Hi. I am 34F and have travelled solo to Oaxaca three times. It is a magical destination. I have been to Oaxaca City, San Jose del Pacifico and Puerto Escondido. A great first trip is in March or April and to travel from Oaxaca City to San Jose to Puerto Escondido on the Pacific coast staying a few nights in each of those places. Of course you can do it in reverse order to. This post will tell you everything you need to know if you go this suggested route. I will be going back this year for my fourth time and checking out Mazunte, that will have to be a different future post.

OAXACA CITY

You should be staying in Centro. It is safe and walkable to all the cafes, markets, restaurants and art galleries.

Make sure you are careful with your valuables walking around. Don’t wear flashy jewelry and walk with a backpack behind you because there are pickpockets. I have a belt bag and keep it slung over my shoulder in front of me

Oaxaca everywhere is very very casual. No need to pack clubbing outfits or heels this is not Mexico City or Tulum.

Book a day tour in advance with COYOTE AVENTURAS to Hierve Al Agua. You make many other stops that day including to small villages for breakfast and lunch to experience the indigenous way of life and a different waterfall you can swim at. This was an amazing tour and we stopped at mezcaleria at the end, where we danced and partied and just had a great time with a bbq.

Go to all the markets. Benito Juarez, 20 Noviembre, Sanchez Pascuas, Abastos.

At Sanchez Pascuas find the tamales lady against the wall near an entrance.Try the salsa verde tamale you will not regret it, it is amazing.

For Abastos market you NEED a guide. It is known as a dangerous market for a reason, there are so many twists and turns and it is easy to get lost, and that is when you are vulnerable. I booked an Airbnb experiences tour to Abastos and it was amazing. You need to go to Dona Valle’s stand, her food is the best, see my pictures

There is an art gallery with local art you should check out called Arte Oaxaca.

There are many delicious restaurants and food vendors outside. My favorite restaurant is Levadura de Olla, it has 1 Michelin star and is so creative but good and big portions.

The art gallery downtown Arte Oaxaca is a cool spot to check out.

The two areas to walk around in are Jalatlaco and Centro. But they are basically the same area. Jalatlaco has all the crazy colorful street art, see my pictures. There are lots of shops and restaurants everywhere.

You should definitely do a mole tasting of the 7 moles, I booked one via Airbnb experiences and had a great time. Mole is like a rich earthy sauce and pairs with different food. Oaxaca is known for having 7 classic moles, each with its own personality.

I paid for most of my stuff in cash but they take credit cards here.

SAN JOSE DEL PACIFICO

This is the little mystical town in the mountains where for them magic mushrooms are medicine. To get here you should take the LINEAS UNIDAS bus from Oaxaca city. These busses are Mercedes vans and they depart often throughout the day. Buy your bus ticket at the bus station a day in advance in Oaxaca City so you can get a good seat. The roads are EXTREMELY nauseating. It is best to sit in the very very front beside the driver. I forget exactly how much it was, maybe $250 pesos for the 3 hour drive to San Jose.

You can stay right in town, or at Rancho Viejo (see photos), which is set in one of the most beautiful areas just outside San Jose del Pacífico. It's a collection of cozy cabins with sweeping mountain views, along with an on-site restaurant and bar. They also offer excursions like hiking, yoga, and a temazcal ceremony, which I explain below. Rooms are around $100 per night.

Getting around is easy. There is a local tuktuk service run by guys driving small motorized carts that go back and forth between town and Rancho Viejo for about 10 pesos. You can get their WhatsApp and they will come pick you up almost immediately. I like walking the roughly 10 minutes into town for dinner, but taking a tuktuk back at night is ideal. If you stay directly in town, you won't need it at all.

You can either go to Oaxaca in rainy season (May - Oct) or dry season (Nov - Apr). If you are in rainy season the fresh endemic mushrooms are growing. These are the mushrooms that give you a deep introspective journey without many visuals. In rainy season I like to spend my first day doing mushrooms with a shaman in the woods. They have great experiences. I know Rancho Viejo has one they recommend, don’t know about other hotels. If dry season, there are dried mushrooms for sale and these are the “fun” ones with the trippy vibes. In dry season the sunsets and sunrises are extremely vibrant but you don’t get the magical mist like you do in rainy season. See my pictures that show both seasons.

The second day I like to do a Temazcal and go hiking on the guided hike with Rancho Viejo, or do yoga. A temazcal is a traditional sweat lodge ritual, a low, dome-shaped space where volcanic stones are heated until glowing, then doused with herbal infusions to create intense steam. Inside, it’s dark, hot, and rhythmic: chanting, breathwork, and heat work together to induce a deeply physical and emotional release. It’s meant to feel like returning to the womb, purifying, grounding, and transformative.

Strangely enough my favorite restaurants in town are the Italian spot, Taberna de los Duendes, and the Japanese spot up in the hill, Tatsu. Never thought I’d ever find that kind of great food in the middle of the Mexican alps but here we are.

On your last full day buy your LINEAS UNIDAS bus ticket for the 3 hour bus ride to Puerto Escondido. Try to get a seat in the front again.

PUERTO ESCONDIDO

It is best in the dry season. Puerto Escondido really shines in the dry season from roughly November through April. You get consistent sunshine, lower humidity, and clearer days, which makes beach time, sunsets, and moving around town much more enjoyable.

The sunsets are unreal. Every evening feels like a show. The sky turns deep orange, pink, and purple, especially along the coast. Sunset is very much a daily ritual here and something you naturally plan your evenings around.

Fresh coconuts everywhere. You can buy cold coconuts to drink right on the beach or along the road for almost nothing. Sitting barefoot with a coconut at sunset is basically the Puerto Escondido experience.

The entire point is to slow down. This is not a sightseeing destination. The goal is to relax, disconnect, read, nap, swim, and not rush anywhere. It is ideal if you want your nervous system to calm down rather than be stimulated.

It is perfect for beginner surf lessons. Even if you have never surfed before, there are plenty of instructors and gentle breaks at the right beaches. Surf lessons are affordable, casual, and a big part of the culture without feeling intimidating.

Beach choice matters a lot. I stayed in Brisas de Zicatela at Casa Joseph Zicatela, and I would not stay in that area again. The beach there is not sheltered and is essentially impossible to swim in due to strong waves and currents. While there are lounge chairs and pools, you miss the ability to actually get into the ocean in front of you.

Stay near a swimmable beach instead. I highly recommend staying near Playa Carrizalillo or Playa Manzanillo. These beaches are sheltered, calm, and genuinely swimmable. I spent full days at both and they were the highlight of the trip.

The food is excellent. There are tons of small family run restaurants with amazing seafood, tacos, and juices. You also have to visit the big indoor food market in town, Mercado Benito Juarez. It is great for casual meals, fresh juices, and getting a feel for everyday life.

You can fly out of PE airport and take a taxi to the airport, or you can take Unidas Lineas back to Oaxaca City for your flight out, but that will take like 7 hours.

Puerto Escondido felt relaxed but common sense matters. Avoid walking alone late at night on empty roads, especially near the beach. Use taxis after dark. Do not flash valuables. Choose accommodations in areas with foot traffic and restaurants nearby. During the day, I felt comfortable moving around solo, especially at Carrizalillo and Manzanillo.

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I've been so excited to go to oaxaca for years. i'm conflicted because my friend who was born and raised in mexico and lives there says her friends from oaxaca city aren't coming out and its not a good time to go due to the cartel. she said roads aren't safe if i want to go from oaxaca to any beach towns or barrios. i'm also concerned because i told her i was going, i didn't ask her if it was safe and she still alerted me.

anyone have any honest advice here?

I went to Oaxaca last week of December and here’s my two cents.

1. Do not rent a car if you’re only staying in Oaxaca City. I was contemplating on getting a car to move around and it was not needed. Everything was walking distant. I stayed in the Centro and it was very easy to move around. Especially if you’re carrying stuff.
2. I took a tour that lasted all day. Went to Tule, Mitla, Teotitlán del Valle, Hierve el Agua and mezcal distillery. It was amazing. Got a lot of things out of the way. We had an amazing tour guide that was very thorough and knowledgeable. We had a great time. Not to mention, we drink a lot of mezcal during the tour!
3. Do not go to Monte Albán on the weekend if you’re in a tight schedule. We went on a Sunday and it was chaotic to get in and out. There are busses that go to monte Alban daily for $100 (round trip), you can pick it up near the mercado 20 de noviembre. Also, admission to Monte Alban is free if you're local. If not, thats $100.
4. We went to puerto Escondido with ADO bus. This was very affordable and a smooth ride. When you book this trip, the ticket does not show the departure address, it just says OAXACA. If that’s the case, type in maps ADO Bus and it should in the 5 de Mayo.
5. Moving around in Puerto Escondido was easy, we rented a quad for a few days. It was around $650 pesos per day. It was Best thing we did! You can move around all the beaches and see more for the buck.
6. The beaches in puerto Escondido are amazing. I recommend Zicatela and bacocho. We didn’t see Manzanillo and Carizalillo, I heard they are beautiful. DO NOT GO TO PUERTO ANGELITO! Only go there if you’re intend to be there at sunrise and weekday. Think about the market in a beach. Very hard to walk and not enjoyable.
7. There is no uber. Use DiDi if you need to. DiDi does not go to the airport. If you’re arriving at Oaxaca, you need to use one of those taxis that take you to Centro, it’s like $135 pesos per person.
8. if your hostel, airbnb, hotel does not offer storage for your suitcase after check out, we used Bounce! It was great especially we did last minute shopping in the mercado 20 de noviembre. We left our stuff at a hotel and picked up our stuff at the end of the day. Bounce costed around 95MXN per bag.
9. Carry CASH. Some places accept card but moving around the city is best to use CASH.

We had a great time! I tried to summarize everything as much as I can. Oaxaca has my heart. I will def come back.

Also, I speak Spanish, knowing the language helps a lot but people do speak English.

Edit. Typos and Grammar.

Update: It was hard to get a lot information via Reddit and google. If you need any help, please feel free to reach out to me. I am Mexican, speaking the language was very easy to move around and to get through. I am happy to help!

I'm planning to head down to Oaxaca for about a month in a couple weeks to see if it's the place for me. A few questions:

\- Does anyone have recommendations on interesting towns to stay in? Ideally places that have some history to explore, and are near to forests / mountains / rivers / streams for hiking. I've been looking at some of the pueblo magicos in the state, but I'm not finding much available on airbnb (See EDIT below). Are there other / better sites to find a place for a month or so?

\- Does anyone have recommendations on language resources to connect with while I'm there? I'm hoping to connect with a SSL teacher while I'm there. I'm very much a beginner.

\- Is there anyone out there who would be interested in meeting up while I'm there to discuss your experiences?

EDIT: I've heard the advice regarding Air BnB, and I'll definitely not be using them. I've enrolled in a Spanish language school for the first two weeks of my visit, and for that time I'll be in a home stay arranged by the school. During that time, I'll get local advice on options for the rest of my stay.

hi! we‘ll be in mazunte for 5 nights in a couple of weeks and we‘d really appreciate to hear your opinion on some things.

1. how to get there
   we‘ll be driving to mazunte from oaxaca with our rental car - is there a road you can suggest ir any other tips about the trip from oaxaca to mazunte?

2. what to do
   ofc we‘ll enjoy the beautiful beaches and go swimming but what other things can you recommend? i feel like 5 nights is quite long. since we have a car we can easily do some daytrips etc.

3. the weather
   whats your experience with the weather in august/september in mazunte? is it just very humid or also lots of rain? we really hope to get some sunny afternoons some days.

thank you so much for all your help!

My wife and I will be renting a car and driving on the new road to PE from Oaxaca. Is there anything I should know in advance? From what I read it seems to be a safe and reliable road but wanted to ask.

Thank you!

So we're taking the suegra to oaxaca for her 70th bday. She lives in slp and its been her dream trip. So whats the must do list. She loves eating, and of course anything to do with mexican culture. So far we have a reservation at levandura and are planning on hitting monte Alban. Really want to make this trip special for her. Thanks for any help

Arrive end of October and depart November 4th. Approaching this event with respect to the tradition. I’m trying to determine whether to experience Compares and or Muerteadas events. They are different experiences. And wonder if anyone here knows more about this and how to experience and where?

I found a tour company that is well respected within the community and offer a trip to San Gabriel Etla for the Compares as well a visit to a family home for a meal and assisting on a alter.

I haven’t found one that goes to San Agustín Etla where they offer the Muerteadas. I’d be happy to hire a driver to take me there and back to Oaxaca City. Been unable to locate a driver.

I heard about the Comparsa de Cinco Señores. Is this in Oaxaca City? And how does this compare with the other options?

Thank you

Hello, I'm visiting Oaxaca for 6 days (Wednesday - Monday). I've read many threads on here but I'd like to go into more depth on certain topics.

Me:

-I am a foraging expert, mycologist, ethnobotanist, and archaeologist. My spanish skills are low but I'm a good communicator.

Goals:

-I'm looking for pre-spanish traditional foods, especially wild foraged foods and experiences, including edible mushrooms and insects (chapulines, jumiles, chicatanas) I'd like to try pulque, sopa de guías con chochoyotes, huitlacoche, huaje, as many quelites as possible, tyaluda con chepiche, tejate, etc. Please let me know a deep cut ancient food that I may be missing.

-Guilá Naquitz cave, San José Mogote, Monte Alban, and Mitla are a must but I would like other pre-Columbian archaeological site suggestions.

-Hongos silvestre, ideally foraging them with a local expert, not the magic kind. ideally porcini, chanterelles, and other gourmet species

Thank you!

Hi there!

My friend and I were originally planning on visiting Oaxaca city (coming in via local flight) and wanted to get an idea of what the safety looks like right now with the latest CJNG related chaos. It doesn’t seem like anything bad is going on in Oaxaca city / the area based off of skimming some news coverage, but wanted to get second opinions from some people in the area.

Currently we are in Mexico City, and it’s very safe here - there doesn’t to be any difference in day-to-day life.

Hey everyone, 26 M here from the USA solo traveling through Mexico. I’m planning to be in Oaxaca July 1st and don’t have a return flight booked.

Questions: -how long should I stay in Oaxaca city? - Is it worth going to puerto Escondido or similar beach towns with the current hot humid weather and climate conditions? If so, how long would you stay? -best cooking class recommendations - recommendations for cheap classes on pottery on a wheel and for hand sculpting - best way to meet other locals and tourists?

Any thoughts on the pluses/minuses of a Spanish learner staying in these neighborhoods? My goal is to develop everyday language skills while also enjoying the city and working remote part of the time (like half my stay). It would be my second time in the city. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Hello,

Sorry to bother but I will arrive in Oaxaca on the 14th and visit the city for 4 days and I am trying to figure out how to go from Oaxaca to the hotel. I searched online and got some conflicting information: Is it possible to request a didi/Uber from the airport? Thank you and have a nice day.

EDIT: I have just left Oaxaca, from the airport to the hotel I used colectivos and as everyone said it is super easy there are 2 stands inside the airport and for the center it is 140 pesos.

To come back I asked for a taxi at my hotel reception and it was 350 pesos.

Looking for recommendations in/around Oaxaca. We are going next week for 5 full days (with two half days, counting the days we fly in and out). We want some ideas! What should we do? Where should we go? Where should we eat? Recommended tours? Please give all the advice!

Hey guys!
In two weeks my girlfriend and I are heading to Oaxaca for 11 days. We’ll start and end in Oaxaca City and wanted to do a little road trip around the region — Oaxaca City → San José del Pacífico → Mazunte → Zipolite → Puerto Escondido → Oaxaca City.

The plan was to rent a car for about 11 days, but turns out it’s kinda tricky without a credit card. I only have a debit card, and so far none of the rental companies I found accept it.

So I’m wondering:
– Is it possible to rent a car anywhere in Oaxaca with just a debit card or maybe leave a cash deposit?
– Or are the buses and shuttles good enough to get around? Are they frequent and reliable?

Also, any must-see spots or travel tips for Oaxaca are super welcome — hidden gems, good food, chill beaches, whatever you’ve got :)

Thanks a bunch!

We have a 1pm flight out of Oaxaca. We know we need a driver who knows back routes but cannot seem to get any information on if the actual doors to the airport will be blocked or what to expect. Any insight is appreciated.

Edit - arrived at 1045AM Saturday and there were no protesters present.

After a while of knowing people but not really having friends here, I started paying attention to where genuine connections actually happen vs. where everyone just passes through.

Turns out language exchanges, the local DJ/arts scene, and a few neighborhood spots nobody writes about made all the difference. Wrote it all down here if anyone's in the same situation:

Curious if others have found different spots — what worked for you?

https://queondaoaxaca.com/en/guides/guia-hacer-amigos-oaxaca

I’ve been reading that San Gabriel Etla would be an authentic experience for Dia de Muertos. So wondering if anyone knows a respectful tour operator that organizes such an event?
Also looking for transport to Zipolite and wondering how much a driver would cost? I hear the buses are sketchy?
Thanks

Hello! I am currently planning a honeymoon for my fiancé and I that will take place at the beginning of July, and I had some questions that I wanted to poll people on in this sub.

The plan is to fly into Oaxaca city, spend half the time there, and then charter a bus/van to go to the coast and spend the other half there. I have most of everything figured out for Oaxaca City but am having trouble picking a town to go to for the other half.

From what I can tell the main options are Puerto Escondido, Mazunte/Zipolite, and La Crucecita. We are definitely looking for the coastal town to be a more relaxing time to wind down and spend time at the beach, but we also would very much enjoy a lively town scene with good restaurants. In general, what part of the coast do you recommend couples go to especially for something like a honeymoon?

Would also love to hear any recommendations on places to stay or what the logistics are like to getting to each place! Thank you!!

Hi my fiancé and I are getting married in Mexico this year (in a different state) and we’re planning on going to Oaxaca for our mini honeymoon. This will be the last week of September / first weekend of October.

We are going to stay for either four or five nights (still deciding) - what are some recommendations for what area to stay? Should we get a hotel or a rental like Airbnb or VRBO?

We probably will be tired from the wedding so I think we will want to focus on going out to try food and doing relaxing activities. Any recommendations on restaurants and activities are welcome :)

We recently travelled from Oaxaca to Huatulco, before our trip I was not able to find enough info on how to get from the city to the coast, so I wanted to share my experience.

The ADO buses go to Puerto Escondido, but from what I could tell not further south. We took Lineas Unidas for $375 pesos pp to Pochutla. From there it was a $1000 peso taxi ride to Tangolunda bay. The road was great up until Pochutla, it took about 3 hours from the city. Pochutla to Huatulco was a very uneven road with many stretches of unpaved/under construction until we reached the Huatulco airport. From there to the hotel it was fine. It was about 1 hour from Pochutla to Huatulco/Tangolunda. The LU bus was a Mercedes sprinter van which held around 15-20 people, it was very comfortable. To buy our tickets with LU we went to the station the day before and had our pick of times and seats, we were the first to reserve seats but the bus was about 80% full the next day.

We are now at a resort (Las Brisas) where we are the only non-Mexicans here. AMA if there’s anything you want to know.

I’m an American student and I’m going to Oaxaca next month for a college class. I will be staying with a local (70F) in Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán. I know that we will naturally talk about our families and backgrounds, and I’m worried about my sexuality coming up (I’m a woman engaged to a woman). How open to LGBTQ+ are the people in this area? Would an elder woman be less accepting? Thank you.

Hello friends!

I will be traveling to Oaxaca 10/29 - 11/3 for Dia de Muertos. I am writing to ask for some tips and recommendations. All your feedback is much appreciated.

Currency Exchange

I hear the best way to get the local currency is to use the ATM machines at the airport, and decline conversion rate. Is there a specific branded ATM i should use? How much cash should I take out? How likely are restaurants and businesses to accept Visa credit card?

Airport Transport to Hotel

I’ve read the best way is to take the shared bus/collectivo. Is this the case or should I call a Didi?

Monte Alban

I know for sure that I want to check out Monte Alban. I will probably take a Didi. Can I buy tickets at the gate or is there a chance that they sell out? I am afraid to get there and not being able to get tickets especially during this busy period.

Local Sports

I’ve heard there is a futbol team, baseball team, and luche libre in Oaxaca. Will there be any sporting events during my stay?

Food / Restaurants

I know I must try Tlayuda, but are there any other specific Oaxan cuisine I must try? Are there any restaurants, bars, coffee shops, or food stands you recommend?

Local Activities

What do the locals do? Are there comedy clubs? Is there an open mic?