A Couples Vacation Guide To Exploring Oaxaca, Mexico

oaxaca

This place holds a special place in my heart, after all this is where both my parents are from ! I’ve been exploring Oaxaca since I was 5 years old (the first time I came to visit), I’ve been everywhere from the rural hidden mountains, to the beautiful coast, and of course to the city!

This guide focuses on Oaxaca City, I’ll be talking about the best places to stay, where to eat, and sights to check out, the perfect place for couples looking for adventure and a rich culture.

Where To Stay

where to stay

If you’re looking for a bright, fun, exciting place to stay my top pick is Hotel City Centro, it’s in a really cute, charming, and safe area! Famous for it’s bright pink walls Hotel City Centro has a really good breakfast (that’s included), rooftop pool, and you can enjoy the views of the city from the top while getting a drink at the bar on the roof.

It’s about a 7-10 minute walk to the Santo Domingo church and the shops there.

Or if you prefer to be closer to the action my next pick is Hotel Los Amantes it overlooks the Santa Domingo and you can easily walk to all the main stores, restaurants, and street vendors!

Food/ Eats

Oaxaca’s Food scene is rich in flavors, my biggest advice is this: don’t be afraid to eat where the locals eat - that means stop at the street vendors stall and try the Hamburgesa Hawaiana, go to the Mercado and order from the crowded stalls, because you’ll usually find the savoriest, freshest, authentic food there at half the price! Make sure you try the traditional and famous Tlayudas and Mole while your there!

Here’s a list of some more established locations for you to check out do your best to cross off as many from this list:

• Los Danzantes - contemporary Mexican Dishes

• Catedral Restaurant - The ultimate couples spot! Super romantic with delicious authentic dishes, must try!

• El Quinque

• El Destilado

• Hierba Dulce - a modern whole food plant based approach to traditional Oaxacan Cuisine I came here several times, I loved the freshness and their ties to using the same techniques as their ancestral relatives.

• Jaguuar Cafe - This was my go to breakfast spot with coffee, lattes, and delicious breakfast options.

What To Do and Where To Go:

what to do and where to go

• Santo Domingo Church: Check the inside out and feel free to wander to the museum (there is a fee) my favorite part was actually just walking around this general area exploring the streets, markets, and vendors.

• The Botanical Garden : Also known as the Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca, this was actually surprisingly really cool (you have to do it as part of a tour or else you can’t get in), on the tour you learn about the church, the garden, and the variations of plant species, and you get to take photos with really awesome cactus!

• Hierve El Agua : The perfect place to unwind with your boo, Hierve el Agua is nestled in the mountains and features natural infinity pools. Bring a swimsuit, pack a lunch or buy food there, and enjoy the views from these natural pools. Just don’t get too close to the edge (people have slipped down). There is also a hike you can do from here that leads to a petrified waterfall. If you rented a car you can drive yourself here (there is a day use fee) or you can buy a tour from the city and have them bring you here!

• Arbol Del Tule : This is a sweet little spot to check out you probably won’t spend more than 20 minutes here but it’s main draw is the large trunk of the tree which is pretty massive. (Me and my husband opted for the tour I mentioned earlier and so this was the first stop, from here it took us to Hierve El Agua, the Pyramids, and then back to the city- I’d recommend getting a tour so you don’t worry about driving.)

• Mitla : Ancient ruins featuring underground burial sites, you can walk around and take your time enjoying the ruins then grab a bite to eat at the vendor stalls or shop.

• Monte Alban - A great day trip probably the most famous ruins in this area, I’d recommend to start early morning right when they open before the sun gets to hot and make sure to bring comfy shoes as it’s a pretty big area to explore!