Please don’t drink the tap water! We want to keep everyone healthy during their visit. The water contains bacterias that can make a foreigner sick, so please refrain from drinking any tap water. To be extra safe, try to use bottled water when brushing your teeth. Restaurants will fill your water glasses once you sit down, and they use filtered water to do so. Their livelihoods depend on foreign tourism, and it's obviously in their best interest to keep you healthy. However, if you'd like bottled water brought to the table, please ask for still ("agua natural") or sparkling ("agua mineral").
The food and regional drinks in Oaxaca are some of the best in the world! It’s a huge part of why we fell in love with this place. You’ll encounter many dishes and ingredients that we don’t have readily available in the US. We encourage everyone to try the local street and market fare as well as exploring the vast restaurant scene. In another effort to stay healthy, it’s best to try to avoid uncooked vegetables and fruit unless peeled. You should be safe at more upscale restaurants that cater towards tourists when it comes to greens/uncooked veggies, but it’s always best to exercise precaution and use your best judgement. Copy and paste the link in your search bar for a list of must try foods while you're visiting! https://www.eater.com/22929351/what-is-oaxacan-food-cuisine-mexican
In February, the average daily temperature is around 84 ℉ with a low of 50 ℉. Oaxaca has an elevation similar to Denver, so expect mornings and evenings to be cool and dry, with hotter and more intense sun throughout the day. Make sure to pack layers, sun protection and comfortable footwear.
Currently: $1 US dollar = $17 Mexican Pesos There are secure and affordable ATMs all over the Centro area. We recommend using an ATM at one of the international banks (HSBC, Santander, Scotiaban, BBVA) simply because they're reliable and easy to recognize. You will be able to use a credit card for a majority of purchases, but it’s best to always have pesos on you as not many small vendors or establishments take credit cards. There are many free apps available for quick currency conversions. "My Currency Converter & Rates" and "Currency Converter Plus" to name a couple. You can also type in "currency conversion" into your phone's web browser if you don't want to download a separate app.
It is customary to tip ("Propina" or "Servicio") in Mexico. At bars and restaurants, plan to tip about 15-20 percent of the total cost of the bill if service was good.
Oaxaca is one of the safest states in Mexico. In general people are warm, kind, and willing to help you out! Although safe, we will be in a city and it’s best to practice common-sense safety norms as you would anywhere: Be mindful of your possessions and aware of your surroundings. Your phone will be the best way to navigate but be mindful of having it out a lot. Keep valuables and cash safely tucked away. At night, stay in well lit areas and walk with others, especially when drinking. Use reliable taxi and transfer services. There are plenty of local cabs, but it’s best to arrange a ride and price ahead of time. We also have contact info for a few drivers if you need them. Just reach out to Chad (chad.desm@gmail or 925 964 3760) if you want help getting in touch with a driver.
Spanish is the primary form of communication, but don't worry if your Spanish is a little rusty. Like we've mentioned, the people are very kind and accommodating here. They will, most likely, work with you if you're willing to use a little bit of sign language and basic words to communicate! However, it's important to note that Oaxaca is smaller than cities such as Mexico City. Because of this, there is less English spoken, so refreshing some of your Spanish basic phrases isn't a bad idea. Download a translation app! This will come in handy when trying to order and get around with less frustration.