Oaxaca City, Mexico (Oaxaca Part 1)

Oaxaca City Part 1 - Mountain view

Ah, Oaxaca! Oaxaca is the capital city of the state of Oaxaca and my favorite region in the country. I have to admit, I don’t like picking favorites because each destination that I visit has something special, but let’s just say Oaxaca is extra special. When I travel, the most important factors are food, culture, people and landscape. Oaxaca checks them all.

Oaxaca City Part 1 - Templo Santa María de la Asuncíon

When I booked this trip, I knew very little about the area. I first learned about it during a brief conversation with an expat while in Playa del Carmen. He went on about the food which quickly piqued my interest. After brief research, I knew I had to visit.

Oaxaca City Part 1 - Street entrance of my apartment in San Sebastián Tutla

I traveled to the capital city of this state from the capital city of the country on an 8-hour ADO Plus ride. The travel in between mountains was beautiful and scenic. It was the first time that I had seen hills and mountains of cacti. Being from the East Coast of the US, I still get excited seeing them.

Oaxaca City Part 1 - Árbol del Tule in Santa María del Tule

When I arrived in the city of Oaxaca, I went to live in the residential neighborhood of San Sebastián Tutla located 20 minutes by car outside of the city’s Centro. It’s also 15 minutes by car the other way to Santa María del Tule where the historical and more than 2,000 year-old Árbol del Tule resides. Oaxaca City is a valley surrounded by 360 mountain views which also made the temperature during September - November comfortable: 70’s and sunny. My favorite.

Oaxaca City Part 1 - Local commerce

My apartment was on the second floor of a familial compound that had lots of vegetation which I consumed daily. Right outside of my door was fresh maracuyá (passion fruit), grapefruit, lime, avocado, coffee and aloe.

Oaxaca City Part 1 - Fresh maracuyá juice made with maracuyá from the garden

It was a quiet area with all of its conveniences. I was woken up by roosters crowing every morning and commerce alive and well at dawn. It’s the type of neighborhood where you make friends with the butcher and the owner of the farmer’s market. I was blessed and grateful to have fresh food in walking distance. True farm to table.

Oaxaca City Part 1 - Colectivo taxi in San Sebastián Tutla

Public transportation was found one block away on the main road. From public buses to private taxis you can find an option that will take you to or near your desired destination. One choice that I found interesting was the colectivo taxi - a shared taxi option. The taxis are crimson and white and pick up passengers on established routes and make unmarked stops along the way, they do not provide door-to-door service. Since you’re sharing your fare with three (sometimes four) other passengers, the price-per-person is less expensive than a private taxi but a little more expensive than a public bus because there are less stops and less passengers. For example, the bus is 8 Mexican Pesos ($0.40 USD) and the colectivo taxi is 12 Mexican Pesos ($0.60 USD). I chose this option a few times.

Oaxaca City Part 1 - Santa María del Tule

I lived in this area for a month and really enjoyed it. I then moved to Centro which I will be covering in Part 2 of this 3-part Oaxaca Destinations series. Stay tuned!

Have you ever visited Oaxaca? If not, is it on your Bucket List?

Comment, share and subscribe to be the first to receive the latest content and hit NEXT below to learn more about the other cool Destinations I’ve visited.

Until the next adventure,

-Natali-

Photos are owned by the author Natali Martinez