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Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

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Unmissable Tours & Day Trips From Oaxaca

Last Updated: October 27, 2022 · Oaxaca

Oaxaca City is chock-full of activities, but there are even more treasures to find outside of the center on a fun day trip or tour.

Whether you want to drive out into mezcal country and sample artisanal mezcal straight from farm to cup or want to explore the most important Zapotec archaeological sites, you can do it on a short day trip from Oaxaca. During our time living in Oaxaca, we got to check a few of the city’s best day trips off our bucket lists.

Keep reading below to discover the best tours and day trips to take from Oaxaca City! In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know, including how to get there, activity details, and the best (responsible) tour operators to book with.

Table of Contents show
Best Tours & Day Trips From Oaxaca
Go on a Mezcal Distillery Tour
Tour the Monte Albán Archaeological Ruins
Visit the Àrbol del Tule (Widest Tree in the World)
Day Trip to Mitla’s Stunning Archaeological Ruins
Explore Hierve El Agua Petrified Waterfall
Take Your Tastebuds for a Ride: Oaxaca Food Tour
Do the Oaxaca City “Free” Walking Tour

Best Tours & Day Trips From Oaxaca

Go on a Mezcal Distillery Tour

artisanal mezcal bottles in a row

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

Mezcal is synonymous with Oaxacan culture, so what better way to learn about the nuances of this agave spirit than with a full-day mezcal distillery tour?

I know what you’re thinking… “But what if I don’t like mezcal?” Even if you don’t enjoy the smokiness of this spirit, or don’t drink alcohol at all, you can still benefit from a mezcal tour. While sampling artisanal mezcal is a big part of these tours, you can just politely say no.

The highlight of a mezcal tour—beyond the tastings—is getting to learn about the harvesting, distillation and production processes. It’s incredible to see the behind-the-scenes of this growing industry and learn from the passionate families who have been immersed in the culture of mezcal for generations.

Want an insider’s look into what a mezcal distillery tour is like? If so, read my in-depth guide about the best mezcal tours in Oaxaca.

Bottles of artisanal mezcal.
Cuish agave plant.
Female walking in agave farm.
Bottle of Agave Gin Mezcal

Most mezcal tours will depart from Oaxaca City and take you on a one-hour drive to the “World Capital of Mezcal” in Santiago Matatlán.

From here, you’ll typically visit a handful of mezcal distilleries to see and learn about how artisanal mezcal is made. It’s important to choose a responsible tour provider so you don’t end up visiting/touring industrial mezcal distilleries. For detailed recommendations, read my article linked above.

Tour the Monte Albán Archaeological Ruins

Monte Albán is the most important Zapotec archaeological site in Oaxaca, followed by Mitla. These ruins sit perched on the top of the hill, dubbed the “White Mountain”, and overlook the Central Valleys of Oaxaca.

Woman standing overlooking the Zapotec archaeological ruins of Monte Albán near Oaxaca Mexico.

You can visit Monte Albán with a guided tour, or, tour on your own. If you do a DIY tour, you have two options for visiting: either hire a local guide at the entrance to walk around/explain the ruins to you or visit on your own (self-paced) without a guide.

You can read more details in my guide about visiting Monte Albán from Oaxaca City.

Monte Alban pyramids

To get there, hop in a taxi ($200-300 pesos) or in a colectivo ($10 pesos). Monte Albán is not super far from Oaxaca, and is easy to visit in just half a day. I highly recommend going in the early morning so you can enjoy your visit without the crowds or the heat of the day.

Visit the Àrbol del Tule (Widest Tree in the World)

The Tree of Tule is the world’s widest tree — crazy, right? And it’s located just 30 minutes outside of Oaxaca City in the Zapotec town of Santa Maria del Tule, making it a great day trip adventure.

Landscape view of the Tree of Tule in Santa María del Tule in Oaxaca Mexico
Two girls taking a photo on the colorful letters of "El Tule" in Santa María del Tule town in Oaxaca, Mexico.

You can visit the Tule Tree one of three ways:

  • As part of a day trip tour (like this one)
  • On your own by taxi
  • By bike

The town of Santa Maria del Tule is super cute and ideal for a half-day trip. You can visit a mezcal distillery, eat at the gastronomic food hall (and try yellow and green mole enchiladas), and stroll the curated gardens.

Day Trip to Mitla’s Stunning Archaeological Ruins

Mitla ruins on a day trip from Oaxaca City.

San Pablo Villa de Mitla, better known as just Mitla, is another awesome day trip from Oaxaca City.

Mitla is known for its archaeological ruins, characterized by its mosaics and cut-stone architecture. The ruins are unlike others you’ll find among Mesoamerican religious ruins in Mexico, so it’s worth the day trip!

After you tour Mitla’s ruins and tombs, head into the town for the Mercado de Abastos. During the Día de Muertos celebrations, the town of Mitla bursts with color and decorations.

Since Mitla is close to Hierve El Agua, you could visit both on a full-day trip from Oaxaca City. Santiago Matatlán is also just a stone’s throw away!

Explore Hierve El Agua Petrified Waterfall

Hierve El Agua is one of the top things to do in Oaxaca, so it’s also one of the top day trips to take from Oaxaca City.

hierve el agua a natural wonder in oaxaca mexico

However…

Hierve El Agua is “unofficially closed” because the two indigenous communities, who own/govern the land, are disputing. As of May 2022, you can still visit Hierve El Agua, but it’s not very responsible to do so (from our understanding from speaking to our mezcal tour guide who grew up in the city).

Since the situation on the ground can change rapidly, just make sure to check for updates before you go ahead and book a tour to Hierve El Agua. Once it’s safe to do so, you can book your Hierve El Agua day trip with Coyote Adventures.

The tour guides peddling Hierve El Agua tours on the Zocalo square are disregarding the fact that the main road is closed and are by-passing it via rocky, back roads (and tipping off the landowners, which is further aggravating the issue at large). I wouldn’t exactly say those guys are exactly socially-responsible tour operators, so it’s a hard pass for me until the situation gets better.

Take Your Tastebuds for a Ride: Oaxaca Food Tour

A food tour in Oaxaca is a must! With this authentic food tour, you can stroll the streets of Oaxaca and learn—and taste—the culture via its food and drink.

This tour will have you “explore the flavors and smells of Oaxacan cuisine from the most traditional places” such as inside the local markets and street vendors peppered around the city squares. You’ll try traditional Oaxacan street food like tlayudas and drink the ancestral cacao and corn drink tejate.

Want to take your experience to the next level? You should also consider doing this ancestral Oaxacan cooking class with Chef Miguel Alvarez.

small memela oaxaca food on clay plate in

Do the Oaxaca City “Free” Walking Tour

Whenever I first arrive at a new destination, I always look to do a walking tour. Oaxaca City has so many hidden gems and it would’ve taken me much longer to uncover them had it not been for our 2-3 hour walking tour.

P.S. Even though it’s advertised around the world as free, most city walking tours are donation-based; meaning, you are more/less expected to offer whatever you can afford to pay based on the perceived value of the tour. In most cases, between $50-$150 pesos per person, although this varies.

Love food, art, AND culture? Then you should also check out this exclusive street art tour of Oaxaca City.

Pin this guide to Oaxaca’s best tours and day trips for later planning!

Streets of Oaxaca City centro, photo with text overlay.
Woman on a tour and day trip from Oaxaca City with teal wall and red car.

By: Bri · In: Oaxaca

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Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨ 💻 WORKIN Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨

💻 WORKING ONLINE
While not all nomads/remote workers have online-specific jobs, it’s the easiest way to sustain an income for full-time or long-term travel. Here are some jobs you can do as a digital nomad!

• Blogging (This is what I do full-time!)
• Content Creation / Brand Sponsorship
• Virtual Assisting
• Social Media Management
• YouTube or Podcasting
• Graphic / Web Design
• Coding / Development
• Photography / Videography
• Freelance Writing (How I started)
• Marketing / Amazon FBA / Ecommerce

📍PICKING YOUR DIGITAL NOMAD DESTINATION
There are many countries out there offering digital nomad visas, but you don’t even need one to just travel as a tourist and stay in-country for 30, 60, 90, or 180 days. Nomads go everywhere as long as there’s a Wi-Fi connection, some countries you may consider are Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, Vietnam, Croatia, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Brazil, and beyond! Even lesser-known places such as Namibia are starting to offer nomad visas to entice long-term travelers to visit.

🏡 FINDING HOUSING ABROAD
Read my blog post for the full guide on this, but basically, check local Facebook groups for renting local housing for extended stays and then use Airbnbs for shorter stays or to negotiate longer contracts with the owner. There are even more “nomad rental websites” these days to make finding accommodation even easier. Don’t overlook co-living/working spaces too like Selina where the digital nomad community tends to congregate.

💛 EXPLORING LOCALLY/RESPONSIBLY
As always, be mindful and respectful when you visit these communities. Many small towns are struggling with rapid growth and overdevelopment so be mindful of your choices of where you stay, how you spend your money, and who you support.

My best advice + detailed guides are all on the blog, free for you to use! Let me know if you have any questions about digital nomad life! 

Lastly, don’t overthink it. Moving countries isn’t as intimidating as you may think! It’s become second nature for us now after several years! 🐈‍⬛💃🌎✨
I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover t I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover this incredible country beyond the resorts and beaches, having lived temporarily in 5 out of the 32 Mexican states (Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Chiapas, Oaxaca, and now Baja California Sur) as a digital nomad who’s been slow traveling/living in and out of Mexico since 2018. 

There is so, so much cultural and natural beauty in Mexico — I wish more people could experience this country for themselves and not through the eyes of the media.

***Please visit Mexico as a digital nomad (or tourist in general) responsibly and mindfully. Stay local, eat local, drink local, shop local, support local. Leave No Trace and be conscious of your choices and impact!*** 

Here are the cities/towns we’ve slow traveled/lived in for extended stays.

• Oaxaca City — a colorful, historic open museum rich in indigenous culture and gastronomy 
• San Cristóbal de las Casas — an endearing pueblo mágico in the Chiapas Highlands
• La Paz — the capital city of BCS teeming with marine life, diving, fish tacos, and desert vibes
• San Pancho — an eco-conscious town in Nayarit famous for its sunsets and community
• Tulum — no introduction needed (and I wouldn’t go back here as a nomad due to overdevelopment)

Other great cities/towns/destinations for digital nomads are:

• Guadalajara (state of Jalisco)
• Santiago de Querétaro (state of Querétaro)
• San Miguel de Allende or Guanajuato City (state of Guanajuato)
• Playa del Carmen (state of Quintana Roo)
• Valladolid or Mérida (state of Yucatán)
• México City/CDMX (state of México)
• Sayulita (state of Nayarit)
• Puerto Vallarta (state of Jalisco)
• Puerto Escondido (state of Oaxaca)

I’d love to know what you think about Mexico and where you’ve been in the comments! 🇲🇽💛

And for the detailed guide of 13 places to live/visit, read my blog @bucketlistbri .com (just type in “places to live mexico” in the quick search bar if you can’t find the post under my “Mexico” category).

#mexicomagico #digitalnomad #visitmexico #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #mexicotravel #mexicodestinations #nomadadigital #nomada #mexicomaravilloso #slowtravelling #mindfultravel
PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will f PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will follow you around the world until you face them no matter how much you travel or move countries 🙃 

I know I’m not the only one that feels restless at times and idolizes moving to a new region/country/continent to shake my feelings of anxiety or self-doubt or fear! (Also, I tend to think about moving to another country even when I just moved to a new one 😅)

I know because I have lived abroad for 8+ years. I used to try to drown out my icky feelings and past traumas with lots of alcohol but now I carry them with me like I do my mismatched socks — they add to the quirkiness and remind me I don’t have to be, and am not, perfect. 

And that life is more interesting that way, anyway. 

Anddd that most importantly, whenever I get lost, I can and will be found again — I just may look and think differently after new adventures but I am still loved and never lost forever 🧦 ✨💛 

In sum, whether you travel full-time or not, take care of yourself ✨💛

#nomadness #nomadlife #lifeofadventure #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #offbeattravel #remoteworklife #homeawayfromhome #slowtravelstories #mentalhealthawarness
The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri: 💛 P The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri:

💛 Paul
😻 Yoda
🌍 Traveling & adventuring
👩🏼‍💻 Blogging & writing

Among other things like nature, photography, reading, animals, journaling, art, playing Zelda/games, dancing/music, culture/languages, enjoying rly good food and drinks! 😋 

What about you? What recharges you?? 

#rechargemysoul #blogging #adventures #writing #soulfulliving #mindfulliving #mindfultravel #nomadcouple #creativeliving
1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨ 🌋 ARENA 1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨

🌋 ARENAL // LA FORTUNA (2 days)
- Hike in the Arenal Volcano National Park
- Indulge in a local chocolate/coffee tour (s/o to @northfieldscafe)
- Go on a wildlife safari float (s/o to Raúl for pura vida vibes!)
- Lounge in natural hot springs (highly recommend the budget-friendly Relax Termalitas in Fortuna)
- Visit La Fortuna waterfall
- Check out the Butterfly Conservatory

🦥 QUEPOS // MANUEL ANTONIO (2-3 days)
- Take a guided or DIY tour of Manuel Antonio National Park
- Chill out on the Espadilla beach
- Explore the cute towns
- Watch for wildlife in the trees!

🌿 MONTEVERDE // SANTA ELENA (2 days)
- Visit/hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
- Go ziplining
- Birdwatching on a canopy tour
- Monteverde coffee tour
- Do a nature night walk

My sister and I surprised our mom with this bucket list trip on her birthday, and we had a blast! 🥹

Send this itinerary to someone you know who has always wanted to go to Costa Rica 🦋💛✨🌿🦜🐒

#costarica #bucketlisttrip #puravida #costaricaitinerary #lafortuna #manuelantonio #monteverde #ecotourism
Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a q Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a quite a humbling experience, and one that’s been at the top of my bucket list for ages! 🥺

Right now is prime whale shark season in La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico, so Paul and I made sure to go before we jetted off to see family for the holidays! I’m still in awe of these gentle giants and the fact that we got to swim alongside them!

Read all about the best whale shake tours in La Paz + ethical whale shark tourism in my latest blog post! Link in bio 💛

Send this to a friend who loves whale sharks! 🐳🦈

#whalesharks #lapaz #bajacaliforniasur #ethicaltravel #responsibletravel #ecotourism #golapaz #mexicotravel #bucketlist #seaofcortez
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