How to Visit Oaxaca Respectfully: A Practical Guide for Responsible Travelers
Oaxaca isn’t just a destination—it’s a living, breathing place, rich with culture, community, and deep-rooted tradition. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a few months, how you move through Oaxaca matters.
This guide isn’t about guilt or going without. It’s about being a respectful guest in someone else’s home—walking through Oaxaca with your eyes open, your mind curious, and your presence appreciated rather than resented.
Here’s how to do that.
1. Learn a Little Before You Land
Before you land in Oaxaca, take a moment to understand where you’re going. This is one of Mexico’s most culturally rich and complex regions, home to 16 officially recognized indigenous groups—each with its own language, traditions, and ways of life.
Knowing just a bit can shift your whole experience. Learn a few greetings in Spanish. Understand that many customs here pre-date Spanish colonization. You’re stepping into a place with a long memory—treat it with the respect it deserves.
2. Respect Sacred Spaces
Oaxaca is full of spiritual places—cathedrals, archaeological sites, family altars, and village cemeteries. These aren’t tourist backdrops; they’re alive with meaning for the people who live here.
When visiting churches, dress modestly and lower your voice. At ruins like Monte Albán or Mitla, walk with care—don’t climb where it’s not allowed. And during Day of the Dead, remember: you’re a witness, not the main character. Some things are sacred. Not everything needs a selfie.
Top Rated Tours in Oaxaca City
⭐️ 5 Star – Mezcal Journey
⭐️ 4.9 Star – Monte Alban
⭐️ 4.5 Star – Hierve El Agua
3. Ask Before You Snap: Photography Etiquette
Oaxaca is visually stunning, but not everything (or everyone) is fair game for your lens. In many indigenous communities, being photographed without consent is deeply offensive—and in some cases, even considered spiritually invasive.
If you want a photo of someone, just ask. Most people will either agree or politely decline. Either way, you’ve shown basic respect. That’s worth more than the perfect shot.
4. Support Real Oaxaca, Not Just the Glossy Version
It’s easy to stick to the polished version of Oaxaca: high-end restaurants, boutique hotels, and curated tours. But the heart of Oaxaca beats in its mercados, villages, and family-run kitchens.
Try a tlayuda at a roadside stand. Buy textiles directly from the weavers in Teotitlán del Valle. Attend a village fiesta if you’re invited. The more you connect with the people actually living the culture, the more meaningful your experience will be—for you and for them.
📍 Discover Oaxaca One Bite at a Time
Download my personal Street Food Map of Oaxaca City – save hours of research and reading trying to find the best street food. From memelas and tlayudas to late-night tacos – these are my 20+ go-to street eats.
- 🎯 Perfect for first-timers & seasoned travelers
- 💵 Instant Google Maps download — just $3.99
5. Be a Guest, Not a Consumer
Tourism can turn real places into products. Speak to people with the same respect you’d want in your own hometown. Greet your taxi driver. Say gracias to the woman selling you tamales. Don’t treat vendors or servers like they’re part of the scenery. This is their home. You’re a visitor, be friendly.
6. Mind Your Manners in Markets, Restaurants and Bars
Markets like Mercado 20 de Noviembre are full of life and chaotic fun, but don’t haggle vendors into the ground—fair prices help families get by. And while you’re soaking it all in, be mindful of the people who live and work here. Give locals—especially elderly folks navigating the crowds—space and right of way.
And mezcal? It’s not a party shot. It’s a cultural symbol, a slow-sipping spirit with roots in ritual. Respect the drink, the makers, and the tradition it comes from.
👉 Tipping in Oaxaca : When and how much to tip?
7. Tread Lightly During Local Events
Parades, religious processions, Guelaguetza—these are amazing cultural events, not tourist entertainment. Be part of the crowd without taking over. Give space to elders and locals. Don’t push in for the best view or dance in front of processions unless you’ve been invited.
If you’re at a village celebration, ask before joining in. Enjoy yourself, but remember you’re stepping into someone else’s tradition.
Top Rated Hotels in Oaxaca City
⭐️ 5 Star – Quinta Real Oaxaca
⭐️ 4 Star – NaNa Vida Hotel Oaxaca
⭐️ 3 Star – Las Mariposas Hotel & Studios
8. Use the Language You Have
Nobody’s expecting fluency, but trying a few phrases in Spanish goes a long way—and shows you actually care. A simple buenos días, por favor, and gracias shifts interactions from transactional to personal.
If you’re headed into the Sierra Norte or artisan villages, learning one word in Zapotec or Mixtec is a small gesture that carries big meaning.
👉 How much Spanish you really need in Oaxaca (with useful phrases)
9. Be Water-Wise
Oaxaca faces serious water shortages—especially in the dry season. You don’t need to go full survivalist, but you also don’t need 20-minute showers or a daily towel change.
Carry a reusable bottle. Be conscious with water use. Don’t assume luxury means excess—especially when it’s locals who go without.
👉 You can’t drink the tap water in Oaxaca. Here’s how to buy your drinking water.
10. Leave No Trace—Even in the City
Oaxaca isn’t the wilderness, but it still needs your care. Dispose of your trash properly—especially in markets or near street food stalls. Don’t leave cans, bottles, or packaging lying around. Carry it with you until you find a bin.
Even little things—like refusing plastic bags—send a message that you’re not here to take and toss. You’re here to learn and respect.
Final Thought
If you’re coming to Oaxaca, come with awareness. This place isn’t just a getaway—it’s home to real people, with deep roots and living traditions. Tourism is changing Oaxaca fast, and not always for the better. So be more than a consumer. Pay attention. Travel with respect. The way you move through Oaxaca matters—because your presence has an impact, and being a good guest goes a long way.
