Risa & Michael
things to do in oaxaca
Sights: Templo de Santo Domingo
This nearly 500 year old church and former monastery is located in the historic center of the city. Decorated in gold leaf and filled with religious iconography, this UNESCO site is worth visiting.
Sights: Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca
The beautiful Jardín Etnobotánico (botanical garden) is located behind the Church of Santo Domingo and hosts hundreds of species of plants native to the State of Oaxaca. To visit, you need to join one of the following 2-hour tours: English tours are 11am on Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday; Spanish toursa are 10am, 12pm & 5pm Monday through Saturday; and French tours are 5pm Tuesday. The cost is $100 pesos per person. Be sure to arrive at least 10 minutes before the tour begins.
Mezcal: La Mezcaloteca
Oaxaca is the birthplace of mezcal -- This bar can teach you everything you need to know about this delicious spirit. They partner with smaller farms to promote their mezcaleros maestros so you won't be able to taste any of their products outside the region. We spent over 3 hours saddled up to this bar when we came, so plan accordingly. Reservations are required in advance.
Eats: Pitiona
A five-star (yet affordable) dining experience, Pitiona overlooks the Church of Santo Domingo offering unbeatable views. We highly recommend coming for at least a cocktail to soak in the views.
Late night snack: Lechoncito de Oro
For a delicious and cheap late nite snack (think: post-mezcal), try the taco truck known as "Lechoncito de Oro" (aka "Golden Piglet"). Do yourself a favor, and order the lechon con chicharron tacos, maybe with a bottle of Coca Cola.
Nature: Hierve el Agua
A set of natural rock formations that resemble cascades of water located approx. 2 hours outside of Oaxaca. Well worth the trek!
Eats: El Pasillo de las Carne Asadas
The 20 de Noviembre market has a variety of food stalls where you can sample many Oaxacan specialties, but carnivores flock to the one corridor that's known as "El Pasillo de las Carnes Asadas" (the grilled meats aisle). Follow your nose to find it: smoke and the smell of meat grilling are thick in the air. You can select the raw meat that looks best to you and have it grilled to your specifications as you watch on. Find a spot at one of the long tables with benches and order salsa and guacamole to accompany your feast. Buy some tortillas from one of the passing vendors, and enjoy!
Eats: Mercado Organico La Cosecha Oaxaca
About a dozen small stalls offer foods from the region with a common eating area like a food court. We stumbled upon this tucked away, open-air market one morning and delighted in all the delicious things it had to offer.