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Things to do in Oaxaca

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Activities led by local experts

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5 out of 5 average rating, 6 reviews

Climb ancient rock formations in the heart of Oaxaca

Join me on a unique and beginner-friendly rock climbing adventure just outside Oaxaca City. I’ll teach you the fundamentals of climbing amid one of the region’s most stunning rock formations. • Meet in Oaxaca City for a scenic 30-minute drive through agave fields and small villages to Peñasco de las Reflexiones in the tranquil village of San Sebastián Tutla, known for its striking, jagged rock spires and panoramic views. • After a 20-minute hike, we’ll arrive at our climbing site, where I’ll teach you the fundamentals of rock climbing, safety protocols and techniques. • Get ready to climb the area’s most accessible routes! I’ll guide you throughout to ensure a supportive environment as you gain confidence and enjoy the mountain. Relax on the journey back, reflecting on your adventure and sharing stories with fellow climbers. You’ll leave having experienced Oaxacan’s otherworldly beauty in a truly hands-on way.

5 out of 5 average rating, 1 reviews

Paint your own Nahual at renowned artists’ studio in Oaxaca

Uncover the magic of Zapotec art as you paint your own Nahual, a mystical being handcrafted by one of our talented artisans in the heart of San Martin Tilcajete. Discover your unique Nahual through a calculation based on your birthdate and explore the meaning behind this tradition. • Learn about tona and nahual, two fundamental figures in Zapotec culture, and explore the artisanal process behind the creation of these remarkable pieces. • Get your own creative kit including a wooden nahualito, vibrant acrylic paints, and other essential tools. • Learn to apply techniques like pointillism and brushing, as well as the traditional symbols that embellish these unique artworks. • Bring your own nahual to life by mixing colors and applying distinct details to reflect your mark. You’ll leave with your own beautifully painted nahual, deeper knowledge about the significance behind these traditions, and memories of this creative and cultural journey.

4.25 out of 5 average rating, 4 reviews

Culture walk through Oaxaca with an anthropologist

Sin duda la ciudad de Oaxaca es de las más bellas de Mexico, caminar por sus calles y ver las bellas casonas de la época colonial nos hablan del esplendor económico que trajo la grana cochinilla. Declarda patrimonio de la humanidad por la UNESCO, la ciudad contrajo el compromiso de su conservacion, asi esta ciudad es el mejor casco conservado del SXVII. Iniciamos nuestra visita en la antigua plaza de la cruz de pidra, donde apreciaremos la maravilla hidraulica que fue el acueducto, caminaremos hacia el templo de santo Domingo para admirar su rica decoracion, el convento alberga el museo de las culturas de Oaxaca y el jardin etnobotanico. continuamos por la calle de alcala hasta llegar a la catedral y la plaza de armas donde se dan citas los pobladores en las tardes, continuamos a visitar sus mercados, el molino de chocolate, la ex-Real alhondiga de Oaxaca, la fachada del templo de san Agustin y terminamos el en centro cultural san Pablo. Es posible que te parezca mucha información, intentemos que no sea monologo ni conferencia, hagamoslo juntos, ¡pregunta e interroga todo! Así sera mas divertido.

5 out of 5 average rating, 3 reviews

Nighttime black clay workshop in a heritage studio

Create barro negro (black clay) pieces in my workshop, a historic space that has been part of my family for generations, and get hands-on experience making your own artwork. • I’ll share the history, myths, and legends of black clay, and demonstrate each step of the process, from selecting the clay to shaping it. You’ll learn about my various pieces and ongoing projects, such as my work on black adobe bricks. • Visit the ovens area, where I’ll explain how the black color is achieved through wood firing and the importance of temperature control. • Create your own clay piece under a sacred tree in the central area of the workshop, with my guidance, and I’ll help you refine your technique. At the end, I’ll explain the drying and firing process for your piece, which will be ready for pickup 42 hours after your visit at a location in central Oaxaca.

4.7 out of 5 average rating, 10 reviews

Home cooking in the kitchen of a renowned Oaxacan chef

Take a unique cooking class in the kitchens of Criollo, my restaurant. Over the course of four and a half hours, you will learn and taste the different flavors that are mixed with homemade and Oaxacan ingredients. • I will welcome you to Criollo's private kitchen, where we will review the menu of the day and some of the traditional ingredients we will use, some of which are hard to find outside of Mexico and the ingredients you can use when you return home. • We will prepare several dishes together, from chopping onions to mixing sauces. I will share stories about growing up in Oaxaca and my work as a chef in Pujol, Criollo and other restaurants. • Finally, we will meet at the table to enjoy the food we have just prepared! You will leave the experience with recipes of the dishes we have cooked, the idea is that you can replicate them at home.

5 out of 5 average rating, 9 reviews

Create unique natural watercolors with Oaxacan pigments

For thousands of years, Zapotec and Mixtec artisans in Oaxaca have created brilliant colors using natural pigments. Come to my art studio, located in a mountain village just outside the city of Oaxaca, to learn how to make watercolors using several of these ingredients. • When you arrive at Casa La Paz, I’ll introduce you to the space, which is dedicated to art and permaculture. • We’ll learn about the history, chemistry, and uses of traditional pigments made from cochinilla, añil, and colored earths. • Then you’ll learn how to combine these pigments with a natural binding agent to create an array of colorful watercolors. You’ll take home a set of watercolor paints you made during this class so you can imbue your own artwork with these traditional materials

5 out of 5 average rating, 1 reviews

Make abstract artwork inspired by Oaxaca at Taller Sangfer

Unleash your creativity and connect with Oaxaca’s rich artistic traditions at this all-ages workshop to create abstract art inspired by the textures, colors, and spirit of the city. No experience required. • Viviana Elizabeth, a local visual artist whose work focuses on a profound exploration of memories, senses and thoughts, will guide the session and share the history of our gallery, Taller Sangfer, committed to create a space where others can connect with their own creativity. • Under her guidance, get to know the available materials, textures, and tools for your creation, along with their possibilities, and loosen up with some fun exercises to start exploring the joy of painting. • Use sponges, spatulas, brushes, pens, and natural objects like leaves or dried flowers to create compositions full of texture. Finally, we’ll relax with a refreshing drink and discuss our results. You’ll leave with your original artwork—in a canvas 20x20 cm—.

5 out of 5 average rating, 1 reviews

Learn the secrets of traditional Indigenous medicine

Discover the secrets of ancestral indigenous healing and its traditional natural herbs in this 3.5-hour workshop. You’ll learn to prepare a natural remedy from herbs and plants and a special tonic to "animate the spirit and comfort the soul." • We’ll begin with a welcome and introduction to the Indigenous worldview and the principles of balance and well-being. • Then you’ll taste, touch, smell, and learn to recognize the plants and herbs that commonly make up traditional remedies and gain an introduction to how to use them. With a playful spirit of experimentation, the group will uncover their aromas, energies, and vibrations by using the 13 senses of the Maya. • With what you learn you will make an herbal remedy for you or a close person. • To deepen your connection to your body and the Earth, you’ll craft your own ritual drink with the guidance of a traditional medicine medic. • During a closing ceremony, you will reflect with the group and share your new insights. Together we will express gratitude to each other and honor the plants and the spirit of this shared journey. You’ll leave the workshop with an understanding of health as not just the absence of illness but a state of harmony with nature and the cosmos.

5 out of 5 average rating, 1 reviews

Design and dye your own scarf with local botanicals

Art, nature, and tradition come together at Nacuanda Studio in the heart of Oaxaca, where you’ll explore the ancient craft of natural dyeing and floral printing—time-honored techniques that bring fabric to life with colors extracted from the earth—and transform two scarves into wearable works of art. • Step into my creative sanctuary, where tradition meets sustainability. I’ll share a little about the studio’s mission and how it preserves Oaxaca’s rich textile heritage. • Experiment with organic pigments and floral printing techniques to create your own naturally dyed textiles, and discover the magic of colors extracted from cochineal, flowers, and other botanicals. • Take home two beautifully hand-dyed scarves, each a reflection of your creativity and the deep-rooted traditions of Oaxaca’s textile artistry. You’ll leave this sensory journey through the past and future of sustainable textile arts with a deeper appreciation for natural artistry and a tangible piece of Oaxaca’s soul.

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4.94 out of 5 average rating, 1154 reviews

Historic Walking Tour Oaxaca

Explore Oaxaca de Juárez with Hosts Around Oaxaca, a team of local hosts with years of experience who will guide you through the city from a critical, sensitive, and deeply documented look. This tour is an excellent introduction to Oaxacan life, from a post-colonial perspective that values the suburbs as much as the center. Our route begins in Jalatlaco, one of the neighborhoods with the most history and character, and takes us to the heart of the Historic Center, visiting cultural spaces, little explored corners and urban art that narrates what is rarely told in books. We only welcome small groups, up to six people, to provide a close and personalized experience. We include a digital PDF guide with maps, illustrations, and timelines that enrich the tour, plus digital resources that extend your connection to Oaxaca well after the tour. We take you beyond the surface: we not only walk its streets, we also enter key spaces where you live the culture from the inside. This is an invitation to look at Oaxaca in depth, from its history, its people and its living memory.

4.97 out of 5 average rating, 665 reviews

Hierve el Agua HALF-DAY

Discover the BREATHTAKING beauty of the petrified waterfalls at Hierve el Agua. Witness stunning rock formations that resemble frozen waterfalls as we explore the site on foot and take a REFRESHING swim, all while enjoying the AWE-INSPIRING views of the surrounding landscapes. Fully guided in both ENGLISH and Spanish. This is the perfect way to visit Hierve el Agua in a SMALL group, hike around the formations and relax at the pools WITHOUT the addition of UNNECESSARY stops to actually see the place up and down with no rush. We'll meet in downtown Oaxaca. Then, we'll begin our journey to Hierve el Agua (1:30 hr. drive [70 km]) Once we arrive, we'll start the hike to the petrified waterfalls, go to the most amazing viewpoints, hike down to the base to it from below and appreciate its stunning beauty. We'll continue the hike and come back up to spend some time relaxing in the natural pools where you can dip your feet or even go for a full body dive. We'll finish off trying delicious food at a local eatery before driving back to Oaxaca. WHAT'S INCLUDED: - ALL entry fees and tolls included. - Comfortable private transportation. - Small group. ig ivan _ valero1 Things to note: -Food is NOT included. -Bring a bathing suit, a towel and a change of clothes. -We will hike from the top of the falls to the bottom and back up. Expect a 30 min ascend on rocky stairs.

4.99 out of 5 average rating, 1790 reviews

Traditional Oaxaca cooking class

Welcome to my home, your home! I'm Mimi Lopez Hernandez and the first thing we will do is cook our own sauce for our authentic Oaxacan breakfast. Then we will learn about the organic ingredients that we will use in our traditional Oaxaca recipe: one of the famous seven moles of Oaxaca and some delicious tamales in the style of our valley; we will make a toast with mezcal to start the experience and hands to work. Oaxacan cuisine is world represented by famous dishes that we can prepare and so you know a little more about our way of eating them, these dishes will be the ones you will take in your heart and you will learn how to do it from the beginning to the end. Don't forget that you'll be involved in each process to understand the cultural meaning of each other, you'll learn how to make tortillas by hand and put them in the comal, so come ready to participate and eat! After that, we'll eat what we prepare together. Traditional cuisine in Oaxaca is a cultural heritage and I will share with you the experience of visiting my house so that you live a totally traditional experience. Come prepared to enjoy! For your convenience the classes are available in English, with special characteristics for vegans or vegetarians, just let me know in advance. Welcome to Oaxaca!

4.86 out of 5 average rating, 1505 reviews

Oaxacan Vegetarian Cooking Class

The Vegetarian Oaxacan Cooking Class, a class in English and Spanish, we will take a tour through a beautiful traditional neighborhood of Oaxaca, lend you a "chiquigüite and mandil" occupied to go to the market traditionally, we will take a tour of the Mercado neighborhood, we will pass the most beautiful churches and we will walk through parks overlooked by beautiful trees, pink, green and yellow quarry houses, I will show you beautiful parks of the colonial neighborhood and secret parks of this area of the city. In the middle of our tour we will meet some fresh organic vegetable and vegetable producers from a village near the city grown organically and harvested in the morning, then we will visit some producers in the neighborhood market, taste some snacks and buy some supplies for our Oaxacan vegetarian cooking class. We will return to our starting point to start the class and provide all the information on our menu, we will prepare everything fresh, a main course, a salad, water and even a dessert and all taken care of by a traditional stove. We will share the food and thank the mother earth and all the presenters, as well as the flavors of Oaxaca and diverse. Other things to note This cooking class was developed through deep research with people who specialize in pre-hispanic food, and we seek to spread the heritage value of Oaxacan vegetarian food.

4.98 out of 5 average rating, 814 reviews

Mujeres Zapotecas

You'll live a wonderful experience meeting Zapotec Women and their handcrafts. We'll visit 5 different places and women led families outside Oaxaca City where in each of them you will learn their story and about the origins of different oaxacan handcrafts. How they're made and even participate in the incredible process! Each of the families that we visit show you how everything began and how they have evolved. And specially how important female image has changed throughout the years. We'll visit Teotitlán del Valle where you'll learn the weaving process of a wool rug and the role of the women in the process also the elaboration of bee's wax candles and how only women still practice this tradition. Experience having lunch in the traditional Market of Tlacolula de Matamoros with Oaxacan food. Later we'll visit San Marcos Tlapazola to see the elaboration of red clay pottery with only three elements and elaborated by the incredible Red Clay Women. And last, we’ll do a delicious mezcal tasting in a small woman run mezcal distillery in Lachigoló. Take the opportunity to meet other people that come along to live this experience in Oaxaca as well as purchase the handmade crafts of the Oaxacan women! Book a group or private experience. IG yetiinoaxaca inoaxacaexperiences

4.88 out of 5 average rating, 1297 reviews

A farm to table traditional Oaxaca Cooking Class

We start the day in our family farm to introduce ourselves and Oaxacan cooking to you over coffee or hot chocolate we will choose the menu for the day where you will become the main chef of this culinary experience we will go to the farm to collect fresh herbs & veggies we will walk 4 min to the local market to buy the remaining ingredients for our Oaxacan feast Back at home will start to work with metate to transform the corn into a handmade masa to make fresh tortillas you will cook, nopales, huitlacoche, shred quesillio to make quesadillas, empanadas, tetelas in the hot Comal that works with wood fire You will have a moles tasting I Will show you how to cook different kinds of salsas to enjoy brunch After a nice break and some mezcales, we will cook a real Oaxacan 3 course meal It could be any of the most representative moles or other things, there is so many options to choose from the cooking class always is different, it’s based on your curiosity and doubts so, feel free to Choose your own mole/cooking adventure! Sip a nice mezcal and refresh yourself with a beer enjoying a real traditional oaxacan feast under the shade trees This workshop is fully hands-on and the aim of this experience is to share knowledge and teach you how to cook it at home we aim to show to our guests the magic of Oaxaca food in the real traditional way also we can accommodate food restrictions

4.97 out of 5 average rating, 394 reviews

Hierve el Agua Journey, Half Day

We will visit the incredible beauty of the petrified waterfalls of Hierve el Agua that were formed thousands of years ago by the runoff of water with Calcium Carbonate. This is the PERFECT way to visit Hierve el Agua. We will be a small group and you can walk through the waterfalls, swim and relax. NO unnecessary stops. We will meet in downtown Oaxaca. Then we will start our trip to Hierve el Agua (1:30 hr. [70 km]) Once we arrive we will start the hike to the petrified waterfalls. We will go to the best viewpoints to appreciate spectacular views. Then we will walk to the base to see them from below and observe their majesty. We will continue the return tour to conclude at the natural pools where we can swim and relax. We'll end up with a delicious lunch at local food stalls. Then we will start our return to Oaxaca. What's INCLUDED? - ALL check-in and toll costs included. - Private transportation Other highlights Food is not included. Bring a bathing suit, a towel, and a change of clothes

4.98 out of 5 average rating, 647 reviews

Nature Walk In Hierve El Agua

Discover the Magic of Oaxaca: Culture, Nature and Tradition in an Unforgettable Day Live a unique experience in Hierve el Agua, one of the most stunning destinations in Oaxaca. We will start the day by picking you up at one of the two meeting points set for your comfort. Before the walk we will enjoy a delicious oaxaqueño breakfast prepared by a local family. Hierve el Agua is more than a natural wonder; it is a sacred site for Zapotecs, where they performed rituals in honor of the gods of rain and fertility. Here you can admire the petrified waterfalls, swim in natural pools and explore spectacular landscapes on a hike. Then we visit a workshop in Teotitlán del Valle, where you will learn how the famous rugs are created. From wool cardado to natural dyes and fabric, each piece is a piece of art full of history. We end with a visit to a mezcal factory, where you will discover its artisan process and taste varieties of this emblematic drink made with different agaves. Important details: • Includes: Traditional breakfast. • Not included: Entrance to Hierve el Agua ($50 MXN per person) IG rouscarrada / hierveelaguaoax Don't miss out on this unique experience and create unforgettable memories in Oaxaca!

4.95 out of 5 average rating, 544 reviews

Tour in the Abastos Market

We will have breakfast in the market in a way that you will not forget! We will discover the foods, drinks, fruits, crafts and colors of the largest and local market in south of Mexico. We remind you not to have breakfast so you can eat here the infinity of dishes. WE include A MEZCAL TASTING, more than 10 different mezcales. Remember that 9 am is in English and 9:30 am in SPANISH and there is no translation. They are different from each other but equally incredible!. DOMINGO is English and Spanish, a relaxed day and good for photos and without so many people. You can try pumpkin flower empanadas, Tejate, pulque, mezcal, meats, tamales, memelas, yellow empanadas, BBQ tacos and more! We try season fruits or food in the market. we are very focus on discovering the market, And always you have the chance to stay after the tour to shop in the incredible area of handcrafts! exiting from there is easy. We will take a tour between the fruit and vegetable area. Imagine more than 20 hectares of colors, aromas and a lot to eat :D This is the market you need to know if you want to see the origins of this Oaxacan market guiding by Oaxaqueños, not like other tours that is people not from oaxaca. Those who like can stay at the end with Doña Vale and spend more time in the market. All food included, just doña Vale is on you :D Write us in Lembranza Mexico for discounts!

4.98 out of 5 average rating, 2915 reviews

Traditional Oaxacan cooking class

What you'll do The first step will be to show you the ingredients that you can find in all Oaxacan homes, one of the advantages of our experience is that we have a garden with herbs and organic chilis. Baldo my son will share his knowledge in mezcal. We have an extend variety of agaves and homemade creations that you need to try. An open bar of mezcal is waiting for you. Snacks? Of course but you need to do Oaxacan style which includes worms, chicatanas and chapulines. Fist course we will offer chileajo tostadas and fruit water. Have you heard anything about the metate and how tortillas are made by hand? Here we will show you how to make tortillas, tetelas and memelitas. One of my specialties is salsas made in a molcajete, we will roast the ingredients over charcoal and comal. In every class we make 4 to 6 salsas depending seasonal ingredients. The mole is the emblem of our cuisine and we will make one of the 7 moles from scratch using a metate, you can’t leave our home without tasting our mole negro, chocolate de agua, café de olla, nieves and a delicious cake. Everyone will participate in the different processes, cutting ingredients from the garden, making sauces and of course eating. Remember, when you visit a house in Oaxaca you have to come with an empty stomach. Other things to note The class is available in English too. We can offer classes for vegans and vegetarians, please let us know in advance. I am very exited to show you the authentic traditional flavours of Oaxaca