The Yucatán Has More To Offer Than Just Cancún and Tulum

In a conversation with a friend about our recent travel to Mérida, she said, “I thought Cancún or Tulum were the only areas to visit on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula?”  You too may have been thinking the same.

Those white sand beaches dotted with palapas, and calm Caribbean blue waters are not the only things to experience in this part of Mexico.  While beautiful, Tulum and especially Cancún lack the culture and city vibe you might be seeking on your travels.

However, Mérida, which is just an hour away from the coast, is a beautiful colonial city and the capital of the Yucatán!  Its old-world charm will captivate you.  And the rich history and culture of both the Spanish settlers and the Mayan people live on within Mérida’s ancient walls.

Merida: La Cuidad Blanca, ‘The White City”

When you travel to Merida, the first thing you’ll notice is all the white-washed stone buildings, sidewalks, and corner cafes.  This is because most of Mérida’s buildings are constructed with limestone, which is found throughout the Yucatán.  And it’s why Mérida is known as La Ciudad Blanca or the White City.

Although, some locals may tell you Mérida is called La Ciudad Blanca because it’s so clean and safe.  Both of which are also true.  Therefore, Mérida is gorgeous and safe to wander around during the day or at nighttime!

Merida, also known as La Ciudad Blanca or the White City glows at night! This makes it so much more fun to go out for an evening stroll or carriage ride!

A Little Bit of Mérida History

Built on an ancient Mayan city in 1542 by Spanish explorers, Mérida is the largest city and the capital of the Yucatán.  And it still has one of the largest historical districts or centro históricos in the Americas!

In addition, Mérida was a walled city from colonial times through the mid-19th century.  You can still see 3 of the colonial arches or entranceways on the outskirts of the centro histórico.  These have stood the test of time, even with the constant changing of traffic patterns and architecture.

Along the main avenue, called the Paseo de Montejo, you can still find many elaborate homes and gorgeous examples of colonial architecture.  However, some of these have been restored and serve as banks or financial institutions.  And there’s even a Walmart on the main drag!  A plus and minus I suppose.

The best way for you to see the city and the Paseo de Montejo is at night, and by a horse-drawn carriage!  More on where to find them down below.

Best Time to Travel to Mérida

As Mérida is located in a tropical climate, plan on hot and humid days.  The average temperature is about 92 degrees year-round!  The hottest times of the year in Mérida are late April through September.

In addition, you can expect the most rain to fall between June through October.  Therefore, the best time to travel to Mérida is during the drier months from November through mid-April. 

Most restaurants and cafes, as well as homes in Mérida, incorporate the outdoors seamlessly into the design. So since you’ll be spending lots of time in the sunshine, pack a floppy hat, loose sundresses and shawls, and plenty of sunblock!

Travel to Mérida: How to Get There

Most often you will fly to Mérida’s airport, Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport, formerly known as Mérida-Rejón Airport or MID. it’s a small, easy airport, and you can fly direct from places like Miami or Houston in the United States or from Mexico City.  Check out airlines like AeroMexico or United.

You can also fly + drive from Cancún, but plan on about 3.5 hours to drive west across the Yucatán Peninsula.  However, I would not recommend a day trip from Cancún to Mérida.  Instead, spend a night or two so you have plenty of time to explore.

We’ll talk more about day trips from Mérida, but if you’re driving across the Yucatán Peninsula, plan to stop in Valladolid and of course Chichen Itzá!

Driving in Mérida: Whether or Not to Rent a Car

If you only plan to be in Mérida for 2-3 days, you can skip the car rental and walk, taxi, or take a carriage ride to most places.  And if you want to visit Uxmal, a cenote, or the flamingos, you can book a private tour or go with a group.

In addition, your phone map apps will be very helpful getting around.  You’ll have service throughout the city, but do not expect 5G.  Cell service in Mérida will feel more like 3G.  Therefore, print or pick up a map of Mérida just in case.

If you do rent a car, you will find plenty of free street parking on the main roads throughout town.  However, in downtown Mérida, or the historic district, you will find it challenging to park right in front of the restaurant or museum you are heading to.  Therefore, parking lots or estacionamientos are available for a few pesos per hour.

If you’ve traveled to Mexico before, especially in areas like Tulum or Cancún, you’ll notice the familiar design of tiled floors paired with soft white walls, lots of archways, and an abundance of tropical plants, cactus, and agaves.

Top Things to Do on Your Travels in Mérida

1. Stroll the Paseo de Montejo

Mérida is located about 45 minutes to an hour from the nearest beach.  So you’ll spend most of your time in Mérida sightseeing around the cobblestone streets.  And Mérida’s Paseo de Montejo is where it’s at!

Pack comfortable sandals, but be prepared to dress up a little bit.  Mérida is not a beach town, but you can wear flip-flops, sundresses, and shorts at the museums and when dining out.  Even in the nicer establishments.

And with the warm weather, make sure your walk along the Paseo de Montejo includes stopping at cafés and dulcerias!  More on the best ones coming up!

2. Learn About the Culture + History of Mérida

Mérida is most certainly the cultural capital of the Yucatán.  And there’s so much history to be found within these quaint city streets or calles.  From the Spanish colonial settlements to the traditions of the indigenous Mayan people, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to soak it in while walking through the main city squares of Mérida.  Here are a few you should visit:

• Plaza de Santa Lucia or Parque de Santa Lucia
• Plaza Grande aka Plaza de Armas- also where you’ll find the Mérida sign that people love to photograph!
• Plaza de San Cristóbal
• Parque Hidalgo- with its gorgeous steps
• Parque de la Mejorada
• Monumento a la Patria- and the far end of the Paseo de Montejo

In addition, there are several museos and public buildings where you can learn even more:

• Museo Casa Montejo
• Palacio de Gobierno
• Museo Palacio de la Musica
• Anthropology and History Museum

At night, the streets cool down and Mérida comes back to life.  Stroll some of the classic streets like Calle 47 or Calle 60.

3. Take a Horse Drawn Carriage Ride at Night

Our favorite way to take in La Ciudad Blanca?  Hop aboard one of the calesas or horse-drawn carriages and listen to the sounds of the horses’ hooves as they trot through the city streets at night.

Make sure to get a guide that will point things out to you along the way and that speaks English if you do not speak Spanish!

You can find the horse-drawn carriages staged in the following locations around the downtown area:

• Santa Lucia Park, just outside of Deli Town
• Calle 61 across from the cathedral at the OXXO
• Along the Paseo de Montejo.  

The ride takes about 45 minutes to an hour and costs about $400 MXN pesos for 4 people.

4. Visit + Dine at the Museo de la Gatronomia Yucateca

The Museo de la Gastronomia Yucateca is a museum that showcases the ancient traditions of Mayan cooking, and it’s also a restaurant.  Make a dinner reservation, and arrive about 45 minutes early to enjoy a self-guided tour of the museum.

Here you will learn all about the fruits, vegetables, spices, and meats used in Mayan cooking.  In addition, you’ll see the tools used to prepare each dish, plus see what a Mayan village might have looked like.

If visit the Museo de la Gastronomia Yucateca at dinnertime, you’ll also witness the traditional preparation of spices and several dishes.  This includes the conchinita pibil (suckling pig) which is cooked in the earth in a smoldering stone-lined barbeque pit.  The slow roast takes many hours, but the result is absolutely delicious!

5. Listen to Live Music

Throughout Mérida’s historical district or centro histórico, you will find plenty of musicians playing in the streets.  Our favorites were the drummer who seemed to play non-stop into the wee hours of the morning outside of the Casa Tho Concept House, a great place to shop for local goods!

And then check out DeLorean Bar + Redicom Records.  This spot is part bar, part outdoor café, part record store, part tattoo parlor, and they also host regular live acoustic sets right on the plaza!

These unique chairs, the kissing chairs, can be found throughout the parks and plazas in Mérida.

6. Sit in the Kissing Chairs

We first spotted these chairs along the coastal walkway in the small Yucatán town of Akumal, when we were married there in 2007.  But in Mérida, you’ll find them in almost every park!

The kissing chairs are also called Tu y Yo Chairs or Sillas Confidantes.  Make sure to visit the giant kissing chairs in Parque Santa Lucia, which stand at 8 feet tall!

The origin of the kissing chairs is unknown.  But, it is said that an overprotective father created these so that his daughter and the young man courting her could sit together, and get to know one another, in the most modest way possible.

7. Visit the Flamingos in Celestún

About an hour and a half drive west of Mérida brings you to the Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestún.  This fragile wetland ecosystem is home to hundreds of species of birds, fish, plants, and other wildlife.

The best way to see the Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestún is by boat.  And there are dozens of tour guides with covered panga-style boats to take you on a tour.  The cost is about $1200 MXN pesos for a boat of 6 people.

The biggest reason travelers visit Celestún is to see the flamingos!  However, there are even more reasons to go:

• Mangrove forests filled with ospreys, egrets, and almost 400 species of birds!
• Crocodiles well-camouflaged on the shoreline
• Mapaches (raccoon-like creatures) in the trees
• Watch as fishermen toss out nets or pull up traps to catch crabs and shrimp
• Swim in the clear waters of the Ojo de Aqua cenote

 Plan to visit the Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestún between January to mid-April to spot hundreds and sometimes thousands of pink flamingos gathered in the shallow waters.  The lagoon even seems to turn pink from their reflection!

Why are they here?  Well, the flamingos spend their winter in the Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestún and then travel to the Río Lagartos on the northern tip of the Yucatán in the summertime to have babies.  Then the flamingos return to the reserve the following winter.  Learn more from Travel & Leisure about this bird-watchers paradise!

In need of a more tranquil day on the water? Celestún is a quick day trip from Mérida!

8. Float in the Pool

For more water-loving travelers, make sure you rent an Airbnb or stay in a hotel with a nice pool!  With year-round temperatures in Mérida in the mid-90s, you’ll want to return to your Airbnb or hotel and jump in to refresh or just relax.  And start that book you’ve been meaning to read!

9. Visit the Mayan Archeological Site at Uxmal

Take your rental car or sign up for a tour through the jungle savannah to reach the Zona Archeológica de Uxmal (pronounced OOSH-MAL).  About an hour south of Mérida, this ancient Mayan city was home to 20,000 people!

It’s the second most visited archeological park after Chichen Itzá, and here you’ll see ancient carvings, ornate sculptures, temples, pyramids, and dozens of iguanas! 

Curious as to why, at some point during the 10th century, before the Spanish arrived, the Maya departed Uxmal?  Read more from Smithsonian Magazine.

Take an early morning drive south from Mérida to visit Uxmal, a beautifully-preserved Mayan archeological site.

10. Eat Churros and Marquesitas

While touring Mérida, try the local favorites from the street carts throughout the city center.  Fresh churros with chocolate or Nutella are a perfect way to end the evening.  But find friends to help eat them as they come 6 to a carton!

Or, be brave and try a marquesita or queso de bola!  These deserts are native to the Yucatán and consist of a crepe rolled like a tall taco and filled with cajeta, a type of caramel, condensed milk, Edam cheese, plus toppings.

We were skeptical at first, and curious as to why a Dutch cheese is used in the marquesita.  (It’s thanks to Mérida’s status as an international trading center and Dutch travelers that have been visiting for centuries!)  But it’s delicious!

11. Visit the Cenotes

First, you might be wondering what exactly is a cenote and why you’d want to visit one.  Well, the Yucatán Peninsula is composed of mainly limestone, which is porous, fragile, and erodes over time.

The cenotes are then caves, sinkholes, or natural depressions in this limestone landscape where groundwater has seeped through or rainwater has collected.  There are over 6,000 cenotes on the Yucatán Peninsula!  And these were one of the main water sources for the Mayan people.

The cenotes’ waters are translucent blue and crystal clear.  You will find fish swimming, and plenty of stalactites to swim around.  So they’re perfect for snorkeling and cooling off in the tropical heat!

There are a few cenotes close to Cancún and Tulum, but many of them are located farther inland, closer to Mérida and Valladolid.  Here are a few to visit on your Mérida trip:

• Cenote X’Batun + Cenote Dzonbakal– These cenotes are located down the same dirt road so you can visit them on the same day. And they are close to Uxmal. We loved Cenote Dzonbakal, pictured below, the best!
• Cenote Hacienda Mucuyche– You must book a tour of the hacienda to visit this cenote, learn more here. 
• Cenotes Santa Barbara– Located in the town of Homun, there are actually 3 cenotes here: Cenote Chaksikin, Cenote Cascabel, and Cenote Xoch!

Head off the beaten path and visit the cenotes, like Cenote Dzonbakal, to cool off when the temperatures creep up!

12. Visit the Archeological Site at Chichen Itzá

And lastly, about 90 minutes east of Mérida lies Chichen Itzá.  This is the most popular tourist site in Mexico with over 2.5 million visitors traveling to explore this ancient city each year!  You cannot climb the pyramids, but you’ll get plenty of exercise walking around this pre-Hispanic city and learning about its history.

Plan on at least 2-3 hours to see the full site.  If you want to stay overnight, we stayed at the Hacienda Chichen & Yaxkin Spa.  It’s a gorgeous jungle retreat and a testament to the conscious preservation of the ecosystem found in this part of the Yucatán.

If you’re driving from Cancún or Tulum, definitely plan to stop here on your way to Mérida.  It’s also close to Valladolid, another colonial city similar to Mérida, so you can visit both on your way to Mérida if you have time!

Make sure your walking tour of Mérida includes stopping at several of the cafés and dulcerias that line many of the main plazas!

Where to Eat in Mérida

Finally, when you’re out touring the city, you’ll no doubt be hungry.  And besides the street food and the Museo de la Gastronomia Yucateca, here are a few places we recommend:

• Catrín– A cute bar/restaurant serving Mexican food but the bonus is the outdoor patio area with its light show at night!
• Apoala– Delicious traditional Mexican cuisine and by far the best service of any restaurant in Mérida!  Plus it’s in the Parque de Santa Lucia where you’ll find several other bars and restaurants, and the giant kissing chairs!
• Dulceria y Sobreteria Colon (there are several of these throughout the city)- Ice creams that taste more like gelato and tumble down the side of your old-fashioned glass are the perfect cure for hot days in Mérida.
• Eladio’s Bar– Behind these cute pink walls lies the best local bar and restaurant in Mérida!
• El Lucero– Great outdoor dining and live music under the treetops.
• Café Impala– This retro diner on the corner of Paseo de Montejo and Calle 47 stays open late!

Where to Stay in Mérida

If you’re in town for just a night or two, stay in one of the restored colonial-style hotels within walking distance to the main plazas.  Try the Gran Hotel Mérida or Piedra de Agua Hotel.  In town for a longer stay or want a full kitchen?  Check out the numerous Airbnb options available!

Interested in camping or more low-budget travel? Use Sēkr to find the best campsites throughout Mexico.  There are some good campgrounds near Valladolid, as well as Chelem and Tulum, the last 2 are on or near the beach!

Beach camping in Mexico might seem unsafe, but staying in these locations is like camping in a friend’s backyard.  Plus you’ll have access to a pool or the beach, bathrooms, hot showers, food, and cold beers!

Get started by signing up and downloading Sēkr to your phone, for free!  Then find campsites, read reviews, and meet fellow travelers along the way.

Mérida + Mexico Travel Made Easy

We hope you too might travel to Mérida after reading this blog!  Interested in visiting more places in Mexico or other international destinations?

• Baja Mexico Travel Guide
• Oaxaca Mexico Travel Guide
• Valle de Guadalupe: Mexico’s Wine Region
• Adventure Travel in Spain
• Cuba Travel for Outdoor Adventurers

Until next time, hasta luego, amigos!

Meredith McConvill

The post Travel to Mérida: The Yucatán Like You’ve Never Seen It Before appeared first on Top Rope Media.

Oaxaca Mexico Travel Guide for Outdoor Adventurers: The Best Places to Eat, Stay, and Play!

If you’re an outdoor adventurer, this Oaxaca Mexico travel guide will teach you about more than just the best mercados, mole, and mezcal!  You will also learn about Oaxaca’s best places to explore by hiking, biking, and rock climbing in this magical place.  And, all locations are within an hour’s drive of the city center.

Some of the areas we’ll highlight for you include:

• Monte Alban and Mitla, archeological sites that rival Tulum and Chichen Itza!
• Eco-tourism villages in the Sierra Norte
• Hierve de Agua, a petrified waterfall
• Rock climbing in San Sebastian Tutle

Get ready for lots of walking, especially when visiting the ancient Zapotec city of Monte Alban! Get up early and get the entire place to yourself.

The City of Oaxaca

Oaxaca City or Oaxaca de Juarez is located in the center of the state of Oaxaca.  It is well over 5 hours inland from either coast.  And, reachable only by traveling across rugged mountain roads.  I first heard of Oaxaca from friends that traveled for the epic surf breaks near Puerto Escondido, Huatulco, and Barra de la Cruz.  But then, I slowly started hearing more about the delicious moles and the incredible mezcal producers near Oaxaca City.  Finally, I dug into books by Chef Alejandro Ruiz The Food of Oaxaca, and Oliver Sacks Oaxaca Journal.  I learned so much about this unique Mesoamerican culture that flourished under the Zapotec people, that same culture that the Spanish conquistadors tried to obliterate.  I had to come see for myself.

Weather in Oaxaca

Oaxaca City is nestled in between the Sierra Madre and several other mountain ranges and lies at 5,100ft of elevation.  It’s also located in the tropics, at about the same latitude as Belize City.  So, Oaxaca has warm temperatures year-round.  It also has a dry season (October-April) and a rainy season (May-September).  But, the rainy season doesn’t necessarily mean that it rains all day.  Thunder clouds typically begin to form in the afternoon, with rain beginning close to sunset or later in the evening.  We traveled to Oaxaca at the end of May and welcomed the rain to cool off our evenings!

Get up early while it’s cooler outside and explore the older Oaxaca City neighborhoods of Jalatlaco and Xochimilco.

What to Pack for Your Oaxaca Trip

Pack good sandals or sneakers for walking, as you’ll easily get in your 10,000 steps during your trip to Oaxaca!  But, keep in mind, Oaxaqueños are often more dressed up compared to Americans.  So if you want to blend in, think sundresses and capris instead of board shorts.  Leather sandals instead of rubber flip-flops.  Fedoras and floppy hats instead of truckers.  Oaxaca is not on the coast, so the beach vibe is not really present here.

Historic Places to Visit in Oaxaca

As you walk through the cobblestoned streets and into the central plaza of Oaxaca city, the Zocalo, you will feel as though you are in Spain.  And that’s because when the Spanish arrived in Oaxaca in 1521 in search of gold, they made great efforts to colonize the region.  However, their exploitation of the land and its people had a devastating effect.

Spanish explorers like Hernan Cortes irrevocably altered life for the Zapotec people.  And the entire Aztec empire.  Under Spanish rule, historic archeological sites were replaced with Catholic churches.  Many were often built right on top of the ruins.  Oaxaca valley’s social practices, politics, and religion were Europeanized.

So, as we dive into this Oaxaca Mexico travel guide, and sites of cultural importance, keep in mind what the indigenous people of Oaxaca have experienced.

Here are some of our favorite places you can easily explore by foot:

• Barrio Jalatlaco and Xochimilco, the oldest neighborhoods in Oaxaca.  Quieter and charming parts of Oaxaca with colorful homes lining each cobble-stoned street
• Jardin Etnobotanico de Oaxaca, featuring native plants of the Oaxacan region, and available by tour only
• The Church of Santo Domingo de Guzman a Dominican Church that has been fully restored, the interior decorated with over 60,000 sheets of 23.5 karat gold!
• Catedral de Oaxaca, located in the Zocalo

There’s so much to art, culture, and history to be found just walking around Oaxaca city.

Shopping in Oaxaca City

Take your time strolling through the plazas surrounding the Zocalo and Santo Domingo…did I mention you should prep to do lots of walking?  Dozens of carts line the more pedestrian-friendly streets, with vendors selling everything from sombreros to leather satchels.  Beautifully painted pottery and intricately painted wood sculptures.  If you are here to shop, you will not be disappointed.  Bring an extra bag, or ensure your wheelie suitcase has plenty of room!

Keep in mind that these local Oaxacan artisans were hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic.  They depend on tourism dollars.  So please think twice about pulling out your iPhone or camera to capture the gorgeous woven rugs and daily traffic in the mercados, and then leaving without buying anything from the locals.

Here are a few places to spend your pesos:

• Aripo, Instituto Oaxaqueno de las Artesanias
• Estampa Galeria
• La Plaza de Artesanias + La Casa de las Artesanias
• Mercado 20 de Noviembre
• Mercado Organico el Pochote

Other shopping centers and markets outside of Oaxaca City:

Tlacolula Market is about a 35-minute drive to the East of Oaxaca City.  It’s open daily, but triples in size on Sundays.  Head to Tlacolula for your produce, flowers, and food stalls.

Teotitlán del Valle is just across the highway from Tlacolula, and it’s where you will find dozens of traditional master weavers.  Most weaving was done by the Zapotec people on a backstrap loom, which is still used in some locations today.  Rugs and other textiles made thousands of years ago were created with cotton as there were no sheep in ancient times.  Now, most of the weaving is primarily done with wool in Teotitlán del Valle.  And, weavers use natural dyes from plants and flowers to create yellows and greens, indigo for blue, and they get the reds, oranges, and purples from the cochineal insect.

Our favorite weaving family was that of J. Isaac Vasquez.  The family’s workshop and gallery, The Bug in the Rug, showcases the beautiful work of master weavers.

The village of Teotitlan del Valle has a long weaving tradition that dates back to Prehispanic times.

Best Places to Enjoy the Local Cuisine of Oaxaca

By the time we landed, we already had extensive lists curated from friends of all the chic Oaxacan restaurants, mezcalerias, and quaint cafes.  Oaxaca’s food scene is outstanding, and often the main reason people visit the city.  The agricultural crops that remain a staple of the oaxaqueños cuisine are tomatoes, corn, beans, chilis, and squash.  Most of which are still farmed in the same way as they were were thousands of years ago.

Be bold and try new things!  Did you know there are over 7 different types of mole?  Also be sure to try the Oaxacan cheese, chocolate, and chapulines (aka deep-fried grasshoppers)!

Best Oaxacan Restaurants:

• Ancestral Cocina Tradicional: simple but delicious rustic outdoor patio dining, tucked away in Xochimilco neighborhood
• Boulenc: the best spot for takeaway croissants, cafe, or head a few doors down to their outdoor patio for a full meal
• Casa Oaxaca: by Chef Alejandro Ruiz, features beautifully crafted Oaxacan cuisine, and rooftop dining with a view of Santo Domingo
• Guajalote de Oro: a cozy bar with good apps and cocktails
• Hotel Los Amantes: best mezcal cocktails, full menu, rooftop dining with a view of Santo Domingo
• Las Quince Letras: traditional Oaxacan cuisine
• Los Danzantes: outdoor courtyard dining with delicious traditional Oaxacan food served beautifully
• Pitiona: Great cocktails, exceptional menu, and rooftop dining with a view of Santo Domingo

Outdoor dining can be found throughout the city, with Boulenc being one of our favorites for frothy cups of chocolate con leche and delicious almond croissants!

Best Mezcal Distilleries in Oaxaca

Save at least 1 day to explore the mezcal distilleries outside of Oaxaca city.  These can primarily be found in one of 2 areas: Santa Catarina Minas, just south of Oaxaca City, and Santiago Matatlán, about an hour east on the way to Mitla.  Santa Catarina Minas and Santiago Matatlán combined are home to over 500 mezcal distilleries or palenques!  

A common question we heard at mezcal tastings: What’s the difference between tequila and mezcal?

In case you too are wondering the same, mezcal and tequila are both produced from the piña or heart of the agave plant (named due to its shape- like a pineapple after the long, spikey leaves are removed.)  Tequila is primarily produced from the blue agave, whereas mezcal can be produced from over 50 different species of agave.  Furthermore, the piña from the blue agave used for tequila is steamed or baked in an oven before being distilled in copper pots.

However, a traditional mezcalero will roast the piñas in an open pit dug into the earth and lined with wood and charcoal, which helps give the mezcal its smoky flavor.  Then, once the piña is mashed, mezcaleros will ferment and then distill the spirit in everything from copper pots to clay pots or wooden barrels.  There is so much more that goes into mezcal production, and most palenques will offer a tour!

Once outside the city, farms with neat rows of newly-planted agave dot the landscape.

Our favorites mezcal distilleries or palenques in Oaxaca:

• Gracias a Dios
• Real Minero
• El Rey Zapoteco
• Lalocura

But, if you don’t have a car while traveling in Oaxaca, here are the best places in Oaxaca City to sip mezcal.  Also, keep in mind, most restaurants carry a variety of local mezcals and offer delicious mezcal cocktails with each meal:

• In Situ Mezcaleria, tiny mezcal bar with hand-picked mezcals to taste, no cocktails
• Selva
• Mezcaleria Los Amantes

Mezcal can be enjoyed on its own, or mixed into a fruit-forward cocktail like here at Los Amantes.

Adventures Outside Oaxaca City

Our favorite part of visiting and then creating a Oaxaca Mexico travel guide was to be true to our passion!  So of course we adventured outside the city for more than just mezcal!

Archeological Sites and Natural Wonders in Oaxaca Mexico

Most of us learned about the Mayas, Incas, and the Aztec civilizations in grade school.  But there were also several other societies that flourished in Mesoamerica before the early explorers arrived.  The Zapotec civilization was among them, and between 700 BC to 1500 AD they lived throughout the Oaxaca valley.  Below are several of the areas where you can explore and learn more about the Zapotec culture.

• Monte Albán is just 6 miles from the city center to the west and yet feels like another world.  One of the earliest settlements of Oaxaca.  Monte Albán is 2.5 square miles and contains a vast network of terraces, plazas, and grand staircases. (Yes, you can still climb most of them.)
• Yagul, one of the most studied archeological sites in Oaxaca. Located east of the city near rock climbing, hiking trails, and caves with gorgeous views of the Oaxacan valley.
• Mitla, the 2nd most important archeological site in Oaxaca.  Settled later than Monte Albán and nestled within the pueblo of San Pablo Villa de Mitla. Just east of Yagul.
• Hierve de Agua, while less of a site of archeological importance, Hierve de Agua is a natural wonder.  There’s a ‘petrified’ waterfall with warm, thermal pools at the top along with an extensive irrigation system and terraces thought to have been developed by the Zapotecs more than 2,500 years ago. Hierve de Aqua lies east and up into the mountains from Mitla.
• The Tule Tree, thought to be the widest tree in the world, with a trunk larger than a giant Sequoia!  About 5 miles from the city center, in the pueblo of Santa María del Tule.

Come prepared for lots of walking to fully explore sites like Monte Alban, which is over 2 square miles!

Oaxaca’s Rock Climbing Areas

I would not adventure to Oaxaca solely to climb.  But, if you happen to be coming down, check an extra bag with your sport climbing gear.  You will be pleasantly surprised at the quality of the routes!  In addition, the access to most climbing areas is within 20 minutes of where you park your car.  And, there is a guidebook available at the local climbing gym, Muro Mondragon, in San Sebastian Tutla!

As with most rock climbing in tropical regions: prepare for overgrown trails, mosquitos, and respect the local farms you have to pass through to reach your climbing destinations.  Here’s what’s located within an hour of the city:

• San Sebastian Tutla, here you will find over 50 routes, with a few easy climbs rated at 5.8 and 5.9.
• La Meca, just east of San Sebastian Tutla, with a few routes that go at 5.11a and up.
• Yagul, the development here is not as well-documented, but again, hard sport routes.  And located close to the archeological site.

Steep sport climbing dominates the rock climbing scene in Oaxaca, so if you have the gear, and are comfortable leading at 5.10a and up, bring it!

Hiking and Mountain Biking in Oaxaca Valley

Our most exciting find while traveling in Oaxaca?  The interconnected network of eco-tourism villages or pueblo mancomunados in the Sierra Norte.  Situated at over 10,500ft, these tiny villages are self-governed and provide access to activities like hiking, mountain biking, zip-lining, along with beautifully rustic accommodations.  Waking up in a small cabin in the cloud forest, surrounded by chirping birds and tropical ferns is definitely special!

In addition, you can book a guide (highly recommended) to help you navigate the poorly-signed network of trails that connect each village.  We also discovered more information about the pueblo mancomunados trails and guiding services through these blogs:

• Everything You Need to Know About Hiking in Oaxaca
• 10 Outdoor Day Trip Adventures in Oaxaca

There’s plenty of hiking trails and rock climbing within an hour of Oaxaca City!

Oaxaca Mexico Travel Guide: Things to Do Before You Leave

1. Brush Up on Your Spanish

Unlike traveling to the more touristy areas of Mexico, not as many people will speak English in Oaxaca.  So, familiarize yourself with some simple Spanish words and phrases.  We use Duolingo every day!  It’s free to download to your phone, and you will learn quickly with just 10 minutes of practice a day.

2. Pack Your Passport, Sentri, or Global Entry

Make sure you have a valid passport.  And your Global Entry or SENTRI card.  If you are within a month or two of the expiration of either your passport, Global Entry, or SENTRI, reapply before you leave.

When driving outside of Oaxaca City, be prepared for lots of small winding roads and plenty of farm animals often grazing just off the pavement!

3. Buy Auto + Travel Insurance

If you will be renting a car in Oaxaca, book directly with a car rental agency like Eurocar or Avis.  Avoid using sites like Kayak or Expedia.  Then, if you need to make a change, you can avoid the incredible price-haggling at the counter.  Why get the insurance?  Because your U.S. or Canadian car insurance will not cover any accidents or theft in Mexico.  And you can be arrested if you get in an accident and you do not have insurance, even if it’s not your fault.

In addition to car insurance, purchase flight insurance if you’re not 100% certain of your plans.  This can be added to your ticket price through airlines like Volaris or AeroMexico.

4. Check With Your Bank + Cell Phone Carrier

Your Visa and MasterCard should work just fine in Oaxaca.  And, often your cell phone carrier will have a Mexico plan you can opt into for the month.  This includes talk, text, and data for your cell.  However, to avoid any extra charges, or have a hold placed on a credit or ATM card, check in with your bank, the main credit card you will use, and your cell phone carrier before departing.

Sometimes you will need to turn on roaming to allow for connection to Mexico’s cell carriers, Telcel or Movistar.  In addition, check to make sure the place you are staying at offers wifi.  Then, you can connect easily to send emails or browse the web.  Do not expect speedy service for video downloads and video chats, and be prepared to not have much service once you leave the city.  Especially in the mountains.

There’s such intricately detailed woodwork hand-crafted by the Oaxacan people. Support their efforts by bringing home a few unique pieces!

5. Exchange Dollars for Mexican Pesos

Unlike the more popular tourist destinations like Cabo or Cancun, American dollars are not widely accepted.  Be respectful of the culture and currency, and exchange at least $200 dollars for pesos before you leave.  You’ll need it for the taxi ride.  To tip your hotel staff.  To purchase anything at a local market.  Once you arrive in Oaxaca, you can visit the Casa de Cambio and exchange more money as needed.  There is a Citibank and Santander right downtown, but these will only be good if you want to use the ATM.

The exchange rate between the Mexican peso and the U.S. dollar is about 20 to 1.  It does fluctuate, so check out the current exchange rate before departing for Oaxaca.

Oaxaca Mexico Travel Guide: Final Thoughts

We hope this Oaxacan travel guide inspires you to visit this magical place instead of a more well-trodden part of Mexico.  Want more travel tips for Mexico?  Read up on Valle de Guadalupe, Rosarito, and Ensenada.

How about Cuba?  Check out our blog on traveling to the land of Classic Cars, Cigars, and Rock Climbing.

Road trips and camping?  Here’s the rest of our travel blog posts.

Until next time, adios amigos!

Meredith McConvill

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