A Week in Oaxaca

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Spending a week in Oaxaca will give you enough time to explore this colonial city. The one week itinerary below will allow you to appreciate the historical and cultural significance of this charming city. If you decide to stay longer, simply add a few days in your Oaxaca itinerary.

Day 1

Start your day with a walking tour of Oaxaca’s historical center. Visit the Santo Domingo church and museum and then walk down Alcala street to the Zocalo. Include in your itinerary the Temple of San Felipe Neri, Basilica of the Soledad, and the Temple of San Agustín. You must also visit the 20 de Noviembre and the Benito Juarez markets as well as the Mayordomo chocolate factory to stimulate all your senses.

Day 2

Go on a day trip to Santa Maria el Tule and Teotitlan del Valle villages. Include in your itinerary the village of Mitla to see the fascinating contrast between a once stunning city in ruins and the present day city that has never reclaimed the glory of the pre-Spanish period.

Then prepare yourself for an exciting nightlife. Oaxaca offers an exiting and pulsating night activities. It has almost everything for people with varied taste. Jazz, salsa music, blues, and even folkloric shows are as popular as disco or rock, which makes a huge part of Oaxaca nightlife.

Day 3

Visit the archaeological site of Monte Alban, located at the intersection of three wide valleys on top of a mountain which the Zapotec people leveled off and established great city that once ruled the region. Your visit to Oaxaca will be incomplete without this attraction.

Also visit San Bartolo Coyotepec, the village where the city’s famous black pottery is made. Then head to the town of Ocotlan de Morelos, where you can find a marvelously restored church and ex-convent.

Day 4

Spend some time visiting museums. Here are some of the more popular museums: Santo Domingo Cultural Center, House of Juárez Museum, Photographic Center Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Rufino Tamayo Museum of Pre-Hispanic Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, The Philately Museum, and Museum of Popular Art.

Also try traditional Oaxaca cuisine. The city has numerous flavors that will satisfy even the most sophisticated and fussy taste, so find restaurants that will delight your demanding palate. Recommended restaurants: Casa Oaxaca, Como Agua Pa’ Chocolate, El Naranjo, La Biznaga, La Toscana, and Marco Polo.

Day 5

Spend the day doing some sports and other recreational activities. Oaxaca gives you the opportunity to enjoy a wide array of activities to keep you busy during your vacation. Oaxacans love to play fútbol or soccer, the most popular sport in the city.

But if you are not into soccer, do not worry. The city offers many other sports alternatives: water sports, golf, mountain biking, trekking or hiking, mountain climbing, canyoning, rappelling, surfing, water skiing, kayaking, canoeing, paragliding, hang gliding, balloon flights, horseback riding, bungee jumping, and many other.

Day 6

Make sure that you visit Mercado de Abastos, Mexico’s largest outdoor market. It is also perhaps the most vibrant and colorful markets in the country. Wander around to feel the vitality of the Oaxacan marketplace. Market day is Saturday. Also visit La Merced and Mercado de Artesañas.

Do some serious shopping. An authentic Oaxacan shopping experience does not mean hitting high-end establishments and spending a fortune. Instead, you are better off looking for rare treasures at small shops and boutiques. Here are some of the top shops you should visit: Blackbox, Jarcieria El Arte Oaxaqueño, La Mano Magica, Mujeres Artesanas de las Regiones de Oaxaca, and Plaza Comercial de las Etnias.

Day 7

Everything on this final day largely depends on what time your check-out time or flight. Most hotels in Oaxaca expect their guests to check out by 12:00 noon. They usually store your baggage in the main lobby or in a room next to reception if your flight is in the evening. You are still allowed to use all facilities including the restaurants.