Oaxaca

Overview

Oaxaca is both a city and state in Mexico located about 480 kilometres/300 miles south of Mexico City. Oaxaca city’s pleasantly mild climate, due to its altitude of 1560 metres/5000 feet above sea level, is but one of many reasons to visit it on a Mexico vacation. Rich in history and culture, Oaxaca is a fascinating destination where you can appreciate ancient civilizations, colonial art and architecture and vibrant cultural traditions. It is especially known for its indigenous peoples and culture as well as its prehistoric ruins, baroque churches and monasteries and indigenous markets. Two out of three Oaxaquenos descend from the Zapotec or Mixtec people, whose villages dot the valleys, mountainsides and coastal lowlands.

At the centre of colonial Oaxaca City is the Zocalo or main square which is surrounded by the cathedral and government buildings. Many of the city’s colonial-era buildings, dating from the 16th century, have been exquisitely restored and now house galleries, museums, hotels, and restaurants. Traffic-free and shaded by tall trees, the Zocalo is surrounded by elegant arcades and is the perfect place to start soaking up the Oaxacan atmosphere on a Mexico vacation package.