What's up guys! We just finished a two and a half week trip all around the state of Oaxaca and in
this video we're going to show you the best places we visited. So everything from the coast to the
mountains. There's beautiful culture here and amazing food, so we hope you enjoy this video!
We are Zac and Ine, full-time digital nomads from the United States and Belgium.
We met while studying abroad in 2018 and have been traveling the world together ever since.
We're here to inspire your next adventure, whether it's hiking in the Canadian Rockies,
a road trip through the US, or backpacking across Africa. On our channel you'll find
unfiltered videos of hiking guides and the best things to do in destinations around the world.
The state of Oaxaca lies in the southwest of Mexico. It's made up of a vast coastline and
rugged mountains, with narrow valleys, canyons, and ravines between them.
Oaxaca is best known for its unique cuisine as well as its Indigenous people and cultures. The
largest Indigenous groups are the Zapotecs and the Mixtecs, but there are 16 groups that are
officially recognized. These cultures have survived better than most others in Mexico
thanks to the state's isolating terrain and commitment to honoring traditions. In this video,
we'll show you the perfect Oaxaca itinerary. This itinerary is recommended for at least a 14-day
stay in Oaxaca and can be completed by public transportation, rental car, or a mix of both.
Located along the Oaxacan Coast, Puerto Escondido is a great place to start your trip. There are
direct flights from both Mexico City and Guadalajara, but depending on where you're
coming from you could also take a bus there. Puerto Escondido is a laid-back beach town
and one of the best places to surf in the entire world. The huge waves at Playa Zicatela are
only for experienced surfers, but there are some beginner waves at La Punta and Playa Carrizalillo.
But besides surfing and beaches, Puerto Escondido is also known for its baby turtle release,
vibrant nightlife, and amazing restaurants. We recommend staying
three to five days in the area to enjoy all that Puerto Escondido has to offer.
After a few days in Puerto Escondido, it's time to head to the nearby sleepy town of Mazunte.
Located about one and a half hours to the south of Puerto Escondido, you can take a local bus here.
Flag down the bus to Pochutla and tell the bus driver you want to get off at San Antonio. From
there you have to take a taxi or local collectivo. Mazunte is the yoga hot spot and hippie hangout of
Mexico. It's more quiet and rugged than Puerto Escondido, with small beach bays and sweeping
vistas of the Pacific Ocean. Don't miss a hike at Punta Cometa for an amazing sunset!
We're about to go swimming on the beach here at Mazunte and some of
the waves can get pretty rough, so make sure look for the green flags
or the yellow flags and that's where you're allowed to swim.
Once you're in Mazunte, it's easy to get to Zipolite, which is a 20-minute taxi ride away.
Zipolite is Mexico's only official nudist beach. But besides that, it's a fun and open-minded place
that is very LGBTQ-friendly and attracts many backpackers and hippies. Zipolite is even more
quiet than Mazunte and there isn't much else to do rather than eating, drinking, and simply relaxing.
But its low key developments make this place truly unique and authentic.
After you've explored the best Oaxacan beaches, it's time for some adventure.
Go to the Lineas Unidas Terminal in Zipolite and hop on one of the minibuses to San José
del Pacifico. They leave five to six times a day and take about four to five hours to get there.
San José del Pacifico is a small town high up in the Oaxacan mountains. It's the magic mushroom
capital of Mexico, but also offers stunning scenery and is a true nature lover's paradise.
Climb up to the Mirador, hike in the mountains and forests, or join a Temazcal ceremony. Don't
forget to bring a warm jacket because this place can get very cold at night.
So we just hiked up to the Mirador viewpoint just outside of the town. and with our friend
Oli here who we met at Rancho Viejo Hostel. So Oli, how do you think the hike was to get up here?
Well it's good but i'm pretty short of breath now. And it's a nice view though,
so the the walk up these stairs is definitely worth it! Come check it out.
After a few days in San José del Pacifico, you can continue your journey to Oaxaca City.
Many buses leave almost every hour of the day from the main road in San José del Pacifico
and take about three to four hours. Oaxaca City is the state capital and it's our
favorite city in all of Mexico. The city offers an interesting mix of history, world-class cuisine,
and Indigenous culture. Its Centro Historico is a UNESCO World Heritage Site packed with historic,
colorful, colonial buildings and churches as well as street art, cafes, and restaurants,
all within a walking distance of each other. But the city is also a great base for day trips
in the Central Valley, from the countryside to the ancient Monte Albán ruins. Check out
our video all about Oaxaca City to get a full overview of activities in and around the area.
All the acoustic is incredible. "Hola"
A trip around Oaxaca isn't complete without a visit to the historic town of Mitla. Located
about 31 miles or 50 kilometers to the south of Oaxaca City, it's easy to come here for the day.
Take a bus or rent a car from Oaxaca city, which will take you here in approximately one hour.
The town of Mitla is famous for its archaeological site which used to be a religious center for
the Zapotecs. But apart from the ruins, you can also visit its market and tiny streets.
Alternatively, you can decide to stay a few days in the town and combine it with nearby attractions
such as the mezcal distillery, Hieve el Agua, Teotitlán del Valle, or the prehistoric caves.
One of the highlights of the Oaxaca itinerary are the petrified waterfalls
of Hierve el Agua. Located about 70 kilometers or 43 miles from Oaxaca City, this is another
site that you can do as a day trip. You can rent a car or take a tour from Oaxaca.
Alternatively, you can come by colectivo from Mitla.
This natural wonder is a set of tavertine rock formations that resemble cascades of water,
and it's unlike anything else you'll see in Mexico. It's also surrounded by incredible
mountains and mineral pools where you can refresh yourself. It's easy to spend a full day here,
but you could also combine this with a visit to Mitla or the Ruta de Mezcal on the same day.
The Oaxaca itinerary ends with a visit to the Pueblos Mancomanados,
a community-run eco-tourism reserve located deep in the Sierra Norte mountains. The reserve is
made up of seven villages which are connected primarily via gravel roads and hiking trails.
Many travelers decide to hike or bike between the villages,
visiting canyons, caves, waterfalls, and panoramic lookouts.
fresh water
We visited the town of Cuajimoloyas, which was the easiest to get to by local bus from Oaxaca City.
However, we'd highly recommend staying more days so you can visit multiple towns.
There are buses to Cuajimoloyas and Benito Juarez
that leave from the "second class" bus station in Oaxaca City a few times a day. The driver
will drop you off near the tourist office where you can book your activities and accommodation.
That would have been tight with the backpack!
After exploring the highlights of Oaxaca, you can continue your journey across other states
in Mexico. The most common travel route goes to the southeast to San Cristobal de Las Casas
and Chiapas. It's possible to take the ADO night bus from Oaxaca City, which takes about 12 hours.
Check out our videos about San Cristobal and Chiapas for things to do in that area.
Alternatively, you can head to the north towards Puebla and Mexico City.
Puebla is another beautiful city and gateway to the surrounding
mountains and volcanoes. It takes about four hours to get there. And that's it for our
Oaxaca itinerary video. Thanks for watching and we'll catch you on the next adventure!