Monte Albán
Hilltop ruins of a major Zapotec city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site above the Oaxaca valley. Wide plazas, platforms and a ball court sit on a levelled summit with long views.
Oaxaca
This colonial city wins admirers with mezcal, crafts markets, indigenous culture and rich cuisine, as well as the Monte Albán ruins.
Attractive locations
Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Baroque church in the city centre, famous for its richly gilded interior. A former convent beside it now houses a museum of the region's cultures and a botanical garden.
Oaxaca Cathedral
Cathedral facing the zócalo, with a carved stone front and a quiet interior. The square around it is a lively place to sit, eat and watch city life. Dress modestly when visiting.
Mitla
Zapotec and Mixtec site known for its stone mosaics, with geometric patterns formed from many small cut stones. A colonial church was built on part of the site, and the town sells local textiles.
Hierve el Agua
Cliffside site in the mountains with natural rock pools and mineral formations that look like frozen waterfalls. Visitors swim in the pools and walk the trails along the edge, with views over the valley.
Árbol del Tule
A huge Montezuma cypress in the town of Santa María del Tule, known for having one of the widest trunks of any tree. It stands beside the church and is an easy trip from Oaxaca.
Yagul
A hilltop Zapotec site east of Oaxaca with a ballcourt, palace complex and tombs on a rocky ridge above the valley. Walkers climb to the fortress at the top for wide views.
Airports
Xoxocotlán International Airport OAX
It is about 10 km in a straight line from Oaxaca.
Bahías de Huatulco International Airport HUX
It is about 148 km in a straight line from Oaxaca.
Puerto Escondido International Airport PXM
It is about 139 km in a straight line from Oaxaca.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan14.0 °C7 mm
- Feb16.0 °C6 mm
- Mar17.9 °C13 mm
- Apr20.0 °C32 mm
- May19.9 °C73 mm
- Jun18.2 °C198 mm
- Jul17.2 °C151 mm
- Aug17.2 °C169 mm
- Sep16.9 °C203 mm
- Oct15.9 °C100 mm
- Nov14.3 °C18 mm
- Dec14.1 °C8 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Dec. Wettest months: Jun, Aug, Sep.
Costs
Prices here are about 54% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
culture
Guelaguetza
Indigenous dances come from every part of the state of Oaxaca.
Who can help
Emergency
911 for police, ambulance and fire.
local government
Angeles Verdes (Secretaria de Turismo) - line 078
Helps with: The tourism ministry's road-traveller line. Call 078 for minor roadside help, tourist information, or to have an emergency report passed to the right authority. Covers federal highways.
Who qualifies: Travellers on Mexico's federal highways, within the Angeles Verdes coverage area.
Phone: 078
Email: [email protected]
ngo
Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross)
Helps with: Mexico's national Red Cross society. Its site says it responds to disasters and medical emergencies and gives food, shelter, medical care and psychosocial support.
Who qualifies: People in Mexico affected by emergencies or disasters, or in need of its medical and humanitarian services.
local government
National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED)
Helps with: Mexico's national disaster prevention centre. It monitors the Popocatepetl volcano and publishes alert levels and public safety information.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Mexico looking for official disaster and volcano alert information.
Email: [email protected]
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mexico
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in Mexico since 2004. It supports migrants, displaced people and returnees, including a campaign against trafficking of migrant women and girls.
Who qualifies: Migrants, displaced people and returnees. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +52 55 5536 3922
Address: Avenida Presidente Masaryk 101, Piso 18, Colonia Polanco V Seccion, Miguel Hidalgo, CP 11560, Ciudad de Mexico
embassy
Foreign embassies in Mexico City (city government list, partial)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. Mexico City's government page lists about 25 of the roughly 86 embassies, with address and phone.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy.
local government
Emergency number 911 (police, ambulance and fire)
Helps with: Reaches police, ambulance and fire services. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 911