Top Oaxaca Culture in 2026

See Oaxaca through the eyes of a local on a private tour that takes you to the heart of its culture and history. Rather than following a cookie-cutter itinerary, you can tweak and tailor your tour to align with your interests, exploring at your own pace rather than rushing to keep up with a big group.

Combine the best of Oaxaca’s culture and cuisine on this sightseeing and street food tour, which offers the perfect introduction to the Mexican hot spot. Exploring on foot means you can stop frequently to snap photos and ask questions, while a private guide ensures your experience is tailored to what interests you most.

This adventure begins in the historic center of the city, where we will have our meeting point and pick you up in one of our units. For our first experience, we will head to Santiago Matatlan, the Mezcal Capital of the World. Here, you will be part of the process of making mezcal. You will cut agave, taste cooked maguey, pack your own bottle and get to know our ripened mezcal cava. But the most amazing thing hardly comes, and it is our tasting of more than 12 different Mezcales. Any of you like it? We can try it again. And finally, we will visit the maguey fields where we will discover why it is such a noble plant. You take care of enjoying and taking photographs, that teach you and have fun we will take care of.

The city of Oaxaca is one of Mexico’s most diverse cities, brimming with beautiful landscapes, delicious food, and rich culture. Take a half-day tour of this vibrant city and discover what makes it so special. See artifacts from pre-Columbian and colonial eras, admire the architectural beauty of the Macedonio Alcala Theater, and visit a typical market where you can shop for local goods.

Explore Oaxaca’s pottery, textiles, and other artisanal goods on this half-day excursion. After a convenient hotel pickup, visit three towns famous for their crafts—San Bartolo Coyotepec, Santo Tomás Jalieza, and San Martin Tilcajete. Led by an informative local guide, you’ll find the best spots for exquisite black pottery, embroidered belts, shawls, and handbags, and gorgeous alebrijes, the colorful wood sculptures carved from the copal tree.

Behold the beauty of the HIGHLANDS of northern Oaxaca's Sierra Norte region in an intimate small group experience in this full-day hiking tour. Discover the indigenous village of Cuajimoloyas, situated at 3,150 meters above sea level, and enjoy breathtaking mountain views. Start your day with a hearty breakfast before trekking through lush cloud forests adorned with local flora, including giant agaves and wildflowers. The 8 km hike features scenic trails in a pine forest, impressive rock walls, view points, and optional activities like crossing a long suspension bridge. Conclude your adventure with a delicious lunch featuring authentic mountain cuisine. -Tour Duration: 9 hours -Guided in both English and Spanish with a bilingual professional guide. -Intimate groups of 6 people max, so you can truly connect with other travelers. -Moderate difficulty suitable for ages 16 and up - Skill level: Intermediate - Breakfast and lunch provided - Hiking poles available - Transportation included

Find culture, history, and excellent souvenir shopping on this small-group guided tour of the city of Oaxaca. Explore by foot the ‘zocalo’ (town square) and city center, and visit the Temple of Santo Domingo de Guzman and the Oaxaca Regional Museum located in its former convent. Wander the stalls of 20 de Noviembre and Benito Juarez, two of Oaxaca’s most popular markets, and pick up woven goods, crafts and tasty snacks like chocolates and chilies.

Discover Oaxaca's most magnificent pre-Columbian archaeological site on a tour to Monte Alban, which is perched on a vast mountaintop expanse with spectacular 360-degree views of Oaxaca Valley. In the company of an expert guide, explore the complex filled with pyramids, ceremonial rock carvings, a huge ball court, and 170 excavated tombs.

Discover the tastes and textures of Oaxaca during a cooking workshop right in the heart of the city. Join a small group and visit a local market to gather ingredients for your class. There's no set menu, so the group can select which traditional dishes to make. Learn about the origins of each dish and several techniques during your hands-on class. Your tour end with the delicious meal that you've created.

This cooking class is developed through deep research with people specialized in pre-Hispanic food, we seek to spread the heritage value of Oaxaca vegetarian food. Together with a traditional Cook we will tour the neighborhood and buy the freshest products for our dishes.

Explore Huatulco city with a knowledgeable guide on a tour designed to cover the highlights, from traditional Oaxacan foods to handicrafts, landmarks, and locally distilled mezcal spirits. It’s the perfect way to get a first taste of the city, or to get your bearings before exploring on your own. Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off in Bahias de Huatulco by climate-controlled vehicle ensures a comfortable excursion.

This rare opportunity offers you the scoop on the current contemporary art market in Oaxaca. Along the way, they will inspire curiosity, encourage questions, and invite dialogue. Normally we will visit 2 workshops of Oaxacan artists with that unique and unmistakable artistic essence, from modern paintings and photographs to sculptures. Enjoy this tour where we will visit each of the spaces where we will appreciate a large part of the work and breathe the magic that surrounds each of these cultural venues. Each of the artists that we have contemplated on our tour is part of a new generation that is marking a strong influence on contemporary plastic arts. This coexistence talk with the artists will allow us to know their feelings and emotions of what their art tries to transmit in the live voice of its creators. It is the perfect opportunity if you are looking to acquire a piece of art for your space.

This is not a traditional tour, it is a completely personalized experience designed around you. Instead of following a fixed itinerary, you will have the freedom to choose the places that most interest you: from archaeological areas and traditional villages to artisan workshops and natural wonders. What really makes this experience unique is the guide behind it. The main attractions of Oaxaca are distributed in different valleys, so not all can be combined in a single day without sacrificing the quality of the tour. Our team is in charge of designing the best route according to your interests, ensuring a well organized and unhurried experience. Designed for private groups, this tour offers flexibility, comfort and a much more authentic way to discover Oaxaca. More than a tour, it’s having a local expert design your perfect day.

From the mountaintop pyramids of Monte Alban to the Cuilapam Convent on the valley floor, learn all about the rich history of the Oaxaca Valley. This tour packs in four top destinations into one day. Discover the Zapotec pyramids and excavated ruins of UNESCO-listed Monte Alban, admire the mystical woodcarvings of San Antonio Arrazola, and meet resident artisans in San Bartolo Coyotepec, a town known for its beautiful black pottery.

The crowds that gather in the morning at Monte Albán can make it difficult to appreciate its temples and ceremonial spaces. This shared excursion, departing from the city of Oaxaca, allows you to visit the Zapotec archaeological site with a certified guide; the tour includes climbing the pyramids and views of the ceremonial center, the palace, the observatory, and the ball court. The round trip will allow him to be back around noon, leaving the rest of the day free in Oaxaca.

We offer a deep insight into the archeology, nature and living culture of Oaxaca. Through the wonderful ancestral architecture in Mitla, the interaction with Zapotec weavers in Teotitlán del Valle and producers of true artisanal mezcal. Our groups are small to guarantee personalized attention by professional tour guides with long experience, knowledge and passion for Oaxaca.

Ideal for people who have little time to visit the city of Oaxaca and want to explore the most emblematic places of the surroundings in terms of nature, gastronomy, culture and natural beauty, as we will visit very early Hierve el Agua to avoid crowds and tour the only place in the world that has petrified waterfalls, we will try the local cuisine at lunchtime in a local Market, we will appreciate the effort and value of making the wool mats one of the most important Oaxacan crafts; the objective is to show you the beauty of Oaxaca traveling as a local and that at the end of the tour you can take a better perspective of the essence of Oaxaca.

In an hour and 15 minutes we will explore the market that is only possible to visit on Mondays. Blocks and blocks of products, toys, clothing, shoes, fruits, vegetables, artisanal remedies, animals and more is what we will see and live the experience of a real Mexican market. Practice your Spanish while you do some shopping. Delight yourself walking through the streets of the Pochutla market, the smells, sounds and all the products you will see will transport you to the real Mexico. Don't let them tell you about this experience, live it! Visit the town of Pochutla

Discover two must-see places in Oaxaca in a comfortable and well-organized experience. Visit the majestic Tule Tree, known for its impressive size and history, and continue to Hierve el Agua, where you can admire its natural formations, walk at your own pace, and enjoy its pools with spectacular views. An ideal option for those who want to explore these iconic sites with enough time and without rushing. Note: This tour is available in Spanish or English, subject to availability. If there are only a few bookings for one language, the service may be operated bilingually while maintaining attention and explanations for all participants.

In this class, you will learn about the origins of cacao, where it is produced, and its importance throughout the history of Mexico and Oaxaca. We will explore different types of cacao pods and their unique characteristics, connecting you to the roots of this iconic ingredient. You will then create your own artisanal Oaxacan chocolate, learning each step of the process—from roasting and peeling to grinding and transforming cacao into oaxacan chocolate. We work closely with local producers to ensure an authentic and high-quality experience. Along the way, you will also learn how chocolate is traditionally enjoyed in Oaxaca, both as a drink and as a food, giving you a deeper appreciation for its cultural significance.

Bursting with culture and cuisine, Oaxaca is a Mexican city you’ll want to make the most of. This private and personalized tour helps you maximize your time by focusing on attractions that interest you—whether colorful street art in Jalatlaco and Xochimilco or street food stalls in Oaxaca’s markets. Flexible durations and hotel pickup add convenience to your authentic exploration.

Oaxacan food is nationally and internationally recognized. The markets of Oaxaca are the best option to taste the true traditional food! This tour will give you the best introduction to Oaxacan cuisine. You will be able to understand everything that happens in the markets and clarify your doubts while you explore the flavors and smells of Oaxacan cuisine from the most traditional places.

Learn more about Oaxacan heritage on a half-day excursion to Mitla. Join a small group and visit the ancient archaeological complex of Mitla. Learn about the Zapotecs who built this incredible structure, and enjoy free time to explore the ruins. You will also visit a local workshop where you can see the traditional way of making Oaxacan textiles with natural dyes.

Mexico is home to many fantastic archeological sites, but only two are located on the water. One is Tulum, with its fortress on the Caribbean Sea; the other is on the Pacific Ocean here in Huatulco. Explore the ruins with a local guide who shares history and local insight about the site and region. You’ll also be rewarded with views of the Pacific Ocean from certain positions within the grounds.