Christmas in the U.S. has its many, deep rooted charms, but often the holiday spirit may be lost among all the commercial tie-ins. That may be one of the reasons that people travel during the season; not to escape Christmas, but to find it.
You'll discover the delightful seasonal traditions that make celebrating Navidad - Christmas in Oaxaca a unique and quite unforgettable experience.

Day of the Dead in Oaxaca
The ancient Oaxacan rituals in honor of the dead mixed religious beliefs with fable. When the Spaniards conquered the country, indigenous customs were rooted so deeply that after five centuries of colonization they continued to survive and remain as current as in their first days.

Holidays and Celebrations in Oaxaca
The same annual festivals and celebrations that occur in the City of Oaxaca, also take place all over the state, along with the fiesta of each local patron saint.

This has become a rather sophisticated dining town with restaurants in Oaxaca serving both traditional and updated versions of the world famous Oaxacan regional cuisine - which is quite vast.

Chiles have been grown in Mexico for thousands of years. There are more than 150 indigenous varieties with at least sixty of these grown in Oaxaca and nowhere else.

Hnads on Cooking classes with Alejandro Ruiz of Oaxaca or with Reyna Mendoza of Teotitlan del Valle.

What's with the worm in the Mezcal? Once a backyard brew of dubious origin, mezcal's claim to fame is the cactus worm in the bottom of the bottle.


Oaxaca's Botanical Garden. In order to demonstrate the relationship between the vegetation and the traditions of Oaxaca, the garden only brings together plants that are relevant to the region’s culture.

VILLAGE MARKETS and MARKET DAYS IN OAXACA
Major towns all have weekly markets or “Tianguis”, with days staggered to enable vendors and purchasers to attend different ones.

Oaxaca Crafts: No trip to Oaxaca is complete without some time spent exploring a few of the region’s fascinating villages, and wandering through several of the area’s exotic native markets.


• TEMPERATURES IN OAXACA

WHERE'D MY PEOPLE GO? "It's a party," said my Oaxacan host, sipping Manischewitz wine. "We Mexicans love a party."
Passover in Oaxaca

Oaxaca's very own festival:
The Guelaguetza!!!

Things to do in Oaxaca: There are so many things to do and see in Oaxaca that it is a good idea to pre-plan a bit to get the most out of your trip, especially if you are planning to stay a week or less.

Oaxaca's Historic Center extends six to eight blocks in each direction from the Zócalo. Oaxaca has virtually numberless attractions branching out from the main square.

A Walk in the Clouds MOUNTAIN HIKING in Oaxaca. The Sierra Norte or Sierra de Juarez is set in a uniquely privileged location; seven of the nine types of vegetation existing in Mexico are found here in nearly four thousand plant species.

The Skinny of Temazcal: The traditonal Mexican steam bath. It's a part of the movement, now so widespread in this country, to return to the healing practices preserved in indigenous medicine.

Oaxaca's Lincoln: Benito Juárez.
Intelligence, foresight, honesty - these are the superlatives that trip off the tongues of Mexicans when asked their opinion of Benito Juarez. And in Oaxaca, one of the nation's most conservative provinces, it is his humility and roots that are most often remarked upon.

Traveling by road from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido or Huatulco can take more than 6 hours by car and up to 9 arduous hours by bus. Aerotucán provides morning and afternoon flights between Oaxaca City and the beach destinations of Huatulco and Puerto Escondido. Flight time is approximately 35- 40 minutes.



TRAVEL TIPS before you go. Basic legal aspects. Customs. Touris Card. Money matters. First aid. Staying healthy in Mexico. Travel insurance. Packing tips. TSA Security Guidelines. "Know Before You Go" by U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security

And last - but not least: Staying Healthy in Mexico or What is "Moctezuma's revenge"?

Map of Oaxaca City: Historic Center

Map of Oaxaca: Central Valleys and Surrounding Villages

Shopping in Oaxaca


Even More About Oaxaca