Oaxaca
📍 Capitale : Oaxaca de Juarez🏙️ 4 villes principales💰 $590-$3,100/jour
Apercu general
Oaxaca is Mexico's cultural and gastronomic heart. With 16 ethnic groups, it's the country's most culturally diverse state. The capital, Oaxaca de Juarez, is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its green cantera stone colonial architecture and living traditions. The 7 Oaxacan moles, artisanal mezcal, molinillo chocolate, tlayudas, and chapulines (grasshoppers) were all born here. The Guelaguetza (July) is Mexico's largest folk festival. Beyond the capital, the Oaxacan coast offers pristine beaches like Huatulco, Mazunte, Zipolite, and Puerto Escondido (a surfing mecca). Hierve el Agua features petrified waterfalls unique in the world. Monte Alban, the ancient Zapotec capital, dominates the valley from above. Oaxaca is the favorite destination for travelers seeking authenticity, folk art, deeply-rooted gastronomy, and profound cultural experiences.
🌤️ Meilleur moment pour visiter
October to May is the ideal dry season. July is the month of the Guelaguetza, Oaxaca's most important festival (book hotels months in advance). Day of the Dead (November 1-2) is a unique experience in Oaxaca's cemeteries. The coast is pleasant year-round with temperatures of 28-33°C (82-91°F).
🏙️ Villes principales
Oaxaca de Juarez
State capital and UNESCO Heritage site. Historic center with green cantera stone, Santo Domingo de Guzman church, craft markets, and Mexico's best gastronomy. Mezcalerias, art galleries, and intense cultural life.
Voir le guide complet →Huatulco
9 bays with 36 golden sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. National Park with coral reefs. Quieter and more affordable than other beach destinations. Ideal for snorkeling, diving, and ecotourism.
Voir le guide complet →Puerto Escondido
Mexico's surf capital. Zicatela Beach has world-class waves. Rinconada and Carrizalillo are calmer. Bohemian atmosphere, yoga retreats, and bioluminescence at Manialtepec Lagoon.
Mazunte and Zipolite
Hippie beaches of the Oaxacan coast. Mazunte has the Mexican Turtle Center and Punta Cometa for epic sunsets. Zipolite is Mexico's only legal nudist beach. Relaxed atmosphere and very low prices.
🚶 Ou marcher
Oaxaca Historic Center
📍 Oaxaca de Juarez Historic Center
Start at the Zocalo, the main plaza surrounded by portales with cafes. Walk along pedestrian Alcala Street toward Santo Domingo de Guzman, Mexico's most spectacular baroque church (interior covered in gold). Across is the Museum of Oaxacan Cultures with treasures from Monte Alban's Tomb 7. Continue to the November 20th Market to try tasajo, tlayudas, and Oaxacan chocolate. End at the Artisan Market next to the Benito Juarez Market.
Monte Alban at sunset
📍 Monte Alban, 9 km from Oaxaca center
Take a colectivo from Hotel Rivera del Angel ($60 MXN round trip, every hour). The Zapotec archaeological zone (500 BC) sits atop a mountain with views of the entire Oaxaca Valley. Walk the Grand Plaza, the Ball Court, the Observatory, and the tombs. Entry: $90 MXN. Arrive at 3 pm to avoid the heat and enjoy the golden sunset light.
🚌 Comment se deplacer
🚌 ADO and OCC - Buses to Oaxaca
$400-$700ADO and OCC connect Oaxaca city with CDMX (6h, from $550 MXN), Puebla (4.5h, $400 MXN), and Huatulco (7h, $450 MXN). Buses depart from the ADO Terminal on Periferico. For the coast, the road is winding: bring motion sickness pills.
💡 The new highway to Puerto Escondido (2024) reduced the trip from 10h to 6h
💡 Buy ADO tickets online, buses fill up in high season
🚐 Valley colectivos and trucks
$15-$50Communal trucks and vans connect Oaxaca with valley towns: Mitla ($30 MXN, 1h), El Tule ($15 MXN, 30min), Teotitlan del Valle ($25 MXN, 45min). Depart from the southern Periferico near the baseball stadium. Cheap but not always comfortable.
💡 For Monte Alban, colectivos depart from Hotel Rivera del Angel every hour ($60 MXN round trip)
💡 On the coast, colectivos go from Puerto Escondido to Mazunte/Zipolite ($40 MXN)
🚕 Taxis and mototaxis
$20-$100In Oaxaca city, taxis are cheap: any ride within the center costs $40-60 MXN. They don't use meters, ask the price before. On the coast, mototaxis (motorized tricycles) are common in small towns like Mazunte and Zipolite ($20-40 MXN). Uber does NOT work in Oaxaca.
💡 Taxis in Oaxaca are very cheap. From the airport to downtown: $150-200 MXN
💡 Uber doesn't work in Oaxaca. Use stand taxis or ask your hotel to call one
🍽️ Ou manger
Mercado 20 de Noviembre
MarketOaxaca's most famous gastronomic market. The 'Smoke Alley' (grilled meats aisle) is Mexico's most intense culinary experience: choose your cut of tasajo, cecina, or chorizo, they grill it over charcoal and serve it with tlayuda, nopales, green onions, and salsa. Smoke fills the entire aisle.
📍 Historic Center, next to Benito Juarez Market
⭐ A essayer : Grilled tasajo with tlayuda, nopales, and pasilla salsa
Casa Oaxaca El Restaurante
RestaurantBy chef Alejandro Ruiz, one of Mexico's best restaurants. It reinvents Oaxacan cuisine with local ingredients: contemporary moles, crispy chapulines, mezcal throughout. Terrace with a view of Santo Domingo. Reservation recommended.
📍 Historic Center, Constitucion street
⭐ A essayer : Black mole with free-range chicken and red rice
La Teca
RestaurantAuthentic Isthmus cuisine, different from valley cooking. Isthmus garnachas, cambray tamales, guetabingui (shrimp tortilla), and coconut horchata. Located in Colonia Reforma. Open only for lunch.
📍 Colonia Reforma, Oaxaca
⭐ A essayer : Isthmus garnachas and cambray tamales with coconut horchata
Mezcaloteca
RestaurantNot a bar, but an educational mezcal experience. You sit at a table and an expert guides you through tastings of artisanal mezcals from different regions and agaves. You'll learn the difference between espadin, tobala, cuishe, and more. Reservation required.
📍 Historic Center, Reforma street
⭐ A essayer : Guided tasting of 5 mezcals with worm salt and orange
Boulenc
RestaurantArtisanal bakery with wood-fired oven and specialty coffee. Sourdough bread, croissants with Oaxacan chocolate, molletes with black beans and Oaxacan cheese. Rooftop terrace with views. The best breakfast in Oaxaca.
📍 Historic Center, Porfirio Diaz 207
⭐ A essayer : Sourdough bread with butter and artisanal jam + Pluma coffee
🛡️ Securite
Oaxaca city is very safe for tourists. Walk the historic center confidently day and night. Avoid the Central de Abastos area at night
On the Oaxacan coast be careful with ocean currents. Zipolite and Puerto Escondido have strong waves. Only swim on beaches with green flags
Mountain roads between Oaxaca and the coast are winding. If renting a car, drive only during the day and with caution. Bring motion sickness pills
Respect local traditions in indigenous towns. Ask permission before photographing people, especially in markets and ceremonies
💰 Budget quotidien estime
| Categorie | Economique | Confortable |
|---|---|---|
| 🏨 Hebergement | $300 | $2,000 |
| 🍽️ Nourriture | $150 | $500 |
| 🚌 Transport | $40 | $200 |
| 🎯 Activites | $100 | $400 |
| Total par jour | $590 | $3,100 |