Experience the Hidden Charms of Oaxaca – Culture, Handicrafts, and Cuisine

Discover the Authentic Oaxaca

Oaxaca City, the capital of Oaxaca state, is located approximately 470 kilometers southeast of Mexico City. Recently, the movie “ROMA” has garnered attention, and its lead actress Yalitza hails from Oaxaca state.

On this journey, you will explore the ancient ruins of the Zapotec and Mixtec cultures, two of the Mesoamerican’s three great long-lived cultures. Visit the Mezcal distilleries and taste this local specialty, Mezcal, made from the agave plant, similar to Tequila. Explore the weaving village of Teotitlan, dating back to the Zapotec era, and Hierve el Agua, a place once considered “sacred.” Experience the heart of Oaxaca city, where local specialty shops and markets abound. Moreover, we will take you to the vast cactus habitat unique to Mexico, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, and the location where human civilization began to “settle” in the Americas. Depending on the number of places visited, the tour may extend to three or more days. You will also have the chance to visit Alebrijes (more precisely, Tonas y Nahuales) woodcarving workshops, where you can witness and even participate in the craft-making process. Immerse yourself in the local culture through Oaxacan cuisine and artisan crafts and interact with the friendly locals.

 

The Major Mezcal Producer

Mezcal is a distilled spirit made from the maguey plant, similar to Tequila. However, Tequila is the specific name given to Mezcal produced in five states, including Jalisco, where the town of Tequila is located. There are various theories about Mezcal’s origin, such as the liquid derived from the maguey plant’s base fermenting naturally to produce alcohol, or the Spanish distilling the liquid they called “Mezcal Wine” (Vino de Mezcal) after distillation. At that time, Tequila did not exist as a separate product; everything was called Mezcal.

In recent years, large “pots” with burnt stones and maguey residues have been found at several ancient ruins dating back over 1000 years. Though the shapes of these “pots” differ from traditional distillation vessels, they may have been used for distillation to produce Mezcal. However, there is no evidence of successful distillation using these “pots,” leading to the prevailing belief that distillation techniques were introduced to Mexico after European colonization.

We will provide detailed explanations about Mezcal during the tour.

 

Embrace Oaxaca’s Nature

Oaxaca offers more than just famous tourist attractions like Monte Alban, Mitla, Tule Tree (known as “Mexican Rug” in Japan), and Alebrijes (woodcarvings). The charm of Oaxaca lies in its rich and diverse vegetation. In the northwestern part of Oaxaca, the Cuicatlán Cañada region, with its unique and varied plant life and natural environment, is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. “Coexistence between humans and nature” is a silent promise shared by all living beings on this Earth, but in today’s world, this promise is somewhat being broken. Oaxaca is one of those regions where traces of coexistence between nature and human culture can be felt. Why did ancient people choose to create artificial structures amidst this vast natural environment? Explore the wonders of Oaxaca’s nature and the unnamed ruins to fathom the unimaginable.

※Please note that Oaxaca is known for its traditional festivals. Particularly during the Guelaguetza festival in July and the Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) in early November, the city and roads may be congested. Therefore, we recommend a tour of 2 or 3 nights during these periods.

※Similar to the trip to Tequila, the travel time will be long, but you will witness breathtaking views of the valleys along the way, which are not visible from the plane. Depending on the time, we may also visit Puebla, famous for Talavera pottery, or Cholula.

 

Photo Gallery

Prehistoric and Zapotec Traces

Oaxaca’s Breathtaking Nature

Unveiling Mexico through Handicrafts

Oaxaca, the Land of Mezcal

 

Especially recommended for 

Of course, everyone else is also more than welcome to join this tour!