Highlights
- Sample Oaxacan empanadas and hot chocolate while exploring Oaxaca City
- Learn to make tamales and mole from legendary chefs in a rural cooking workshop
- Visit traditional handicraft and textile workshops in the Valle de Tlacolula
- Explore the incredible views from the archaeological zone at Monte Albán
- Partake in the cultural tradition of painting sculptures at the Alebrijes Workshop
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Oaxaca City, Food & Walking Tour | Oaxaca |
| Day 2 | Attend a Rural Cooking Workshop in Oaxaca Valley | Oaxaca |
| Day 3 | Visit Embroidery & Textile Workshops in Valle de Tlacolula | Oaxaca |
| Day 4 | Tour Monte Albán, Visit the Alebrijes Workshop | Oaxaca |
| Day 5 | Explore Oaxaca in the Morning, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Oaxaca City, Food & Walking Tour
Welcome to the spirited southern Mexican state of Oaxaca! You'll be picked up at the airport and taken to your hotel in Oaxaca City to settle in and prepare for the exciting day ahead. Step into the lively streets and kick off your journey with a walking food tour starting at Mercado de la Merced. Relish oven-baked empanadas and venture through the colorful Jalalatco neighborhood, indulging in Oaxacan tacos on García Vigil Street. Your adventure leads to the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, adorned with artistry from Puebla's finest artisans—beautiful to admire from the outside, but be sure to head inside to see the Seventh Tomb of Albán.
Day 2: Attend a Rural Cooking Workshop in Oaxaca Valley
Today, you'll spend the day in Teotitlán del Valle or Santa Ana del Valle, Zapotec communities in the Oaxaca Valley. During your visit, you'll meet with the comideras in the local market, women recognized for their culinary skills and responsible for preparing feasts for community celebrations. These women will teach all about preparing local Oaxacan cuisine.
Once you arrive, you'll start the rural cooking class by heading to the market to learn about the ingredients used to make traditional flavors. Afterward, you'll go to their home to learn how to cook delicious Oaxacan dishes. The menu of the day consists of a soup, a green mole with pumpkin seed, a dessert (apples or tejocotes in sweet, chocolate tamale), and a drink of Oaxacan coffee or chocolate, all made by hand with the help of traditional cooking tools like the molcajete. ¡Buen provecho!
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 3: Visit Embroidery & Textile Workshops in Valle de Tlacolula
Now that you've gotten a "taste" of Oaxacan foods, it's time to discover another side of this state's vibrant culture (and economy) by learning about the art of Oaxacan textiles. Start the morning with a visit to Tlapazola, where you'll see the various embroidery workshops that make the traditional blouses and garments women adorn in the community.
Next, you'll visit Las Mujeres del Barro Rojo (Women of the Red Clay). Here, you'll discover the history of clay pottery, a hand-made art passed down to these women through generations. You'll hear their stories and see how they make these works of art up close, works that can now be found today in museums like the MOMA in New York. Afterward, you'll head to the cotton textile workshops in Mitla, where they use pedal looms to sew clothing. You'll also visit San Miguel del Valle to see how the beautiful Oaxacan aprons are made.
The day will end in Teotitlán del Valle to spend time with the artisans who weave traditional wool rugs made with Zapotec designs. This beautiful art form is appreciated throughout Mexico.Day 4: Tour Monte Albán, Visit the Alebrijes Workshop
Pack your hat and sunscreen because today you'll head back to Oaxaca Valley, beginning with a tour of Monte Albán; this UNESCO World Heritage Site is an ancient Zapotec capital, a pre-Colombian archaeological site which at one time had a significant influence on the development of Mesoamerica. It's believed that the city also served as a defense site, which you can see from the Gallery of Dancers, stone slabs depicting conquered figures and captives of the city. Explore the zone and hike up the North Platform and the Grand Plaza for incredible views of the surrounding valley.
After lunchtime, you'll head to Arrazola, a 20-minute ride from Monte Albán. You'll visit the incredible Alebrijes Workshop at Don Mario Jiménez's House, a renowned alebrijes artisan. His son, Isaías, will explain the workshop's history and the cultural significance of these sculptures of fantastical creatures painted in the same bright colors you've likely seen all around Oaxaca. End the afternoon by painting your own alebrije, which you can take home as a remarkable memory of your time in Oaxaca. Finally, return to the hotel to pack your things and rest well before your last day.
Day 5: Explore Oaxaca in the Morning, Depart
You've had a busy trip until now. But, before you go home, spend the morning taking in one last piece of Oaxaca. Whether you go back to taste those empanadas again from the first day, check out the many restaurants, mezcalerías, art galleries, and handicraft stores, or walk and take in the colorful buildings and architecture, it's your time! Make sure to walk through the Mercado Benito Juárez to grab some last-minute souvenirs, like mezcals, quesillo, mole, and chapulines.
Of course, you'll have at least one more Oaxacan meal before heading home. Plan to have an early lunch at the Pasillo de Humo booth in the Mercado 20 de Noviembre to get your fix. Here, you can taste cecina (chorizo), tasajo (beef cuts), or some delicious tlayudas. Once you're full, head back to the hotel to grab your luggage, and your driver will pick you up for your airport transfer to catch your flight home (or your next destination in Mexico!)More Great Mexico Itineraries
Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Mexico? Check out these other Mexico itineraries, explore other ways to spend five days in Mexico, or discover the best time to visit Mexico.
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