After four days in Oaxaca de Juárez with markets, Monte Albán, and a trip to Hierve el Agua, we head to the Pacific coast: Mazunte, then Puerto Escondido. Since 2024, a new highway reaches Puerto Escondido in about three hours; Mazunte is roughly an hour east from there. The old mountain road via the Sierra Sur takes around six hours. A domestic flight to Huatulco or Puerto Escondido is faster.
14 Days / 13 Nights
November–March
3 stops
Why This Route?
For travelers who want to deeply experience Oaxaca's cuisine, crafts, and history, and then relax on the Pacific.
Hidden Gems
Pasillo de Humo at Mercado 20 de Noviembre in Oaxaca, where meat is bought directly from the grill
Playa Mermejita west of Mazunte
Playa Carrizalillo in Puerto Escondido, accessible via a long staircase
Getting there and back
Open jaw: start and end are in different places
Arrival
Flight · Oaxaca (OAX)Oaxaca Airport is located about 7 kilometers south of the city; flights usually arrive via Mexico City.
Departure
Flight · Puerto Escondido (PXM)From Puerto Escondido, you fly directly to Mexico City in about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Itinerary
Stop 1 • 4 Nights
Oaxaca de Juárez
City
Rich in culture and history. Culinary highlights and Perfect for an exciting city trip.
Oaxaca de Juárez is the capital of the eponymous state in southern Mexico, located at an altitude of around 1,550 meters in the Oaxaca Valley at the foot of the Sierra Madre del Sur. Visitors are drawn by its colonial center built from green Cantera stone, which, along with the Zapotec site Monte Albán, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987, and by one of the country's most distinctive cuisines.The city also offers large markets, numerous museums and galleries, and handicrafts from the surrounding villages. It also serves as a starting point for tours to Mezcal distilleries, markets, and archaeological sites in the Valley of Oaxaca.
Old town, markets, Monte Albán and a day trip to Hierve el Agua
22 Sights
12 Restaurants
Culture & Character
Culture & CharacterOaxaca was founded by the Spanish in 1529 in the valley below Monte Albán. Earthquakes necessitated a low, massive building style; hence, one and two-story houses and thick-walled churches made of green Cantera stone characterize the cityscape. The city center has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1987.The city is the center of a state with many indigenous peoples, and this is visible in everyday life: in the markets, during processions, and at the Guelaguetza, where dance groups from all regions of Oaxaca perform in July. Additionally, there's an active art scene with print workshops, galleries, and street art, closely linked to political engagement.
Dreamy beaches. Stunning nature and outdoors and Perfect for unwinding and relaxation.
Mazunte is a small village located on a bay of Oaxaca's Pacific coast, a good hour east of Puerto Escondido. Until the 1990 ban, the village thrived on sea turtle fishing; today, turtle conservation, small guesthouses, yoga offerings, and a tranquil beach define its character. Since 2015, Mazunte has held the title of Pueblo Mágico.
4 Sights
4 Restaurants
Culture & Character
From Turtle Catching to SanctuaryUntil a nationwide ban in 1990, Mazunte slaughtered sea turtles in large numbers. Post-ban, supported by environmental groups, villagers developed new incomes: ecotourism, a natural cosmetics cooperative, and the state turtle center. Olive Ridley sea turtles still nest on the nearby beach.Today, local families mix with newcomers from Mexico and abroad. The pace is slow; most lodgings are simple, made of wood and palm leaves.
Dreamy beaches. routes.tagDescriptions.surfen and Stunning nature and outdoors.
Puerto Escondido, on Oaxaca's Pacific coast, grew from a fishing village into a small town and one of Mexico's most famous surf destinations. Besides Playa Zicatela's heavy waves, there are calm swimming coves, mangrove lagoons, and a relaxed scene of cafés, beach restaurants, and bars.
6 Sights
4 Restaurants
Culture & Spirit
Culture & CharacterFor a long time, Puerto Escondido served only temporarily as a coffee loading port and was only permanently settled in the 1930s. After the construction of the coastal road in the 1960s, surfers discovered the beaches, and tourism began; today, Zicatela hosts international surfing competitions.The town is a blend of a Mexican small town, complete with market, church, and fishermen in the center, and an international scene in La Punta and Rinconada. In the beach neighborhoods, you'll manage with English, but in the center, Spanish is more useful.
