Oaxaca City, Mexico

Nestled in the mountains of southwestern Mexico is a place teeming with distinct culture, endless sunshine, and more Mezcalerias than places to eat. (Not really, but it sure feels like it!) Oaxaca, Mexico is a place I decided to call home without ever having been before. The promise of cobble-stoned streets, fresh mountain air, and plenty of unique local traditions to dig into drew me to it without a second thought. On this ever-evolving page, come to know the city that quickly found a place in my heart.

A Curated Guide to Oaxaca

Having spent an ever-lengthening amount of time in this charming city of cobble-stoned streets, waist-expanding eateries, and stop-you-in-your-tracks art and architecture, I’ve come to identify a few gems worth being on your radar. Use the links below as a starting point for your own Oaxaca adventure, then message me with all of the noteworthy places and experiences you discover along the way.

Oaxaca Travel Tips & Resources

Entry Requirements

For entry into Mexico for tourism purposes, most travelers, including those from the U.S., Canada, and the EU, do not need a visa for stays of less than 180 days. It’s best to check your local government’s travel portal for specific entry requirements based on your country of residence. Instead, you’ll need to ensure your passport has a least 6 months validity left on it and that you’ve filled out the Multiple Migratory Form, also known as the FMM form. You’ll either fill out the paper form given to you by your airline or at the border crossing or you can fill it out online in advance and print it out. When you pass through immigration, they’ll check your form and either stamp the physical form or take the form and put a stamp in your passport. If you’re given the paper form back, be sure to hold onto it throughout your stay, as you’ll need to show it again when you leave Mexico.

When you pass through immigration, you may be asked to provide proof or share details about your hotel reservation, itinerary in Mexico, and your return tickets back home or to a destination outside of Mexico. The number of days the immigration officer may give you is entirely arbitrary, so be sure to ask for the amount of time you may need if your departure plans aren’t determined yet. What I always did was purchase a refundable airline ticket for a date close to six months out and then asked for that amount of time with the immigration officer. That ensured I got the full 180 days on my entry stamp and gave me time to sort out my actual departure plans.

Getting To, From, and Around Oaxaca

The city itself is easily walkable, but if you do need a taxi, you can either flag one down on the street (just be sure to agree on a rate before getting in) or order one through an app called Didi (similar to Uber). A trip from one end of Oaxaca to the other should cost no more than 50-100 pesos.

If you’re looking to visit some of the valley towns, like Teotitlan del Valle for the rugs, San Martin Tilcajete for the alebrijes, or Santiago Matatlán for the mezcal, you can take one of the shared taxis, called colectivos. They’re usually maroon and white and say the name of the city they’re going to on their door or on the sign sitting in their windshield. For all destinations south of the city (the airport, San Bartolo, Ocotlan, Santa Catarina, etc.), you’ll find those colectivos sitting just outside the Mercado de Abastos. For all destinations east of the city (Tlacolula, Teotitlan del Valle, etc.), you’ll find those colectivos on the curb just after the baseball stadium in the northeast of Oaxaca city on the main road called International. You’ll pay for the seat, and usually squeeze in with at least three to four other passengers. It’s not comfy, but it’s cheap, usually around 20 pesos depending on the distance.

For longer-distance travel to or from Oaxaca, you can either fly or take a bus. Mexico is such a bus-friendly destination, in general. It’s how I would get around typically, unless the flight pricing was too good to pass up. You can check fares and schedules from pretty much any destination in Mexico to Oaxaca on either Bookaway, 12Go, or BusBud. As a general rule, stick to ADO, OCC, AU, ETN, Primera Plus, Estrella Blanca, Senda, Autovias, Ovnibus, and Flecha Roja. These are the most reputable among the bus carriers in Mexico.

If you prefer to fly, VivaAerobus, Volaris, and AeroMexico all fly direct to Oaxaca City from pretty much all major destinations within the country, though some only a few times per week. You can compare your flight options at WayAway, my favorite flight aggregator tool, or Hopper.

Money

The local currency is the Mexican peso (MXN). At the time of writing this (November 2024), $1USD is equivalent to roughly 20 pesos. ATMs are widely available and credit card is often accepted in restaurants, hostels, and shops around town.

SIM Cards

If you’re not using an eSIM, like Airalo or Drimsim, you can buy a SIM card when you arrive. The most popular local carriers are Telcel, Movistar, and AT&T Mexico. I recommend purchasing a card directly at one of their stores, but they’re also available at the airport and at any Oxxo store. Movistar tends to be slightly cheaper than the others. Expect to pay roughly 200 to 300 MXN for a plan that includes sufficient data for a month of travel in Mexico.

Travel Insurance

Don’t forget to cover yourself medically, especially if you’ll be partaking in the more adventurous activities like surfing and hiking while in Mexico. I recommend purchasing your travel insurance through Squaremouth or World Nomads. Both have options for including adventure sports in your coverage.

Don’t Forget to Bring

Some of the essential items I wouldn’t travel to Oaxaca without are:

• Comfortable walking shoes that can handle the cobblestone streets

• Light, breathable clothing and a light jacket for the evenings, as the days can be warm, while the mornings and evening can be quite chilly depending on the time of year

• A pick pocket-proof daybag or crossbody (I love my Foldie), especially if you’ll be wandering the markets like Mercado de Abastos or Benito Juárez

• A water bottle with built-in filtration (I personally love my LifeStraw Go), as the tap water is not drinkable in Oaxaca

• A plug adapter if your chargers aren’t designed for plug types A and B (same as what’s used in the U.S.)