A Taste of Oaxaca

The Southern Mexican state of Oaxaca boasts a rich cultural heritage and cuisine that visitors can immerse themselves in. From witnessing age-old traditions to sampling mouthwatering mole, Oaxaca offers an authentic Mexican experience. Here is how you can experience a taste of Oaxaca.

Indigenous cultures like the Zapotecs and Mixtecs have influenced Oaxaca since pre-Hispanic times. Their folk art and lively festivals continue today. The Guelaguetza festival each July showcases regional song, dance, and cuisine. Vibrant parades fill the streets as locals don traditional outfits representing native cultures. Visitors can shop for handmade crafts like alebrijes (whimsical wooden creatures), black pottery from San Bartolo Coyotepec, and woven textiles dyed with natural pigments.

An intinerary must-stop destination is the Zócalo (main square), flanked by the Cathedral and government buildings which display a blend of 16th century European and native architecture. The Templo de Santo Domingo Church complex includes the former Convent of Santo Domingo with its ornate Baroque interior and the Ethnobotanical Garden featuring over a thousand species of native Oaxacan plants.

The markets in town tempt with mounds of chapulines (grasshoppers) and tasty local cheeses. Just a few miles outside Oaxaca City lies the ancient Zapotec city of Monte Albán, established around 500 BC with expansive mountain-top ruins and bas-reliefs providing insight into Zapotec culture.

Downtown accommodations like Hotel Trebol put you mere steps from museums, markets, and restaurants. For a little more seclusion, Casa Oaxaca offers seven rooms in a beautifully converted 18th century building trimmed in bougainvillea. Bed and breakfasts like Casa de Sierra Azul are nestled in the scenic countryside, often surrounded by lush gardens or forests. These retreats arrange regional tours and hikes.

As vendors close down daytime markets, nightlife blooms in Oaxaca City. Restaurants, cantinas, and cultural centers host live music and entertainment. Sip mezcal at intimate bars like Mezcaloteca or In Situ Mezcasiarca. Try local chocolate at outdoor cafes on Alcala pedestrian street. Listen for marimba music and follow your ears to impromptu performances in public squares. Experience concerts and performances by native dancers and folkloric ballet at the Guelaguetza Auditorium.

Though not a late-night hotspot per se, Oaxaca charms with regional culture and cozy venues. Are you ready for a taste of Oaxaca? With colorful festivals, delectable cuisine, native crafts and ruins nestled in the Sierra Madre mountains, Oaxaca provides an authentic taste of Mexico.