of the Dominicans)
San José el Mogote. It shows archaeological evidence of early occupation, it is believed to be the first stone city in Mesoamerica, dating back to 1,500 BC. Trade with the Olmec culture is evident from the pottery and other objects found at the site. El Mogote was one of the most important urban centers in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca before the founding of Monte Albán. The archaeological zone is made up of a square surrounded by numerous pyramidal platforms. There is a community museum in a restored hacienda with interesting archaeological pieces from the site and the history of the hacienda.
San Juan Bautista Coixtlahuaca
San Juan Bautista Coixtlahuaca. The Temple and Ex-Convent of San Juan Bautista stands out, a beautiful Dominican complex completed in 1576. It consists of a temple, a cloister, an open chapel and an atrium, making up one of the most peculiar examples of New Spain art and architecture of the century. XVI. The altarpieces inside are in the Churrigueresque style and a beautiful main altar with gold filigree. The open chapel displays Mixtec elements such as snakes and eagles.
Villa de Etla. It has a beautiful complex built by Dominican friars with green quarry in 1636, it consists of atrium, temple and convent.
Tlaxiaco. Here you can visit the Ex-Convent of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción dating from 1548, following as a model the conventual complex of Yanhuitlán, vaulted and with a main facade of great proportions. Inside there are five elegant chandeliers. In the main square you can see a beautiful clock and you should not miss its colorful market.
Saint Peter and Saint Paul Teposcolula. The Dominicans settled here in 1541, starting shortly after the construction of a fabulous complex with a magnificent open chapel that is one of the most important works of the 16th century in New Spain. Inside the temple some works by the painters Andrés de la Concha and Andrés Pereyns are still preserved. The monastery is a small museum with some restored cells that surround a beautiful garden. The large atrium was built in order to indoctrinate the Mixtecs in large numbers at the same time. In front of the church, the Spanish built in 1560 the Casa de la Cacica, for a Mixtec leader; Its construction combines pre-Hispanic and colonial elements and currently houses a library. Two km away is the archaeological site of Pueblo Viejo (Yucundaa) on a mountain that rises 220 meters. The site was one of the most important Mixtec chiefdoms between 1000 and 1550 AD
Santo Domingo Yanhuitlán
Santo Domingo Yanhuitlán. In colonial times it was an important commercial center. The Temple and Ex-Convent of Santo Domingo, constitutes one of the most outstanding examples of New Spain architecture from the 16th century. The enormous construction was erected partly on a huge pre-Hispanic platform and partly on embankments and its roof rises almost 25 meters. Although some modifications were made in the 18th century, it preserves the original paintings and sculptures, among which the main altarpiece from the 16th century stands out, made by the Sevillian painter Andrés de la Concha. The monumental tubular organ decorated with interlacing and golden plant elements stands out. In what was the convent, the Regional Museum of the Ex-Convent of Santo Domingo Yanhuitlán was installed, which presents an interesting exhibition of sacred art and the facsimile of the Yanhuitlán codex. Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..
Mezcal Route
From the Nahuatl mexcalli, 'cooked maguey leaves', is an alcoholic beverage native to the state of Oaxaca (Mexico), made from the distillation of the fermented juice of various species of agave. Mezcal can vary, depending on the species of agave or maguey used for its production, and for the fruits or herbs added during its fermentation, as well as for the distillation process used, creating subtypes such as: worm, tobalá, breast, white, miner, lemon verbena, scorpion, among others.
You can also find Mezcal Creams, created by processing agave honey through double distillation, which gives it a sweet flavor and can be combined with a wide variety of products and thus obtain: coffee, passion fruit, nanche cream, mango, coconut, strawberry, piña colada, cappuccino, passion fruit etc. The Mezcal Route includes the Sierra Sur, a mountainous region, where the forest wealth and the coffee production are important.
Matatlan. It is one of the most important mezcal producers in the state. There are a large number of mezcal factories and outlets, it is known as the “Mezcal Capital of the World”. You can also visit the temple of Santiago Apóstol erected in the seventeenth century, which has a wall and atrial cross, main portal and two towers with bell tower. To the north of the municipal seat there is an archaeological zone that has not yet been explored. Here the Annual Mezcal Fair takes place.
Tlacolula. It has one of the most beautiful chapels in Oaxaca. The Church of "La Asunción de Nuestra Señora" with an original baroque style was built in the 16th century. Its Sunday market is also famous with an almost ritual and mystical atmosphere. Tlacolula is also famous for its excellent bread, its exquisite mezcal and its tasty barbecue
Yautepec. In addition to savoring the mezcal of the region, you can also buy some of its beautiful textiles, clay pottery or various palm handicrafts.
Sola de Vega. Also famous for its mezcal, huipiles and different pieces of pottery can be purchased.
Ocotlan. In the town is located the Temple and Ex-convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, its facade is ornamented with plant decoration. Inside, the chapel of the Lord of the Sacristy stands out, decorated with neoclassical details. Other attractions are: the City Hall building built in 1913 and a community museum located in the old Dominican convent.
Salina Blanca
Salina Blanca. Its name is due to the fact that in the area there are salty water runoff that comes from the subsoil and due to the steep slope of the hill, waterfalls of living petrified salt have formed that can be seen from the banks of the Quiechapa River. 150 mts. Downstream of the Quiechapa there are springs from which water with a high mineral content gushes from the interior of the mountain and that form small replicas of the “Salina Blanca” area, in that same scenario there are ideal spaces for camping, climbing and enjoy nature.
Ejutla. Among its most important monuments is the Temple of Santa María de la Natividad with gold altarpieces and images in high-value paintings, as well as the paintings that are found throughout the interior of the temple. You can also visit the portals that surround the city center.
Miahuatlan. Here you can visit the parish temple, the pilaster, the municipal palace, the archaeological zone, the Yoolveo hill, the Nogales hill, the slaughterhouse hill and the central garden.
Zimatlan. Zapotec population whose history begins in pre-Hispanic times. Famous for the production of mezcal and amaranth.
Oaxaca is famous throughout the world for its archaeological sites and the history they keep. Discover Monte Alban, Mitla, Yagul and more of these remote sites, which have made Oaxaca a World Heritage city, according to Unesco. The original Zapotec and Mixtec peoples of Oaxaca lived in the cities and religious centers of the valley of this city until the time of Spanish colonization. Today, there are still vestiges of these towns and places where you can meet them.
The vast Oaxacan cuisine is distinguished by its tradition and the use of regional ingredients. Not for nothing has it positioned itself as the Best Tourist City in the World and the Best Gourmet Destination. In the presentation of the 2021 edition of The Mexico Gastronomic Guide "The Great Restaurants of Mexico" 278 restaurants located throughout the Mexican Republic were recognized, on this occasion, there were 16 Oaxacan restaurants that were placed in the list .
Crafts in Oaxaca are so varied and of such good quality that they have become a tourist attraction. The ancestral traditions, the diversity in the ethnic groups, as well as the richness in the history of the state have been manifested in the great diversity of creations of more than half a million artisans that are registered in Oaxaca. In the center of the state is the City of Oaxaca, a fascinating and hospitable capital in whose surroundings various towns are located, each with its own personality and craft tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes.
In the state of Oaxaca there are many customs and traditions throughout the year, and within the state, said that they have the same purpose of celebration but with different things, in fact from one region to another or even more from one town to another, the Customs vary for perhaps details but that is what makes them authentic. Oaxaca has deep-rooted customs and traditions. All the holidays are celebrated, the profane and the religious ones. The festival calendar is extensive due to the diversity of ethnic groups, which they still conserve.
The beaches of the coast of the state of Oaxaca are among the most beautiful and complete in Mexico, thanks to a developing tourist infrastructure and the rich gastronomy of the Pacific. Along the 533 kilometers of coastline, the beaches of Oaxaca offer a wide variety of activities for lovers of water sports: snorkeling, diving, sport fishing, surfing, among others ... there is something for everyone!
Places such as Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, Zipolite, Carrizalillo, Puerto Ángel or the beaches of Huatulco will offer you the possibility of contemplating beautiful sunsets, delighting in intense adventure tourism or witnessing the exciting release of newborn turtles.
Oaxaca's culinary tradition is extraordinary and deeply rooted. There are fourteen different ethnic groups, with their own dishes. It is an area of incomparable wealth for the tourist interested in gastronomy, ethnology and culture in general. Oaxaca is the land of mezcal, tlayudas and the famous seven moles. You have to dedicate several days to it. Oaxacan gastronomy is one of the cultural manifestations that identify and define its people, due to its variety, richness and complexity that have been preserved through the centuries. The best way to enjoy Oaxacan food is by tasting it, from the “strong” dishes that are used to enjoying at lunchtime; like the traditional Oaxacan snacks that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
Oaxaca City, the state capital, is famous for its architecture and rich cultural traditions. Oaxaca also has a splendid and varied cuisine and a spring climate throughout the year. UNESCO declared the city a Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Oaxaca is the most diverse state in Mexico. It has peaks that reach more than 3,000 meters in height, caverns that are among the deepest in the world, pristine beaches, secluded forests and sunny valleys. Oaxaca is rich in traditions and customs and has the largest ethnic population in Mexico.
The Guelaguetza is an ancient tradition with pre-Hispanic roots related to agricultural ceremonies of gratitude to the gods for the arrival of the rains and the lifting of the harvest at the end of July and is the largest festival in Oaxaca. La Guelaguetza is a celebration of gratitude for the arrival of the rains and the harvests, in which representatives from all regions of the state gather in the capital to share their culture through dances, crafts and food.
The Santo Domingo Cultural Center is a cultural complex that is located in what was one of the most important convents in the colony. It is a large convent in which the Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca, the Fray Francisco de Burgoa Library and the Ethnobotanical Garden have been established. The Néstor Sánchez Public Newspaper Library is located in a building that is part of the complex but dates from the 19th century. Apart from all these institutions brought together, the Santo Domingo Cultural Center has multipurpose spaces in the former convent, in which temporary exhibitions, conferences, courses, book presentations and concerts are held, among many other activities.
Monte Albán is the most important archaeological zone of the Oaxacan entity, of unique regional importance due to the religious, political and economic control that the Zapotec state exercised over the population of the Valley of Oaxaca for more than thirteen centuries. It has been named by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage of Humanity along with the city of Oaxaca on December 11, 1987. The heritage of the Zapotec world reaches us through the magnificent archaeological sites designed in the Valley of Oaxaca. Of these, the city of Monte Albán stands out for its enormous importance as an economic, political and religious hub (it was the first urban complex in Mesoamerica); by its extension, almost as big as the current capital of Oaxaca; and for its long life, started around 500 BC and concluded around 850 AD
An ideal space for Alternative Tourism, Oaxaca offers activities such as walking, mountain biking, rappelling, climbing, zip-lining, horseback riding, observation of flora and fauna and more, in close contact with nature. The visitor can also witness the various aspects of local life, savor the gastronomy and enjoy the warmth of its people, as well as an offer of accommodation in hotels, ecotourism cabins, local houses or excellent camping areas. In its varied geography, it brings together not only a vast biodiversity, considered among the largest in the world, but also insurmountable cultural and ethnic riches, and the most different and beautiful natural settings.
In Oaxaca we are proud to have 5 communities that have been awarded the title of Magic Towns of Mexico, a Magic Town is a town that has symbolic attributes, legends, history, transcendent events, everyday life, in short magic that they emanate in each of their socio-cultural manifestations, and that today mean a great opportunity for tourist use. The Magical Towns Program contributes to revalue a group of populations in the country that have always been in the collective imagination of the nation as a whole and that represent fresh and different alternatives for national and foreign visitors.
The name mezcal has its roots in one of the ancient native languages of the area and translates as 'agave (also known as maguey) cooked'. Although pre-Hispanic Oaxaqueños used maguey to make pulque (an undistilled alcoholic beverage), it seems that the real advances in mezcal production occurred when the Spanish arrived in Oaxaca; by bringing with them their knowledge of distillation processes.
Oaxaca It is famous throughout the world for its archaeological sites and the history they keep. Discover Monte Alban, Mitla, Yagul and more of these remote sites, which have made Oaxaca a World Heritage city, according to Unesco.
The original Zapotec and Mixtec peoples of Oaxaca lived in the cities and religious centers of the valley of this city until the time of Spanish colonization. Today, there are still vestiges of these towns and places where you can meet them.
Archaeological Sites of Oaxaca
Monte Alban
Monte Alban
Monte Alban It is the most important archaeological zone of the Oaxacan entity, of unique regional importance due to the religious, political and economic control that the Zapotec state exercised over the population of the Valley of Oaxaca for more than thirteen centuries. It has been named by UNESCO Cultural Heritage of Humanity together with the city of Oaxaca on December 11, 1987.
The heritage of the Zapotec world reaches us through the magnificent archaeological sites designed in the Valley of Oaxaca. Of these, the city of Monte Albán stands out for its enormous importance as an economic, political and religious hub (it was the first urban complex in Mesoamerica); by its extension, almost as big as the current capital of Oaxaca; and for its long life, started around 500 BC and concluded around 850 AD
The city is surrounded by several mountains strategically located at the confluence of the arms that form the great Valley of Oaxaca. There are three groups that make up the site: Monte Albán, Atzompa and El Gallo, all configured by archaeological monuments on the peaks and by series of cultivation terraces on the slopes.
Main ceremonial center after Monte Alban, the word Mitla o Mictlán is of Nahuatl origin and means “Place of the Dead” or “Underworld” in Zapotec it is called “Lyobaa” which means “Burial place”, which already in Mexica was left in Mitlan, “place of the dead” and already Spanishized only Mitla.
The archaeological complex and the current town are Zapotec, Mitla was inhabited from the classical period (100 to 650 AD) reaching its maximum growth and apogee in the post-classical period (750 to 1521 AD). The greatest attraction of the archaeological zone of Mitla is undoubtedly the varied ornamentation of its buildings, achieved through the system of frets that distinguishes it from those of the rest of the country.
There are five groups of constructions known as: Grupo del Sur, Grupo del Adobe, Grupo del Arroyo, Grupo de las Columnas and Grupo de la Iglesia. The first two are classified as ceremonial complexes, made up of mounds and central squares, the other three are classified as organized palaces with rooms around quadrangular courtyards. Of the five the best preserved are the group of columns and the group of the Church. Group of columns: it is characterized by the use of monolithic columns from which its name is derived.
Mitla
The great Hall of Columns has a rectangular plan. Through this hall you enter the main palace through a narrow door. Leaving the passageway we find ourselves in the patio of the frets, from where we will have access to each of the four rooms, decorated by three panels with mosaics of carved stone frets that form different geometric drawings on each band; the frets are made up of thousands of polished stone tablets, set together, without any mixture.
In the north and east buildings are the most beautiful tombs, where the Zapotec priests and kings were buried; in the first, in front of the staircase, there is the entrance to a cruciform tomb, with an antechamber; the ceiling has large monolithic stone lintels and the walls are decorated with panels and fretwork mosaics; the eastern one is characterized by a monolithic stone column that supports the roof.
Yagul
Yagul
There is evidence on the occupation of Yagul from the time of Monte Albán l (500 years BC). It flourished as an urban center after the decline of Monte Albán (800 AD). Later, after a short abandonment, Yagul re-emerged to become a city-state, in the Oaxaca valley, which prevailed until shortly before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors.
This important pre-Hispanic center, whose name in Zapotec “Ya-gule” means “Dry Tree or Palo” has among its monuments the largest ball court in the Oaxacan region and the second in Mesoamerica.
It flourished as an urban center after the decline of Monte Albán, between 750 and 950 AD. Later, after a short abandonment, Yagul re-emerged to become a city-state, in the Oaxaca valley, which prevailed until shortly before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors.
This important pre-Hispanic center has among its monuments the largest ball game of the Oaxacan region and the second in Mesoamerica.
Dainzu
Dainzu
Dainzu It is an archaeological site of the Zapotec culture, located in the eastern arm of the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, 19 kilometers south-east of the city of Oaxaca de Juárez, capital of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is an ancient contemporary city of Monte Albán whose flourishing predated the founding of the metropolis of Los Valles.
The architectural style of this site is important because it presents structures with unique characteristics that distinguish it from the others in the Oaxaca Valley; These reflect a great artistic quality as in the lower platform of the Building A, in which a gallery of bas-reliefs representing ball players were captured. During its urban period, Dainzú functioned as a second-rank community in economic, political and religious terms. The main occupation corresponds to the transition period called II-IIIa, from approximately 250 to 350 AD.
Dainzú was built recharged on the hill, apparently for aesthetic reasons its original entrance was on the west side of the river. It had a long sequence of occupations from 600 BC to 1200 AD, although there is a possibility as shown by archaeological materials that the area was occupied before Monte Albán, the splendor of Dainzú, occurred between 600 BC to 200 AD according to the data of the examinations. The archaeological site of Dainzú is located in the vicinity of a tributary of the Salado River, in the Tlacolula valley, although there are some terraces and petroglyphs traced in the rocks of a nearby hill.
Atzompa
Atzompa
Atzompa, from Nahuatl, means 'At the top of the water' (atl 'Water'; tzontle 'hair', 'height' and summit ”; Y bread 'in' or 'over'). It was one of the monumental ensembles of Monte Alban. Its occupation goes from 650 to 900 AD A peculiarity of this archaeological zone is the existence of three courts for the Ball Game very close to each other, one of them 45 meters in length, which makes it the largest in the area including Monte Alban.
The court has a niche in each of the corners, which could be used as a repository for the offerings. Due to the type of structures that are located in this area, it has been interpreted that it functioned as a place for specific rituals, as well as the residence of Zapotec priests and rulers, perhaps belonging to a specific lineage.
The archaeological zone is not officially open to the public, in such a way that it does not have any type of services or infrastructure to attend to the tourist visit, only with two custodians who provide general information about the site and help in case of being necessary.
Zaachila
Zaachila
The archaeological zone of Zaachila It is located in the Villa de Zaachila, located in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca. It was founded by the Zapotecs, probably around the time when the construction of Monte Albán also began and the village of San José Mogote was flourishing. Although few remains of the ancient Zapotec site have survived to this day, they allow us to observe that Zaachila was a population that also played an important role during the Classic Period of the Zapotec culture.
Witness of this are the two tombs that are part of the city, built in a similar way to those that were built during the period of greatest flourishing of the city of Monte Albán.
The main attraction of Zaachila is precisely the tombs discovered on the site. They were built under an old palace, and their style corresponds to the Postclassic of Mesoamerica. The walls of the tombs are adorned with stucco figures that represent creatures related to the world of the dead, according to Mesoamerican mythology, including the owl. Other reliefs represent four characters of which two can be identified by their calendrical name. In the interior of the tombs, several polychrome pottery objects were found, which could have been produced by the Mixtecs or by the Zapotecs themselves under the influence of the former. Zaachila was founded around the 13th century after Christ. Understood in the post-classical period and after the decline of Monte Alban as a Zapotec city and capital.
Lambityeco
Lambityeco
The few traces discovered indicate that the occupation of Lambityeco It occurred between 600 BC to 800 AD. It reached its peak between 700 and 750 AD. C., coinciding with the gradual abandonment of Monte Albán. Due to its salt production, in those times, it was considered an important city, within the Zapotec market.
The buildings that are found on the side of the road, is what has been explored so far in this archaeological zone. It is only a small part of what was this great settlement that covered approximately 63.75 hectares. Likewise, there are more than 200 mounds, not counting those that remained under the current town of Tlacolula.
The remains of the houses and palaces explored are a small part of the city. The oldest palaces are those of the chiefs and priests.
San Jose El Mogote
San Jose El Mogote
San Jose El Mogote it has been around for more than 3,500 years. It was possibly the first town to be founded in the village stage, and it was the largest of that time. It includes lands of Guadalupe Etla, the entire San José Mogote agency and lands of San Sebastián Etla. Here, for the first time, the predecessor cultures of the famous city of Monte Albán were defined. During the heyday of this center, San José Mogote served as the head of the Etla Valley. It also had its palace, its temples and its ball court. It was abandoned around 400 years before Christ. Shortly before the arrival of the Spaniards it was occupied again, as a small peasant town.
It is presumed that the founders of Monte Albán were also inhabitants of San José Mogote. Inscriptions found at the site document one of the oldest forms of writing in Mesoamerica, dating back to around 500 BC.
Archaeological remains show that the city was inhabited for at least 1000 years. The population went into decline towards the end of the Middle Preclassic, at the same time that Monte Albán took hegemony in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca. It was finally abandoned towards the end of the Late Preclassic.
Huamelulpan
Huamelulpan
This Archaeological Zone sits on a hill known as Yucunindaba, which in Mixtec means “Cerro Volado” or “Cerro que Volado”.
Huamelulpan is distinguished by its monumental architecture and sculpture, as well as by its calendrical inscriptions. Its occupation has been divided into three periods: Huamelulpan I, from 400 to 100 BC. C .; Huamelulpan II, from 100 a. C. to 200 d. C., in which it had a great demographic expansion, and Huamelulpan III, from 200 to 600 d. C., period in which its size decreases but the construction of buildings continues. The city was built on a hill-hill system with terraces on the slopes of the aforementioned natural elevation. It was organized in monumental architectural ensembles separated into three main and two secondary nuclei.
The site is divided into five architectural areas: Grupo del Cerro Volado, del Panteón, Iglesia Vieja, Poniente de la Iglesia and Grupo de la Iglesia. Due to the predominance of several hills and hills that surround the environment, the various constructions were adapted to this type of terrain, building a system of terraces of simple houses with stone foundations where the common population lived, in other cases the public and ceremonial areas they are distinguished by having large stone platforms offset in a staggered manner delimiting open spaces. In the lower part is the building ball court related to a ritual that usually culminates in human sacrifice.
In the group to the West of the Church on the southern slope there are huge platforms whose corners were reinforced with rectangular stone blocks weighing several tons and where there are engravings with calendrical signs very similar to the Zapotec writing system observed in Monte Alban.
Guiengola
Guiengola
The Guiengola toponymic has two meanings, the first derived from the Zapotec language of the isthmus, composed of the words guie: stone and gola: great or old "Big Rock" and the second "big or old hill" according to Danyroó.
The city of Guiengola was built by the Zapotecs on a natural elevation, which together with the constructions made by its inhabitants, created a settlement difficult to be invaded. According to the ethnohistoric and archaeological data, this place was occupied by Mixes, Zoques, Huaves and Chontales, when they were attacked by other groups that came from the Altiplano and southern Mesoamerica. It is believed that the city was still functioning at the time of Spanish contact. In addition to the fact that it was the scene of an important battle between the Zapotecs and the Mexicas, it contains notable architectural evidence.
The full extent of the city is unknown because little has been explored; Among the visible architectural ensembles, the Main Plaza is made up of 2 pyramidal bases and the ball court accompanied by other smaller constructions, these buildings were intended for public and ceremonial activities, and by the regular ones they were associated with the worship of divinities, but there are also other relevant sets such as the Palace that can be defined as the headquarters or place where the ruling or priestly class lived and is made up of a series of platforms, patios, rooms, warehouses, tombs and access stairs, and even wells of water or temazcales where the degree of elaboration and refinement of the architecture predominates. Its main chronology is Postclassic around the year 1350 AD. C.
Mouth of the Copalita River
Mouth of the Copalita River
Copalita. Nahuatl term that means Place of Copal. This site is located on the western bank of the Copalita River, very close to the tourist development Huatulco bays. The first occupation of this pre-colonial settlement dates back to the Middle Pre-Classic period (600 BC). At this time, the construction of ceremonial platforms and residential terraces on the hills adjacent to the sea cliffs was manifested.
The classical period is the heyday of this city where there is already a ceremonial center that contains a ball court and a main building more than 20 meters high and which in turn contains, up to now, two tombs associated with the elite ruler.
Cerro de La Campana (Huijazoo)
Cerro de la Campana (Huijazoo)
It is located in the extreme north of the Etla Valley in the Cerro de la Campana, just 30 km from the City of Oaxaca.
The chronology indicates that the founding of Huijazoo dates back to 1450 BC, and its abandonment in AD 300. The site was an important ruling center of the western part of the Etla Valley during the classical period (250 - 800 AD). It controlled all the trade that took place in the region.
Huijazoo, like Monte Albán, is built on a hill.
The archaeological complex is made up of temples, palaces, a ball court, squares, shrines and tombs. In the highest part of the terrain there are three large platforms, of which two of them are aligned with the west-east orientation.
The Santo Domingo Cultural Center is a cultural complex that is located in what was one of the most important convents in the colony. It is a large convent in which the Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca, the Fray Francisco de Burgoa Library and the Ethnobotanical Garden have been established. The Néstor Sánchez Public Newspaper Library is located in a building that is part of the complex but dates from the 19th century. Apart from all these institutions brought together, the Santo Domingo Cultural Center has multipurpose spaces in the former convent, in which temporary exhibitions, conferences, courses, book presentations and concerts are held, among many other activities.
An ideal space for Alternative Tourism, Oaxaca offers activities such as walking, mountain biking, rappelling, climbing, zip-lining, horseback riding, observation of flora and fauna and more, in close contact with nature. The visitor can also witness the various aspects of local life, savor the gastronomy and enjoy the warmth of its people, as well as an offer of accommodation in hotels, ecotourism cabins, local houses or excellent camping areas. In its varied geography, it brings together not only a vast biodiversity, considered among the largest in the world, but also insurmountable cultural and ethnic riches, and the most different and beautiful natural settings.
Oaxaca's culinary tradition is extraordinary and deeply rooted. There are fourteen different ethnic groups, with their own dishes. It is an area of incomparable wealth for the tourist interested in gastronomy, ethnology and culture in general. Oaxaca is the land of mezcal, tlayudas and the famous seven moles. You have to dedicate several days to it. Oaxacan gastronomy is one of the cultural manifestations that identify and define its people, due to its variety, richness and complexity that have been preserved through the centuries. The best way to enjoy Oaxacan food is by tasting it, from the “strong” dishes that are used to enjoying at lunchtime; like the traditional Oaxacan snacks that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
The vast Oaxacan cuisine is distinguished by its tradition and the use of regional ingredients. Not for nothing has it positioned itself as the Best Tourist City in the World and the Best Gourmet Destination. In the presentation of the 2021 edition of The Mexico Gastronomic Guide "The Great Restaurants of Mexico" 278 restaurants located throughout the Mexican Republic were recognized, on this occasion, there were 16 Oaxacan restaurants that were placed in the list .
The City of Oaxaca is a destination that offers a great variety of tourist attractions and charms that leave anyone surprised. However, there are other places that are also worth knowing and are in the surroundings of the city, in whose surroundings various populations are located, each with its own personality and artisan tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes. .
The beaches of the coast of the state of Oaxaca are among the most beautiful and complete in Mexico, thanks to a developing tourist infrastructure and the rich gastronomy of the Pacific. Along the 533 kilometers of coastline, the beaches of Oaxaca offer a wide variety of activities for lovers of water sports: snorkeling, diving, sport fishing, surfing, among others ... there is something for everyone!
Places such as Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, Zipolite, Carrizalillo, Puerto Ángel or the beaches of Huatulco will offer you the possibility of contemplating beautiful sunsets, delighting in intense adventure tourism or witnessing the exciting release of newborn turtles.
Monte Albán is the most important archaeological zone of the Oaxacan entity, of unique regional importance due to the religious, political and economic control that the Zapotec state exercised over the population of the Valley of Oaxaca for more than thirteen centuries. It has been named by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage of Humanity along with the city of Oaxaca on December 11, 1987. The heritage of the Zapotec world reaches us through the magnificent archaeological sites designed in the Valley of Oaxaca. Of these, the city of Monte Albán stands out for its enormous importance as an economic, political and religious hub (it was the first urban complex in Mesoamerica); by its extension, almost as big as the current capital of Oaxaca; and for its long life, started around 500 BC and concluded around 850 AD
The name mezcal has its roots in one of the ancient native languages of the area and translates as 'agave (also known as maguey) cooked'. Although pre-Hispanic Oaxaqueños used maguey to make pulque (an undistilled alcoholic beverage), it seems that the real advances in mezcal production occurred when the Spanish arrived in Oaxaca; by bringing with them their knowledge of distillation processes.
Oaxaca City, the state capital, is famous for its architecture and rich cultural traditions. Oaxaca also has a splendid and varied cuisine and a spring climate throughout the year. UNESCO declared the city a Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Oaxaca is the most diverse state in Mexico. It has peaks that reach more than 3,000 meters in height, caverns that are among the deepest in the world, pristine beaches, secluded forests and sunny valleys. Oaxaca is rich in traditions and customs and has the largest ethnic population in Mexico.
Crafts in Oaxaca are so varied and of such good quality that they have become a tourist attraction. The ancestral traditions, the diversity in the ethnic groups, as well as the richness in the history of the state have been manifested in the great diversity of creations of more than half a million artisans that are registered in Oaxaca. In the center of the state is the City of Oaxaca, a fascinating and hospitable capital in whose surroundings various towns are located, each with its own personality and craft tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes.
In Oaxaca we are proud to have 5 communities that have been awarded the title of Magic Towns of Mexico, a Magic Town is a town that has symbolic attributes, legends, history, transcendent events, everyday life, in short magic that they emanate in each of their socio-cultural manifestations, and that today mean a great opportunity for tourist use. The Magical Towns Program contributes to revalue a group of populations in the country that have always been in the collective imagination of the nation as a whole and that represent fresh and different alternatives for national and foreign visitors.
In the state of Oaxaca there are many customs and traditions throughout the year, and within the state, said that they have the same purpose of celebration but with different things, in fact from one region to another or even more from one town to another, the Customs vary for perhaps details but that is what makes them authentic. Oaxaca has deep-rooted customs and traditions. All the holidays are celebrated, the profane and the religious ones. The festival calendar is extensive due to the diversity of ethnic groups, which they still conserve.
The Guelaguetza is an ancient tradition with pre-Hispanic roots related to agricultural ceremonies of gratitude to the gods for the arrival of the rains and the lifting of the harvest at the end of July and is the largest festival in Oaxaca. La Guelaguetza is a celebration of gratitude for the arrival of the rains and the harvests, in which representatives from all regions of the state gather in the capital to share their culture through dances, crafts and food.
Oaxaca, located in the southeast of Mexico, is an example of a singular miscegenation that even in the midst of modernity never forgets its origins. In its varied geography, it brings together not only a vast biodiversity, considered among the largest in the world, but also insurmountable cultural and ethnic riches, and the most different and beautiful natural settings.
Ideal space for Alternative tourism, Oaxaca offers activities such as hike, Mountain biking, abseiling, climbing, zipline, ride, Observation of flora and fauna and more, in close contact with the nature. The visitor can also witness the various aspects of local life, savor the gastronomy and enjoy the warmth of its people, as well as an offer of accommodation in hotels, ecotourism cabins, local houses or excellent camping areas.
Ecotourism in Oaxaca
Commonwealth Peoples of Oaxaca
«In Pueblos Mancomunados, the tourist activity started in 1994, in the community of Benito Juárez and then spread to all the towns that make up the Mancomún in 1998. For its operation it has had the participation of the Commissariat of Communal Assets, of local government instances through the Presidencies, Municipal Agencies and the General Assembly of Comuneros.
In 1998, it received support from the Canadian Embassy and the Commission for Environmental Cooperation to design the Nature Routes, a network of more than 100 kilometers of marked hiking and mountain biking trails that link the Populations of Pooled Towns. Likewise, that same year the community company was created Sierra Norte Expeditions and a promotion and direct sales office was opened in the city of Oaxaca. "
San Antonio Cuajimoloyas
San Antonio Cuajimoloyas
San Antonio Cuajimoloyas is 56 kilometers (1.5 hrs.) From the city of Oaxaca. It is one of the highest altitude communities in the region: 3,200 meters above sea level.
It has majestic natural settings; it is an ideal place to perform walking tours, Practice the Mountain biking and the ride enjoying a wide variety of Flora and fauna. Here you can observe and enjoy spectacular Rocky formations, beautiful and peaceful plainsas well as lovely sidewalks flanked by rows of towering maguey plants.
Do not miss our already traditional regional fair of Wild mushrooms, which takes place the penultimate weekend of the month of July in the framework of The Guelaguetza. San Antonio Cuajimoloyas, an encounter with nature!
Services:
Cabins in the town and in "La parcela", in the middle of the forest.
Community hotel "Yaa - Cuetzi". Simple but comfortable rooms.
Camping areas
Traditional medicine
Spectacular zipline: 1,000 meters long. Enjoy an eagle view of the community and the forest!
Community dining rooms and trout farms "El Bocadito", "La Zanja" and / or "El Arcoíris (Tarajeas)".
Events room with capacity for 50 people. It has a projector, screen, tables, chairs, kitchen ... and even Coffee Break service!
Community projects: Mushroom making, sarcina crafts, Serrano bread making, talks about medicinal plants.
Benito Juarez
Benito Juárez Oaxaca
Benito Juárez is located 2,800 meters above sea level, but only an hour and a half from the city of Oaxaca.
It has multiple natural attractions: lush coniferous wooded vegetation, pine varieties, oyamel, oak, strawberry trees, ailes, etc. Get to know the wooded area «Los Pinabetes», with 300 year old pines of life and even 30 meters high. It has routes in hike, Mountain biking and ride.
Do not miss the visit to his lookout, with an impressive view over the central valleys, where you will also test your courage when crossing its imposing 150 meter long suspension bridge, as well as its system 3 zip lines that add up to 300 meters in length. Also be sure to visit Mr. Eli's family farm and / or Stone House. Benito Juárez, a natural escape!
Services:
Cabins in the town
Tourist House (“Tourist Yuú”): For large groups (21 people). A room with a glass ceiling, to observe the stars.
Camping areas
Community restaurant and trout farms.
Community guides.
Zip lines with a total length of 300. The highest reaches a height of 80 meters; 150 meter long suspension bridge.
Community projects: Making artisan bread, typical gastronomy workshops, get to know the "Mycological" project on the production of mushrooms and their medicinal properties.
San Miguel Amatlán
San Miguel Amatlán
San Miguel Amatlán awaits you 62 kilometers from the state capital, about two hours from the city of Oaxaca.
It houses an enormous natural beauty, incomparable landscapesinteresting, ancient natural treasures colonial vestiges, as well as ideal places for hike, the Mountain biking and the ride. In your little site museum You will be able to learn more about the history of the Commonwealth Peoples.
You will be able to participate in productive processes such as the cultivation of mushrooms and the production of Serrano bread, or enjoy the delicious gastronomy local and regional amid the hospitality of its inhabitants. San Miguel Amatlán, a place to remember!
Services:
Cabins in the town
Camping areas
Community restaurant
Traditional medicine
Community guides
Community projects: artisan women, cultivation of mushrooms, making artisan bread and community day in the field.
Santa Catarina Lachatao
Santa Catarina Lachatao
This unique town, located in the rugged mountains of Oaxaca, has an altitude of 2,100 meters above sea level, and retains all the provincial charm, which is manifested in the unmistakable features of its vernacular architecture, like the cobbled streets, the houses with adobe walls and tile roofs, and the local temple of green quarry, visible from some neighboring communities.
In addition to the friendly and warm treatment of its inhabitants, Lachatao offers the possibility of entering its pine forests, oak and arbutus, traveling walking trails that meander between streams; beautiful places and impressive viewpoints from where you can admire the magnificent spectacle of sunrise or sunset. The visitor can enjoy the gastronomy typical traditional with dishes such as "chichilo" or serrano moles, accompanied by a good pulque or exquisite tepache.
The natural attractions can be seen through different routes: "Cerro del Jaguar", "La Virgen" and "the Ex Hacienda Minera 5 Señores".
Guides for adventure or mystical hiking through mountain landscapes, rivers, flora and fauna of the Sierra Juárez.
Restaurant-viewpoint with regional food
Cabins with or without kitchen, fireplace, garden, fire pit and hot water.
Zapotec wisdom in meetings, workshops and retreats, where music, plastic arts, gastronomy, traditional medicine, sidereal observation and knowledge of the community are combined in harmony to… »experience nature to the fullest».
Cerro del jaguar: walking ritual on the cerro del jaguar.
Guided visit to the community museum
The Nevería
The Nevería
Small community located 62 kilometers (two hours) from the city of Oaxaca. It is the youngest and smallest of the Pueblos Mancomunados in the Sierra Norte. It has only a hundred inhabitants, whose houses rest on a small valley between mountains.
Latzi Belli, is the voice in Zapotec that gives its name to this community whose inhabitants were dedicated to the manufacture and commercialization of ice at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, taking advantage of the intense winter cold between the months of November and February there the name «La Nevería».
Here you can enter contact with the nature through its unique routes in hike, cycling and ride, traveling Farmlands and pine and oak forests, where they abound orchids and bromeliads, various birds and mammals of temperate forests. In addition to having the opportunity to live "a community day" participating in the daily activities of local families.
Don't miss the route «The 7 colors of Corn«, Where you will learn about our effort to conserve native corn. La Nevería, naturally unique!
Services:
Cabins
Homestay accommodation: If you are interested in learning more about the way of life in our community, ask about this accommodation option.
Camping areas
Community guides
Community restaurant. Don't forget to ask about the watercress dish!
Events room with capacity for 100 people. It has a projector, screen, tables, chairs and a kitchen.
Zipline and Aerial Skill Games: Don't forget to jump off our 200-meter long Zipline and visit our aerial skill playground!
Education and sustainability routes: If your visit is for educational purposes, we recommend you request the route "Productive projects" where you will learn about the comprehensive development model of our community,
Voluntary work: Participate in the work carried out in greenhouses.
Cooking workshops based on organic products and tortilla making.
Saint Martha Latuvi
Saint Martha Latuvi
Santa Martha Latuvi, a picturesque community that stands out for its natural beauty and the hospitality of its inhabitants. Latuvi, "rolled sheet" in Zapotec, is located 2,400 meters above sea level and 53 kilometers from the city of Oaxaca.
In Latuvi you will awaken each of your senses through its 7 routes that you can travel in hike, cycling or horse. Like the waterfall The Molcajete or the route «Royal road«, A pre-Hispanic road that was used by muleteers to market their products to the central valleys and the Gulf of Mexico.
Don't miss the traditional apple fair on July 25 and 26 and visits to Mrs. Martha or Mrs. Julia to learn about the process of preparing the pulque and the tepache. Santa Martha Latuvi, a path towards nature!
Services:
Cabins with hammocks outside to rest during the day.
Homestay accommodation: If you are interested in learning more about the way of life in our community, ask about this accommodation option.
Camping areas
Community dining rooms and trout farms: “Cara de León” and / or ”El Manzanal”. In the latter you can fish your own trout.
Traditional medicine.
Community guides
Productive projects: work in the field, harvesting fruits (in season), workshops for making jams, Serrano bread, making pulque and tepache, a millenary drink.
Large flat
San Isidro Llano Grande
Llano Grande was founded at the beginning of the 19th century and is located in one of the higher areas of the Oaxacan orography. This community of Zapotec origin is one of the cleanest in the country: its inhabitants dedicate their efforts to the care and preservation of its extensive and beautiful wooded areas.
Just 66 kilometers (2 hrs) from the city of Oaxaca you can enjoy from quiet walks in the woods, rest in comfortable cabins and watch birds or venture into the world of Mountain biking through incredible trails surrounded by a vegetation enviable that will make your visit an adventure. Llano Grande, a paradise close to heaven!
Services:
Cabins
Camping areas
Dining rooms
Community guides
Legends and myths: Learn about the stories and legends of our communities in a visit to older adults in the population.
Events room with capacity for 50 people. It has a projector, screen, tables, chairs, kitchen ... and even Coffee Break service!
Bird watching.
Typical cooking workshops.
Bread workshops.
Corn tortilla making workshop.
Ixtlán de Juárez
Ixtlán de Juárez
This region is considered one of the 17 most important areas in the world for its biodiversity (WWF). For adventure lovers they offer zipline, aerial games, abseiling, climbing, Mountain bike, Hike, cycling, Observation of flora and fauna, fishing, temazcal, climbing, ride, abseiling and speleology.
For those who enjoy nature, they make tours of bird watching, photo safari and ecosystem appreciation such as the cloud forest and jungle, as well as tours by local industries such as traditional bakeries, charcoal ovens, thus generating low environmental impact and an improvement in the quality of life of the inhabitants of the region.
In Ecoturixtlan Alternative Tourism (a communal company belonging to Ixtlán de Juárez, belonging to the Sierra Norte of the state of Oaxaca) have an environmental training room for 250 people with cafeteria service and necessary technological equipment (computer, cannon, video, TV and sound equipment) to hold meetings, workshops, congresses and conventions, as well as transportation service from Ixtlán and from Oaxaca City (prior reservation). An Adventure you will never forget!
Attractions:
Cerro del Cuachirindoo viewpoint Caves of the Arch Mesophyll forest of Montain Temple of Santo Tomás from the 17th century Industrial park
Activities:
Adventure activities • Tour to the Mesophilic Forest and Jungle. Tour to the Cerro del Cuachirindoo and Temple of Santo Tomás. Tour of the recreational park (caves, trout). Tour to the bromeliad forest. Travel to the country of the clouds. Hike to the Cerro de los 40 days. Mesophyll waterfall. among many other activities ...
Capulálpam de Méndez
Capulálpam de Méndez
Capulálpam is a beautiful corner that still preserves the placidity of the province, framed by its traditional architecture, where adobe, wood, tile and yellow quarry stand out. All this, coupled with the hospitality of its people, has allowed Capulálpam to be named as «Magic Town«.
Capulálpam Mágico Community Ecological Tourism is a company that emerged in 2005 as an initiative that with the support of the General Assembly of community members and society, has as priorities the sustainable use of natural and cultural heritage, the generation of jobs for men and women of the Community, promoting the constant training of collaborators to increase the competitiveness of their services and activities, the consumption of local products as well as generating the conditions for the diversification of tourist activity in the destination.
Be in the Magical Town of Capulálpam it is synonymous with harmony, tranquility, magic that is perceived in the air, in the greeting, in the daily life of our daily lives, which are translated into unique experiences that they warmly offer to our visitors.
The visitor can enjoy a pass through the cobbled and steep streets, or know the Temple of San Mateo (patron of the town), built of yellow quarry and decorated inside with unique precious wood altarpieces dating from the 16th and 17th centuries.
At Traditional Medicine Center, traditional doctors share their ancestral experience through «clean«, massages or comforting baths of temazcal, and offer natural medicines made by themselves.
A visit to the "Los Sabinos" area is recommended, where tall and ancient trees rise; to the "El Calvario" viewpoint, which offers a spectacular panoramic view of the town; or "La Cueva del Arroyo", where nature has shaped different and capricious figures. Another recommended route is to the place "La Y", either on foot or by mountain bike, admiring pine and oak forests, as well as species of bromeliads, ferns or fungi, as well as some birds,
In the recreational center «Los Molinos» you can enjoy the vertigo of a zipline 100 meters long that crosses the river from a height of 30 meters, and then crosses the suspension bridge. It is also possible to rent a bike and take the tour within the center itself. A last route is to the «Cerro Pelado», to walk through an ancient path or "royal road", which communicated Capulálpam with other towns in the Sierra Juárez.
Services:
Cabins with cafeteria service.
Meeting room with wifi service. (up to 40 people)
Camp area in the park «Los Sabinos».
Restaurant in the recreational center «Los Molinos».
Bank terminal.
Billing.
Santiago Apoala
Santiago Apoala
Santiago Apoala ("Where they distribute the water" in Mixtec) owes its name to the abundance of the vital liquid in its territory. Apoala offers the visitor unparalleled natural beauties: rocks, cannons, waterfalls and valleys, caves with wide galleries and natural viewpoints. Due to the unique orography of the Mixteca region, mountain biking represents a true adventure, traveling through paths and trails in the middle of beautiful valleys.
During the tours there are various attractions, such as cannons, or the so-called «ghost forests»Of oak and hay, in addition to Flora and fauna diverse, and a unique set of prehispanic terraces on the slopes of one of the hills of the town. The visitor can appreciate the beautiful show that the river water, of intense emerald tones, offers to the view while running between stones, as well as to know the various «water eyes»That nourishes the channel, which eventually flows into the Papaloápam River.
Within the framework of this unique paradise cradled between rocks, interesting walks or mountain bike tours can be made through the impressive places of Apoala such as: La Gruta, El Cañón (twin rocks), El Mirador, the Cola de Serpiente waterfall, Peña de the Guacamayas (cave paintings) and the Peña del Diablo.
As a complement to its natural beauties, the manifestations of the Apoala culture find one of its best examples in the Temple of Santiago Apóstol, probably erected in the 16th century. Small in size, its main façade is made up of a portal and a tower with a single-body bell tower. In the corners of the atrium there are posas chapels, common at the time of its construction.
For its part, the local library houses a facsimile of the Nuttall Codex, which explains the origin and history of the Mixtec race and its peoples. In addition to having a description of the region and its characteristics, the document narrates the heroic deeds of a great ruler named Eight Deer Jaguar Claw.
SERVICES:
Lodging: 12 adobe cabins with capacity for 44 people, bathroom and fireplace and tourist inn with 3 rooms with capacity for 6 people; each room has a bathroom.
Feeding: Restaurant and dining room.
Equipment rental: Mountain bike, tents for 2,3 and 5 people and hands-free lamps.
Other services: Ecotourism office, community guides, camping areas, campfire areas and tours.
Activities: Ethno-tourism, observation of flora and fauna, walking and mountain biking.
Grottos of San Sebastián
The caves are famous for being the largest in all of America with their more than 1,000 meters deep and more than 60 kilometers long. One part is open to the public and comprises 5 chambers with heights from 20 to 70 meters with a length of 400 meters. To enter you can request the support of a guide with a cost from 60 pesos per person.
The caves have more than 20 entrances scattered throughout the region. First explored in the 1970s, they were found to join a nearby cavern called Li Nita. This cave system is unique in the world and therefore a team of cavers from UNAM conquered its darkness by descending more than 1,000 meters to come face to face with the bowels of the earth in 2015.
We find San Sebastián de las Grutas interesting because they have managed to exploit it in a way that integrates various activities for the traveler. For example, you can enter the underground river that gives life to the community and that in dry season has crystal clear waters.
The town offers a beautiful view full of vegetation in which if you look carefully you could come across a white-tailed deer, a green toucan or some common animals of the region.
People who travel to San Sebastián complement their experience supporting local tourism with the purchase of mezcal from the region and handicrafts. The most famous are the handicrafts carved in wood and the weaving of the palm that becomes the famous mats.
In the state of Oaxaca there are many customs and traditions throughout the year, and within the state, said that they have the same purpose of celebration but with different things, in fact from one region to another or even more from one town to another, the Customs vary for perhaps details but that is what makes them authentic. Oaxaca has deep-rooted customs and traditions. All the holidays are celebrated, the profane and the religious ones. The festival calendar is extensive due to the diversity of ethnic groups, which they still conserve.
The beaches of the coast of the state of Oaxaca are among the most beautiful and complete in Mexico, thanks to a developing tourist infrastructure and the rich gastronomy of the Pacific. Along the 533 kilometers of coastline, the beaches of Oaxaca offer a wide variety of activities for lovers of water sports: snorkeling, diving, sport fishing, surfing, among others ... there is something for everyone!
Places such as Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, Zipolite, Carrizalillo, Puerto Ángel or the beaches of Huatulco will offer you the possibility of contemplating beautiful sunsets, delighting in intense adventure tourism or witnessing the exciting release of newborn turtles.
Oaxaca's culinary tradition is extraordinary and deeply rooted. There are fourteen different ethnic groups, with their own dishes. It is an area of incomparable wealth for the tourist interested in gastronomy, ethnology and culture in general. Oaxaca is the land of mezcal, tlayudas and the famous seven moles. You have to dedicate several days to it. Oaxacan gastronomy is one of the cultural manifestations that identify and define its people, due to its variety, richness and complexity that have been preserved through the centuries. The best way to enjoy Oaxacan food is by tasting it, from the “strong” dishes that are used to enjoying at lunchtime; like the traditional Oaxacan snacks that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
Oaxaca is famous throughout the world for its archaeological sites and the history they keep. Discover Monte Alban, Mitla, Yagul and more of these remote sites, which have made Oaxaca a World Heritage city, according to Unesco. The original Zapotec and Mixtec peoples of Oaxaca lived in the cities and religious centers of the valley of this city until the time of Spanish colonization. Today, there are still vestiges of these towns and places where you can meet them.
In Oaxaca we are proud to have 5 communities that have been awarded the title of Magic Towns of Mexico, a Magic Town is a town that has symbolic attributes, legends, history, transcendent events, everyday life, in short magic that they emanate in each of their socio-cultural manifestations, and that today mean a great opportunity for tourist use. The Magical Towns Program contributes to revalue a group of populations in the country that have always been in the collective imagination of the nation as a whole and that represent fresh and different alternatives for national and foreign visitors.
Oaxaca City, the state capital, is famous for its architecture and rich cultural traditions. Oaxaca also has a splendid and varied cuisine and a spring climate throughout the year. UNESCO declared the city a Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Oaxaca is the most diverse state in Mexico. It has peaks that reach more than 3,000 meters in height, caverns that are among the deepest in the world, pristine beaches, secluded forests and sunny valleys. Oaxaca is rich in traditions and customs and has the largest ethnic population in Mexico.
Crafts in Oaxaca are so varied and of such good quality that they have become a tourist attraction. The ancestral traditions, the diversity in the ethnic groups, as well as the richness in the history of the state have been manifested in the great diversity of creations of more than half a million artisans that are registered in Oaxaca. In the center of the state is the City of Oaxaca, a fascinating and hospitable capital in whose surroundings various towns are located, each with its own personality and craft tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes.
The vast Oaxacan cuisine is distinguished by its tradition and the use of regional ingredients. Not for nothing has it positioned itself as the Best Tourist City in the World and the Best Gourmet Destination. In the presentation of the 2021 edition of The Mexico Gastronomic Guide "The Great Restaurants of Mexico" 278 restaurants located throughout the Mexican Republic were recognized, on this occasion, there were 16 Oaxacan restaurants that were placed in the list .
The Santo Domingo Cultural Center is a cultural complex that is located in what was one of the most important convents in the colony. It is a large convent in which the Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca, the Fray Francisco de Burgoa Library and the Ethnobotanical Garden have been established. The Néstor Sánchez Public Newspaper Library is located in a building that is part of the complex but dates from the 19th century. Apart from all these institutions brought together, the Santo Domingo Cultural Center has multipurpose spaces in the former convent, in which temporary exhibitions, conferences, courses, book presentations and concerts are held, among many other activities.
The name mezcal has its roots in one of the ancient native languages of the area and translates as 'agave (also known as maguey) cooked'. Although pre-Hispanic Oaxaqueños used maguey to make pulque (an undistilled alcoholic beverage), it seems that the real advances in mezcal production occurred when the Spanish arrived in Oaxaca; by bringing with them their knowledge of distillation processes.
Monte Albán is the most important archaeological zone of the Oaxacan entity, of unique regional importance due to the religious, political and economic control that the Zapotec state exercised over the population of the Valley of Oaxaca for more than thirteen centuries. It has been named by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage of Humanity along with the city of Oaxaca on December 11, 1987. The heritage of the Zapotec world reaches us through the magnificent archaeological sites designed in the Valley of Oaxaca. Of these, the city of Monte Albán stands out for its enormous importance as an economic, political and religious hub (it was the first urban complex in Mesoamerica); by its extension, almost as big as the current capital of Oaxaca; and for its long life, started around 500 BC and concluded around 850 AD
The City of Oaxaca is a destination that offers a great variety of tourist attractions and charms that leave anyone surprised. However, there are other places that are also worth knowing and are in the surroundings of the city, in whose surroundings various populations are located, each with its own personality and artisan tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes. .
The Guelaguetza is an ancient tradition with pre-Hispanic roots related to agricultural ceremonies of gratitude to the gods for the arrival of the rains and the lifting of the harvest at the end of July and is the largest festival in Oaxaca. La Guelaguetza is a celebration of gratitude for the arrival of the rains and the harvests, in which representatives from all regions of the state gather in the capital to share their culture through dances, crafts and food.
The beaches of the coast of the state of Oaxaca are among the most beautiful and complete in Mexico, thanks to a developing tourist infrastructure and the rich gastronomy of the Pacific.
Along the 533 kilometers of coastline, the beaches of Oaxaca offer a wide variety of activities for lovers of water sports: snorkeling, diving, sport fishing, surfing, among others ... there is something for everyone!
Places such as Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, Zipolite, Carrizalillo, Puerto Ángel or the beaches of Huatulco will offer you the possibility of contemplating beautiful sunsets, delighting in intense adventure tourism or witnessing the exciting release of newborn turtles.
Oaxaca Beaches Map
Huatulco
Huatulco
Huatulco is one of the main travel destinations on the southern coast of Mexico. It comprises dozens of picturesque beaches of different types and sizes, along the Pacific coast. Whether you want to dive among coral reefs and colorful fish or enjoy the local delicacies offered by the charming little beachfront towns, the region is ideal for vacationing.
Drive a car or travel by boat from Santa Cruz until Delivery, one of the most hidden beaches in the area of Santa Cruz in Huatulco. Soak up the soft sand while your children play with their buckets and shovels. Swim in the calm waters of the Pacific Ocean. Bring your scuba gear or rent snorkel gear on the beach to swim with the fish around the colorful reef.
Take a break for lunch or a meal at one of the charming restaurants around the bay. Fresh oysters are a specialty of the place. After the crowds leave in the afternoon, stick around to quietly watch the sunset.
Visit the neighbor Chahué Beach, which is surrounded by moss-covered cliffs and hills. Lie on the beach that is often empty of people and listen to the waves crash against the rocks. After sunbathing during the day, take a night walk in the town of La Crucecita. This charming area has a plaza, shops and traditional restaurants where you can buy homemade ice cream. Listen to typical Mexican folk music and mariachi, while enjoying a tropical drink of coconut water or mezcal.
Spend an afternoon at the beach in San Agustín Beach, just over a kilometer and a half (one mile) long, in the western region of Santa Cruz. Dinner next to the beach in one of the small restaurants that serve fresh fish and seafood. Dive in the calm waters or go snorkeling over the shallow reef.
Many visitors combine a visit to Oaxaca with a trip to Huatulco, which is 370 kilometers (230 miles) to the north. After a few days of exploring the cobblestone streets of the colonial city inland, take a well-deserved break on the beaches of Huatulco.
Huatulco is a very complete tourist destination and the most famous in the entire state. It is characterized not only by its wide range of tourist services, but also by its beautiful landscapes that have made it a protected natural area.
The beaches of Huatulco are a very good alternative to visit with the family, since they have such gentle waves that some even look like natural pools.
The nine bays of Huatulco are:
Huatulco
San Agustin Bay
Chachacual Bay
Cacaluta Bay
Maguey Bay
Organ Bay
Santa Cruz Bay
Chahué Bay
Tangolunda Bay
Rabbit Bay.
Huatulco Hotels
Do you want a luxury accommodation? So, the Tangolunda bay is your ideal option. In the most exclusive bay of Huatulco, most of the Hotels in Huatulco are all inclusive of international chains with several options of restaurants, swimming pool, entertainment and a privileged location in front of the sea.
Tours in Huatulco
Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido is one of the best coastal towns in the Mexican Pacific, which is why it is very famous among backpackers, families, honeymooners and surfers. Soak up the sun on the beautiful beaches, ride the big waves, and observe the colorful marine life of this region. In the evening, choose from bohemian bars, seafood restaurants, and friendly nightclubs. Puerto Escondido is also an ideal starting point for ecotourism adventures and coffee tours.
The beaches, which stretch in both directions from the Principal BeachThey are the biggest attraction in the area. You can reach them on foot, by taxi or by water taxi. Watch expert surfers ride the big waves at the famous Zicatela Beach or learn to surf the gentle waves of Tip.
The bay of Puerto Angelito It is located west of the city center and has two small family beaches. Head to the beach of Puerto Angelito to swim with snorkel, participate in dolphin watching excursions and relax in the casual restaurants located in front of the beach. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and calm water of neighboring Manzanillo Beach. Travel west of this area to reach the secluded beaches of Carrizalillo and Bacocho, which are surrounded by cliffs and are ideal places to watch the best sunsets.
Enjoy nature on kayak and birdwatching tours through lagoons surrounded by mangroves. The Manialtepec lagoon is just 11 miles (18 kilometers) from Puerto Escondido, while the Lagunas de Chacahua National Park it's about an hour's drive west of the city.
Learn about ancient fishing customs and try traditional swordfish dishes in the town of Mazunte. Visit the Mexican Turtle Center, which is dedicated to the conservation of sea turtles. You can also take other common day trips, such as tours of the coffee plantations that are located in the surroundings, such as the Finca El Faro and the Finca El Pacífico.
When you return to the city, have fun in the bars, nightclubs and restaurants of El Adoquín. Visit the artisan shops and stop to watch the street performers. The area surrounding the Zicatela Beach It is also full of nightlife options and is very popular with surfers.
Take a flight to him Puerto Escondido International Airport, which is less than a 10 minute drive from the city center. The climate in this region is warm and sunny throughout the year, and you can find an especially lively atmosphere during the November Festivities, which last all month and include music, dance, food and surf events.
When you visit this beach destination in Oaxaca, don't miss:
Puerto Escondido
Take a surf lesson to master the waves
Visit Lagunas de Chacahua National Park
Walk along El Adoquín and buy souvenirs
See the bioluminescence in the Manialtepec lagoon
Puerto Escondido Hotels
The hotel options in Puerto Escondido are varied, from small accommodations at cheap rates to luxury hotels.
Tours in Puerto Escondido
Zipolite
Zipolite
Zipolite in Oaxaca stands out among the Beaches of Mexico, for being the place with almost total exclusivity where you can practice the nudism without any restriction. In fact, this is the reason why it receives a large number of European tourists during the year.
Zipolite is the first beach that is positioned as a true nudist zone in Mexico. As the story goes, in the 60s there was a total solar eclipse and people gathered near this unspoiled area to observe it. While the event was taking place, they found out about the existence of the little paradise and decided to enjoy its waters under the influence of its essence. hippie: naked.
Can you imagine how comforting it is to enjoy water, sun and heat in such a natural way? This beach is ideal to experience that feeling of well-being and fulfillment. The best thing is that everyone is on their business and there is no one to criticize or judge.
Relax on the beach, in this place of golden sand, open sea and intense waves, it is better to have evenings of contemplation than to go swimming because most of the year the tide is strong. It is recommended to buy food and drink in the palapas that surround Zipolite and lie down to contemplate its blue waters. Get your cameras ready to take photos of the stunning sunsets!
When the sun goes down the atmosphere is delicious because everything becomes even more hippie and relaxed. On its main street, the only cobbled street in Zipolite, you will find some small bars and many artists doing street shows. There are several places and restaurants that offer live music and groups like The Doors, Janis joplin, Bob marley and Led zeppelin rumble along the walls. In the palapas the party is also good and they organize bonfires with dances and bongos.
Shambhala It is a small ceremonial center located on the top of a Zipolite hill; It is also known as the “Meditation Hill". Here tourists come to have spiritual encounters and to be in contact with nature. They organize activities with healers and experts in healing.
If you stay several days in Zipolite, go to San Agustinillo, a small town located a few kilometers away where you can surf and on days when the tide is not high, swim. Make sure to go to Mazunte to spend an afternoon there and on the way to Punta Cometa, the most prominent mountain in Mexico in the South Pacific where you climb to see incredible sunsets or discover beaches that are hidden between huge rocks.
Zipolite
Also take the opportunity to visit the beaches of Puerto Angel as Nozzle, a secret and intimate place; in this area it is possible to practice snorkeling or kayaking. If you want to eat very fresh seafood, we suggest you Camarón Bay and Camarones Beach.
While walking or sunbathing, some people are likely to approach them to offer group tours to see places near Zipolite aboard boats. They are recommended tours because, in addition to being cheap, they allow you to observe unspoiled landscapes and epic sunsets.
Zipolite Hotels
Accommodations in Zipolite are modest and not at all sumptuous. However, you will find good places with all services.
Mazunte
Mazunte
Mazunte, Oaxaca is one of the treasures of Mexico, it is even considered one of the magical towns of Oaxaca for its various tourist spots, delicious cuisine and impressive ecosystems. Mazunte is a small town, located on the Pacific coast in the State of Oaxaca. Very popular for its sea turtles and currently one of the meeting points of the same, most important worldwide.
Without a doubt, you can swim and enjoy the sun on one of the most beautiful beaches in Oaxaca, so we recommend bringing a camera to document the good times of your trip.
In addition, it is one of the favorite places to camp in Mexico; Since the weather in Mazunte is ideal to enjoy one or two nights under the starry sky while you sleep to the rhythm of listening to the waves hitting.
Places to visit in Mazunte
Mazunte, Mexico has many must-see places that you must visit. You certainly have to discover why they are so popular and recommended for family visits.
Mexican Turtle Center
First of all, this center is dedicated to the protection, care and conservation of the sea turtles that visit this side of the Mexican coast.
Laguna Ventanilla
This impressive destination will not only create awareness of the benefits of caring for the environment, it will also impress you by the spectacular roots of hundreds of trees and the sighting of reptiles such as crocodiles, that live there.
Punta Cometa
It is one of the Mazunte beaches that you must visit, we recommend you start going up to the beach at 4:30 pm, to enjoy one of the most beautiful visual shows in Oaxaca. however, it is characterized by its strong waves that make it practically unsuitable for swimming.
Mazunte
Mermejita Beach
If you need a place to disconnect, Playa Mermejita is the right place to do so, so we recommend staying in the various cabins in the area. Be careful with the sea there! It is not very convenient to go swimming, because its waves are very strong and an accident could occur.
Mazunte Beach
In the first place, this beach has an extension of 1 kilometer of golden sand, with warm, beautiful and crystalline waters; that stand out for their green tones. Looking like an almost virgin place. It is the ideal place to have a quiet time and enjoy the sound of strong waves in the sea. In addition to contemplating sunrises or meditating with ease, due to the low number of people you will find.
El Rinconcito
For its part, El Rinconcito it has little waves because it is located at the end of the bay. For this reason, it is usually the most visited in the area.
Mazunte Hotels
As for lodging in Mazunte, it is generally cheaper than in Huatulco as it is a fairly quiet destination and without large resorts. The options are charming and blend in perfectly with the natural surroundings of the place.
Oaxaca is famous throughout the world for its archaeological sites and the history they keep. Discover Monte Alban, Mitla, Yagul and more of these remote sites, which have made Oaxaca a World Heritage city, according to Unesco. The original Zapotec and Mixtec peoples of Oaxaca lived in the cities and religious centers of the valley of this city until the time of Spanish colonization. Today, there are still vestiges of these towns and places where you can meet them.
Crafts in Oaxaca are so varied and of such good quality that they have become a tourist attraction. The ancestral traditions, the diversity in the ethnic groups, as well as the richness in the history of the state have been manifested in the great diversity of creations of more than half a million artisans that are registered in Oaxaca. In the center of the state is the City of Oaxaca, a fascinating and hospitable capital in whose surroundings various towns are located, each with its own personality and craft tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes.
The City of Oaxaca is a destination that offers a great variety of tourist attractions and charms that leave anyone surprised. However, there are other places that are also worth knowing and are in the surroundings of the city, in whose surroundings various populations are located, each with its own personality and artisan tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes. .
An ideal space for Alternative Tourism, Oaxaca offers activities such as walking, mountain biking, rappelling, climbing, zip-lining, horseback riding, observation of flora and fauna and more, in close contact with nature. The visitor can also witness the various aspects of local life, savor the gastronomy and enjoy the warmth of its people, as well as an offer of accommodation in hotels, ecotourism cabins, local houses or excellent camping areas. In its varied geography, it brings together not only a vast biodiversity, considered among the largest in the world, but also insurmountable cultural and ethnic riches, and the most different and beautiful natural settings.
The Santo Domingo Cultural Center is a cultural complex that is located in what was one of the most important convents in the colony. It is a large convent in which the Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca, the Fray Francisco de Burgoa Library and the Ethnobotanical Garden have been established. The Néstor Sánchez Public Newspaper Library is located in a building that is part of the complex but dates from the 19th century. Apart from all these institutions brought together, the Santo Domingo Cultural Center has multipurpose spaces in the former convent, in which temporary exhibitions, conferences, courses, book presentations and concerts are held, among many other activities.
The name mezcal has its roots in one of the ancient native languages of the area and translates as 'agave (also known as maguey) cooked'. Although pre-Hispanic Oaxaqueños used maguey to make pulque (an undistilled alcoholic beverage), it seems that the real advances in mezcal production occurred when the Spanish arrived in Oaxaca; by bringing with them their knowledge of distillation processes.
Oaxaca's culinary tradition is extraordinary and deeply rooted. There are fourteen different ethnic groups, with their own dishes. It is an area of incomparable wealth for the tourist interested in gastronomy, ethnology and culture in general. Oaxaca is the land of mezcal, tlayudas and the famous seven moles. You have to dedicate several days to it. Oaxacan gastronomy is one of the cultural manifestations that identify and define its people, due to its variety, richness and complexity that have been preserved through the centuries. The best way to enjoy Oaxacan food is by tasting it, from the “strong” dishes that are used to enjoying at lunchtime; like the traditional Oaxacan snacks that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
The Guelaguetza is an ancient tradition with pre-Hispanic roots related to agricultural ceremonies of gratitude to the gods for the arrival of the rains and the lifting of the harvest at the end of July and is the largest festival in Oaxaca. La Guelaguetza is a celebration of gratitude for the arrival of the rains and the harvests, in which representatives from all regions of the state gather in the capital to share their culture through dances, crafts and food.
In the state of Oaxaca there are many customs and traditions throughout the year, and within the state, said that they have the same purpose of celebration but with different things, in fact from one region to another or even more from one town to another, the Customs vary for perhaps details but that is what makes them authentic. Oaxaca has deep-rooted customs and traditions. All the holidays are celebrated, the profane and the religious ones. The festival calendar is extensive due to the diversity of ethnic groups, which they still conserve.
Oaxaca City, the state capital, is famous for its architecture and rich cultural traditions. Oaxaca also has a splendid and varied cuisine and a spring climate throughout the year. UNESCO declared the city a Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Oaxaca is the most diverse state in Mexico. It has peaks that reach more than 3,000 meters in height, caverns that are among the deepest in the world, pristine beaches, secluded forests and sunny valleys. Oaxaca is rich in traditions and customs and has the largest ethnic population in Mexico.
The vast Oaxacan cuisine is distinguished by its tradition and the use of regional ingredients. Not for nothing has it positioned itself as the Best Tourist City in the World and the Best Gourmet Destination. In the presentation of the 2021 edition of The Mexico Gastronomic Guide "The Great Restaurants of Mexico" 278 restaurants located throughout the Mexican Republic were recognized, on this occasion, there were 16 Oaxacan restaurants that were placed in the list .
In Oaxaca we are proud to have 5 communities that have been awarded the title of Magic Towns of Mexico, a Magic Town is a town that has symbolic attributes, legends, history, transcendent events, everyday life, in short magic that they emanate in each of their socio-cultural manifestations, and that today mean a great opportunity for tourist use. The Magical Towns Program contributes to revalue a group of populations in the country that have always been in the collective imagination of the nation as a whole and that represent fresh and different alternatives for national and foreign visitors.
Monte Albán is the most important archaeological zone of the Oaxacan entity, of unique regional importance due to the religious, political and economic control that the Zapotec state exercised over the population of the Valley of Oaxaca for more than thirteen centuries. It has been named by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage of Humanity along with the city of Oaxaca on December 11, 1987. The heritage of the Zapotec world reaches us through the magnificent archaeological sites designed in the Valley of Oaxaca. Of these, the city of Monte Albán stands out for its enormous importance as an economic, political and religious hub (it was the first urban complex in Mesoamerica); by its extension, almost as big as the current capital of Oaxaca; and for its long life, started around 500 BC and concluded around 850 AD
The Oaxaca's culinary tradition it is extraordinary and very deeply rooted. There are fourteen different ethnic groups, with their own dishes.
It is an area of incomparable wealth for the tourist interested in gastronomy, ethnology and culture in general. Oaxaca is the land of mezcal, tlayudas, and the famous seven moles. You have to dedicate several days to it. Oaxacan gastronomy is one of the cultural manifestations that identify and define its people, due to its variety, richness and complexity that have been preserved through the centuries. The best way to enjoy Oaxacan food is by tasting it, from the “strong” dishes that are used to enjoying at lunchtime; like the traditional Oaxacan snacks that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
In the process of preparing Oaxacan dishes, a series of ingredients are combined, starting with beef, pork, mutton, turkey, chicken or fish: up to the presence of chili peppers, tomatoes, aromatic herbs and spices.
The gastronomy of Oaxaca has a variety of moles of all flavors and colors, we find in Oaxacan lands from: Mole negro, Mole rojo, Mole coloradito, Mole almendrado, Mole chichilo, Mole amarillo, Oaxaca-style chicken livers, Tasajo, Mixtec pozole, Cecina, Cat broth, Chapulines, Tlayudas, Chickpea broth, Oaxacan sausages, Chepil rice, Caldillo de vigilia, Chiles stuffed with sardines, Serrano chili sauce, Chicatana ant sauce, Chepil tamales, Fish tamales from Isthmus, Chiles de agua stuffed with quesillo, Chiles pasilla stuffed with picadillo, among other culinary delights.
And all the variety of regional sweets, you can taste a rich burnt milk, fritters, tuna snow and burnt milk, Yema bread with chocolate.
Mezcal
The name of Mezcal It has its roots in one of the ancient native languages of the area and translates as 'agave (also known as maguey) cooked'. Although pre-Hispanic Oaxacans used maguey to make pulque (an undistilled alcoholic beverage), it seems that real advances in mezcal production occurred when the Spanish arrived in Oaxaca; by bringing with them their knowledge of distillation processes.
Mezcal is a rich, handcrafted flavored drink that requires considerable attention to be produced. Mezcal production today remains more or less as it was when the Spanish arrived hundreds of years ago. Each 'recipe' is transmitted from generation to generation within the families that care about its production; Because each family has its own approach to mezcal production, there are an enormous number of different flavors. It is also in this way that the rich diversity of flavors and traditions are preserved for all to enjoy. Mezcal is normally served with white salt or worm salt (salt mixed with a cooked larva and ground chili), lemon or orange.
There are different types of maguey, and each produces a different version of mezcal; one of the best known, although it does not correspond exactly to the traditional definition of mezcal, is tequila. Simply put, tequila is actually a type of mezcal. The production of mezcal is regulated by the Official Mexican Standard NOM-070-SCFI-1994.
The Tlayuda, also known as Clayuda, is a typical corn tortilla from the state of Oaxaca, in Mexico. They won a poll organized by the series “Street food" from Netflix, since they were named the best street dish in Latin America, that's why we explain what they are.
The tlayudas are born in the Central Valley region of Oaxaca, the word comes from the Nahuatl "tlao-li", which means "shelled corn." According to the Larousse Encyclopedic Dictionary of Mexican Gastronomy, tlayuda is a large corn tortilla, measuring approximately 30 centimeters in diameter, it is made from white corn.
To cook it, first it is put on the comal and, later, it is placed on the coals where acquires a more toasted and brittle texture. The tlayudas, in addition to the crunchy omelette, gets readyn with a delicious combination of ingredients. Although there are currently various preparations, but the traditional tlayudas They are prepared with a layer of beans, jerky (dried meat enchilada), chorizo, quesillo, jerky, and of course, your sauce to taste.
The tlayuda in most regions of Oaxaca, when served is accompanied by a roasted green chili, it is commonly called chile de agua, and also roasted chambray onions, and optionally lemon; There are also those who accompany it with radishes and some branches of a vegetable called chepiches, which are typical of that region. There are also tlayudas with shrimp, grasshoppers, Chicatan ants or guacamole, among others.
This dish that was born in Oaxaca where it can be tasted in street stalls on any corner, has become very popular in contemporary Oaxacan food restaurants, both in Mexico and in the world, and each adds a touch of identity to this dish.
Due to their flavor, originality and cultural contribution, tlayudas are part of the Oaxacan dishes that were declared in 2010, Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, as well as Oaxacan mole, guide soup, and chapulines.
Quesillo (Oaxaca Cheese)
Quesillo (Oaxaca Cheese)
Quesillo (Oaxaca cheese) It is a variant of white and soft cheese of Mexican origin, specifically from the Central Valleys of the State of Oaxaca. In various regions of Oaxaca it is known as a quesillo.
Due to its excellent melting qualities, it is frequently used as a base for flamed cheese, a very popular appetizer in Mexican restaurants, consisting of melted cheese and red chorizo. It is also used in the preparation of quesadillas.In the Valley of Oaxaca it is used as a complement to tlayudas.
The population of Reyes Etla, located in the region of the central valleys of Oaxaca, is known as "the cradle of the cheese." It is believed that it was there that at the end of the 19th century the girl Leobarda Castellanos Garcia He forgot to care for the curdled milk for cheese production and melting the dough with water produced a chewy mixture with a mild taste.
His family took the opportunity to commercialize the new product and later it became a main ingredient of traditional Mexican food. Although this story is found in the collective imagination of the inhabitants of Reyes Etla, in reality there is no record that supports the existence of Leobarda or her lucky accident. However, it is a great story to give context to one of the most famous cheeses in Mexico.
Chapulines
Chapulines
Los Chapulines they are considered an exotic dish with a unique and delicious flavor, for some others it is a strange and unpleasant-looking dish. The truth is that these crunchy insects are a food in Oaxacan cuisine with a high source of protein.
The collection of these insects is done with the help of a bag-shaped mesh that is tied to a wooden stick, with which they hit the alfalfa branches and the grasshoppers are trapped inside the bag, later they are cooked with garlic and lemon, which is its most common preparation, which allows it to be consumed on its own as a snack.
There is a great variety of grasshoppers in terms of size: small, medium or large in any presentation is a delight for the palate. Grasshoppers belong to the zoological order called Orthoptera and abound in alfalfa fields, their name comes from Nahuatl, and means "insect that jumps like a rubber ball."
Its consumption is a pre-Hispanic tradition and has been taking place for more than a thousand years, its flavor is a mixture of sensations on the palate, whoever tastes it is not disappointed. Traditional Oaxacan cuisine has added grasshoppers to the great diversity of dishes offered in the capital's main markets; Tlayudas, tacos, memelas among others.
Would you dare to try them?
Oaxacan tamales
Oaxacan tamales
Of the most traditional dishes in Oaxaca are Tamales. The word tamal comes from the Nahuatl Tamalli which means wrapped. This wrapped dish, commonly sold by women on street corners of any city or town, is composed mainly of dough made of corn, mole and meat are added, often chicken. The tamales are steamed.
In Oaxaca, tamales are wrapped in banana or corn leaves. They are a bit greasy but also delicious. Shortening is added to the corn dough. The ratio is a kilo of dough for a quarter of butter. Salt and chicken broth are also added. Everything is kneaded until a uniform dough is obtained. The mole is prepared separately, so that it has a good flavor, chicken broth must be added. The boneless chicken meat will be the main ingredient in the tamale.
Banana leaves are boiled and cleaned of coarse fibers. They are then cut into squares. The dough is spread on the leaves, the chicken meat is placed and then the mole. The leaves are folded and tied with the fibers of the banana leaf, everything is cooked with steam.
The main flavors are mole negro, beans, chepil, slices with chili and cheese, and meat. The bean and chili tamales are wrapped in corn husks, called totomoxtle.
The visitor can taste this rich pre-Hispanic dish in markets, restaurants, on the street, and in tamalerías from all over the state. If you want to try tamales, your mouth will celebrate its spicy and sweet flavor at the same time.
Mole Oaxaqueño (Seven Moles)
Oaxacan Mole
The Oaxacan Mole It is a group of moles of the gastronomy of the state of Oaxaca, in Mexico. Mole is a type of sauce that combines chili peppers and spices, thickened with corn masa, and added to various meat and vegetable dishes.
The old chronicles say that the Aztecs already mixed the different chilies with the tomato, cocoa and spices, they called it "mulli", which means sauce. Once the Spanish arrived and gastronomy underwent the natural change of the meeting of the two cultures, it evolved to how we know it today.
The state of Oaxaca has a great cultural and gastronomic wealth recognized worldwide. This place is divided into 8 regions, each of which has a variety of different moles, it is said that the moles of Oaxaca actually number in the dozens, which is totally true.
Scattered throughout the state, some examples are the mole alcaparrado, the nutty, the Isthmus yellow beef mole, a Yellow Serrano Venison Mole, coloradito with ayocotes, Oaxacan traditional coloradito mole, the almond and chicken stews, the ma'ach, huajuapeño mole of good or party, the isthmean coloradito, the manchamanteles from Oaxaca, Mixtec mole, the Yucunama green mole, red bean mole and the green chicken with chochoyotes… To mention just a few, depending on the place the recipe is adapted to your region using different ingredients and preparing it in a different way, with the own touch of each demographic zone and its culture.
Each region prides itself on having its own mole, depending on the place the recipe adapts to the different ingredients that abound in the area, as well as preparing them differently. It is commonly spoken of the "7 moles of Oaxaca" being these:
1. The black mole 2. The yellow mole 3. The mole coloradito with pork, chicken or beef 4. The green mole 5. Chichilo mole with beef and avocado leaves 6. The red mole with chicken 7. The stew with chicken and olives
Caldo de Piedra (Stone Soup)
Caldo de Piedra (Stone Soup)
In the southern state of Oaxaca there is a culinary tradition that is not recorded elsewhere on the planet. It is a dish called Stone broth, which is prepared exclusively by the men of the indigenous community of San Felipe Usila, in the region of Tuxtepec, in honor of the women of the region.
But not only the question of gender and the recognition of female work make this recipe something sui generis. Its way of preparation is also quite out of the ordinary. The stone broth, as its name implies, is cooked by placing red-hot stones inside a gourd.
Its history dates back to pre-Columbian times in the Chinantla area (where San Felipe Usila belongs), where the community gathered around the abundant rivers and lagoons in the area. Once there, groups of 15-20 people went into action. But beware: only men. Women rested because it was conceived from the beginning as a kind of gift to thank them for how much they help men every day. For this reason, this ritual was carried out mainly on important days.
Once they had the fresh fish, shrimp or crab ready, they proceeded to place them with water, tomato, onion, green chili, epazote, coriander, water and salt in holes of about 70 centimeters in diameter that they carved on the rocks. Later they placed small stones that previously they had put to heat directly on the embers.
In this way, the broth that was made in those bowls was ready in about 3 minutes. And it kept its heat until the stones were no longer red hot. At that time, everyone could make a circle around the huge "stone plate", serve themselves in gourds and enjoy the food. That is why the broth was also considered a symbol of community work.
Tasajo, Cecina and more ...
Tasajo, Cecina, Chorizo, Oaxacan Sausage
The Tasajo It is the beef cut into thin strips that is salted and hung to dry for several days. This method in which the meat is dehydrated slowly while preserving all its flavor, is practiced in various parts of the world and Oaxacans are some of the best Mexican experts.
The Cecina of pork, sliced and marinated in a mixture that usually contains guajillo chiles, black pepper, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, garlic, oregano, vinegar and salt, all ground. This mixture is spread over the meat, which is usually grilled over charcoal. It should be clarified that, unlike other regions of the country in which the cecina is a very thin beef meat cured with salt, in Oaxaca, cecina is made from pork and enchilada (not always) as described. In the Central Valleys, a good plate of jerky is usually served with roasted onions, slices of avocado, radishes, lemon and tortillas. Also known as cecina enchilada.
Sausage It is an important element in Oaxacan cuisine as it is included in any of the daily meals. Most of this sausage is made from pork entrails, but there are also beef, chicken and turkey entrails. The tortilla is almost always present when the chorizo is eaten, usually in tacos to which fried onion, cilantro, potato and lemon juice are added.
Oaxacan sausage It has become a representative icon of our state, distinguished from commercial sausages for its color and peculiar consistency, with an intense red and appearance similar to chorizo. It is so well known, especially in the Central Valleys region, that if you are from Oaxaca and have not tried it, you are definitely cut off from society.
In the state of Oaxaca there are many customs and traditions throughout the year, and within the state, said that they have the same purpose of celebration but with different things, in fact from one region to another or even more from one town to another, the Customs vary for perhaps details but that is what makes them authentic. Oaxaca has deep-rooted customs and traditions. All the holidays are celebrated, the profane and the religious ones. The festival calendar is extensive due to the diversity of ethnic groups, which they still conserve.
Oaxaca is famous throughout the world for its archaeological sites and the history they keep. Discover Monte Alban, Mitla, Yagul and more of these remote sites, which have made Oaxaca a World Heritage city, according to Unesco. The original Zapotec and Mixtec peoples of Oaxaca lived in the cities and religious centers of the valley of this city until the time of Spanish colonization. Today, there are still vestiges of these towns and places where you can meet them.
Crafts in Oaxaca are so varied and of such good quality that they have become a tourist attraction. The ancestral traditions, the diversity in the ethnic groups, as well as the richness in the history of the state have been manifested in the great diversity of creations of more than half a million artisans that are registered in Oaxaca. In the center of the state is the City of Oaxaca, a fascinating and hospitable capital in whose surroundings various towns are located, each with its own personality and craft tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes.
The beaches of the coast of the state of Oaxaca are among the most beautiful and complete in Mexico, thanks to a developing tourist infrastructure and the rich gastronomy of the Pacific. Along the 533 kilometers of coastline, the beaches of Oaxaca offer a wide variety of activities for lovers of water sports: snorkeling, diving, sport fishing, surfing, among others ... there is something for everyone!
Places such as Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, Zipolite, Carrizalillo, Puerto Ángel or the beaches of Huatulco will offer you the possibility of contemplating beautiful sunsets, delighting in intense adventure tourism or witnessing the exciting release of newborn turtles.
An ideal space for Alternative Tourism, Oaxaca offers activities such as walking, mountain biking, rappelling, climbing, zip-lining, horseback riding, observation of flora and fauna and more, in close contact with nature. The visitor can also witness the various aspects of local life, savor the gastronomy and enjoy the warmth of its people, as well as an offer of accommodation in hotels, ecotourism cabins, local houses or excellent camping areas. In its varied geography, it brings together not only a vast biodiversity, considered among the largest in the world, but also insurmountable cultural and ethnic riches, and the most different and beautiful natural settings.
The name mezcal has its roots in one of the ancient native languages of the area and translates as 'agave (also known as maguey) cooked'. Although pre-Hispanic Oaxaqueños used maguey to make pulque (an undistilled alcoholic beverage), it seems that the real advances in mezcal production occurred when the Spanish arrived in Oaxaca; by bringing with them their knowledge of distillation processes.
The City of Oaxaca is a destination that offers a great variety of tourist attractions and charms that leave anyone surprised. However, there are other places that are also worth knowing and are in the surroundings of the city, in whose surroundings various populations are located, each with its own personality and artisan tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes. .
Monte Albán is the most important archaeological zone of the Oaxacan entity, of unique regional importance due to the religious, political and economic control that the Zapotec state exercised over the population of the Valley of Oaxaca for more than thirteen centuries. It has been named by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage of Humanity along with the city of Oaxaca on December 11, 1987. The heritage of the Zapotec world reaches us through the magnificent archaeological sites designed in the Valley of Oaxaca. Of these, the city of Monte Albán stands out for its enormous importance as an economic, political and religious hub (it was the first urban complex in Mesoamerica); by its extension, almost as big as the current capital of Oaxaca; and for its long life, started around 500 BC and concluded around 850 AD
In Oaxaca we are proud to have 5 communities that have been awarded the title of Magic Towns of Mexico, a Magic Town is a town that has symbolic attributes, legends, history, transcendent events, everyday life, in short magic that they emanate in each of their socio-cultural manifestations, and that today mean a great opportunity for tourist use. The Magical Towns Program contributes to revalue a group of populations in the country that have always been in the collective imagination of the nation as a whole and that represent fresh and different alternatives for national and foreign visitors.
The Guelaguetza is an ancient tradition with pre-Hispanic roots related to agricultural ceremonies of gratitude to the gods for the arrival of the rains and the lifting of the harvest at the end of July and is the largest festival in Oaxaca. La Guelaguetza is a celebration of gratitude for the arrival of the rains and the harvests, in which representatives from all regions of the state gather in the capital to share their culture through dances, crafts and food.
Oaxaca City, the state capital, is famous for its architecture and rich cultural traditions. Oaxaca also has a splendid and varied cuisine and a spring climate throughout the year. UNESCO declared the city a Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Oaxaca is the most diverse state in Mexico. It has peaks that reach more than 3,000 meters in height, caverns that are among the deepest in the world, pristine beaches, secluded forests and sunny valleys. Oaxaca is rich in traditions and customs and has the largest ethnic population in Mexico.
The vast Oaxacan cuisine is distinguished by its tradition and the use of regional ingredients. Not for nothing has it positioned itself as the Best Tourist City in the World and the Best Gourmet Destination. In the presentation of the 2021 edition of The Mexico Gastronomic Guide "The Great Restaurants of Mexico" 278 restaurants located throughout the Mexican Republic were recognized, on this occasion, there were 16 Oaxacan restaurants that were placed in the list .
The Santo Domingo Cultural Center is a cultural complex that is located in what was one of the most important convents in the colony. It is a large convent in which the Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca, the Fray Francisco de Burgoa Library and the Ethnobotanical Garden have been established. The Néstor Sánchez Public Newspaper Library is located in a building that is part of the complex but dates from the 19th century. Apart from all these institutions brought together, the Santo Domingo Cultural Center has multipurpose spaces in the former convent, in which temporary exhibitions, conferences, courses, book presentations and concerts are held, among many other activities.
In Oaxaca we are proud to have 5 communities who have been awarded the title of Magical Towns of Mexico, a Magical Town is a town that has symbolic attributes, legends, history, transcendent events, everyday life, in short magic that emanates in each of its socio-cultural manifestations, and that today mean a great opportunity for tourist use.
The Magical Towns Program contributes to revalue a group of populations in the country that have always been in the collective imagination of the nation as a whole and that represent fresh and different alternatives for national and foreign visitors.
Map of the Magical Towns of Oaxaca
Capulálpam de Méndez
Capulálpam de Méndez
A place framed by Sierra Madre Oriental and abundant cloud forests. As you walk through its streets you will recognize the traditional architecture with materials such as adobe, wood, tile and yellow quarry. Its beginnings go back to an indigenous Zapotec community that still exists and is proud of its roots.
Do not miss the breakfasts in the Municipal Market, there you will taste delicacies such as tlayudas and the Tasajo enfrijoladas. Although, if you prefer attractions with even more natural beauty, visit the Center Capulálpam Mágico Community Ecological Tourism for lodging and its Restaurant Los Molinos Recreational Center, there awaits you a 100 meter long zip line that crosses over a river.
Capulálpam de Méndez, one of the most beautiful places in our Mexico, a place where history, nature, gastronomy, music, folklore, architecture, uses and customs (governance), traditional medicine, with the warmth of its people who welcome visitors and seduce them as they travel through each area of our territory, all in a context of millenary knowledge, which is combined and translated into constant growth and development of the community.
Capulálpam de Mendez
Since 2008 it is proudly part of the Magic Towns of Mexico program, a recognition of the organization, work, the architecture of the place, the conservation of its values, customs, traditions and the hospitality of our people.
To speak of Capulálpam is to enter the Oaxacan geography, where you only need to be here, with your senses open, to discover in its details the greatness of its past, in its streets, alleys, paths, roofs, houses and its church. Perceive its smells, flavors and hear in their stories the vital importance of their present and glimpse their future as a land of promise and hope.
Saint Peter and Saint Paul Teposcolula
Saint Peter and Saint Paul Teposcolula
The colonial art and architecture of Teposcolula are a mix of indigenous and European concepts and techniques. The Mixtecos preserved their identity, their culture and their completely indigenous symbols, and they knew how to integrate them with the culture of the Spanish.
The word Teposcolula derives from the Nahuatl tepoztli "copper, colotl" twist "and tla" together "or" between ", which means" next to the copper twist ". Its name in mother tongue is Yucundaá “Cerro de Subida”.
When the evangelizers arrived in the region, they built one of the most important works of the 16th century in New Spain: the temple and cloister of San Pedro and San Pablo, which have the largest open chapel in Latin America. It is located at an altitude of 2,300 meters above sea level and has a cool climate, with an average temperature of 17º C.
At present the Magical Town San Pedro and San Pablo Teposcolula It is an ideal destination to admire buildings and enjoy its exquisite cuisine.
It has a conventual complex which was built in the 16th century. Its facade of the temple shows a tequitqui art. The Chapel of Santa Gertrudis It has elements similar to La Antigua, in Guatemala. The Open Chapel is the largest in Latin America.
The Municipal Park is surrounded by the Portal de Dolores and the Parish House, ideal for strolling through its gardens and seeing the Las Mascaritas monument.
Saint Peter and Saint Paul Teposcolula
He Temple of San Pedro and San Pablo It houses oil paintings and a one-piece wood-carved confessional. Get to know the Chapel of Santa Gertrudis, in the former convent, with two Solomonic columns that support the groin vaults.
The House of the Cacica It is a 16th century building where several caciques lived, currently it houses the BS Children's Library.
In Yucundaa or Cerro de Pueblo Viejo there are vestiges of houses of Mixtec rulers and a ball game. Nearby is the Yucundaa Ecotourism Center in which you can camp.
At lunchtime, be sure to try the tamales with totomoste leaf in the Municipal Park, the stuffed chiles, the thick pozole with herbs santa and the yellow mole. For the drink you must try a cured brandy or a chilacayote water.
In the Municipal Market you can find palm items and hand embroidery, as well as crystallized fruits and vegetables.
Huautla de Jiménez
Huautla de Jiménez
Huautla de Jiménez, town among the clouds and home of the Mazatecs, who invite you to participate in their ancient traditions. Live the experience of knowing their language, songs, dances and traditional medicine inherited from the famous Maria Sabina, Mushroom Priestess, also meet Mama Julia one of the 13 grandmothers in the world, heir to this ancestral knowledge.
Huautla de Jiménez is a municipality belonging to the district of Teotitlan in the Region of Cañada Mazateca of the state of Oaxaca, it is a rural-urban city, since it has a population of 68,555 inhabitants in the municipality and 53,999 in the City, and rural due to its scarce development in urban infrastructure, Huautla de Jiménez is the tenth largest population in the Oaxacan state.
The word Huautla comes from the Nahuatl word that, in the splendor of the Aztec manor, Cuitláhuac will name Cuiticaname - Huautlan, which etymologically means “Place of Eagles”. De Jiménez, in honor of General Mariano Jiménez, who visited the region in 1864. On December 14, 1926, by decree No. 55, Huautla de Jiménez obtained the title of City.
This indigenous culture has a set of symbols, characters, explanation of origin, sacred hills, rituals, calendar, clothing, music, caves, among others; Around which an identity is built that distinguishes them, a way of seeing, conceiving and interpreting the world, as recognized by the Declaration of the United Nations (UN) on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Huautla de Jiménez
Its greatest charm are those Mazatec sounds and their regional costumes, coupled with that magical character of its inhabitants. It is the land of the famous María Sabina, the sage of hallucinogenic mushrooms, who learned to connect heaven and earth and use it for tanning purposes.
The gastronomy is another of the attractions of the place, you can enjoy the exquisite donkey bread and Canarian chilies, as well as sour atole, the quintessential Mazatec drink made with fermented corn, pipián and beans.
What to see in Huautla de Jiménez
It is a classic mountain town that has the Cathedral of San Juan Evangelista, whose bells were cast in 1866 and the clock tower, located in front of the Municipal Palace built in the 1920s and which currently serves as a cultural venue.
The Cerro de la Adoración, or the Abode of the Guardian of the Hills, is one of the most sacred places for all the inhabitants of this town. According to their traditions, at the top the strength is acquired to perform all their rituals, in fact the shamans consider the hill the guardian of the town and go to it every year to ask for the well-being of the entire community.
Things to do in Huautla de Jiménez
The surroundings also offer excellent options to its visitors, you can visit the Puente de Fierro Waterfall and the San Agustín Grottoes surrounded by beautiful wooded landscapes ideal for hiking, mountain biking or horseback riding.
Mazunte
Mazunte
Mazunte It is a town located on the Pacific Ocean coast of the state of Oaxaca, located 264 km from the Oaxacan capital. Mazunte or Mazunte as it is known worldwide, owes its name to a red and blue crab that lives in the place, but also in Nahuatl dialect it means "let me see you spawn", and this refers to the fact that the beaches of this place are Nesting site of sea turtles and from there the history of the population emerges, since the sixties the virgin beaches of Mazunte are visited by hundreds of turtles of the Golfina species that spawned at night in certain lunar stages of this natural phenomenon it is known as morriña.
The area is currently experiencing a tourist boom, attracting the interest of visitors who are looking for different experiences. It is the only community in the region that has internal construction regulations, which promote buildings that alternate with the surrounding nature; so it is characterized by rusticity and direct contact with nature.
El Mazunte has an extensive list of natural attractions, the main one being Punta Cometa, also known as Cerro Sagrado; It is the most prominent mountain of Mexico in the South Pacific. Its strategic location allows that from this area you can see amazing sunrises and magnificent sunsets. It is an important place for the migrations of marine species and birds.
The migrations in the months of December to March of humpback whales that use Punta Cometa as a route and geomagnetic reference stand out, appreciating the passage of this species from Punta Cometa does not represent any risk to people or whales, in the same way they can appreciate the migration of flocks of pelicans frolicking in whimsical shapes in the sky.
Mazunte
As the salient point is a shortcut in its route for all types of boats, it is possible to observe large boats plying only 500 meters away from the coast.
Without a doubt, you can swim and enjoy the sun on one of the most beautiful beaches in Oaxaca, so we recommend bringing a camera to document the good times of your trip.
In addition, it is one of the favorite places to camp in Mexico; Since the weather in Mazunte is ideal to enjoy one or two nights under the starry sky while you sleep to the rhythm of listening to the waves hitting.
Places to visit in Mazunte
Mazunte, Mexico has many must-see places that you must visit. You certainly have to discover why they are so popular and recommended for family visits.
Mexican Turtle Center
Laguna Ventanilla
Punta Cometa
Mermejita Beach
Mazunte Beach
San Pablo Villa de Mitla
Talking about a place like MitlaIt is talking about history, mysticism, tradition and magic; of a place that lives in eternity, where time dissolves to exist in the midst of an atmosphere full of color, smell and flavor that allows us to live a past that is present. Thus, the greatest charm that Mitla offers to the world is not found in what can be seen, but rather in everything behind it, in its past, in its history, in that mystical process carried out through the years and that is materialized in each product born in this place.
Mitla has been from its origin, a symbol in itself, not a place, rather an entrance, a passageway that has a life of its own, that envelops with its charm anyone who closes their mortal eyes and opens their heart to begin to see from the soul, letting itself be carried away to that magical place that coexists in the same space of all that is perceptible that many appreciate but few live.
The wealth of Mitla is found in the environment, in the environment, in the breath of the legendary air that runs through this place since ancient times, witnessing the mysteries that are hidden in the past of the old Zapotecs who are currently the last guardians of this unique wisdom and that open that door to everyone.
Thus allowing crossing the boundary between the past and the present, between the ancient and the modern, between magic and reality, between this life and the next. And it is that Mitla is rich day and night, by any point that is admired, by any perspective taken in a photo, because each view, ritual, act and product has a reason to be, a reason to exist and to show itself that way.
Xibalba (Quiché), Lyobaá (Zapotec), Mictlán (Nahuatl) or Mitla (Spanish), some of the names given to the "resting place" was a Great City-sanctuary, a religious and civil center of great preponderance and at the same time a sanctuary national. The history of Mitla, takes us back to the history of an ancient culture, even more than what could become the Zapotec culture, the lineage that currently inhabits this important center.
Since long before this great city became a fundamental part of such culture, Mitla was already an imposing settlement in which power resided, not only material, such as that possessed by kings and rulers, but one that extended beyond from the limits of life, a power over life and death.
Being the official residence of the Supreme Pontiff, the vicar of divinity, the oracle of faith and the channel through which all grace was communicated from heaven to earth, it also execrated, perpetually infamous with its curses, or granted them pardons and remissions; That is why among the inhabitants it was called Mitla, The Palace of the Living and the Dead. The place destined for the burial of the Zapotec pontiffs and monarchs, the passage to the next life, "The Great Door to Eternity."
The Guelaguetza is an ancient tradition with pre-Hispanic roots related to agricultural ceremonies of gratitude to the gods for the arrival of the rains and the lifting of the harvest at the end of July and is the largest festival in Oaxaca. La Guelaguetza is a celebration of gratitude for the arrival of the rains and the harvests, in which representatives from all regions of the state gather in the capital to share their culture through dances, crafts and food.
Oaxaca City, the state capital, is famous for its architecture and rich cultural traditions. Oaxaca also has a splendid and varied cuisine and a spring climate throughout the year. UNESCO declared the city a Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Oaxaca is the most diverse state in Mexico. It has peaks that reach more than 3,000 meters in height, caverns that are among the deepest in the world, pristine beaches, secluded forests and sunny valleys. Oaxaca is rich in traditions and customs and has the largest ethnic population in Mexico.
The Santo Domingo Cultural Center is a cultural complex that is located in what was one of the most important convents in the colony. It is a large convent in which the Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca, the Fray Francisco de Burgoa Library and the Ethnobotanical Garden have been established. The Néstor Sánchez Public Newspaper Library is located in a building that is part of the complex but dates from the 19th century. Apart from all these institutions brought together, the Santo Domingo Cultural Center has multipurpose spaces in the former convent, in which temporary exhibitions, conferences, courses, book presentations and concerts are held, among many other activities.
Oaxaca's culinary tradition is extraordinary and deeply rooted. There are fourteen different ethnic groups, with their own dishes. It is an area of incomparable wealth for the tourist interested in gastronomy, ethnology and culture in general. Oaxaca is the land of mezcal, tlayudas and the famous seven moles. You have to dedicate several days to it. Oaxacan gastronomy is one of the cultural manifestations that identify and define its people, due to its variety, richness and complexity that have been preserved through the centuries. The best way to enjoy Oaxacan food is by tasting it, from the “strong” dishes that are used to enjoying at lunchtime; like the traditional Oaxacan snacks that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
In the state of Oaxaca there are many customs and traditions throughout the year, and within the state, said that they have the same purpose of celebration but with different things, in fact from one region to another or even more from one town to another, the Customs vary for perhaps details but that is what makes them authentic. Oaxaca has deep-rooted customs and traditions. All the holidays are celebrated, the profane and the religious ones. The festival calendar is extensive due to the diversity of ethnic groups, which they still conserve.
Oaxaca is famous throughout the world for its archaeological sites and the history they keep. Discover Monte Alban, Mitla, Yagul and more of these remote sites, which have made Oaxaca a World Heritage city, according to Unesco. The original Zapotec and Mixtec peoples of Oaxaca lived in the cities and religious centers of the valley of this city until the time of Spanish colonization. Today, there are still vestiges of these towns and places where you can meet them.
An ideal space for Alternative Tourism, Oaxaca offers activities such as walking, mountain biking, rappelling, climbing, zip-lining, horseback riding, observation of flora and fauna and more, in close contact with nature. The visitor can also witness the various aspects of local life, savor the gastronomy and enjoy the warmth of its people, as well as an offer of accommodation in hotels, ecotourism cabins, local houses or excellent camping areas. In its varied geography, it brings together not only a vast biodiversity, considered among the largest in the world, but also insurmountable cultural and ethnic riches, and the most different and beautiful natural settings.
The City of Oaxaca is a destination that offers a great variety of tourist attractions and charms that leave anyone surprised. However, there are other places that are also worth knowing and are in the surroundings of the city, in whose surroundings various populations are located, each with its own personality and artisan tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes. .
The beaches of the coast of the state of Oaxaca are among the most beautiful and complete in Mexico, thanks to a developing tourist infrastructure and the rich gastronomy of the Pacific. Along the 533 kilometers of coastline, the beaches of Oaxaca offer a wide variety of activities for lovers of water sports: snorkeling, diving, sport fishing, surfing, among others ... there is something for everyone!
Places such as Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, Zipolite, Carrizalillo, Puerto Ángel or the beaches of Huatulco will offer you the possibility of contemplating beautiful sunsets, delighting in intense adventure tourism or witnessing the exciting release of newborn turtles.
Crafts in Oaxaca are so varied and of such good quality that they have become a tourist attraction. The ancestral traditions, the diversity in the ethnic groups, as well as the richness in the history of the state have been manifested in the great diversity of creations of more than half a million artisans that are registered in Oaxaca. In the center of the state is the City of Oaxaca, a fascinating and hospitable capital in whose surroundings various towns are located, each with its own personality and craft tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes.
Monte Albán is the most important archaeological zone of the Oaxacan entity, of unique regional importance due to the religious, political and economic control that the Zapotec state exercised over the population of the Valley of Oaxaca for more than thirteen centuries. It has been named by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage of Humanity along with the city of Oaxaca on December 11, 1987. The heritage of the Zapotec world reaches us through the magnificent archaeological sites designed in the Valley of Oaxaca. Of these, the city of Monte Albán stands out for its enormous importance as an economic, political and religious hub (it was the first urban complex in Mesoamerica); by its extension, almost as big as the current capital of Oaxaca; and for its long life, started around 500 BC and concluded around 850 AD
The vast Oaxacan cuisine is distinguished by its tradition and the use of regional ingredients. Not for nothing has it positioned itself as the Best Tourist City in the World and the Best Gourmet Destination. In the presentation of the 2021 edition of The Mexico Gastronomic Guide "The Great Restaurants of Mexico" 278 restaurants located throughout the Mexican Republic were recognized, on this occasion, there were 16 Oaxacan restaurants that were placed in the list .
The name mezcal has its roots in one of the ancient native languages of the area and translates as 'agave (also known as maguey) cooked'. Although pre-Hispanic Oaxaqueños used maguey to make pulque (an undistilled alcoholic beverage), it seems that the real advances in mezcal production occurred when the Spanish arrived in Oaxaca; by bringing with them their knowledge of distillation processes.
The special magic that the state of Oaxaca emanates attracts the attention of travelers from Mexico and around the world. Among many other reasons, this is because it is a traditional, mysterious place and strongly marked by the indigenous peoples who inhabit it. But it is also open to experimenting with new aesthetic and cultural trends. Thus, its vibrant crafts, its avant-garde visual artists, its colorful parties and its spectacular cuisine make Oaxaca an extremely attractive place.
In the center of the state is the City of Oaxaca, a fascinating and hospitable capital in whose surroundings various towns are located, each with its own personality and craft tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes. The Magic Route of Handicrafts invites you to know part of the manual works of this immense state. Because the so special place that Oaxaca occupies in Mexico and the world is due to a great extent to the countless and magnificent hands of the artisans who with great sensitivity and creativity meticulously shape their dreams, illusions, aspirations and spiritual needs in pieces of clay, wood. , metal, stone, silk thread or cotton.
Magic Route of Handicrafts: art and multicolored magic
The proposed route is an invitation to: Encounter art and creativity embodied in the fine touches that, with love and dedication, the inhabitants of the six communities that make up the Magic Route of the Handicrafts. Witness the artisan processes of the great Oaxacan masters, who preserve and transmit techniques learned from generation to generation. His skill and talent have made the popular art of the towns of the Central Valleys shine, and have placed the name of Oaxaca very high, by taking the magic of its culture beyond its borders.
Get to know the communities that the route crosses, in which the different handicrafts - wood carving, green and black glazed clay pottery, silk and cotton thread textiles or pieces of cutlery -, whether utilitarian or ornamental, constitute a driving force fundamental in the family and community economy.Enjoy the delicious traditional gastronomy of the region, visit the museums and temples, share the simple life of the towns and, above all, fill your eyes and soul with the multicolored magic that arises from the wonderful the hands of Oaxacan artisans.
Teotitlán del Valle
Teotitlán del Valle
In Oaxaca the textile tradition has pre-Hispanic reminiscences that merged and enriched when the Spanish arrived; They brought the wool-producing sheep, mulberry trees, and silkworms, as well as the instruments to transform these fibers into yarns and fabrics.
The colonial looms operated by pedals and shuttles were faster than the backstrap looms that were known here, but the creative imagination of the Zapotec artisan made the looms a characteristic stamp where the technique, patience and dexterity with which they stand out. They make their handmade rugs.
Currently in Oaxaca the textile crafts from the different regions of the state are identified by their designs and colors of great originality, but in Teotitlán del Valle there are families that have been dedicated to this artisan activity for years. His technique and especially his love for textiles, have been transmitted from generation to generation.
The time to manufacture each mat can vary from fifteen days to several months, it is a one hundred percent manual process, and everything depends on the complexity of the work, the size and the design.
A rug from Teotilán del Valle is the result of the work and dedication of skilled artisans, who with their magical hands manage to transmit the love they have for this “land of gods”, as its name means in the Nahuatl language.
The process
First, the wool is carded and spun, the colors are elaborated, and according to the designs, the skeins of yarn are dyed in a tub of boiling water with the dye already prepared and an acid or lemon juice so that the color is impregnate and do not fade.
The colors with which they are dyed are a product of the same nature. Red colors are obtained from the scarlet or cochineal; the nopal insect, nocheztli, produces intense reds and purples. From the jiuquilitl or indigo blue is achieved. From the tishinda or sea snail, the purple and the huizache pod gives the black. The brown color is obtained from the walnut shell and the orange color is extracted from the marigold.
Teotitlán del Valle
Balaa Xtee Guech Gulal Community Museum. The museum, whose doors opened in 1995, is made up of three rooms. In the first of them you will find vestiges found in Monte Albán I; the second is dedicated to the introduction of the wool rugs that are famous in Teotitlán; and the theme of the third is the traditional weddings of the area. It is a charming museum where various inhabitants of the community participated in its construction, research and creation.
Markets. The markets of Teotitlán are full of color and joy, both are located in the Historic Center, one of them famous for the characteristic rugs of the region and the other for offering the typical products and food. On the left side of the main church is the Handicraft Market, with sale of the famous handmade rugs made of sheep wool (dyed with natural dyes from plants and animals), bags, overflows, zarapes, hats, key rings and wool dolls. On the right side of the church is the Municipal Market with sale of fruits and vegetables from the region, the typical bread of the town, prepared snacks, among others. Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays are Plaza Grande days, where all artisans from the valley come down to offer their products.
Santa Maria Atzompa
Santa Maria Atzompa
In this town, located 7 kilometers northeast of Oaxaca City, most of the population works with glazed green clay pottery, a trade inherited from generation to generation for several centuries. The process of elaboration of the showy pieces begins with the extraction of the mud in the mines of San Lorenzo Cacaotepec, a town located 4 kilometers from Santa María Atzompa.
Back in the patios of their houses, the artisans place it on a lathe that they turn with their feet, to later knead with their hands and gradually form the desired piece. To cut, scrape, sand and polish the pieces, they are helped with simple tools such as spoons, leather, tongs, stones and pieces of backpack. Once formed, the figures are left in the open for about a week, so that they will withstand the first firing in the oven. The characteristic green color of this ceramic is achieved, on the already fired clay, by applying greta, a powder that, mixed with water, is impregnated in each piece, which is baked again.
And with this laborious technique of glazed green clay, in Santa María Atzompa pots, pots, comales, jugs, pots and many other utilitarian and ornamental items are made. Among the latter, pottery decorated with pastillage stands out, a technique that consists of adding flowers and leaves to the vessels, which is known locally as "embroidering the clay"
Visit the great ball court in the archaeological zone of Atzompa. This satellite settlement of the Zapotec city of Monte Albán was built between 200 and 900 AD.It has a set of three ball game courts, one of which is 45 meters long, which makes it the largest in the area, including Monte Albán.
Get to know more than a thousand years of history exhibited in the Community Museum. The enclosure houses a collection made up of 98 pre-Hispanic pieces, divided into seven thematic nuclei: description of the site, cultural relationship between Monte Albán and Atzompa, the ancient Zapotecs and their relationship with the environment, the architectural style, the settlement pattern as a reflection of the social organization, worldview and Zapotec religion, the tombs of the elite and, finally, the pre-Hispanic ceramics.
Santa Maria Atzompa
Be amazed by the simplicity of the tools and materials used to create the green clay pieces. It is fascinating to visit the work sites in the craftsmen's own homes and learn about the tools and materials they use to create each piece of green clay: spoons or smooth stones for polishing, pieces of leather to shape the handles, metal pliers. cut to scrape or plastic bags to strain the greta powder. The rudimentary utensils, needless to say, contrast with the finesse, details and crystalline sound of each work.
La Asunción craft market. Located in the center of Santa María Atzompa, it exhibits and sells a wide variety of handicrafts, mainly green glazed clay. The label system, which indicates the name of the artisan and the price of the piece, allows some of them to make sales while others are dedicated to making the pottery.
Señor del Coro handicraft market. In the twenty-one stalls that make up this market you can find an extensive collection of pieces as useful as they are beautiful: from large pots to small and detailed clay animals.
San Antonio Arrazola
San Antonio Arrazola
Popular in the Oaxaca region are alebrijes carved in copal wood. The elaboration of these crafts is the base of the economy of the towns of San Martin Tilcajete and San Antonio Arrazola, where many families work in the carving of figures that they later color with vinyl paint and sell in the squares, markets and workshops of the region.
Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán is a municipality in the State of Oaxaca that belongs to the Central Valley Region, and has some Municipal Agencies such as San Antonio Arrazola located 10 km from the road to Zaachila. Commonly known as «Arrazola», this place is famous for the manufacture of alebrijes: Mexican crafts invented by Pedro Linares López in 1936 in Mexico City.
San Antonio Arrazola
It is made with different types of paper or wood carved and painted in cheerful and vibrant colors. Most of the time they represent an imaginary animal made up of physiognomic elements from several different animals. Although several techniques can be used to make alebrijes, in San Antonio Arrazola wood carving is used, since it comes from the ancestral Zapotec era and is a knowledge that is transmitted from generation to generation.
In this place the ingenuity of the artisans is reflected in the copal wood, to create a fantastic zoology ... "Alebrijes" that are exhibited and sold in the artisans' own homes. Visit the Manuel Jiménez Museum-Workshop to appreciate or acquire any of these pieces of art.
San Bartolo Coyotepec
Located 13 kilometers south of the City of Oaxaca, this town whose name means "on the hill of the coyote" is known mainly because more than half of its population is dedicated to making black clay pottery, unique in the world. and unmistakable for its color and its brilliant finish.The black clay pieces from San Bartolo Coyotepec involve delicate work.
Unlike other types of ceramics, each work of this type takes a long time to finish. Once the clay has been extracted and prepared, the stages of modeling, drying, scraping and polishing follow, a phase in which each craftsman shapes his stamp through decorative incisions and detailed ornaments. The firing is done in a so-called "two-mouth" oven, also known as "reducing atmospheres", because the air inlets and outlets are covered when the pieces are well cooked.
Used since pre-Hispanic times, this process generates in the clay a physical reaction contrary to oxidation and produces a black or grayish color with a matte or glossy finish, a surprising silver sound when struck, and a resistance that allows it to contain liquids. . Once cooked, the pieces are removed the next day, washed, dried and ready to be used or displayed.
San Bartolo Coyotepec
Admire the pieces of the State Museum of Popular Art in Oaxaca (MEAPO). This space, intended for the promotion and promotion of Popular Art of the state of Oaxaca, exhibits pieces by artisans from San Bartolo Coyotepec and many other communities of the Central Valleys, in addition to hosting and developing activities for the promotion of different artisan manifestations of the state.
Visit the artisan workshops. Most are small-scale and are installed in the homes of artisans, where you can learn about the process of making the various utilitarian and ornamental figures: jugs, vases, figures of women and virgins, chandeliers, skulls, as well like figures of animals.
Temple of San Bartolomé Apóstol. Built between the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries and dedicated to Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, patron saint of the place, this temple also protects the image of the Virgin of Candelaria, patron saint of artisans, for which its altar is adorned with pieces of black mud.
San Martin Tilcajete
San Martin Tilcajete
The famous alebrijes are made in this town located 23 kilometers south of Oaxaca City. Unlike those made with papier-mâché in Mexico City, these are carved in copal wood, and are born from dreams and the vast imagination of artisans, whose hands give life to these fantastic and unique beings, full of color and incredible details.
After imagining the final shape of the alebrije, the craftsman carves the wood and, with the copal resin itself, heals the imperfections. Then he immerses the piece in gasoline for a day, to get rid of insects in the wood, and thus ensure the high quality of the pieces that are painted after drying, using natural or commercial dyes of the most diverse tones and combinations.
Get inspired and let your own creativity flow. Any of the many family workshops in this interesting Oaxacan town can become a great place to unleash creativity by learning how to carve and decorate an alebrije according to your own ideas and fantasies.
Church of San Martín. This temple built in the 17th century protects the image of San Martín de Tours, patron saint of soldiers, weavers and textile manufacturers, widely venerated in the parishes of Europe and Latin America.
San Martin Tilcajete
El Cajete. Emblematic place of San Martín that gives it its second name: Tilcajete or "black bowl", which is made up of til, "black ink" or "cochineal ink" and "bowl" which means mound of stones that surround a birth of water like a well or waterwheel. Its two wells previously supplied the community and it is said that upon the arrival of the Dominicans the water extracted from these was attributed curative properties.
Hill of María Sánchez. There is a great number of legends about this famous conical hill with very steep slopes, a slightly flattened summit, and a height of approximately 400 meters above the level of the Oaxaca valley. The few trees that populate it are thorns, copals and huntsmen, and its location is strategic to visualize the entire valley. It also has a huge cave, which is worth climbing on foot, on a tour that lasts approximately two hours.
Saint Thomas Jalieza
Saint Thomas Jalieza
This town, located 25 kilometers south of the City of Oaxaca, is known for the creative talent of Zapotec women that adds to the mystical symbolism of their worldview, in a fusion of extraordinary beauty that is discovered in each of its pieces. backstrap loom. This type of loom, of pre-Hispanic origin, owes its name to the fact that one of its parts is tied to the waist of the artisan with a leather girdle called mecapal, and another to a tree or wooden post.
It is also known as a two-bar loom or otate loom, when its structure is made up of two rods of that plant. With simple movements that seem to contradict the dexterity of their hands, the weavers gradually make incredible multicolored pieces emerge from the cotton threads: table runners, shawls, bags, backpacks, purses, bracelets and even dolls that they keep in its plot pre-Hispanic symbols of multiple meanings.
Saint Thomas Jalieza
Witness the waist weaving process. During the visit to the workshops that operate in the houses of the population, it is possible to witness the process of weaving the waist, with the danger of succumbing to the desire to acquire the delicate embroidered pieces.
Admire and buy local textiles. In the handicraft market known as El Higo, located in front of the local temple, as well as in the Tourist Parador of this community, artisans make and sell irresistible huipiles, blouses, bags and bracelets made on waist looms.
The Letter Stone. This stone, in which pre-Hispanic inscriptions from the time of Monte Albán II are observed, is found on the slopes of the Yaveo hill, where it is believed that a human settlement existed. One of the beliefs is that it is a gateway to the underworld.
San Antonino Castillo Velasco
San Antonino Castillo Velasco
In this community located 33 kilometers south of the City of Oaxaca, the art, patience and ingenuity of the artisans is reflected in the delicate textiles made with thread-silk and cotton, particularly in dresses and blouses. The traditional garment that is made in this place is known as the San Antonino Dress, and is characterized by its fine multicolored embroidery that has its origin in the indigenous clothing of the women of the Central Valleys.
In addition, various pieces of reed basketry are made here - tall stands, cages, baskets or napkin holders - and handicrafts made and decorated with the small "immortal flower", also known as immortal flower, because it is born and dies without losing its petals, or its color. These pieces include a great variety of religious objects and detailed scenes of Oaxacan daily life that year after year compete in the “Night of rabanos"
San Antonino Castillo Velasco
It contemplates the elaboration of the embroidery «Make me if you can». It is worth visiting the family workshops and admiring the detail involved in making the “Make me if you can” embroidery that adorns huipiles and blouses. The artisans gladly show the entire process of making textiles, basketry or articles made with the "immortal flower."
Try the exquisite yellow empanadas. The Nueva Democracia and Macedonio Alcalá markets are the right places to try the traditional yellow mole empanadas, with shredded chicken meat and coriander, or buy flowers planted in local plots.
Church of San Antonino Obispo. In this seventeenth-century building, built in honor of the town's patron saint, old pieces of religious art stand out, including splendid paintings and images carved in wood.
Ocotlán de Morelos
Ocotlán de Morelos
Located 33 kilometers from the City of Oaxaca, Ocotlán de Morelos is one of the most important districts in the Central Valley region.
In the heat of the forge and in the midst of the rhythmic and incessant blow of the marro, it is closely known how the ocoteco artisans turn crude metal into beautiful and sharp blades, tempered by fire. Swords, knives, letter openers, daggers and sabers, bear inscriptions of names or popular sayings, and their polished handles, made of leather, bone, bronze or horn, show the painstaking meticulousness of this art, centennial legacy of Toledo steel. traditionally used for the manufacture of swords and other weapons of war.
In addition, in Ocotlán de Morelos you can admire the various pieces of utilitarian and ornamental ceramics made with clay of different colors. Although to a lesser extent, reed basketry is also worked and baskets, fruit bowls, jewelry boxes and lamps are made, as well as various leather and leather articles - such as saddles, suitcases, purses, belts and jackets - and shawls, dresses, huipiles and blouses made of blanket and embroidered with silk thread.
Ocotlán de Morelos
Taste regional delicacies and shop for handicrafts at the Morelos Municipal Market. Every Friday the traditional plaza or tianguis day takes place, which is the occasion to try local snacks made with the freshest ingredients and, of course, buy handicrafts.
Get to know the work of the muralist Rodolfo Morales inside the former convent. This museum is located in the old Dominican convent, in the space adjacent to the Santo Domingo de Guzmán temple. It has a music library, a library and a room dedicated to religious art, which has images of Catholic characters from the district.
Temple and former convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. Dominican convent from the 16th century where the chapel of the Lord of the Sacristy stands out, decorated with neoclassical details.
The vast Oaxacan cuisine is distinguished by its tradition and the use of regional ingredients. Not for nothing has it positioned itself as the Best Tourist City in the World and the Best Gourmet Destination. In the presentation of the 2021 edition of The Mexico Gastronomic Guide "The Great Restaurants of Mexico" 278 restaurants located throughout the Mexican Republic were recognized, on this occasion, there were 16 Oaxacan restaurants that were placed in the list .
Monte Albán is the most important archaeological zone of the Oaxacan entity, of unique regional importance due to the religious, political and economic control that the Zapotec state exercised over the population of the Valley of Oaxaca for more than thirteen centuries. It has been named by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage of Humanity along with the city of Oaxaca on December 11, 1987. The heritage of the Zapotec world reaches us through the magnificent archaeological sites designed in the Valley of Oaxaca. Of these, the city of Monte Albán stands out for its enormous importance as an economic, political and religious hub (it was the first urban complex in Mesoamerica); by its extension, almost as big as the current capital of Oaxaca; and for its long life, started around 500 BC and concluded around 850 AD
An ideal space for Alternative Tourism, Oaxaca offers activities such as walking, mountain biking, rappelling, climbing, zip-lining, horseback riding, observation of flora and fauna and more, in close contact with nature. The visitor can also witness the various aspects of local life, savor the gastronomy and enjoy the warmth of its people, as well as an offer of accommodation in hotels, ecotourism cabins, local houses or excellent camping areas. In its varied geography, it brings together not only a vast biodiversity, considered among the largest in the world, but also insurmountable cultural and ethnic riches, and the most different and beautiful natural settings.
The Guelaguetza is an ancient tradition with pre-Hispanic roots related to agricultural ceremonies of gratitude to the gods for the arrival of the rains and the lifting of the harvest at the end of July and is the largest festival in Oaxaca. La Guelaguetza is a celebration of gratitude for the arrival of the rains and the harvests, in which representatives from all regions of the state gather in the capital to share their culture through dances, crafts and food.
In the state of Oaxaca there are many customs and traditions throughout the year, and within the state, said that they have the same purpose of celebration but with different things, in fact from one region to another or even more from one town to another, the Customs vary for perhaps details but that is what makes them authentic. Oaxaca has deep-rooted customs and traditions. All the holidays are celebrated, the profane and the religious ones. The festival calendar is extensive due to the diversity of ethnic groups, which they still conserve.
Oaxaca City, the state capital, is famous for its architecture and rich cultural traditions. Oaxaca also has a splendid and varied cuisine and a spring climate throughout the year. UNESCO declared the city a Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Oaxaca is the most diverse state in Mexico. It has peaks that reach more than 3,000 meters in height, caverns that are among the deepest in the world, pristine beaches, secluded forests and sunny valleys. Oaxaca is rich in traditions and customs and has the largest ethnic population in Mexico.
The beaches of the coast of the state of Oaxaca are among the most beautiful and complete in Mexico, thanks to a developing tourist infrastructure and the rich gastronomy of the Pacific. Along the 533 kilometers of coastline, the beaches of Oaxaca offer a wide variety of activities for lovers of water sports: snorkeling, diving, sport fishing, surfing, among others ... there is something for everyone!
Places such as Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, Zipolite, Carrizalillo, Puerto Ángel or the beaches of Huatulco will offer you the possibility of contemplating beautiful sunsets, delighting in intense adventure tourism or witnessing the exciting release of newborn turtles.
Oaxaca's culinary tradition is extraordinary and deeply rooted. There are fourteen different ethnic groups, with their own dishes. It is an area of incomparable wealth for the tourist interested in gastronomy, ethnology and culture in general. Oaxaca is the land of mezcal, tlayudas and the famous seven moles. You have to dedicate several days to it. Oaxacan gastronomy is one of the cultural manifestations that identify and define its people, due to its variety, richness and complexity that have been preserved through the centuries. The best way to enjoy Oaxacan food is by tasting it, from the “strong” dishes that are used to enjoying at lunchtime; like the traditional Oaxacan snacks that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
Oaxaca is famous throughout the world for its archaeological sites and the history they keep. Discover Monte Alban, Mitla, Yagul and more of these remote sites, which have made Oaxaca a World Heritage city, according to Unesco. The original Zapotec and Mixtec peoples of Oaxaca lived in the cities and religious centers of the valley of this city until the time of Spanish colonization. Today, there are still vestiges of these towns and places where you can meet them.
The Santo Domingo Cultural Center is a cultural complex that is located in what was one of the most important convents in the colony. It is a large convent in which the Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca, the Fray Francisco de Burgoa Library and the Ethnobotanical Garden have been established. The Néstor Sánchez Public Newspaper Library is located in a building that is part of the complex but dates from the 19th century. Apart from all these institutions brought together, the Santo Domingo Cultural Center has multipurpose spaces in the former convent, in which temporary exhibitions, conferences, courses, book presentations and concerts are held, among many other activities.
In Oaxaca we are proud to have 5 communities that have been awarded the title of Magic Towns of Mexico, a Magic Town is a town that has symbolic attributes, legends, history, transcendent events, everyday life, in short magic that they emanate in each of their socio-cultural manifestations, and that today mean a great opportunity for tourist use. The Magical Towns Program contributes to revalue a group of populations in the country that have always been in the collective imagination of the nation as a whole and that represent fresh and different alternatives for national and foreign visitors.
The City of Oaxaca is a destination that offers a great variety of tourist attractions and charms that leave anyone surprised. However, there are other places that are also worth knowing and are in the surroundings of the city, in whose surroundings various populations are located, each with its own personality and artisan tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes. .
The name mezcal has its roots in one of the ancient native languages of the area and translates as 'agave (also known as maguey) cooked'. Although pre-Hispanic Oaxaqueños used maguey to make pulque (an undistilled alcoholic beverage), it seems that the real advances in mezcal production occurred when the Spanish arrived in Oaxaca; by bringing with them their knowledge of distillation processes.
In the state of Oaxaca there are many customs and traditions throughout the year, and within the state, said that they have the same purpose of celebration but with different things, in fact from one region to another or even more from one town to another, the Customs vary for perhaps details but that is what makes them authentic. All the holidays are celebrated, the profane and the religious ones. The festival calendar is extensive due to the diversity of ethnic groups, which they still conserve.
Oaxaca It has a combination in its traditions of the culture of the ancestors and the current culture, a state that does not lose its customs, adapts them to new times and needs.
The Guelaguetza
The Guelaguetza
Monday of the hill in the city of Oaxaca. La Guelaguetza is one of the most important traditions in Oaxaca. Its name is derived from the Zapotec word "Guendalezaa" which means "offering, present, fulfillment." This festival is a great ethnic and cultural mosaic that is expressed in multiple languages, dances, songs, dresses and customs of the Oaxacan people. The celebration has acquired world renown and has the participation of the eight folkloric regions of the State: La Costa, La Cañada, La Mixteca, La Sierra Norte, Sierra Sur, Papaloapan, El Istmo and Los Valles Centrales.
In an auditorium in the Cerro del Fortín, they offer their main traditional dances and dances, along with characteristic products of their land such as fruits or handicrafts. The festivities include other shows starting with the parade of the delegations organized in the manner of the traditional Calenda. In the same auditorium where the Guelaguetza takes place, the Legend of Princess Donají, daughter of the Zapotec King Cosijoezay of Princess Coyolicatzin, is presented, a presentation full of drama, light, sound and fireworks.
The festival is complemented with gastronomic and handicraft samples, traditional representations of the most diverse communities in the state, exhibitions, concerts and cultural events.
La Guelaguetza is celebrated every year on the two Mondays after July 16, except when the first Monday falls on July 18, Benito Juárez's death anniversary. In that case, the celebrations are postponed for a week.
The venue for the celebration is the Guelaguetza Auditorium where various art, dance, music and theater events take place throughout the year. This enclosure is located in Cerro del Fortín and was built of green quarry. Its semicircular design reminiscent of ancient Greek theaters, takes advantage of the slope of the land to place the stands. Although the auditorium has a canvas roof, it is recommended to bring sun protection and a hat. It has a capacity of 11,000 spectators and has a beautiful view of the City of Oaxaca and the Valleys.
The tradition of Night of rabanos It comes from colonial times, when the natives learned to harvest large radishes that were grown in the region. It is a popular festival that is celebrated on the night of December 23th in the capital city square, where figures and scenes sculpted using only these delicious bulbs are displayed.
During the celebration it is customary to consume donuts and break the plates where they are served: depending on the number of pieces in which the dish is broken, it will be the fate of the diner for the following year.
The Night of Radishes is a traditional Oaxacan festival with a clearly popular stamp in which market gardeners and flower growers display the artistic talent of their hands with special designs made of radish, immortal flower and totomoxtle. The exhibition lasts only a few hours, but it brings together practically all the inhabitants of the city in the zócalo area, who attend in order to admire the creativity of the participants in this contest that takes place year after year on December 23.
Night of rabanos
Some authors mention colonial vegetable competitions, the friars (in particular the Dominicans) were the ones who taught the cultivation of flowers and vegetables, some brought from Spain to the groups of naborías (indigenous Zapotecs and Mixtecs) who served in the houses of the neighbors. On July 7, 1563, they were granted by order of Viceroy Luis de Velasco, the lands near the estates of La Noria and Cinco Señores, thus founding the town of Trinidad de las Huertas or de las Naborías. It was in this place that all the farmers dedicated to horticulture and floriculture were grouped.
Regarding its origin, various versions agree that the custom of radishes and their original designs have their roots in the Christmas Vigil market that was held precisely every 23 December.
The ancient way of the Oaxacans was to attend the calends and the mass of Gallo. Christmas dinner came much later. The merchants used to sell salty dried fish in the Plaza de Armas de la Vieja Antequera, essential for waking meals, as well as the vegetables needed to complement the menu. The market gardeners of Trinidad de las Huertas brought their vegetables, selling them in stalls set up for this purpose.
In order to make their stalls more attractive, the gardeners began to create figures with the radishes, adorning them with cauliflower leaves and flowers made from young onions. They placed radishes, lettuces, turnips, onions, etc., all in an artistic way, without forgetting the flower baskets, which were cultivated with care.
This habit was taking root, more and more with the passage of time, reaching a point that housewives looked for these figures to decorate their tables. According to reliable sources in the book “Noche de Rábanos” written by Professor Alejandro Méndez Aquino, it is known that on December 23, 1897, the then Municipal President, Don Francisco Vasconcelos Flores, organized the first exhibition in which horticulturists participated, exposing their unique and curious creations with radishes in the form of Christmas representations, people, animals, dances and other types of scenes that their imagination dictated.
Night of rabanos
At that time in the history of Oaxaca, the first outdoor exhibition of the Night of Radishes was held in the Plaza del Marqués or Plaza de las Armas, today Plaza de la Constitución. After the first floriculture contest, it became customary for it to be held year after year.
Some time ago two more categories were proposed; Immortal Flower and Totomoxtle; The Immortal Flower is a flower of the region that through a natural process dehydrates and with it a great variety of traditional figures and ornaments are made. The Totomoxtle is the shell or leaf that covers the corn; The leaf is also dried naturally and with them figures are made with motifs similar to those of the radish and the immortal flower.
Day of the Dead
Day of the Dead
He Day of the Dead is a Mexican celebration that honors the deceased on the day November 2, starts from November 1st, and coincides with Catholic celebrations with the day of the faithful departed and all saints.
In this celebration it is customary to make Altars with offerings that is to say: Food, drinks, flowers that our deceased liked with images of the saints and photographs of them. placing candles to light his path; one of their beliefs is that a glass of water should be placed on it because the deceased arrive tired from their journey.
The celebration of the Days of the Dead in Oaxaca is a popular ceremony that invokes the spirits of the ancestors to invite them to "live together" in the earthly world, so they are treated in the most attentive way.
His visit among us obeys a permission obtained from the beyond so that the souls of the deceased can visit their relatives. The dead return home because they are attracted by their old belongings or by the love of their relatives.
It is possible to assure that no population of Mexico remains indifferent to such an ingrained tradition that in some way strengthens family ties by evoking the memory of loved ones.
There are vestiges of representations of death carried out by the various cultures that flourished before the arrival of the Spanish. These cultures maintained that with the cold winds from the north, the spirits of their dead came to visit them and to receive them they organized parties in their honor.
Since the evangelization of Oaxaca carried out by the Dominicans Fray Gonzalo Lucero and Fray Bernardino de Minaya, at the head of countless civilizing missionaries; The dates to celebrate the Faithful Departed were implemented, taking as a result of the cult of the dead that the aboriginal peoples already had and the prayers of the Church for the ancestors.
Day of the Dead
Currently, the celebration of the Dead begins in mid-October with the purchase of the products that will be placed as an offering on an altar. From very early on, the markets are installed and are dressed in characteristic smells and colors, then the gathering of relatives begins.
It can be found among the characteristic products of the season: black mole, Oaxacan sweets, among which canned pumpkin, manzanitas de tejocote and nicuatole, accompanied by chocolate and pan de muerto. All this and the fruits of the season are elements that are used to decorate the Altars of the Dead and to surround the offerings that are placed in honor of those who have already left this world.
The first of November is the day of "carrying the dead", the custom consists in giving to relatives and friends of the family a gifted sample of the foods that make up the offering of the dead. Delivery is made house to house. This day the "little angels" are worshiped, that is to say, the relatives who died as children. On the second of November the deceased adults are venerated.
Altars Cult
All Saints and the Faithful Departed are occasions for our people to exercise their ancestral customs. Some, praying for their past relatives, others going to cemeteries to decorate the graves that remain in the pantheons, thus preparing the ALTARS OF THE DEAD.
Day of the Dead
Much of the preparation of these festivals is reflected in the construction of the Altares de Muertos, an offering that is made to honor deceased relatives, since according to popular belief, they will come to visit their homes and their families on this day. . The Altars of the Dead are installed in the houses of their relatives or in the same pantheons on the tombs and vary according to the traditions of each region. Everything that the deceased enjoyed in life is remembered when preparing the altar; The offering is placed on October 31 in the morning, and it is everything that the relatives will come to savor and enjoy.
These altars are generally raised on a table lined with a tablecloth or a white sheet or with "chopped" china paper; On the front legs of the table, sugar canes or reeds are tied, which are given the shape of a triumphal arch, where the faithful departed are welcomed.
Traditionally, in all Altar de Muertos, one never forgets to place the flower of the dead, and the fragrant "cempasúchil", and also flowers of another type. Another of the offerings that are never ignored and are placed on the altars so that the souls of the deceased are illuminated, is the lamp that contains castor oil, the white or yellow wax candles and candles. Depending on each family, religious images and photographs of the deceased are also usually placed.
From pre-Hispanic times to the present day, it has been customary among our peoples to place on the altar of the dead the offering of copal or incense, substances that, when burned, produce aromatic odors; This offering was considered one of the main tributes to the divinities.
Once the altar is placed, nobody can touch anything at all. The guests are the dead and it is they who initiate the treat, on their return to the underworld, already satisfied, they will only take away the smell and sap of the dishes, only after them, everything can be tasted by the relatives.
Celebration in pantheons
Day of the Dead
For all of the above, "Los Días de Muertos" represent a mixture of tradition, worship, celebration, magic and history in Oaxaca. It is a magnificent spectacle that is lived in the pantheons; such as the General Pantheon adorned with more than 2,400 candles, or what to say about the Contest of Altars of the Dead, the magnificent ornaments of the tombs, the ingenuity and dedication of the relatives to please the already deceased and all this expression of earthly love.
The City of Oaxaca is preparing for this meeting with the deceased, and in each one of the Pantheons there are activities that each one of us can share, live and experience.
He Samaritan's Day is celebrated during the fourth friday of lent, and tradition indicates that on this day fresh waters and snow should be given. Hundreds of stalls are opened with the flowers that Mexicans love so much and many colored ribbons, and the squares and public spaces are filled with people who want to participate in this tradition. The waters are served from equally decorated pots and no one leaves without having taken at least one glass.
There are no precise data on when this festival was instituted; some people suppose that it was at the time of Christianization (Zúñiga and Aquino, 1989: 39), although it is probable that it was at the end of the 19th century.
It is customary that in the morning of this Friday, in the temples, offices, schools, private houses and some companies fruit water is distributed to those who request it. In the temples it is carried out in their respective atriums and the water begins to be distributed once the priest has imparted the blessing.
Although it takes place in many churches in the city, we cannot say that this is an eminently religious festival, although it may have been in its origins.
Samaritan's Day
It is said that this tradition possibly began when in the atriums of some churches of the Historic Center the representation of the biblical passage that referred to the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman was performed. Various images were used for this, standing out the one that represented the Samaritan woman, dressed as Oaxacan Chinese.
The most typical flavors in La Samaritana are rice horchata, hibiscus, tuna, among others. Aguas Frescas are also prepared with chilacayota, a very fibrous type of squash that is grown in Oaxaca. The women wear their regional costumes during this beautiful tradition that represents the best of Oaxacan hospitality, courteous and gentle people who like to share with visitors.
It is currently considered a “typical” element of Oaxaca and its success lies in this Folkloric aspect, since the subjects want to participate in that image and contribute to its validity.
Another sample of the generosity that characterizes the Oaxacan people!
Las Calendas
Las Calendas
Las Calendas in Oaxaca, whose origin dates back to the 16th century, they are demonstrations where the population is invited to meet and celebrate great events. The patron saint festivities are distinguished by the calendas, which are also seen in other types of celebrations such as baptisms and weddings.
In the different towns of the Oaxacan entity, the calendas are carried out according to the tradition of each community, but it is distinguished by the parade of colors and shapes that invite family and friends to come together and celebrate.
The drum, the rockets, the flowers and the joy of the attendees give life to the calendas, where children, youth, adults and the elderly participate.
Tuesday of «Witches»
This tradition that according to the history of this town has its origins in the colonial era, when the friar Domingo de Santa María, promoted the construction of the Catholic Temple in which the natives of the population participated working night shifts, while the women prepared them bean tamales and atole sweetened with panela.
When the sun went down, the wives reached the edges of the trees, lit by ocote torches called “Brujas”, (currently they are containers made of tin with a lighter fueled by oil) where the sound of the snail announced dinner time, and all gathered as one family to share food.
In these times, the xoxeños relive the memories of the rich tamales of great women who inherited their seasoning to their descendants, who today offer tasty bean tamales, rajas, chepil, sweet, mole, the specialty of the house being the chichilo tamale.
Witch Tuesday They are held every Tuesday of the week after Ash Wednesday that marks the beginning of Lent, until Holy WeekIt is a beautiful tradition in which you can enjoy very good concerts or dance while enjoying delicious tamales.
Isthmian Candles
The Isthmian Candles They are originally from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in honor of the local patron saint and it is organized by one or more mayordomos supported by captains. Masses and parties are organized at the house of the butler and a parade in floats for the "fruit throw", when the women of the Isthmus throw fruits and gifts to the spectators. During the candlelight celebration, the famous calendas are also held, where all the people go out to walk the streets, while they dance, sing and drink. All this is prior to the great dance dinner, where everyone will wear their Isthmian costume to show it off dancing to the sound of the Sandunga (Zandunga).
"May is the month of candles”, They say; however also are held in other months of the year, especially on the days of the patron saints. What is a fact is that it has certain ritual steps that have few variations.
Between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the narrowest region of Mexico stands out, but whose cultural wealth is one of the most extensive in the country. It is the Isthmus of Tehuantepec whose folklore and traditions have gone around the world and are an example of Mexican cultural roots.
The Isthmus is rich in diversity, since it is inhabited by Zapotecs, Chontales, Huaves, Toques, Mixes, Mixtecos, Tzotziles and Chinantecos. Each of these ethnic groups arrived in the Oaxaca area in different periods, however, this heterogeneity allowed the Isthmus region to acquire an unequaled cultural wealth.
Origin of the Isthmian Candles
Sheltered by complicity at night, one of the most emblematic traditions of this region stands out: the celebration of the Isthmus candles.
This tradition is full of religious syncretism, since it is carried out in honor of the patron saints of the different towns that make up the Isthmus and whom they honor with devotion during May.
This patronal feast has its origins in pre-Hispanic civilizations, who contributed a unique symbolism to each of the facets.
The Isthmus candles begin with a tour of the main streets of the city and that, generally, culminates in a church.
In this pilgrimage, the women wear the traditional and colorful Tehuana costume and the men a white guayabera and black pants; both walk accompanied by traditional music such as "La Sandunga".
Symbolism of the Isthmian Candles
The candle was adopted as the main component, since it is the representation of a sacred element for pre-Hispanic and religious cultures.
The candles were initially used as an offering to the divinities whom they thanked for good harvests, health and life.
However, before the conquest of the Spanish empire in Mexican territory, this tradition, like many others, was adapted to a celebration of saints.
Las Velas Istmeñas
The candles combine in perfect synchrony many of the Mesoamerican offerings with the current customs that were derived from the miscegenation with the Spanish. That is why in some cases, the candle is offered to both a deity and a saint. In total there are 20 types of candles that gracefully adorn the colors of the Oaxacan festival and, although candles are celebrated in all the towns of the Isthmus, there are some that stand out in popularity.
Candle San Vicente Ferrer. This candle is carried out in Juchitán, it is carried out for the whole town and enjoys an incomparable splendor. The celebration includes a mass, a conviviality in the house of the butler, sprinkled with fruit, a bull run, fireworks, an evening and a popular dance. The big candle of San Vicente Ferrer is celebrated the same night in different parts of the city.
Sailing Santo Domingo de Guzmán. Its headquarters is Tehuantepec in honor of the town's patron saint, the inhabitants perform dances, tours wearing traditional costumes and accompanied by the magnificence of the bands of the region.
Saint Jerome Doctor candle. In Ciudad Ixtepec, the candle to San Jerónimo Doctor celebrates festivities offered by butlers, captains, captains and queens.
Candle San Juan. It takes place in the magical town of Espinal in honor of the patron saint San Juan and the Virgen del Rosario.
Biaza candle. It celebrates the Zapotec resurrection, spring, and the nativity of the Virgin Mary.
Bini candle. Dedicated to the goddess Centéotl and the Virgin of the Rosary.
Paloma candle. Offerings are made to Xochiquétzal, a maiden preparing for marriage, to midwives, in autumn, as well as to the Virgin of the Conception. "
Candle San Isidro. Represents the great social event for the Spring Festival, it is the feast of high society families.
Cheguigo candle. The celebration of the candles covers the entire region of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, from north to south, therefore this candle is the one carried out by those who live on the other side of the river.
Candle San Pedro Cantarito. Dedicated to the city's potters, it should be noted that this tradition had disappeared in 2013, however, jealous generations managed to rescue and preserve it.
Sailing Santa Cruz Guzebenda. Celebrated by the fishing community of the seventh section that year after year show their devotion.
Children's Candle «Guendalizaa Sti Xcuidi». It is intended to promote traditions in the little ones, in this case, as in all others, children wear traditional costumes.
The magic of these celebrations full of tradition surrounds anyone who steps on the Isthmus region in the month of May and who, without a doubt, wants to return to experience the devotion of its inhabitants in the patron saint festivities.
Monte Albán is the most important archaeological zone of the Oaxacan entity, of unique regional importance due to the religious, political and economic control that the Zapotec state exercised over the population of the Valley of Oaxaca for more than thirteen centuries. It has been named by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage of Humanity along with the city of Oaxaca on December 11, 1987. The heritage of the Zapotec world reaches us through the magnificent archaeological sites designed in the Valley of Oaxaca. Of these, the city of Monte Albán stands out for its enormous importance as an economic, political and religious hub (it was the first urban complex in Mesoamerica); by its extension, almost as big as the current capital of Oaxaca; and for its long life, started around 500 BC and concluded around 850 AD
Oaxaca's culinary tradition is extraordinary and deeply rooted. There are fourteen different ethnic groups, with their own dishes. It is an area of incomparable wealth for the tourist interested in gastronomy, ethnology and culture in general. Oaxaca is the land of mezcal, tlayudas and the famous seven moles. You have to dedicate several days to it. Oaxacan gastronomy is one of the cultural manifestations that identify and define its people, due to its variety, richness and complexity that have been preserved through the centuries. The best way to enjoy Oaxacan food is by tasting it, from the “strong” dishes that are used to enjoying at lunchtime; like the traditional Oaxacan snacks that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
The City of Oaxaca is a destination that offers a great variety of tourist attractions and charms that leave anyone surprised. However, there are other places that are also worth knowing and are in the surroundings of the city, in whose surroundings various populations are located, each with its own personality and artisan tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes. .
The vast Oaxacan cuisine is distinguished by its tradition and the use of regional ingredients. Not for nothing has it positioned itself as the Best Tourist City in the World and the Best Gourmet Destination. In the presentation of the 2021 edition of The Mexico Gastronomic Guide "The Great Restaurants of Mexico" 278 restaurants located throughout the Mexican Republic were recognized, on this occasion, there were 16 Oaxacan restaurants that were placed in the list .
The Guelaguetza is an ancient tradition with pre-Hispanic roots related to agricultural ceremonies of gratitude to the gods for the arrival of the rains and the lifting of the harvest at the end of July and is the largest festival in Oaxaca. La Guelaguetza is a celebration of gratitude for the arrival of the rains and the harvests, in which representatives from all regions of the state gather in the capital to share their culture through dances, crafts and food.
An ideal space for Alternative Tourism, Oaxaca offers activities such as walking, mountain biking, rappelling, climbing, zip-lining, horseback riding, observation of flora and fauna and more, in close contact with nature. The visitor can also witness the various aspects of local life, savor the gastronomy and enjoy the warmth of its people, as well as an offer of accommodation in hotels, ecotourism cabins, local houses or excellent camping areas. In its varied geography, it brings together not only a vast biodiversity, considered among the largest in the world, but also insurmountable cultural and ethnic riches, and the most different and beautiful natural settings.
In Oaxaca we are proud to have 5 communities that have been awarded the title of Magic Towns of Mexico, a Magic Town is a town that has symbolic attributes, legends, history, transcendent events, everyday life, in short magic that they emanate in each of their socio-cultural manifestations, and that today mean a great opportunity for tourist use. The Magical Towns Program contributes to revalue a group of populations in the country that have always been in the collective imagination of the nation as a whole and that represent fresh and different alternatives for national and foreign visitors.
The Santo Domingo Cultural Center is a cultural complex that is located in what was one of the most important convents in the colony. It is a large convent in which the Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca, the Fray Francisco de Burgoa Library and the Ethnobotanical Garden have been established. The Néstor Sánchez Public Newspaper Library is located in a building that is part of the complex but dates from the 19th century. Apart from all these institutions brought together, the Santo Domingo Cultural Center has multipurpose spaces in the former convent, in which temporary exhibitions, conferences, courses, book presentations and concerts are held, among many other activities.
Oaxaca City, the state capital, is famous for its architecture and rich cultural traditions. Oaxaca also has a splendid and varied cuisine and a spring climate throughout the year. UNESCO declared the city a Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Oaxaca is the most diverse state in Mexico. It has peaks that reach more than 3,000 meters in height, caverns that are among the deepest in the world, pristine beaches, secluded forests and sunny valleys. Oaxaca is rich in traditions and customs and has the largest ethnic population in Mexico.
The beaches of the coast of the state of Oaxaca are among the most beautiful and complete in Mexico, thanks to a developing tourist infrastructure and the rich gastronomy of the Pacific. Along the 533 kilometers of coastline, the beaches of Oaxaca offer a wide variety of activities for lovers of water sports: snorkeling, diving, sport fishing, surfing, among others ... there is something for everyone!
Places such as Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, Zipolite, Carrizalillo, Puerto Ángel or the beaches of Huatulco will offer you the possibility of contemplating beautiful sunsets, delighting in intense adventure tourism or witnessing the exciting release of newborn turtles.
Crafts in Oaxaca are so varied and of such good quality that they have become a tourist attraction. The ancestral traditions, the diversity in the ethnic groups, as well as the richness in the history of the state have been manifested in the great diversity of creations of more than half a million artisans that are registered in Oaxaca. In the center of the state is the City of Oaxaca, a fascinating and hospitable capital in whose surroundings various towns are located, each with its own personality and craft tradition, accompanied by their respective customs, festivals and dishes.
The name mezcal has its roots in one of the ancient native languages of the area and translates as 'agave (also known as maguey) cooked'. Although pre-Hispanic Oaxaqueños used maguey to make pulque (an undistilled alcoholic beverage), it seems that the real advances in mezcal production occurred when the Spanish arrived in Oaxaca; by bringing with them their knowledge of distillation processes.
Oaxaca is famous throughout the world for its archaeological sites and the history they keep. Discover Monte Alban, Mitla, Yagul and more of these remote sites, which have made Oaxaca a World Heritage city, according to Unesco. The original Zapotec and Mixtec peoples of Oaxaca lived in the cities and religious centers of the valley of this city until the time of Spanish colonization. Today, there are still vestiges of these towns and places where you can meet them.
