Tours and Tickets to Experience Tlacolula Market (Mercado de Tlacolula)

There are plenty of ways to experience Tlacolula Market (Mercado de Tlacolula). Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now: 

• Oaxaca Conmigo Private Tours

• Oaxacan Journey

• Authentic Oaxacan food & Cultural Experience

• Amazing local market day with Zapotec guide

• Mezcal Tour Oaxaca

While you can visit Tlacolula Market for free, many travelers opt to join a tour with a local guide to immerse themselves further into local culture. Tours start around US$100 and many include street food tasting, handicrafts shopping, or a visit to an artisanal Mezcal distillery.

Tlacolula Market is a popular Sunday market held in the city of Tlacolula de Matamoros, just outside Oaxaca. Stretching over eight blocks, the market draws huge crowds of locals and travelers alike. It sells everything from fresh produce and delicious street food to traditional handicrafts and clothing.

The giant street market takes place every Sunday from early morning until late afternoon. While individual stallholders operate their own hours, most vendors set up before 9am and close around 5pm. Come in the morning for the best deals, and stick around to enjoy a street food lunch.

To reach Tlacolula from downtown Oaxaca, take one of the regular buses from Puerta 5 at the 2nd Class Bus Terminal, flag down a colectivo (shared taxi) along nearby Periferico Street, or take a taxi. It’s about a 45-minute journey to Tlacolula, where you can follow the crowds to the market.

Tlacolula Market isn’t only a great place to purchase fresh produce, but you’ll find plenty of street vendors serving tasty snacks and traditional Oaxacan dishes. Look out for barbacoa (slow-cooked meat), tlayudas (large tortillas with various toppings), empanadas (stuffed savory pastries), and tejate (a traditional maize and cacao beverage).