Looking to fill your itinerary with the best tours in Oaxaca City? After visiting this magical city in March 2024 with a jam-packed itinerary, I quickly discovered all of the best activities and tour options. Read the article below to find the perfect day trips to make the most of your time in Oaxaca.
Oaxaca City is a vibrant and culturally rich destination that offers a plethora of exciting activities to take part in. Known for its colourful streets, delicious food, fascinating history, and even some breathtaking natural sights, Oaxaca is often a favourite among visitors to Mexico.
Guided day tours are an excellent way to get the absolute most out of your time in this amazing city. There’s no shortage of tour options to suit every interest, from majestic archaeological sites, bustling markets, petrified waterfalls, rich culture, and so much more. You can choose between private outings, small group tours, and local guides to make sure you get exactly what you’re looking for.
In this guide, you’ll find all of the best tours in Oaxaca City and its surrounding areas divided by preferences so you can truly find the most amazing activities to suit your itinerary.
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The 19 Best Tours in Oaxaca City – Ancient Ruins, Culture, Waterfalls, and More
If You Like Archaeological Marvels
1. Take a Tour of the Ancient Zapotec Capital, Monte Albán
If ancient societies and archaeological ruins pique your interest, a tour of Monte Alban is a MUST on your Oaxaca City itinerary. The site is located on the top of a very high summit in the semiarid valley, offering 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains.
Monte Alban was built over 2,500 years ago and was once considered the most powerful and influential city in Mesoamerica until it was mysteriously abandoned in the 8th century. Today it is marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. What makes this site particularly exciting to visit, is the ability to climb up on the pyramids to truly feel like you’re exploring this ancient city.
A guided day tour to Monte Alban is the best way to visit this site. Not only are you transported to and from with ease, but you gain a valuable guide who can provide you with all the history and interesting information about the site and its surrounding culture.
Book The Best: Half Day Guided Tour to Monte Alban
2. Tour the Sacred Zaptoec Site of Mitla
Arguably the most important archeological site for Zapotec culture in Oaxaca, Mitla is 44 km from Oaxaca City in the surrounding valley. Mitla was the most important religious site and acted as a sacred burial ground for the Zapotecs. Mitla is now particularly interesting to visitors because of its intricate geometric designs that cover the tombs and entire walls of the complex.
On a half-day tour to Mitla, you’ll have time to wander and enjoy the beautiful art covering the ruins and learn more about the Zapotecs. You’ll be part of a small group and enjoy avoiding the larger crowds and packed tourist buses.
Book The Best: Half-Day Guided Tour to Mitla
If You Like Cultural Immersion
3. Take a Mezcal Distillery Tour & Tasting
Upon arriving in Oaxaca City, you’ll immediately sense the importance and popularity of the beloved Mezcal drink. Oaxacans consider Mezcal to be a major pride in their culture and there are a ton of distilleries producing it in the surrounding area. In fact, Mezcal distillery tours often top the list of the best things to do on a trip to Oaxaca.
There are a variety of Mezcal day trips available but most will consist of a tour of the distillery and the production process. They all end with a Mezcal tasting for you to sample the varieties of this strong and smoky drink. Some tours will offer you the opportunity to walk through the fields to learn about the Agave plant (what Mezcal is made from) and share a traditional meal that is paired with Mezcal tastings.
Book the Best: Mezcal Distillery Tasting Tour
4. Take a Famous Food Tour Around Oaxaca
Oaxaca is known for its food scene. One of the best ways to experience the delicious food? A food walking tour. Often considered one of the best tours in Oaxaca city overall, you’ll wander through local markets, various street food stalls, and some restaurant stops around the city. You’ll sample authentic Mexican cuisine such as mole, tlayudas, tacos, and even crickets if you’re daring! Some cultural and historical information will be thrown into the tour to round up this ultimate walking tour around Oaxaca. Discover for yourself why food is such a massive part of Oaxacan culture. And make sure you show up hungry.
Book the Best: Oaxaca City Food Tour
5. Immerse Yourself in Mexican Tradition in a Cooking Class
If you want to dive even deeper into the food scene of Oaxaca, take an authentic traditional cooking class. Cooking classes are one of the best ways to interact with a local family and learn a new skill to bring home. Many of the classes will start with a journey to a local market to collect the ingredients before heading back to their home to prepare the meal. The highlight of these tours is the conversations you’ll have with the local people, authentically learning more about Oaxacan life and culture.
Book The Best: Traditional Cooking Class With Local Market Experience
6. Discover the Traditional Art and Myths of Alebrijes
After just a short time in the city of Oaxaca, you are sure to notice the colourful and intricately painted animal creatures for sale on street corners and in the local markets. Well, there is more to these fascinating figurines than a cute souvenir.
Alebrijes are imaginative creatures that often combine various animals to create whimsical figures. They originated from the creative visions of Mexican artist Pedro Linares in the 1930s, who dreamed of these creatures while he was ill. They have since become a significant part of Mexican culture and artistic heritage, often associated as spiritual protectors and displayed in celebrations and festivals.
You can visit a small town about an hour’s drive outside of Oaxaca that is completely dedicated to the craft of these creatures. Take a tour of the local gallery where artists spend months and sometimes years on their masterpieces. Learn how they use traditional materials and their chemical reactions to achieve the vibrant colours. And the best part? You’ll finish the experience with a workshop on how to paint your own mystical creature.
Book The Best: Alebrije Painting Workshop
7. Experience a Day in the Life in a Zapotec Village
If you are looking for the ultimate cultural immersion experience in Oaxaca, take a tour to experience the day in the life in a local indigenous village. You’ll spend a full-day tour with a local family experiencing food, crafts, culture, and history. Visit local artisans and sample Mezcal from a small local distillery, all while enjoying the hospitality of a Zapotec family.
Book the Best: Day in the Life Tour
8. Visit the Popular Tlacolula Market on a Sunday
If you happen to be visiting Oaxaca City over the weekend and have Sunday availability, Tlacolula Market is where you’ll want to be. This market is considered one of the top things to experience in the city and offers a great glimpse into local Oaxacan culture. The market will dazzle you with the flurry of different sounds, smells, and vibrant colours taking over all of your senses.
Shop around for souvenirs, sample the local food, and visit nearby historic attractions on a guided day trip just outside of the city.
Book the Best: Sunday Tlacolula Market Tour
If You Love Natural Wonders:
9. Swim Atop a Petrified Waterfall at Hierve El Agua
There are only two petrified waterfalls in the world and one happens to be only a couple hours drive from Oaxaca City. Hierve El Agua is an absolute must when visiting Oaxaca because of its stunning natural beauty and complete uniqueness from anything you’ve ever seen before. The best part of this incredible attraction is the beautiful pools on top of the waterfall that visitors can swim in to cool off. You can swim right up to the edge of the waterfall to stare out at the stunning views of rolling hills in the background. Some fantastic hikes bring you down to see the petrified waterfall from all the best angles. This was my favourite tour I did in Oaxaca.
The best way to visit Hierve el Agua is by a guided tour because of how far it is outside of Oaxaca. They will drop you off and provide you with free time to explore and enjoy the waterfall on your own. I highly recommend booking the tour I went with below because it doesn’t rush you through too many attractions too fast. You’ll get a solid 3 hours to hike, swim, and grab lunch from the food stalls.
Book the Best: Hierve El Agua Tour
10. Visit the 2000 Year Old Tule Tree
Another popular sight just outside of Oaxaca City is the Tule Tree. This massive tree reaches 40 metres into the sky and has a circumference of about 44 metres. One of the world’s widest trees, the Tule tree is a must-visit if you love marveling at natural wonders.
One of the best ways to visit the Tule Tree on a guided tour is on a bike trip. You’ll bike out of the city and to a number of surrounding local attractions like markets, historical churches, and cute towns.
Book the Best: Bike Tour to Tule Tree
11. Visit the Beautiful Apoala Waterfall and Turquoise Lagoon
If you’re a nature lover, this tour will blow you away. A trip to the Apoala waterfall takes you outside of Oaxaca City into the beautiful natural environment around it. The drive is on the longer side but scenic and worth it. Once you are there, you’ll enter an enchanted forest with gorgeous forest views, towering cliffs, and a winding river. The highlight of the entire adventure is when you arrive at the sparkling turquoise waters of the Apoala waterfall. You’ll have the chance to swim and enjoy the natural environment before returning to the city.
Book the Best: Apola Waterfall Tour
12. Learn How to Make Cacao from the Woods to Your Cup
If you’re a fan of chocolate and being outdoors, this tour offers the perfect blend. Chocolate (or Cacao in this case) is a huge part of Oaxacan culture with authentic recipes being used in famous shops all over the city. In fact, a cacao tasting is one of the best things to do when visiting Oaxaca.
In this tour, you’ll start with a cacao tasting before driving up into the Sierra Norte mountains for a magical 3 hour hike. There, you’ll learn more about how cacao is made, where it comes from, and why it is significant to Oaxaca. At the end, the instructor will guide you in preparing your own homemade hot chocolate (a special drink in Oaxaca).
Book the Best: Cacao and Hiking Tour
13. Hike in the Stunning Sierra Norte Mountains
The Sierra Norte mountains are located just under two hours outside of Oaxaca City. Consisting of 8 remote Zapotec villages that are all independently governed, this area of Oaxaca is one of the most off-the-beaten-path experiences you can have in Mexico. These 8 indigenous communities are all independently governed by their own presidents and laws. They aim to protect their natural environment.
Local guides run guided tours as part of their eco-tourism to showcase the incredible natural surroundings and high biodiversity of the Sierra Norte mountains. You’ll hike through remote pine forests with incredible mountainous views, diverse plants, and animals around every corner.
Book the Best: Sierra Norte Hiking Tour
Additional Places That Are Worth Visiting As Part of a Day Tour
14. Learn About Oaxaca’s Textiles in Teotitlán del Valle
A small village located just 25km outside of Oaxaca, Teotitlan del Valle is known for its incredible weaving and textiles. This is a fantastic place to explore local artisan shops and get a taste of local culture in the valley of Oaxaca. You can visit this town as part of a guided tour to other fantastic attractions, such as Hierve el Agua.
Here is a Tour That Offers a Great Combination: Hierve El Agua and Teotitlan de Valle Tour
15. Witness the Renowned Black Clay Pottery in San Bartolo Coyotepec
San Bartolo Coyotepec is a small town outside of Oaxaca City that is known for its unique handicraft – black clay pottery. A visit to this village offers you the chance to wander quiet streets and take in the authentic culture of an artisan town. The town is included as an optional stop for tours visiting Monte Alban.
Here is a Tour That Offers the Best Combination: Monte Alban, Arrazola, Cuilapam and San Bartolo Coyotepec Tour
If You Are Interested in The Best Walking Tours in Oaxaca
16. Enjoy a Free Walking Tour with a Local Guide
One of the best ways to quickly catch your bearings and learn the history of Oaxaca City is on a free walking tour run by a local guide. There are numerous companies offering these tours daily, however, my personal favourite is run by “Oaxaca Free Walking Tour.”
You will meet the local guide in a designated spot and then spend a few hours wandering all the most popular spots in the city to learn the history and cultural significance behind them. They only employ local guides which makes the experience the best it can possibly be.
Book the Free Walking Tour: Oaxaca Free Walking Tour
17. Oaxaca City Tour by Bike
If you want to add some flair to your walking tour experience, jump on a bicycle to cover a little more ground in this fascinating city. You’ll learn all the same information about the city’s main sights, culture and history but by bike! You’ll visit some extra spots that reach beyond the itinerary of the walking tour, heading to the colourful Jalatlaco and Xochimilco neighbourhoods.
Book the Best: Guided Bike Tour of Oaxaca City
18. A Walking Tour Focused on Culture, Crafts, and Food
If you are interested in adding a food and crafts spin to your walking tour without taking part in an entire food tour, this is a great option! You’ll take in the vibrant city by exploring its markets, historical attractions, a textile museum, and even the botanical gardens (not often included in walking tours in Oaxaca). You’ll end the tour with a delicious lunch of local food.
Book the Best: Culture, Crafts, and Food Walking Tour
19. Take a Street Art Tour of Oaxaca City
Oaxaca City is known for its bright colours and amazing street art around every corner (literally). You won’t have to wander far to find intricately painted murals to snap a photo with. One of the best ways to really appreciate the street art of the city is to take a tour that brings you to all the best spots and understand more of the meaning behind them.
On this tour, you’ll visit three key neighbourhoods by bike in a small group tour. As you ride, you’ll learn about the culture and history of the city and a little more about the murals than the eye can see.
Book the Best: Oaxaca City Epic Street Art Tour
Final Thoughts on the Best Tours in Oaxaca City
Plan Your Trip to Bacalar – Logistical Tips:
📱 Stay Connected Without Expensive Roaming Fees
I never travel without an E-Sim now. Stay connected at a fraction of the price of roaming fees, and my favourite part, you can simply down the E-Sim to your phone and don’t have to switch SIM cards around. The service I always use is Airola.
🚍 Book Your Buses in Mexico
The local bus websites are often only in Spanish and are very glitchy. I used Busbud to book all my bus tickets in Mexico because they actually offered the exact same rates as buying them in person with the added bonus of your tickets being secured in advance.
🏠 Book Your Accommodation
Hostelworld is the best place to book hostels, whether you are staying in a dorm or a private room. They offer great environments to meet people and many will also offer activities. If you prefer hotels, Booking.com is great for finding the cheapest rates.
🏄♀️ Book Your Tours and Excursions
The best search tool I use to book tours in Mexico is Viator. It has the largest selection of tours with local operators and offers flexible cancellation.
Whether you crave immersing yourself in the rich culture, sampling delectable cuisine, exploring centuries-old ruins, or taking in the natural splendors nearby, Oaxaca City and its surrounding areas have an abundance of experiences to offer curious visitors. From guided tours highlighting the region’s treasures to hands-on cultural experiences like cooking classes, this vibrant destination makes it easy to fill your itinerary with memorable activities that provide meaningful glimpses into life here. So don’t just spend your time there – fully invest yourself in its offerings and feel the heartbeat of this culturally profound part of Mexico with one or more of the best tours in Oaxaca City.
* Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I receive a commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through a link. I only recommend products and companies that I use. Thanks for the support!
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