In Oaxaca, it’s called quesillo. Outside Oaxaca, it’s called Oaxaca cheese. Say the wrong one in the wrong place and you’ll get a very specific look from the person behind the market stall. That small naming dispute is the first thing worth knowing about this cheese — because it tells you something important. Quesillo isn’t just…
A really interesting piece of news came out of Oaxaca this week – and if you’re into history, archaeology, or ancient cultures, this one is worth knowing about. Archaeologists have just announced the discovery of a Zapotec tomb that’s around 1,400 years old, dating back to about the year 600 AD. It was found in San Pablo Huitzo,…
Yes. Oaxaca City is safe for tourists. I’ve lived here for more than ten years, and I still walk around the city every day, take taxis, go out at night and travel around Oaxaca with my son. But “safe” doesn’t mean nothing ever happens. Oaxaca has petty theft, phone snatching, dodgy taxi pricing and the…
Oaxaca is considered Mexico’s culinary capital — and a cooking class here is one of the best ways to actually understand why. It’s not about following a recipe. It’s about standing in a market with a local cook who knows every vendor by name, learning why this chili and not that one, understanding what makes…
Pottery is everywhere in Oaxaca. Markets, kitchens, roadside workshops, stacked outside family homes in villages you pass on the way to somewhere else. But it’s not all the same, and it’s not all made for tourists. Different villages work with different clay, different firing methods, and completely different end results — some of it decorative,…
Oaxaca offers unique experiences that include gastronomic diversity, beaches and towns, as well as cultural richness. In this new year, Oaxaca is poised to become one of the most sought-after tourist destinations, thanks to its diverse attractions ranging from beaches and cultural cities to natural wonders, according to the tenth edition of Booking.com‘s Travel Predictions…
Oaxaca has become one of Mexico’s most talked-about destinations for expats, retirees, and digital nomads — and one of the first questions everyone asks is whether it’s still affordable. The short answer: yes, genuinely. Oaxaca is still one of the most affordable expat destinations in Mexico, with total monthly costs typically running $800–$1,400 USD for…
The Guelaguetza is my favorite time of year in Oaxaca — and after being here 11 years,I say that without any hesitation. Every July, this city transforms. The streets fill with color and noise, families from across the state pour in, and Oaxaca’s indigenous communities put on the most extraordinary display of cultural pride you’ll…
Parties in the cemetery. Brass bands playing until sunrise. Families gathered around candlelit graves, eating, drinking, and laughing together. If that sounds unusual, it’s because Day of the Dead in Oaxaca is unlike anything most visitors have ever experienced. Coming from a different culture, I still find it one of the most moving and genuinely…
When I first arrived in Oaxaca City, I signed up for two months of Spanish classes—and honestly, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Not only did it help me navigate daily life, but it also opened the door to deeper conversations, new friendships, and a much richer understanding of Oaxacan culture….