Oaxaca City and Beaches

Just be sure you stay in downtown Oaxaca City in the "old town." The city is pretty large and sprawling, but the downtown is a completely walkable and amazing area. Every restaurant we ate at was great, and the cafes and mezcalerias are awesome as well. Definitely go to the markets near the zocalo. The street food (tlayuda and others) is ridiculously cheap and delicious. You're in for a treat!

I've never done the beaches there in Oaxaca. Hierve el Agua is really cool. I think most of the mezcal tours are similar. It's definitely worth going on one to learn more about mezcal if you don't already know a bunch.

We plan on going back, but our trip likely will center on mountain biking (and mezcal and food), as it's become quite destination for that as well.

One thing to be prepared for: it's not like a lot of Mexico destinations that is geared for English-speaking tourists. It's geared for Mexico City tourists, so vast majority of people in hospitality don't speak English... at all...

We enjoyed that aspect, but it's just good to prepare yourself as it's no Cancun/Playa/Cabo.

The people handling most of the Oaxaca biking is Oaxaca Biking Expeditions. Here is their website:
LINK /

It's all-mountain gravity-focused riding from what I can tell without a lot of beginner options (not to make any assumptions about your comfort level with mountain biking).

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You can also take a luxury bus from Oaxaca to the beach.

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I’m guessing still takes a good 8-10 hours to get there? I’ve thought about renting a car one way then flying back, not sure I’m up for a total of 16-20hrs on a winding mountain road.

Example bus ticket

Yes 8-10 hours. There are overnight buses. Cost about $25 each way. Fly in to Oaxaca, bus overnight to Escondido, then fly home from Escondido. Huatulco is smaller.

The flights connect through MEX so you are looking at 4-5 hours of flying and a cost 100-200 each way.

I was at both places earlier this month. A group trip for a reason that is a bit atypical for the usual tourist. But I was in Oaxaca for 8 nights and Huatulco for 2 nights.

We stayed at the Hotel Mision de Los Angeles, a bit over a mile north from the center. You may want to stay closer to the historic center. But for $45 a night and a great pool it's not a bad option and not a terrible walk (and taxis are cheap). The restaurant wasn't bad, a few hiccups with the room keys, but I'd stay there again. Oaxaca was nice, felt very safe to walk around in. Mornings were cool, and fairly hot by afternoon.

Not sure there is any must do restaurants - they were all pretty good, and cheap. We had dinner one night at El Asador Vasco on the balcony overlooking the Zocalo - and that was nice. Had the chopped cricket appetizer just to say I did - not great, not terrible. Los Pacos Oaxaca was a good mole restaurant near our hotel. They gave us about 8 mole sauces to sample and then order a meal based on. I liked Restaurante Colibri a bit more (also north of the center). But there are tons of restaurants that I'm sure are good.

The best thing about Oaxaca is just to walk around and see the sights. Very colorful and vibrant. Definitely walk down south of the Zocalo to the three markets and spend time there. And have a meal there. A bit intimidating, maybe, but fun, and cheap, and good. Also be sure to walk the pedestrian mall from the Zocalo to Santo Domingo de Guzman. There is a museum there that gets high ratings, but is still closed due to covid. Mexicans wear masks, tourists do not (except to enter and leave hotels and restaurants). Masks are required in the markets (now).

Look for wedding celebrations in front of the churches - there are a LOT on weekends, and they are fun to watch for a bit. Mescal tastings - didn't do this one but tons of opportunities in Oaxaca and on the road to Mitla. Ruins - Monte Alban is very good. Mitla is more elaborate but much smaller. Covid prevents entering the inside of any ruins.

And don't be surprised by an earthquake.

We drove to Huatulco and the HI Express there. Driving is not easy in Oaxaca State. Speed bumps are EVERYWHERE. And the bus drivers and garbagemen block major roads all the time in some sort of strike action. Google Maps helps, but it can still be a major pain in the arse and cause major delays.

But we spent the night at La Puesta Del Sol in the mountains on the way and that is a great place. I wish we'd spent another night up there.

Huatulco - very nice. Mexico seems to be ramping this up with road development. Limited beach where we stayed but we went offshore and had an incredible day with dolphins and rays and flying fish and seabirds. The coconut shrimp dinner at Bahia de Santa Cruz was one of the best meals I've ever had.

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La Puesta Del Sol, that sounds interesting.

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It's at about 8,000 feet in the mountains and the cool air feels nice. Good views and a very good restaurant. There is a town not far up the road - San Mateo Rio Hondo - that seems to be a big backpacker haven with potentially interesting things to do. LONG drive from Oaxaca city to the coast, though. Maybe you can fly into Oaxaca, make the drive, and fly back from the Huatulco airport.