Things to Know Before You Go to Oaxaca, Mexico

Oaxaca Should Be on Your Radar

Oaxaca is the capital of Oaxaca State in Mexico, with a population of around 700,000 (in the greater metropolitan area). It has an international airport nearby and is also well connected by bus from nearby cities such as Mexico City and Puebla.

Oaxaca is the most ethnically and linguistically diverse state in Mexico. There are 16 different Indigenous groups who have officially registered their distinct languages and customs. The Zapotec and Mixtec languages and traditions are the most common you will encounter in Oaxaca. Amazingly, these Indigenous groups have managed to keep their languages and cultures alive and largely intact throughout the colonial period until present day. Today, there are more speakers of Indigenous languages in the state of Oaxaca than in any other state in Mexico.

According to experts, it was Oaxaca's rugged mountainous terrain that helped to create the perfect conditions for several pockets of cultural isolation, preserving such a rich diversity of Indigenous language and cultures within a relatively small geographic area.

In 1987, Oaxaca’s Historic Center was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its history and architecture. Oaxaca is also known for being one of the food capitals of Mexico, with many different delicious traditional foods, thanks to the rich cultural diversity and variety of food grown and produced throughout the state.

For more information and guidance on Oaxaca’s traditional foods, including recommendations on where to try them, check out the Wander Yonder blog post about food by clicking the following link: Traditional Food in Oaxaca.

Also check out the Wander Yonder YouTube video embedded below this blog for an overview of Oaxaca, including highlights of the best things to do.

Oaxaca is Home to the Annual Guelaguetza Festival

Every year in July, Oaxaca City hosts the Guelaguetza Festival, also known as Los Lunes Del Cerro (Mondays on the Hill), featuring regional art, food, music, colourful parades, traditional dancing and cultural showcases from Oaxaca’s 16 Indigenous ethnic groups. The word “Guelaguetza” comes from the Zapotec language and means “reciprocal exchanges of gifts and service” in keeping with the importance of sharing, reciprocity and extended community among participating Indigenous cultures.

While visitors from around the world come to Oaxaca to celebrate this vibrant cultural festival, it is also considered to be deeply important to the survival of the Indigenous cultures in the region. Unfortunately, I had to leave Oaxaca before this festival started but I wish I had known about it before I planned my trip as I would have planned to be in Oaxaca during the festivities. If you are planning a trip to Oaxaca around this time of year, you may wish to plan around Gueleaguetza as you may prefer to avoid the crowds during this time or take part in the cultural celebration.

Oaxaca is Generally Safe for Tourists

I stayed at an Airbnb just outside the Historic Centre of Oaxaca and never felt unsafe during the day or at night during my month-long stay in the city. Although Oaxaca is generally considered to be a safe city, it does experience petty crime, including purse snatching and pickpocketing. Be mindful of your belongings and surroundings at all times - and avoid doing anything that will make you a target, including wearing expensive jewellery, or flashing your expensive phone or camera in public, particularly while you are outside of the Historic Centre. Extra precaution should always be taken at night to avoid being alone on dark and empty streets.

You should also be aware that Oaxaca is a politically charged city, with a history of frequent demonstrations and protests. While most of these issues have very little to do with tourists, please keep in mind that political movements can happen at any time. For example, when I first arrived in Oaxaca, the teachers’ union was protesting for better pay and working conditions. Hundreds of tents were pitched around the main plaza for several days, blocking major transportation routes and access to many buildings. Many local businesses closed in solidarity with the teachers.

Where to Buy Clean Drinking Water

Most people know that tap water is not safe to drink in most parts of Mexico. However, many new visitors don’t know that you can buy refillable 5, 10, and 20 litre bottles at many local tiendas (small convenient shops). There are water purification stations in almost every neighbourhood so you just need to find the one that is closest to you. Refill your bottle for a fraction of what it would cost if you continually bought smaller bottles or water. Just type in agua purificada or agua purificadora or simply purificadora into your google maps to find the nearest purification station. You will save about 75 percent on your drinking water costs and also limit your plastic waste.