Has anyone been to the state of Oaxaca before (either the city of Oaxaca or Puerto Escondido)? I've heard they are great for food/drinks/mezcal. What are your experiences and are they safe? How similar are they to Mexico City? Thanks!

Following…been eyeing a hotel on the beach in Puerto Escondido but haven't pulled the trigger. Interested to see what people share!

It's amazing. Very safe. Not like Mexico City at all. I love both but totally different. Very quiet, very quaint , load of digital nomads, Health and wellness. The water isn't clear like the RM and it's colder, bet it's beautiful.

There are some really amazing mezcal tours. They only hardest on full Moon so if you want to see the process, you need to plan around that. I can give ya several Recs of local productions if you'd like. The party they throw while the pinas roast is super fun and authentic.
The State is also the traditional home of da de los muertos. It's AMAZING and something is suggest for everyone.

October / November is the best time to go. After rainy season but before it gets too cold to swim. Plus It's more lush.

It's only got like 30k people so it's a small town.

You don't need to speak Spanish there but it definetly helps. Like Most Mexican tourist towns, there's a local and a tourist price for most Services.

If You Go, InDrive app Will say You alot vs Taxsi or didi and alot more than registered taxis off the street.

I teach yoga there a couple times a year.

Yes, been to Oaxaca City twice, and also to Huatulco (beach). Felt safe, and took my in-laws there on a trip too. We enjoyed the pottery, mezcal tasting, Monte Alban, Hierve el agua, food, and just roaming around the town. We used a driver to take us around bc we had a stroller. Lived in CDMX for almost 6 years, so I felt safe in both locations.

I'd Also look at san agustinillo and mazunte

Thanks for the info so far! We are talking about going in January for my 40th. I couple years ago we did a combo trip to Mexico City and then to Isla Mujeres. We were talking about doing that again this trip so we wouldn't be in Oaxaca for very many nights (2-3 nights max most likely). This was easily done in Mexico City with the larger airport and several flights a day from there to Cancun. I'm not sure if it will be as easy from Oaxaca or not but we wanted to try. We really just wanted to check out somewhere new and then hopefully go back longer another time. Since we would be going to Isla we wouldn't be as concerned about going to the beach/swimming in Oaxaca.

I think the only non-stop between CUN & Estado Oaxaca Is Oaxaca City and its on Volaris which is like the Mexican version of Frontier.

We flew Viva Aerobus (the other Mexican Spirit/Frontier) last time and it was fine being a shorter flight. I figured Oaxaca City would be our best option for this. Is there an area of Oaxaca City with a lot of walkable restaurants/bars? Just trying to figure out the ideal area to stay.

Andador Turstico which is en Centro or Barrio Jalatlaco (you can essiky walk between the two). San Augstin Elta is in the foot hills and awesome too.

In Oaxaca - Food - you can Google for the fancy michilin Star places but here are some personal local Recs weve gotten over the years.

Breakfast - mercado merced

chocolate atole
salsa de queso

Itanana- (Reforma)

tetelas
maize memelitas

La teca (reforma)

garnachas istmeñas

Colonia Reforma - Cantina El Otro Mundo - always packed

La Reforma is more middle class - it's got a ton of traditional oaxacan restaurants and cantinas. Super safe area.

Some of Our Other local restaurants you won't find on my large Company Rec listas:

Bodgaea
Criollo
Crudo
El Milenario
La Cevicheria
Onnno
Tacos del Carmen

Thank you so much!

Oaxaca is bad@ss. Get a driver for a mezcal tour. The food is fantastic. Stay in the main square area. Its a perfect long weekend. You will see a TON of western tourists. Oaxaca is a hotspot now. It is safe.

They have good cheese

Marauder Blue 6 said:

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They have good cheese

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That they do!

Oaxaca City - we stayed very central, reservations at great restaurants every night (Alfonsina, Danzantes, Levadura de Ollo, but make sure to eat from the street carts as well), chocolate class, and a traditional cooking class at a local family home was the highlight.

Then rented a car and drove to the coast - tollway makes it a breeze.

Puerto Escondido is great - we specifically stayed in the Zicatela area which has more of a surfer, bohemian, walkable vibe. When we first arrived, my family was giving me the side eye because the streets aren't paved, it's hard to drive down the roads, etc. By the end of it, we decided the main street in Zicatela was one of our favorite streets we've ever visited. We were there right before the big fire, though, which devastated one part we liked in particular. Zicatela resisted being taken over for resort development, so it's decidedly local. The kids enjoyed a turtle release at the beach on the north side of PE.

Huatulco - stayed at a resort for a couple of days. Not really my thing, but I had been to Huatulco a long time ago and wanted to go back. The best part was a private boat trip to see whales, turtles, snorkel in the bays, go to some very isolated beaches. If you have had the misfortune of seeing Y Tu Mama Tambien, we went to that beach.

Been a couple of years since you've been? Or are you talking about the march fire? Zicatela is now the focal point of large scale and International Development in the town. Reminds me of Tulum 10 years ago because we used to have the same feel before beach road became insccessible to locals. That part has definetly changed quite drsmatically over the last couple of years. Del Morro Is Now almost all boutique hotels and Developments. If You like It Now You shiuldve been there pre COVID.

If You plan on going to PE, I'd Go soon as the entire face of the town is in the Midst of a huge transition. In another 5 years Itll be a clone of cabo, Tulum, PDC and lose alot of the small town Mxico Charm. It's moving in that direction quickly.

We just booked our flights and I'm also talking to a local food/mezcal tour guide that we are planning to use for a private day tour. Now to find a hotel…

Pug Seal, Majagua, & Hotel Escondido have the best reviews in our portal, to give you a starting point at least.

Thanks! I'll check those out!

Also Casa Antonieta!

https://www.casaantonieta.com/casa-antonieta-english

Twice to Oaxaca city. Just an amazing city. The colors, the food, bands in the plazas, outdoor cafes, the history and mix of cultures.
If you can go during Day of Dead it's even better.

Marauder Blue 6 said:

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They have good cheese

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It's no cotija

Oaxaca is amazing. Took a group of students there when teaching in Mexico. We spent a day touring some of the villages around Oaxaca City trying different foods from the region. I highly recommend doing something like that if you have the time.

You can get amazing queso cotija de Sierra de Jalmich en Oaxaca. Since cotija is a hard aged cheese, there's no benefit from sourcing local like queso Oaxaca since it's aged and not fresh.

Ate the hottest damn breakfast ever at a roadside cafe outside of Oaxaca City. Chicharrn en salsa. The van driver sat across from me and constantly wiped the sweat off his face and tears from eyes eating the same stuff.
Dang that was hot.

I've tried multiple times to correctly spell the word for pork skins in Spanish and TA won't have it.