Heading to Mexico in the near future but you’re struggling with that deep-seated Cancun tiredness? Listen, we get it: as much as we like extensive resorts and do-nothing vacays ourselves, sometimes we could do with some culture and credibility.
Not to pass judgement, as here at Travel Off Course we’ve been covering Cancun and all its most current advancements for many years and we absolutely like it, but … you know … it’s far from being agent of Mexico as a nation.
If you’re questioning where to go south of the border to get a taste of the local way of living, without all the fluff and crazy costs, Oaxaca is a short direct flight away:
What Makes Oaxaca Special?
< img width="1200"height ="800"src="% 23e3e3e3'/ % 3E % 3C/svg % 3E "alt ="The Church and convent of Santo Domingo de Guzman in Oaxaca, Mexico." data-src ="https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/The-Church-and-convent-of-Santo-Domingo-de-Guzman-in-Oaxaca-Mexico.-.jpg.webp"/ > Oaxaca de Juárez, or merely Oaxaca,
is one of Mexico’s the majority of historically relevant cities, up there with Mexico City, Guanajuato, Mérida, and so on, and its sheer ancientness and interesting culture may have something to do with it. Though it was officially founded in 1529 by the Spanish, the area was initially inhabited by the native Zapotec and Mixtec peoples, who built large pyramids and affluent city-states prior to the arrival of the inhabitants– however more on that soon enough.
This indigenous heritage has not entirely disappeared, however it is rather woven into the fabric of the post-colonial townscape. From Oaxaca’s conventional food, still heavily influenced by pre-Columbian ingredients, to the grandiosity of the churches, it stands at the crossroads between 2 worlds.
A Colonial Masterpiece Of Mexico
If you’re swapping a Mexican beach adventure for Oaxaca, chances are it’s the intact colonial-era Old Town that has ignited your interest. A UNESCO World Heritage Website, it is a stone-paved labyrinth dotted with centuries-old townhouses and captivating plazas, and controlled by a skyrocketing cathedral, one of the oldest developed on the American continent, erected all the method back in 1535.
The Historic Center is where most of the Spanish landmarks are focused: the Catedral Metropolitana itself, overlooking a leafy primary square (or as the Mexicans call it,zócalo), is a must-see for architecture enthusiasts, but it doesn’t stop there:
Similarly outstanding, the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmánis a Baroque work of art, owing to its highly ornamented main website and gold-clad interior, and let’s not forget the 17th-century Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, with its renowned Solomonic columns.
Beautiful Buildings At Every Corner
< img width="1024" height =" 1024 "src=" https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Woman-walking-by-historic-Oaxacan-building-1024x1024.jpg.webp "alt =" A Lady Walking In Oaxaca, Mexico"/ > Oaxaca is a city of numerous churches and religious shrines, however that is not all that there is to it: one of the oldest colonial buildings in town is the Ex-Convento de San Pablo, dating back to the early 1500s, and a previous convent now real estate a cultural center. If you’re keen on learning more about Oaxacan history, check out the well-preserved Casa de Juárez, as soon as the home of Benito Juárez, Mexico’s very first Indigenous president, or check out the extravagant chambers of Casa de Cortés, the Government Palace.
The murals illustrating Oaxaca’s timeline are amazing, and the palace itself is a traditional example of colonial civil architecture that has barely seen the passing of time. In basic, museum tickets cost $4–$5.50, or the comparable in Mexican pesos.
How Cheap Is Oaxaca?
This ties into our next point: Oaxaca is amongst Mexico’s most budget-friendly destinations. The primary reason for that is the lack of mass tourism: unlike parts of the Riviera Maya and the Mexican Pacific, life here doesn’t focus on the wellness and comfort of going to gringos.
Do not get us wrong, you’ll definitely be treated to that old-school Mexican hospitality when eating in restaurants in a family-owned cantina, or browsing the lovely shops up Calle Macedonio Alcalá, however you will not be the focal point like in Tulum.
Regional crowds, regional rates: anticipate to pay $5 for a basic meal with a beverage if ordering from a fonda, or market stall, and around $7.50–$10 for a menu del día in a non-touristy restaurant.
Traditional portions include tlayuda, Oaxaca’s signature pizza-shaped tortillas with beans and pork lard, tamales filled with mole sauce, and cheese-topped memelas: tasty, fulfilling, and it will not bleed your wallet dry.
What About Hotels?
< img width ="800"height=" 800" src ="https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Scenic-old-city-streets-and-colorful-colonial-buildings-in-historic-city-center-of-oaxaca-mexico-1.jpg.webp"alt="Beautiful old city streets and vibrant colonial buildings in historic city center of oaxaca mexico "/ > Lodging in downtown Oaxaca is simply as low-cost compared to costlier Mexican getaway like the Caribbean: this summer season, a remarkable double room at the Capital O Hotel Outdoor Patio Pombo, a 3-star listing in the center of the action, will run you as much as $37 a night for 2 grownups.
There are even more affordable listings, starting from $24 over at Hotel Esperanza, so Oaxaca genuinely fits every budget, and if you do not mind spending lavishly a little, provided how inexpensive it can be, the landmark Hotel Azul de Oaxaca, a contemporary, airy 4-star property, costs $187 to book per grownup as a couple.
It is among the priciest hotels in the city, so now you get the complete variety.
Overall, tourists invest $22 daily on meals, $11 on public transportation, and an acceptable $36-a-night in hotels when sojourning in Oaxaca, according to Budget Your Journey estimates.
Oaxaca’s Pre-Colonial Gem
Now, back to Oaxaca’s pre-colonial phase– we assured you earlier we would– you can’t leave town without visiting the nearby Monte Albán, a sprawling archaeological zone within easy reach of Oaxaca, and the former capital of the Zapotec civilization.
The Zapotecs ruled this part of Mexico for over 1,000 years before the Spaniards came, and regardless of not being as popular as the Mayan ruins, Albán likewise includes pyramids, outstanding courts, elaborate burial places, and numerous stelae with hieroglyphic carvings.
The pyramid itself is a sight to behold, made mostly of stone and adobe, and yet to be ruined by the type of rude crowds you get over in Tulum. By that, we indicate less littering and fewer unapproved climbers.
The website is a short 19-minute drive away from downtown Oaxaca, and there are public buses, as well as taxis and trip operators bring tourists there at fixed rates.
Getting to Oaxaca itself, you can fly continuously to Oaxaca International Airport (OAX) from Houston (IAH), Dallas (DFW), and Los Angeles (LAX), with round-trip tickets balancing $300–$350 when booked ahead of time.
Soon enough, you will even be able to take a direct train from Cancun all the method to Oaxaca.
< img alt=""src ="https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/670a9f78091c16bd874672b1cb939f4e22e64fe6c391eb68b0f897b10dbfd49e?s=96&d=mm&r=g"height ="96" width="96"/ > Vinicius Costa Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Course, has more than 60+ nations under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a propensity for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into useful stories that will have you loading your bags.
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