Oaxaca (pronounced "Wa-Ha-Ca") is one of the largest cities in Mexico's southern region and is the capital of Oaxaca State, featuring superb climate and sitting in a valley surrounded by the rugged and breathtaking Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains. Once the center of Mixtec and Zapotec civilizations, Oaxaca is a melting pot of prehispanic, colonial and modern influences and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

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Location: Oaxaca State
Distance from Mexico City: 340 miles southeast
Population: 400,000
Closest Major Airport(s): Xoxocotlan Intl. aka Oaxaca International (OAX)
Time zone: Central Standard Time

After Oaxaca was conquered by the Spaniards in 1533, Oaxaca quickly transformed into an exquisite colonial city, with baroque-style churches, ornate buildings and elegant plazas. Today, not only has Oaxaca's colonial appearance remained intact, but so have the traditions of the indigenous cultures of the region, making this city truly unique.

Oaxaca's city center, or zocolo, is best explored on foot. Outdoor cafes, enormous laurel trees and live music abound in the main plaza. Just north of the plaza is the Iglesia del Santo Domingo, built in 1608 and one of the finest examples of baroque architecture in the western world. Its adjoining cultural center houses the Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca, featuring gold artifacts from excavations performed at the Monte Alban archaeological site just outside the city. Just a few blocks away from the church is the Catedral de Oaxaca, built in 1555. Also nearby is the Museum of Contemporary Art of Oaxaca (MACO), which also serves as a cultural center. The building in which MACO is housed is a fine example of 18th-century civil architecture. Also not to be missed is the Rufino Tamayo Museum of Mexican Pre-Hispanic Art, just blocks from the main plaza.

Oaxaca is famous for its handicrafts. The Oaxaca Market, located in the southwestern part of the city, is a popular native crafts market, featuring a wide array of handicrafts unique to the region. Pottery, masks, wool rugs, leather, embroidered table clothes, jewelry and alejibres, wonderfully colorful and imaginative hand-carved monsters, are among the wide variety of items one can find at the Oaxaca Market. The hunt for Oaxacan handicrafts also makes for interesting side trips. Just eight miles south of Oaxaca City is the town of Coyotepec, home to several artisans who create the famous barro negro, or black clay pottery. And northeast of Oaxaca City, the town of Atzompa features the unusual green-glazed pottery. Textiles are also an important craft in Oaxaca and the nearby town of Teotitlan del Valle is growing rapidly as home to expert rug weavers.

It is not uncommon to find tourists from all over the world walking the streets and touring the sights of Oaxaca City. Due to the nature of the overwhelmingly friendly and charming Oaxaque–os, Spanish-language schools have become common in the city. Becari Language School is one of the most popular, offering a variety of levels and classes for students. (www.becari.com.mx)

Local cuisine in Puerto Escondido is primarily fish and seafood-based. Following a busy day of beach lounging and handicraft shopping, a scrumptious seafood dinner, with traditional Oaxacan tamales, is the ideal way to end the perfect day. The best places are found at the beach shelters, hotel restaurants and the Alfredo Perez Gasca tourist avenue, better known as, El Adoquin.

Oaxaca City offers a variety of hotels to suit any taste or budget such as the Hotel Victoria, Camino Real, Fiesta Inn and Hotel Fortin Plaza, to name a few. Each of these hotels offers a number of organized activities and day trips to the surrounding attractions. Many of the hotels also have special accommodations for conventions and business meetings. For those wanting a more intimate scene, Oaxaca also features quaint boutique hotels such as the Casa Cid de Leon, located in the heart of Oaxaca City.

Interesting side trips include the nearby legendary archaeological sites of Monte Alban and Mitla, important ancient cities and ceremonial centers during the height of the Zapotec and later Mixtec dominance in the region. For beach lovers, the charming fishing village of Puerto Escondido on the Pacific coast is just 180 miles south of Oaxaca City. Puerto Escondido boasts incredible beaches, eco-friendly tourism and is perhaps most famous for its surf. About the same distance from Oaxaca City and east of Puerto Escondido is Huatulco, famous for its nine bays of cerulean waters, gorgeous beaches and world-class fishing.