Information about Oaxaca, Mexico

Oaxaca, the State Capital of Oaxaca, declared Humanity’s Cultural Patrimony by UNESCO, owes its fame to the beauty and harmony of its architecture, which still conserves its colonial touch and its tranquility, the richness of its cultural traditions, the wide variety of its typical foods and its soft temperate climate, spring-like throughout the year. Oaxaca is a world-class destination for tourists, featuring archaeological sites, museums and craft work of the highest quality. Oaxaca City is said to have a festival every week, as one of Mexico's folkloric art centers and with over 15 distinct language and cultural groups, the festivals are extremely unique and magical.

Hotel infrastructure in Oaxaca
The hotel industry of Oaxaca can easily compete in quality, installation, and services with the best tourist centers in Mexico. The difference resides in the beauty of its hotels, the frame into which they have been built: old colonial houses of great architectural and artistic importance that even include an ex convent.

Oaxaca shopping & art galleries
In Oaxaca City, the Benito Juarez market and Fonart contain the two largest collections of handicrafts from the state, including jewelry, ceramics and textiles. Sixteen kilometers south lies the village of San Bartolo Coyotepec, famous for its black pottery.

In Oaxaca, you'll find everything you'd expect to find in any major tourism destination. The town has many stores full of clothing, crafts, and pharmacies; just about anything you are looking for on your trip. Oaxaca is a shopper's paradise, especially if you are interested in the arts & crafts of the region (some of Mexico's finest), meeting actual artisans or visiting traditional markets which have been in existence for hundreds of years.

Museums in Oaxaca
Oaxaca has nearly as many museums as it has churches. These museums contain displays and collections of objects ranging from ceramics and archeological objects to the personal effects of Don Benito Juarez; there are also galleries of contemporary art by artists from Oaxaca and museums showing the history of Oaxaca art. Visit the Casa de Juárez Museum, the Contemporary Art Museum, the Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca (The Cultures of Oaxaca Museum), the Rufino Tamayo Museum of Pre Hispanic Art, the Philately Museum of Oaxaca and the Manuel Álvarez Bravo Photography Museum

Performing arts in Oaxaca
Music and dance concerts are frequently put on at the Teatro Macedonio Alcalá that was built at the beginning of the 20th century. The theater was named after the famous violinist and director of the Oaxaca orchestra who composed the famous waltz “Dios Nunca Muere” (God Never Dies). This song has almost become the Oaxaca state hymn.

Camping in Oaxaca
If you enjoy camping in the wild, the sierras 7 km north of Oaxaca city are full of wild vegetation and fauna and although there are no formal facilities, it is a great place for camping. Its 2,737 hectares were declared a National Park and named after Benito Juarez in 1937 (the President of Mexico in the 19th century and a great patriot).

Archaeological sites of Oaxaca
Oaxaca is rich in history, having great archaeological sites located in the Central Valleys, where you can find sites as Monte Albán and Mitla where is shown the greatness of the cultures whom inhabitated in Prehispanic México. Every village is different because its people have known to convert with their hands the raw material into shapes and colors giving to us the magic of the Oaxaca's handcrafts. The visitor can explore these wonderful sites on automobile or local bus, or on a guided tour.

To make an informed choice, it is necessary to have an overview of the three valleys which converge in the city of Oaxaca (Western, Eastern and South Valleys). Some of the sites are: The villages of Yanhuitlán (Dominican monastery), Atzompa (brown and green pottery), Arrazola, (carved and painted wooden animals), the ruins at Monte Albán (ruins of Mixtec and Zapotec cultures), the Hacienda in San José del Mogote, the archaeological site in Huitzo, El Tule (the giant cypress tree), Mitla (ruins of Mixtec and Zapotec cultures), Hierve el Agua (natural attraction), ruins of Dainzú, Lambityeco, and Yagul, Tilcajete (painted wooden animals), Xoxocotlán (famous Day of Dead cemeteries) and Juquila (with a Miraculous Virgin), among others.

Architecture in Oaxaca City
Oaxaca is a colonial city by excellence and you will find intensely rich examples of magnificent Baroque, Plateresque, Renaissance and Neoclassic architecture from different periods. Enjoy a walk around Old neighbors in Oaxaca.

Tennis in Oaxaca
The warm days and cool nights, that prevail most of the year, are an open invitation to go out and play some tennis. In the summer you will probably want to play only in the early morning or late evenings. A couple of private facilities make up the options for tennis in Oaxaca. Both are located a short distance from the center of town (approx 20 minutes.). Club de Tennis Brenamiel offers 9 courts in a country setting and has a swimming pool to cool off after your hard fought matches. Deportivo Oaxaca has 7 courts, in a gymnasium atmosphere but also has a pool and sauna. The Club de Golf Vista Hermosa is another option with nice facilities. Most of the hotels offer tennis courts, where you have three good choices in Oaxaca, the Misión de Los Angeles, Hacienda Los Laureles or the Hotel Victoria.

Golf in Oaxaca
Oaxaca's one local course, Club de Golf Vista Hermosa is really located in the pleasant hillside community of San Agustín Etla about 25 minutes north of Oaxaca. This is a 9 hole, course, which you play twice for your 18 holes and is laid out among some hills and valleys and should not be considered really challenging. Don't plan on driving to Club de Golf Vista Hermosa as this course is next to impossible to find. Take a taxi.