I’d heard wonderful things about Oaxaca. I already love mole, and everything pointed to incredible food, deep traditions, and a slower pace of life. I actually went with the intention to scope it out for long-term living.
While Oaxaca is beautiful and deeply artisanal, it’s not where I see myself living long-term. What it is though, is almost the perfect bachelorette or girls’ trip destination. Spa culture, shopping, and world-renowned sights like Hierve el Agua (petrified waterfalls) – it’s the perfect mix of culture and indulgence.
The Shopping
Oaxaca Centro is a dream if you like shopping. The city runs on craftsmanship— hand-dyed textiles, jewelry, woven rugs, leather goods, ceramic and wood art. Wandering the streets you’ll come across so many shops and art galleries.
That said—Oaxaca knows its audience.
The city caters heavily to a Western tourist crowd, and that shows up in the pricing. Compared to places like Mexico City or Guadalajara, Oaxaca felt surprisingly expensive. Worth it, but noticeable.
Food in Oaxaca
I relied too heavily on Eater’s “Essential restaurants in Oaxaca guide“, which I now see mainly highlighted places for Western palates. As a result, I found myself eating $15 artisan tacos, which is not the experience I wanted.
Where I Ate
- Tacos Serrano – A beautiful space with high-quality ingredients and well-executed tacos. That said, I personally prefer a more local, no-frills taquería.
- Pitiona – A gorgeous rooftop with a direct view of the catholic church across the street. It serves elevated Oaxacan-European cuisine. It leans fancy, but the setting alone makes it worth a visit.
- Boulenc Pan y Café – An airy café and bakery that feels almost cave-like. A great place to post up, and reset between galleries and shopping.
- Rito Chocolatería & Tienda – Chocolate was non-negotiable for me, and Oaxaca is famous for it. Rito is run by a third-generation chocolatier. I had an iced chocolate drink that was genuinely excellent—and at $9 USD, it better be. If you’ve traveled around Mexico, you know that price is… bold.
Temazcal: The Traditional Oaxacan Sweat Lodge
One thing I didn’t get to do, but absolutely plan to next time — is the temazcal, also known as the ceremonial sweat lodge – this would be a great girls activity.
Temazcal is an ancient Mesoamerican ritual used for: Physical detox, Spiritual cleansing, Healing and rebirth. The Temazcal is usually made out of adobe, mud and river rocks. It is heated with firewood in order to combine the four elements of nature: earth, water, wind, fire. Once the fire and water ritual has finished, coming out from the temazcal brings the feeling of have been born again.
I love sauna culture and have tried the local way in Ukraine, Morocco, Turkey, and Hungary. I’m just missing Oaxaca. It’s my understanding the experience is about $75 and needs to be booked in advance. This business comes recommended to me. It’s #1 priority for me – next time.
Where to Stay in Oaxaca
For your first time, definitely stay in Old Town. Here are 2 places I checked out.
Casa Cid de León: A gorgeous boutique hotel and exactly what you imagine when you think of staying in Oaxaca. Intimate, stylish, and full of character. You get to have breakfast included on the roof which is the most beautiful view.
Iguana Hostel: I also stayed at Iguana Hostel and had a private room and breakfast included. It was a good location, very comfortable and affordable stay.
Day Trip From Oaxaca: A Perfectly Organized Tour
I booked a full-day tour from Oaxaca that covered four major attractions, and it was one of the best-organized trips I’ve been on – and for $55. I booked my tour in person at the El Andador stands in town – my price included all fees, except for lunch, the tour was entirely in Spanish by the way which accounts for the lower price. If you’re willing to have a 100% Spanish tour, I find booking the tours in person has a large savings.
1. Árbol del Tule (The Widest Tree in the World)
We arrived to the tree just at 9:00 AM. There isn’t much to do besides admire it and support local vendors, but seeing the widest tree in the world in person was intangible…etheral. The tree is estimated to be 1,400 – 3,000 years and has a circumference of nearly 60 meters (around 190 ft).
2. Mezcal Tasting & Textile Demonstration
While not the main attraction, the tour also included:
- A mezcal tasting
- A demonstration of traditional mezcal production (including horses grinding agave)
- A tutorial on how traditional rugs are woven and naturally dyed
Of course, there was an opportunity to buy textiles — $200–$500 USD, fully handmade.
3. Mitla
One of Oaxaca’s most important archaeological sites. It’s not about massive pyramids. There are thousands of precisely cut stones fitted together without mortar, forming repeating patterns that are believed to symbolize the cosmos, life cycles, and the boundary between the living and the dead. If you’re sensitive to energies this is a very powerful place.
4. Hierve el Agua (Petrified Waterfalls)
This was the highlight. Hierve el Agua is one of only two petrified waterfall formations in the world (the other is in Turkey). Over thousands of years, mineral-rich water formed white stone cascades that look frozen in motion.
You can also swim in natural pools at the top, overlooking the valley. Truly stunning.
We left Hierve el Agua around 6:00 PM, to head back to Oaxaca. it was a full day and it was awesome.
What I’ll Do Differently Next Time
- Skip Western food guides and just walk around, outside of the Centro area
- Maybe take a Mole cooking class – although I don’t think it’s a popular offering
- Do a temazcal ceremony
- Visit Puerto Escondido to experience the coast
Final Thoughts on Oaxaca
Oaxaca is beautiful, cultural, and creative — but it’s also more expensive and tourist-oriented than I expected. For a short stay or a creative retreat, it’s incredible and I think it’s the perfect girls trip!
Can’t wait to try the temezcal with all my friends next time.