The colonial city of Oaxaca is an important cultural and culinary destination and a favorite tourist destination. It’s also arguably one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Mexico and it didn’t take me long to be reminded of that while on a recent visit to the city. Buildings lining the cobblestone streets are brightly painted and well-maintained. Oaxaca’s an easy city to explore with several pedestrianized streets, churches and pretty plazas in the downtown area. The city’s very walkable historic center was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
From the World Heritage inscription:
Oaxaca is a perfect example of a 16th-century colonial town. Its monumental heritage is one of the richest and most coherent in the area that was known as New Spain. Fine architectural quality also characterizes the 19th-century buildings in this city that was the birthplace of Benito Juarez and which, in 1872, adopted the name of Oaxaca de Juarez.
Start your tour of the downtown area in the zócalo, or center square. Here you’ll find the Palacio de Gobierno and the city’s cathedral. The pedestrian-only Calle Alcala connects the zócalo with the Iglesia de Santo Domingo. Once part of the city’s Dominican monastery, today it’s the city’s most impressive church. Oaxaca has a few interesting museums, among them the Museum of Oaxacan Cultures and the Rufino Tamayo Museum of pre-Hispanic art. There are also several contemporary art galleries, a botanical garden and numerous shops selling a variety of locally produced handicrafts.
The city of Oaxaca is located 452km south of Mexico City and there are several daily scheduled flights between the two cities. Travelers headed to Oaxaca on international flights will likely have a layover in Mexico City. Once in Oaxaca there are numerous opportunities for day trips to explore the surrounding central valleys including visits to the archaeological sites at Monte Albán and Mitla, the Sunday tianguis in Tlacolula, the alebrije workshops in San Martin Tilcajete and the mineral springs at Hierve el Agua.
After a few days in the city and central valleys, squeeze in some beach time with a visit to the modern coastal resort city of Huatulco. Recently awarded the EarthCheck Gold 2010 Certification, Huatulco is the “world’s first sustainable tourism destination.” Other more budget-friendly beach destinations include Puerto Escondido, Zipolite and Mazunte. Several local airlines make the scenic half hour flight over the Sierra Madre mountains out to the coast. A new highway connecting the city of Oaxaca to the coast is currently under construction; once completed it will reduce the drive time by nearly half.
Photo credit: via flickr
