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Trip Report
Exploring Oaxaca in Mexico - Unveiling Hidden Gems and Cultural Tapestries
Getting to know Oaxacas diversity - beaches, mountains, cities
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Highs & Lows
Magical atmosphere in San Jose del Pacifico
It can get very cold in the nights in the mountains, don't forget your sweater!
Itinerary Overview
I started my trip in the Mexican state Oaxaca at the coast in Zipolite, which is famous for the only nudist beach in Mexico. After I went to Mazunte, Puerto Escondido and Chacahua, which are all relatively close to each other. After the awesome beach time I traveled from Puerto Escondido to San Jose del Pacifico (the road is veeery curvy, so sickness pills come handy) and from there to Oaxaca City. All wonderful places with their own charme and even though they are touristy, this region is less crowded and americanized than places like Cancun or Tulum. Mexico is such a diverse country and only staying in Oaxaca already shows you all kind of different facetes regarding food, people and landscape. Except at night in Oaxaca City, I never felt unsafe, and you can travel there without problems as a woman. I did not really take part in the nightlife, but I know that a lot of other travelers went out to the big variety of nightclubs and bars.
San jose del pacifico Embrace the Fairytale Atmosphere: Step into a Mystical Forest and Embrace the Unveiling Beauty
1+San José del Pacifico is really magical, it feels like entering a fairy tale forest. I arrived in town and took a tuktuk to my hostel as I stayed a bit further out of the town. It was not as easy to get food, because they don’t have a restaurant, but the stunning views into the mist made up for that. San José del Pacifico is known for the magical mushrooms and temazcal which you can do here - both awesome experiences and easy to organize once you’re there. The climate changes drastically with the altitude and it got quite chilly at night, especially if you come from the coast and aren’t used to temperatures below 20 degrees. There are also some hikes around in the woods, and one of my highlights was also just riding down the winding roads with a motorbike and admiring the views. The town itself is really small and you better come prepared with enough cash and bring some groceries if you have special needs in food/drinks.
Oaxaca Food and people
1+Oaxaca City is one of the big cities in Mexico and if you don’t have time to go to Mexico City make sure to visit Oaxaca City. It is well known for it's big variety of food and even as a vegetarian you find many options. Netflix made a whole episode about the food here, it’s called Streed Food: Latin America. My highlight were definitely the different mercados and the giant Tlayudas you can eat there. The free walking tour is fun and shows you beautiful spots in town, you can just show up at the meeting point and take part in it. The area around the city is also nice, and you can do different trips like a mezcal tour or a day visit to Hierve el Agua. The historic city center is beautiful, and you can just stroll around and get to know everything walking by foot.
Q & A
What would you have changed?
Spend more time in San Jose del Pacifico to get more in touch with nature and use the possibility to do a hike.Restaurant recommendations?
Check out the food areas in the local MercadosTips you would give a friend?
Do not walk alone or in small groups at night in Oaxaca City, robberiers are quite common.Transportation Tips?
On your way into and out of the mountains, try to sit in front and take some travel medicine with you in case you feel sick.Any surprises?
After spending weeks on the coast, the different climate up in the mountains took me by surprise and it was a bit hard to adjust.Booking details?
Everything was booked via booking and hostelworld - you can save booking fees if you reach out to the places via WhatsApp.
Lodging
Ticuchi Hostel. Social and spacious hostel in the centre of Oaxaca City. Comes with pool and big kitchen which makes cooking fun.