Things to do in Oaxaca
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Puerto Escondido: Oaxaca Food Tour in Local Markets & EateriesYou’ll wander Puerto Escondido’s real neighborhoods, tasting Oaxacan specialties like quesillo and tejate right where they’re made. Expect friendly locals, laughter over new flavors, and an honest look at daily life far from the touristy beach. You’ll finish full—and maybe craving more chapulines than you’d admit.
Huatulco Airport Transfer: Shared Shuttle to HotelsYou arrive at Huatulco International and staff meets you with a name sign, then drives you to your hotel in a cool, air-conditioned shuttle. On departure, you're picked up from your hotel lobby and taken back to the airport. The shared shuttle costs less than a taxi, runs round-the-clock, and you don't arrange anything beyond booking — they handle the route, the timing, and finding you at arrivals.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to skip the taxi line and arrive at your hotel without arranging transport or negotiating a fare — the fixed price and 24-hour schedule mean you can book it and forget it, whether you land at noon or midnight.
Huatulco: Coffee Route Tour, Pluma Tasting & Sierra Madre ViewsYou’ll ride from Huatulco’s coast up into the cloud forest with a local guide, stopping in three distinct Oaxacan towns along the way. Taste world-famous Pluma coffee straight from its source, hear stories of ancient roots and modern life, enjoy mountain views you might not expect — and come home with more than just beans.
Huatulco Seven Bays Boat Tour with Drinks & PickupYou’ll cruise from Santa Cruz Marina along Huatulco’s famous bays by boat with a local guide, stopping to swim or sunbathe at two beaches and pausing for lunch in a fishing village (lunch not included). With drinks on board and roundtrip pickup handled, you’ll have time to soak up those little moments — like sunlight on saltwater or laughter echoing off cliffs — that stick with you long after you leave.
Puerto Escondido: Dolphin Watching & Snorkeling TourYou board a 27-foot panga at dawn and head out to spot dolphins off Puerto Escondido's coast. Snorkeling gear is included; if conditions allow, you'll get in the water to watch them from below. The boat has shade and the crew knows where the pods move. You're back by early afternoon.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see dolphins without arranging a private boat or spending the whole day on the water — the early start and fixed schedule get you out when dolphins are most active and back before midday.
Monte Albán morning tour from Oaxaca: Pyramids without crowdsA morning tour of Monte Albán, the Zapotec archaeological site above Oaxaca, with a certified guide, round-trip transport and entry to the site. You climb the pyramids, explore temples, the ceremonial center, palace and astronomical observatory while the site is still quiet, then return to the city around noon. The guide speaks English or Spanish.Is it for me?Choose the English-language option if that's the guide you need, or Spanish if you're comfortable following in that language—the guide's commentary is what makes the Zapotec history and the layout of the site make sense as you walk through it. The morning departure is fixed, so if you want to explore Monte Albán before the crowds and still have the afternoon free in Oaxaca, this timing does both.
Huatulco Copalita Pyramids Tour & Eco Park with GuideStep inside Huatulco’s Copalita pyramids with a local guide who brings ancient stories to life. Explore coastal ruins surrounded by jungle sounds, walk eco trails above the Pacific, and finish your day soaking up small-town vibes downtown—all in one easy trip.
Monte Albán, mezcal tasting & alebrijes tour from OaxacaThis seven-hour guided tour from Oaxaca combines the archaeological site of Monte Albán with visits to three artisan workshops in the surrounding villages: a traditional mezcal palenque where you taste ancestral spirits, a family workshop making hand-painted wooden alebrijes, and a black clay studio where potters use centuries-old techniques. A bilingual local guide leads the walking tour at the ruins and explains each craft process as artisans work in front of you; transport with air conditioning and hotel pickup from the historic center are included.Is it for me?The tour runs seven hours with walking at Monte Albán and standing time at each workshop while artisans demonstrate their craft — it is paced for observation and conversation rather than physical exertion, and suits anyone interested in how Oaxacan culture and traditions are made and preserved.
Huatulco Airport Transfer: Private Car, One-Way or RoundtripYou’ll step into Huatulco greeted by your own driver holding a sign — no guessing games or taxi lines. Enjoy an air-conditioned ride straight to your hotel (or back to the airport), with flexible pickup times and help with your bags. It’s simple comfort and local warmth you’ll remember long after touchdown.Is it for me?Your driver waits at arrivals with flexible pickup times and roundtrip options, so you control when you leave the airport and return.
Monte Albán Archaeological Tour 3 Hours with GuideA 3-hour guided tour of Monte Albán, the pre-Hispanic archaeological site near Oaxaca City, with certified bilingual guide, admission, snacks and bottled water included. The operator manages timing carefully so you move through the site without feeling hurried, and you get free time to photograph and linger at each area. Available in Spanish or English; children from age 1 are welcome.Is it for me?The tour moves at a deliberate pace with built-in time to photograph and absorb each area, so you're not racing through the site—the guide manages the timing so the experience stays comfortable even though the walk covers significant ground and elevation.
Oaxaca Coast: Horseback Ride at Sunset with Local GuideYou’ll ride horseback through Oaxaca’s riverside fields, cross to a wild beach at sunset, and meet local families who share fresh seafood or drinks if you want them. With your guide leading the way and stories about life here, you’ll feel part of this place—something you’ll remember long after heading home.
Private Tour to Monte Albán: Zapotec ruins at your own paceA private tour of Monte Albán, the archaeological heart of Zapotec civilization near Oaxaca, with a certified guide who shares history, legends and the cultural weight this site still carries for local communities. You move at your own pace through the ruins, stop at whatever interests you most, and travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with bottled water and site entry included. The tour runs three to four hours.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to explore the ruins without the pace and noise of a group—you set the rhythm, choose which structures to linger at, and ask the guide about what matters to you. A private guide also means the stories shift from archaeology alone to the legends and living culture that still connect Oaxaca to this place.
Monte Albán & Oaxaca Tour: Handicrafts, Cheese & AlebrijesThis full-day guided tour from San Antonio Arrazola visits three Oaxaca artisan communities and the Zapotec archaeological site of Monte Albán, with private transportation, breakfast, and entrance fees included. You start by learning to make quesillo cheese and eating fresh memelitas with a local cook, then explore Monte Albán's squares and structures with a guide, watch woodcarvers in San Antonio Arrazola hand-paint protective animal figures called tones and nahuales, and finish in San Bartolo Coyotepec learning how black mud is shaped and burnished using centuries-old techniques. You can buy pieces directly from family workshops.Is it for me?Choose a vehicle option based on group size and comfort preference—the Mercedes Sprinter and Suburban suit larger groups, while the sedan and pickup truck work for smaller parties. The tour runs 8 to 9 hours with moderate walking at the archaeological site and workshops, so it suits travelers comfortable with a full day on their feet and interested in hands-on cultural experience over a faster-paced highlights run.
Oaxaca tour: Monte Albán, alebrijes, mezcal tastingThis eight-hour guided tour covers Monte Albán's Zapotec ruins, the alebrijes workshops of San Antonio Arrazola, Teotitlán del Valle's wool-dyeing tradition, a mezcal tasting at an artisanal palenque, and the Tule Tree—the widest on earth. A certified guide leads the route in English or Spanish, with vehicle, insurance and pickup included; advance booking is required to keep group size small.Is it for me?At eight hours, this tour fills most of a day and leaves the evening free to explore Oaxaca's Zócalo or rest—it's built as a single experience rather than a series of quick stops, so you're not rushing between sites. The small group size means you get personalized attention and access to details a larger tour would skip.
Snorkeling in Huatulco: Bays cruise with lunchSnorkel Huatulco National Park's coral reefs on a guided cruise through the bays with roundtrip hotel pickup, soft drinks onboard and a local lunch at Maguey Bay. The boat carries a live guide in English and Spanish, and you choose whether to snorkel or relax on the beaches instead. Children under three ride free.Is it for me?You'll share a boat with other travelers and follow a set route with stops at multiple bays—choose this if you want snorkeling and beach time without deciding where to go, or pick a private charter if you prefer to plan your own stops.
Monte Albán & artisan workshops tour: Archaeology and black clayThis tour combines a guided visit to Monte Albán, the Zapotec capital since 500 BC, with stops at Cuilapan's Dominican chapel and two artisan towns where you watch woodcarvers shape alebrijes from copal and potters demonstrate black clay techniques. Transport, guide, hotel pickup and drop-off are included; you choose which stops to visit depending on the option you select at checkout.Is it for me?Book the full three-stop option if you want both the archaeology and the chance to watch artisans work—the combination shows how Oaxaca's indigenous heritage shaped both its past and its present craft. If you have limited time or want only the ruins, the Monte Albán-only option lets you skip the workshops and spend the morning focused on the site itself.
National Park: Guided Walk & Snorkel Tour with PickupYou’ll hike forest trails with a local guide, spot wildlife along the way, then reach a quiet virgin beach for snorkeling over colorful coral reefs. All gear is included plus drinks after swimming—just bring your towel and sunblock. It’s an easygoing morning that leaves you salty-haired and smiling long after you’ve left the sand behind.
2-day Oaxaca tour: Monte Albán, Hierve el Agua, MitlaA two-day guided tour of Oaxaca visiting Monte Albán, Hierve el Agua, Mitla and four craft workshops, with certified guide in English or Spanish, air-conditioned van transport, hotel pickup, and travel insurance. The itinerary covers the largest Zapotec city, petrified mineral waterfalls where you can swim, hand-carved stone temples, and stops to watch artisans make alebrijes, black pottery and wool rugs. Tours run on consecutive days and the order may vary.Is it for me?Book this two-day combo on consecutive days to cover Oaxaca's main archaeological sites and craft traditions in one trip, with a certified guide at each stop.
Private turtle release tour in Escobilla with hotel pickupA private turtle release tour at Escobilla Ecotourism Center, Mexico's most important sea turtle nesting beach, where you help release hatchlings into the ocean and learn about species preservation from a certified guide. Hotel pickup and entrance are included; the tour runs 4 hours and operates with a live guide in English or Spanish.Is it for me?You're on a private tour, so the timing and pace are yours alone—no waiting for a group to gather or moving at someone else's speed. This works best if you want the full attention of your guide and the flexibility to ask questions and linger during the release without feeling rushed.
Huatulco: Coffee Plantation & Sierra Madre Mountain TourYou drive 45 minutes up into Oaxaca's mountains to a working organic coffee plantation at 1,500 meters elevation, tour the farm, taste the coffee, and stand at a viewpoint overlooking the Sierra Madre. Hotel pickup and bottled water are included, and you're back by mid-afternoon. Bring cash if you want to buy beans.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see where your coffee actually comes from and taste it at elevation, without arranging your own transport into the mountains—the fixed pickup time and the 6-hour structure is what makes a full plantation visit fit into a single morning.
