Oaxaca: Best Itinerary Ideas
How many days do you need in Oaxaca?
- Most travelers spend 6-8 days in Oaxaca
- Visiting Oaxaca in 4 or 5 days is possible, but it will feel rushed
- With 9 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
- The most common extensions are Mexico City, Puebla, and Cholula
How Many Days to Spend in Mexico
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Recommended Itineraries for Oaxaca
Recommended Itinerary for 5 Days
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Oaxaca, Walking Street Tour | Oaxaca |
| Day 2 | Discover the Árbol del Tule, Hierve el Agua, Mitla & Teotitlán | Oaxaca |
| Day 3 | Monte Albán Tour, Alebrijes Workshop & Mezcal Tasting | Oaxaca |
| Day 4 | Traditional Oaxacan Medicine Tour, San Felipe del Agua Valley Sunset Hike | Oaxaca |
| Day 5 | Local Art Workshop, Depart Oaxaca |
Oaxaca's folk art and craftsmanship take center stage on this five-day tour of the southern Mexican state. Mingle with the locals at a mezcal distillery, then learn the secrets of traditional medicine in the bustling Central de Abastos market. Visit the weaving workshops of Teotitlán del Valle, paint your own alebrijes, and create woodcut prints with local artisans. Alongside all the creativity, you'll also explore the history and nature of the region with scenic hikes and visits to ancient Mesoamerican sites. Read more
Recommended Itinerary for 1 Week
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Oaxaca, Gastronomic Food Tasting | Oaxaca |
| Day 2 | Ixtepeji Enchanted Forest Walk | Oaxaca |
| Day 3 | Handicraft Villages Tour | Oaxaca |
| Day 4 | Market Exploration & Traditional Oaxacan Medicine Tour | Oaxaca |
| Day 5 | Hike the Puma Trail in San Pablo de Etla | Oaxaca |
| Day 6 | Huautli Food Experience & Dessert Workshop | Oaxaca |
| Day 7 | Depart Oaxaca |
Culture enthusiasts will savor one week of engaging in Oaxaca's traditions, gastronomy, and handicrafts. Sample famed regional dishes before exploring La Sierra Norte's cloud forest. Then, set out into local villages, each known for a handiwork, from San Antonino's intricate embroidery to Tilcajete's hand-painted alebrijes. Learn from a traditional doctor about medicinal plants in San Pablo Etla, where you'll lace up your hiking boots for the Puma Trail and transform the amaranth plant into a dessert. Read more
Extended Itineraries
1-Week Itinerary Including Mexico City & Puebla
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Mexico City | Mexico City |
| Day 2 | Teotihuacán Archaeological Site & Basilica of Guadalupe | Mexico City |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Puebla, Gastronomic Walking Tour | Puebla |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Oaxaca, Explore | Oaxaca |
| Day 5 | Tule Tree, Hierve el Agua & Teotitlán del Valle | Oaxaca |
| Day 6 | Oaxaca Valley Cooking Class, Return to Mexico City | Mexico City |
| Day 7 | Depart Mexico City |
On this food-focused tour, you'll discover authentic Mexican cuisine at marketplaces, family-run restaurants, street food stands, and Indigenous farms. The itinerary isn't only about food, though: the schedule features visits to archaeological sites and other places of interest, including the pyramids of Teotihuacán and the colonial city of Puebla. Read more
9-Day Itinerary Including Mexico City & Cholula
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Mexico City, Explore | Mexico City |
| Day 2 | City Tour & Mural Museum, Lucha Libre & Mezcal Tasting | Mexico City |
| Day 3 | Visit Coyoacán & Xochimilco | Mexico City |
| Day 4 | Day Trip to Teotihuacán, Transfer to Cholula | Cholula |
| Day 5 | Day Trip to Tehuacán-Cuicuitlan Reserve, Transfer to Oaxaca | Oaxaca |
| Day 6 | Visit Monte Albán, Mezcal Tour | Oaxaca |
| Day 7 | Oaxaca City Tour | Oaxaca |
| Day 8 | Free Day in Oaxaca | Oaxaca |
| Day 9 | Depart Oaxaca |
The regions in and around Mexico City are brimming with art, culture, and history of both the Indigenous and Spanish-colonial variety. Over nine days, you'll experience all of these highlights plus outdoor adventures as you travel around Mexico City and the state of Oaxaca and overnight in Cholula. Activities include art walks, nature hikes, city tours, and visits to the country's most significant pre-Columbian archaeological sites. Read more
Map
