Planned Tours
We have arranged for two private excursions in advance of Saturday’s Ceremony. To sign up and see more information, please click here to be redirected to the dedicated booking site. See the itineraries below.
For those looking to choose their own adventure, consider the options below!
Within Oaxaca City
Zocalo
Oaxaca’s central square has been a gathering space for the city for over 500 years. It is lively with demonstrations and celebrations at almost any hour. Start out in the main square and bounce around the many famous landmarks nearby.
Botanical Gardens
Oaxaca’s wealth of flora has been curated and concentrated into the Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca. The gardens occupy a portion of the Dominican co
nvent that includes the Church of Santo Domingo.
We encourage you to walk through a collection of almost a thousand plant species in this beautifully laid-out botanical garden, each native to the state from its cold mountains to humid tropics. Guided tours take around an hour and are available in English.
A visit to the botanical gardens is easily combined with the cathedral and the culture museum, as they’re all located on the same grounds.
VISIT ONLINE
Markets
Getting lost wandering around the city’s many markets is part of the Oaxacan experience. You will find delicious food as well as plenty of interesting souvenirs. Markets are an integral part of life in Oaxaca, and we encourage you to take a few hours to enjoy the atmosphere.
The most well-known market is Mercado Benito Juarez, where you can try Oaxacan classics like mole, pick up some local cheese and mezcal. Mercado 20 de Noviembre, another popular market is right beside and both of the markets are in the center of town.
For a real cultural experience, travel about a half hour east of Oaxaca on a Sunday to get to the weekly Tlacolula de Matamoros market. It’s one of the oldest markets in Mesoamerica and one of the largest markets not just in Oaxaca, but this entire region of Mexico.
Explorations
Hierve el Agua
This is the popular petrified waterfall of Oaxaca and one of the most amazing natural wonders in Mexico that you must visit. Hierve El Agua is located 60km (1 hour and 40 minutes car ride) away from the Oaxaca city center. Here you’ll see amazing rock formations that resemble cascading waterfalls.
It is one of the best day trips in the area because it’s a perfect place to connect with nature, do a hike and enjoy breathtaking views.
There are also natural mineral springs that you can soak in. While the name means “boiling water” in Spanish, the water can actually be a bit cold here. It’s still nice and refreshing to take a dip, especially after hiking around the area for a while.
Hierve el Agua can be combined with a trip to Mitla. Tip: Check out Mexico’s most famous tree, the Arbol del Tule on the way out of Oaxaca City on this day trip.
Mitla
Mitla is also said to be the most important site for the Zapotec culture. While Monte Alban was the political centre for the Zapotecs, Mitla was the religious centre. It is located 40 km (50 minutes car ride) from the city center.
An interpretation of the past says that Mitla was a “place for rest” or, a place for the dead. Mitla comes from the word “Mictlan” and one of its meanings is “the underworld”.
Mitla is a pre-Columbian archeological site that expresses the Mesoamerican belief that death was the most consequential part of life after birth. It was built as a gateway between the world of the living and the world of the dead.
Monte Alban
Far and away one of the most popular things to do in Oaxaca is taking a day trip out to the ruins at Monte Alban (White Mountain). It is a UNESCO World Heritage List site. Built by the Zapotecs, this is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in all of Latin America.
It is less than 10km (30 minutes car ride) away from Oaxaca city. The site is located on a low mountainous range rising above the plain in the central section of the Oaxaca valley. This is a great day trip for history and culture lovers but also nature lovers as the views from the highest points are simply breathtaking.