9-day Best of Oaxaca Vacation: Culture, Mezcal, & Beach

Stroll the cobbled streets of Oaxaca’s colonial center with your private guide, learning about the Zócalo and its landmarks. Admire the churches and markets filled with chiles, cacao, and handmade crafts, and stop by artisan stalls showcasing Oaxacan textiles and pottery. Afternoon at leisure. In the evening, visit a local hole-in-the-wall mezcalería for a guided tasting of 4–8 varietals, followed by a classic grilled Oaxacan tlayuda at a beloved neighborhood eatery, tucked away from the tourist path. Overnight: Casa Oaxaca Hotel Boutique

Journey through time to the ancient Zapotec world at Monte Albán, a mountaintop city with sweeping valley views. Once home to tens of thousands, it was among the largest and most powerful cities in Mesoamerica. Explore temples, plazas, and the intricate carvings of Los Danzantes as your guide shares stories of Zapotec life and cosmology. Continue to Mitla, known for its finely cut geometric stone mosaics fitted together without mortar, and set against a deep-red stucco, still vibrant in many areas after centuries. Visit a 16th-century church built over a pre-Hispanic platform, one of the clearest expressions of Mesoamerican and Catholic synchronicity found in the region. Then end your day at El Árbol del Tule, a 2,000-year-old Montezuma cypress revered as one of the oldest and largest trees in the world. Overnight: Casa Oaxaca Hotel Boutique

Today take an expedition into the heart of fine mezcal, one of Mexico’s most celebrated spirits. Deep in the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca along the Totolapan river, visit a small village of less than 300 inhabitants where some of the finest and most expensive brands of Mezcal is produced! Sample the mezcal directly from the source at these white-labeled mezcalerias, During the course of the day, visit the village of San Luis del Rio and have lunch at San Jose de Gracia and time permitting, visit San Baltazar Guelavia & Santiago Matatlan on your return. Overnight: Casa Oaxaca Hotel Boutique

Begin in Teotitlán del Valle, one of the prettiest villages on the east side of the valley, where families still weave rugs dyed with cochineal and indigo and a church housing 16th century art . Visit the early market and meet artisans who maintain ancient Zapotec techniques. You’ll be welcomed into a family home for a hands-on cooking class and lunch. Learn to prepare regional dishes such as mole or tamales using traditional ingredients, then enjoy your meal with your hosts as they share stories of daily life in the valley. Overnight: Casa Oaxaca Hotel Boutique

Join a local chef for a private market-to-kitchen cooking class focused on the ingredients and flavors of the region. Choose seasonal produce and spices from a neighborhood market, then prepare a multi-course meal in a home-style kitchen. Enjoy your creations over lunch paired with local mezcal or wine. Spend the rest of the day at leisure exploring Oaxaca’s galleries, courtyards, and artisan shops. Overnight: Casa Oaxaca Hotel Boutique

Private transfer from your hotel to Oaxaca Airport for your departure flight to Puerto Escondido. Welcome to the coast! On arrival, transfer to your boutique coastal hotel and settle into beachside rhythm for the next two nights. Overnight: Hotel Terrestre

Enjoy a day at leisure at your wonderful hotel or explore the natural beauty of Puerto Escondido. If you’d like to arrange an activity, speak to a Journey Mexico Travel Planner who can organize everything from stand-up paddleboard lessons and yoga classes to a night-time tour of Manialtepec Lagoon to see its incredible bioluminescent waters. Overnight: Hotel Terrestre

Enjoy a private transfer for your flight home. If you’d like to extend your trip or alter any of the activities in this Oaxaca vacation, however, speak to a Journey Mexico Travel Planner who can help to organize every last detail for you.