If you’ve spent more than an hour in Oaxaca, someone has probably offered you mezcal. It might have been a tiny clay cup at a market stall, a generous pour at a palenque in the valley, or a tasting flight at a bar near Santo Domingo. However it happened, you’re now curious — and that’s…
Most visitors to Oaxaca know about the food, the mezcal, the ruins, and the festivals. Fewer know that Oaxaca is one of the most seismically active places in Mexico — and that on any given day, the ground beneath the city might move. I’ve been here since 2014. I’ve felt dozens of earthquakes, including the…
Oaxaca City is one of the most walkable cities in Mexico — you can cover most of the historic center on foot in 20 minutes. But knowing your public transport options matters, especially when it comes to day trips, airport transfers, and getting further out into the neighborhoods. Here’s the complete breakdown of every way…
Are you learning or want to learn some Spanish? Want to meet some locals and other foreigners while staying in Oaxaca City? Then a language exchange group is going to be awesome for you. These groups get a great mix of Oaxacans and foreigners wanting to improve their Spanish and English and a great way…
There’s a neighbourhood in Oaxaca City that stopped me in my tracks the first time I walked through it — and keeps doing it every time. Jalatlaco (pronounced ha-lat-LA-co) is only ten minutes on foot from the Zócalo, but it feels like a completely different world. Cobblestone streets barely wide enough for one car, painted walls…
*Last updated: May 2026 The journey between Oaxaca City and Puerto Escondido used to be one of those trips people dreaded. Seven to ten hours on winding mountain roads, motion sickness, cramped vans, and a genuine sense of achievement when you finally arrived. The new highway changed all of that. Since the Autopista Barranca Larga–Ventanilla…
Oaxaca is a genuinely excellent destination for families — and I’m not just saying that as someone who loves the city. I’m saying it as someone who has been raising a kid here for years and navigating the balance between keeping an eight-year-old entertained and actually experiencing one of Mexico’s most culturally rich cities. The…
Choosing where to stay in Oaxaca City matters more than most people realise before they arrive. The city is compact and walkable — but each neighbourhood has a completely different feel. Stay in the right one for your travel style and you’ll feel like you’re living here. Stay in the wrong one and you’ll spend…