Oaxaca

Region · 🇲🇽 Mexico

Population 3,967,889

Area 92,967 km²

Time zone America/Mexico_City

Official website www.oaxaca.gob.mx

Printable tourist map

Oaxaca

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Featured Lists

Oaxaca's Absolute Essentials

Oaxaca’s cultural landscape centers on the Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán and the intricate geometric mosaics of Mitla. In the state capital, the 16th-century colonial grid includes the Baroque Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán and the adjacent Ethnobotanical Garden, which showcases native flora. Daily life revolves around the Zócalo and the smoke-filled aisles of Mercado 20 de Noviembre, known for traditional Oaxacan cuisine. Beyond the city, the petrified waterfalls and mineral pools of Hierve el Agua offer unique natural travertine formations.

Oaxaca Markets and Crafts

Oaxaca’s markets are the cultural and economic heart of the region, offering everything from indigenous crafts to regional culinary staples. This collection features historic central hubs like Mercado Benito Juárez and 20 de Noviembre, known for mole, mezcal, and grilled meats, alongside specialized textile markets and artisanal shops. The list also includes modern department stores and coastal markets in Huatulco, providing a comprehensive look at Oaxacan commerce ranging from traditional hand-woven rugs to contemporary local goods.

DavidConFran / CC BY-SA 3.0

Oaxaca Historical Sites

This collection spans the archaeological landscape of Oaxaca, featuring major Zapotec and Mixtec urban centers. It includes the UNESCO-listed Monte Albán, known for its expansive mountaintop plaza, and Mitla, distinguished by its intricate geometric stone mosaics. The list also covers the prehistoric caves of Yagul and Mitla, which provide evidence of the earliest domestication of maize in North America, alongside lesser-known Mixtec sites like Yanhuitlán and Huamelulpan that showcase early Mesoamerican stone carvings and architectural evolution.

Bobak Ha'Eri / CC BY 2.5

Oaxaca's Sacred Architecture

Oaxaca's religious landscape is defined by its colonial history and architectural diversity. This collection spans from the ornate New Spanish Baroque of the Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán to unique regional sites like the submerged 16th-century Dominican ruins in Jalapa del Marqués. These structures highlight the use of local green quarry stone (cantera), intricate gilded altarpieces, and the cultural synthesis of indigenous and Spanish influences found throughout the Central Valleys and Mixteca regions.

AlejandroLinaresGarcia / GFDL

Oaxaca Parks and Viewpoints

This collection highlights Oaxaca’s varied topography, featuring the state’s highest peak, Cerro Nube Flane, at 3,720 meters. It includes the petrified waterfalls of Hierve el Agua, formed by mineral-rich springs, and coastal lookouts like the Andador Turístico in Puerto Escondido. From the high-altitude cloud forests of San José del Pacífico to the sacred Mixtec peaks of Tlaxiaco, these sites showcase the region's geological formations, pre-Hispanic ceremonial sites, and traditional community plazas.

Oaxaca — Map

Oaxaca — Map

Oaxaca — Printable Tourist Map Open the interactive map

Climate & when to visit

Best time to visit: January, February

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Great

26° (feels like 24°) · extremes 7°–30°
12° at night
2 rainy days
14 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
28°C · warm for swimming
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in February

Great

29° (feels like 27°) · extremes 8°–33°
13° at night
1 rainy day
15 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
28°C · warm for swimming
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in March

Great

31° (feels like 30°) · extremes 10°–35°
14° at night
3 rainy days
17 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
29°C · warm for swimming
UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in April

Fair

33° (feels like 32°) · extremes 12°–36°
16° at night
6 rainy days
14 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
29°C · warm for swimming
UV index 11 · extreme

Up to 5 days above 35°

Typical weather in May

Fair

31° (feels like 32°) · extremes 14°–36°
18° at night
13 rainy days
10 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
30°C · warm for swimming
UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in June

Fair

27° (feels like 28°) · extremes 16°–33°
18° at night
24 rainy days
6 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Humid air
Calm winds
30°C · warm for swimming
UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in July

Fair

26° (feels like 27°) · extremes 15°–29°
17° at night
23 rainy days
5 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Humid air
Calm winds
30°C · warm for swimming
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in August

Fair

26° (feels like 27°) · extremes 15°–29°
17° at night
25 rainy days
7 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Humid air
Calm winds
31°C · warm for swimming
UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in September

Fair

25° (feels like 27°) · extremes 15°–28°
17° at night
26 rainy days
4 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Humid air
Calm winds
30°C · warm for swimming
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in October

Good

25° · extremes 11°–28°
16° at night
17 rainy days
9 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
30°C · warm for swimming
UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in November

Great

25° (feels like 24°) · extremes 9°–28°
13° at night
6 rainy days
15 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Light breeze
30°C · warm for swimming
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in December

Great

25° (feels like 24°) · extremes 8°–29°
12° at night
2 rainy days
16 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
29°C · warm for swimming
UV index 7 · high

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2); NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5 · 1996–2025

Practical information

Currency: Mexican Peso MXN $ · Card payments · Widely accepted
Emergency numbers: 911 Police · Ambulance · Fire brigade
Electricity: Type A / Type B
127 V · 60 Hz

Languages: Spanish
Tap water: Not safe to drink
Driving side: Right
Calling code: +52

Tours & Activities

Related destinations

Mexico Oaxaca de Juárez Municipality Oaxaca Santo Domingo Tehuantepec Puerto Escondido Zipolite Mazunte San Miguel del Puerto Parque Nacional Lagunas de Chacahua Santa Inés del Monte Bahía de Tangolunda

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