Photos to Inspire Your Oaxaca Trip in Mexico!

This is the first year, possibly in the last TEN, that I have not traveled internationally.  Between buying a house & the pandemic: my travels have been completely curtailed this year.  But as I’ve gathered the photos for this post, going through loads of shots from Mexico’s eternally-photogenic Oaxaca region ~ I’m reminded of why we travel: because it breathes new life into us.  Gets us out of our daily routines.  Reminds us how other cultures place more emphasis on connection & celebration ~ & in a year like this, when many of us are more physically isolated than ever: this takes on a striking significance.  Soak in these “Photos to Inspire Your Trip to Oaxaca,” & let your mind & soul wander a bit…

If I had to sum up Oaxaca in one photo: it would be this one. It captures the vibrant culture that radiates from this mountainous & utterly authentic Mexican city.

Where is Oaxaca?

Oaxaca is both a region AND a city (Oaxaca City is its official name, & the capital of the region).  Oaxaca is located in Southern Mexico, with its western border hugging the Pacific Ocean, & its southern flanking the Chiapas region.  It’s about 280 miles southeast of Mexico City, or a one-hour flight from the nation’s capital. 

Photos to Inspire Your Trip to Oaxaca City!

Let’s start this photographic journey in the heart of the region: Oaxaca City.  From the beautiful architecture of its churches to the handcrafted textiles that are so plentiful here, to its many tapas bars & mezcalerias: this is the ideal place for those seeking a taste of “Authentic Mexico.”

Young ladies in festive dress selling their wares in front of my FAVORITE church in Oaxaca City: Templo de Santo Domingo.

My favorite Mexican towns share one thing in common: their buildings are painted in BRIGHT colors with fantastic color combinations. It’s part of what makes Mexico so unique & architecturally appealing.

The agave plants in front of Templo de Santo Domingo provide the perfect foreground for photos of this stunning church, whose interior is made entirely of GOLD. It’s one of the few churches in Latin America that wasn’t plundered by Spanish conquistadores.

Save room in your luggage to take home beautiful handmade goods from this region.

Sunset in Oaxaca City.

Oaxaca is one of the best places to experience Mexico’s famous “Day of the Dead.” Celebrations take place over the course of several days, usually between October 31st-November 2nd. This is a magical time to be in the city!

Oaxaca City is a food & drink lover’s town: cute cafes, coffee shops, rooftop bars, & upscale eateries abound here. I did NOT have a bad meal in Oaxaca!

Photos of Hierve el Agua in Oaxaca

Hierve el Agua was my absolute, #1 MUST-SEE during my travels in Oaxaca!!!  I hired a guide, he picked me up early the next morning, & we set off for the 90-minute journey from Oaxaca City to Hierve el Agua….which consists of two petrified waterfalls with greenish-blue swimming pools atop them ~ like a real life infinity pool. 

For a complete guide to visiting Hierve el Agua, check out this article.

I took over 200 photos at Hierve el Agua ALONE: it is STUNNING. Sunrise is a great time to visit, & you’ll encounter less people at this time.

This is the first viewpoint you’ll come to when you walk down from the parking lot: a view towards the uber-green pool & ONE of the two petrified waterfalls (directly to my left).

And this is that crazy blue-green pool up close…

The infinity pool to end all pools….

On top of the world!! If you’re a photographer, don’t miss Hierve el Agua: there are endless angles of these gorgeous, natural waterfalls.

Photos of Oaxaca’s Beaches

Puerto Escondido & Santa Maria Huatulco are two of Oaxaca’s most popular beach towns.  Surfers flock to Puerto Escondido for its world-famous pipeline at Zicatela Beach (& also its nightlife), while Huatulco offers a slightly slower pace with its Copalita Ruins & Huatulco National Park.

Puerto Escondido is one of Oaxaca’s most popular beach towns, known for its “Mexican Pipeline” surf break at Zicatela Beach.

Zicatela Beach in Puerto Escondido.

Stay at one of the many resorts in Huatulco…which boasts over 9 different bays & 36 beaches!

Sunset in Oaxaca.

Mezcal & Beyond in Oaxaca

Aside from Hierve del Agua, other day trips from Oaxaca City include a visit to the ruins of Monte Alban (which I’ve written about here), a tasting of Oaxaca’s most popular libation ~ mezcal, or a visit to local towns like Teotitlan del Valle, where you can meet local artisans & learn about their unique techniques for dying fabrics & creating textiles.

Once you get outside of Oaxaca City, much of the region looks like this: agricultural landscapes with wide mountain vistas.

The ruins of Monte Alban reign above Oaxaca City on top of a major hill (which you can see as you fly out of town): they are one of the most significant historical centers in the country.

Make sure to do some mezcal tasting (even if you don’t love its SUPER distinctive licorice taste)! Palenque Mal de Amor is one of the many mezcal stops you can make on a return trip from Hierve del Agua.

My Hierve el Agua guide also took me to meet local artisans in a village just outside of Oaxaca City; they use all kinds of different natural products in order to dye their fabrics.

Teotitlan del Valle.

Photos to Inspire Your Trip to Oaxaca in Mexico!

And if you want to know where I stayed, check out the Hotel Casa Ortiz ($62+/night) or the NaNa Vida ($82+/night).  Both are centrally located boutique hotels with gorgeous, central courtyards.

xoxo Noelia 

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