Oaxaca - Lonely Planet

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Oaxaca
Why Go?
Oaxaca City................420
Monte Albán...............442
Pueblos
Mancomunados..........451
Puerto Escondido.......454
Puerto Ángel............... 467
Zipolite.......................469
San Agustinillo........... 472
Mazunte...................... 474
Bahías de Huatulco.... 477
Barra de la Cruz.........484
Juchitán...................... 487
Best Off the
Beaten Track
¨¨Concepción Bamba (p486)
¨¨Lachatao (p452)
¨¨Playa Escobilla (p468)
¨¨Chacahua (p465)
¨¨Santiago Apoala (p452)
The state of Oaxaca (wah-hah-kah) has a special magic felt
by Mexicans and foreigners alike. A redoubt of indigenous
culture, it’s home to the country’s most vibrant crafts and
art scene, some outstandingly colorful and extroverted festivities, a uniquely savory cuisine and varied natural riches.
At the center of the state in every way stands beautiful,
colonial Oaxaca city, an elegant and fascinating cultural
hub. Nearby, the forested Sierra Norte is home to successful
community-tourism ventures enabling visitors to hike, bike
and ride horses amid delicious green landscapes.
To the south, across rugged, remote mountains, is Oaxaca’s fabulous coast, with its endless sandy beaches, pumping Pacific surf, seas full of dolphins, turtles and fish, and a
string of beach towns and villages that will make any traveler happy: lively Puerto Escondido; planned but relaxed
Bahías de Huatulco; and the mellow delights of Zipolite, San
Agustinillo and Mazunte.
When to Go
Oaxaca City
°C/°F Temp
Rainfall inches/mm
24/600
40/104
30/86
16/400
20/68
Best Places
to Stay
¨¨Casa Oaxaca (p433)
¨¨Punta Placer (p473)
¨¨Oceanomar (p476)
¨¨Hotel Las Golondrinas
(p431)
¨¨El Diablo y la Sandía (p431)
8/200
10/50
0/32
0
J
F
M
Jan–Mar Driest
months: a lively
coastal winterescapee scene,
best hiking in the
Sierra Norte.
A
M
J
J
A
Jul & Aug Guelaguetza festival
in Oaxaca city;
summer-vacation
fun time on the
coast.
S
O
N
D
Late Oct & Nov
Día de Muertos
celebrations; Fiestas de Noviembre in Puerto
Escondido.
418
MEX
150
Izúcar de
Matamoros
MEX
145
Tierra
Blanca
Tehuacán
Puebla
Zapotitlán
de Salinas
MEX
Presa Miguel
Alemán
135
Oa x aca H
 i gh l i gh t s
MEX
MEX
125
190
Acatlán
Teotitlán
del Camino
Tres
Valles
M Sie
az rra
at
ec
a
Huautla de
Tuxtepec
Jiménez
MEX
MEX
175
131
Huajuapan
de León
Coixtlahuaca
Santiago
Tejupan
Apoala
Tamazulapan
MEX
93
Santiago
Juxtlahuaca
San Andrés
r Chicahuaxtla
e
d
e
Putla
Guerrero
Cuajimoloyas
Oaxaca
Monte Albán
Tlacolula
R
l
S
MEX
u
r
Ocotlán
MEX
200
Pinotepa
Nacional
Jamiltepec
Corralero
R í o Ve r
MEX
Sola de
Vega
de
Chacahua
Laguna La
Pastoría
Miahuatlán
San Sebastián
Coatlán
Nopala
lo
c
pe
Bajos de
Chila
Laguna
Manialtepec
Rí
o
Co
San José
del Pacífico
Río
C op a l i
Santa María
Huatulco
Puerto
Escondido
Playa
Escobilla
Cerro
Nube Flan
(3750m)
MEX
Pochutla
200
Mazunte;
San Agustinillo
& Zipolite
Puerto
Ángel
Oaxaca Highlights
2 Chill out for longer than
you planned at the travelers’
hangouts of Zipolite (p469),
San Agustinillo (p472) or
Mazunte (p474)
3 Ride the surf on the
gorgeous beaches of Puerto
Escondido (p454)
4 Hike through otherworldly
cloud forests between the
t
a
Río
Grande
San José
Manialtepec
Zapotalito
Laguna
Chacahua
Ejutla
MEX
Tututepec Jocotepec
Parque Nacional
Lagunas de
Chacahua
131
175
Juquila
San José
del Progreso
1 Indulge in the culture,
color, crafts, cuisine – and
mezcal – of festive, colonial
Oaxaca city (p420)
MEX
179
Valles Mitla
Centrales
Zimatlán
San Pedro
Amuzgos
PACIFIC
OCEAN
Villa Alta
Capulálpam
Pueblos
Yalalag
Mancomunados
C
125
Cuajinicuilapa
Juárez
Ixtlán de Juárez
te
a d
ra
MEX
135D
Tlaxiaco
M
Sier
olo rado
r a
San Pedro
Teposcolula
ío
S i
e r
Cuicatlán
Yanhuitlán
Nochixtlán
San Martín
Huamelúlpam
Valle
Nacional