Pacific Coast & South

Oaxaca (pronounced: "Wa-HA-ka") is the favorite of all travelers who truly know Mexico. The UNESCO World Heritage colonial city at an altitude of 1,550 m is Mexico's culinary capital, the center of mezcal culture, and home to the country's most vibrant indigenous traditions.

Culinary Delights — Why Oaxaca?

Oaxaca boasts seven mole sauces (each family has its own recipe), the best mezcal in the world, and traditional cuisine is still cooked here as it was centuries ago:

• Mole Negro: The "queen of moles" — over 30 ingredients, prepared over days. Chocolate, chilies, nuts, spices. Dense, complex, unforgettable.
• Tlayudas: Huge, crispy tortillas topped with bean paste, quesillo (Oaxaca cheese), chorizo, lettuce. Oaxaca's pizza.
• Chapulines: Roasted grasshoppers, seasoned with garlic, lime, and chili. Crunchy, nutty, protein-rich. Try them at Mercado 20 de Noviembre — you'll be surprised!
• Mezcal: Oaxaca is the heart of mezcal production. Unlike tequila (only from blue agave), mezcal can be made from over 30 types of agave. Tastings at the city's mezcalerías (bars) or at distilleries in the surrounding area. A good mezcal costs 60–150 MXN per sip.
• Tasajo: Thinly sliced, air-dried beef — grilled or in tacos.
• Chocolate de Oaxaca: Hot chocolate, hand-ground with cinnamon and sugar. Freshly prepared at Mercado 20 de Noviembre.

Sights

• Mercado 20 de Noviembre: THE food market. The "Pasillo de Humo" (Smoke Alley) with grilled meat is legendary. Here you eat the city's best food on plastic chairs.
• Santo Domingo de Guzmán: Mexico's most magnificent baroque church — completely gilded inside. The adjacent Museo de las Culturas displays Zapotec treasures from Monte Albán.
• Andador Macedonio Alcalá: The pedestrian street from the Zócalo to the Santo Domingo church. Galleries, mezcalerías, chocolate shops.
• Hierve el Agua: Petrified waterfalls (natural limestone formations) that look like frozen cascades. Natural infinity pools at the edge of a canyon. 1.5h from Oaxaca. Breathtaking.

Monte Albán is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Mesoamerica and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. The former capital of the Zapotecs sits atop an artificially flattened mountain peak (1,940 m) above the Oaxaca Valley — a strategic and spiritual masterpiece.

At its peak (200–700 AD), the city had 35,000 inhabitants and controlled the entire valley. The Zapotecs invented one of the earliest writing systems in Mesoamerica and a 260-day ritual calendar.

Highlights

• Gran Plaza: The monumental main square (300×200 m) on the mountain peak, surrounded by pyramids and temples. The panoramic view over the valley is breathtaking.
• Los Danzantes (The Dancers): Mysterious stone reliefs (500 BC) with distorted human figures — now believed to depict war captives or medical illustrations.
• Tomb No. 7: The finds (gold, jade, turquoise, crystal) are displayed in the Museo de las Culturas in Oaxaca City — one of the richest tomb finds in Mesoamerica.
• Observatory: An arrow-shaped building believed to have served as an astronomical observatory.

Puerto Escondido is Mexico's surf mecca on the Pacific. The Playa Zicatela has one of the most powerful waves in the world — the "Mexican Pipeline," regularly attracting world-class surfers and competitions.

Beaches

• Playa Zicatela: THE wave. 3–6 m high barrels, only for experienced surfers. Spectacle for spectators from the beach. In the evening, surfer bars and taco stands.
• Playa Carrizalillo: Sheltered bay with gentle waves — perfect for beginners and swimming. Accessible via a staircase with 167 steps.
• Playa Manzanillo: Snorkeling bay with coral reefs and fish.
• Playa Bacocho: Turtle releases (August–December): Baby turtles are released at night and waddle into the sea.

Other Highlights

• Bioluminescence: In the Laguna de Manialtepec, the plankton glows blue-green at night. Tours from 300 MXN (July–March).
• Surf Lessons: From 500 MXN per hour at Playa Carrizalillo or La Punta.
• Sunsets: The Pacific sunsets of Puerto Escondido are legendary — especially from the Faro (lighthouse).

San Cristóbal de las Casas is one of Mexico's most atmospheric cities: a colonial town at 2,200 m altitude in the Chiapas highlands, surrounded by indigenous Tzotzil and Tzeltal communities that have preserved their languages, clothing, and customs to this day.

The town itself is a labyrinth of colorful colonial houses, cobblestone streets, coffee houses (Chiapas produces Mexico's best coffee!), amber workshops, and indigenous handicraft markets. The air is cool and clear, the atmosphere bohemian.

Sights

• Templo de Santo Domingo: The most beautiful church in Chiapas. Baroque facade made of pink stone. In front: the largest handicraft market in the region (textiles, amber, jade).
• San Juan Chamula: 10 km away. A Tzotzil village with one of the world's most unusual churches: No pews, the floor covered with pine needles, thousands of candles, Coca-Cola as a ritual drink (burping drives away evil spirits), chicken sacrifices. Photography strictly forbidden!
• Zinacantán: Neighboring village, known for its flower cultivation and embroidered textiles. Visit with a local guide.
• Na Bolom Museum: Former home of Lacandon Maya researcher Gertrude Duby-Blom. Museum, library, and garden.
• Cañón del Sumidero: 1,000 m deep canyon, 60 km away. Boat tour from Chiapa de Corzo (from 250 MXN). Crocodiles, monkeys, vultures.

Palenque is Mexico's most atmospheric Maya site: The pyramids and temples rise from the steamy rainforest, howler monkeys scream in the treetops, toucans fly over the ruins. UNESCO World Heritage since 1987.

Palenque was one of the most powerful Maya cities between 400 and 800 AD, famous for its fine reliefs and stucco decorations. The discovery of the tomb of King K'inich Janaab Pakal (Pakal the Great) in 1952 was an archaeological sensation — comparable to the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Highlights

• Templo de las Inscripciones: The famous pyramid with Pakal's burial chamber inside (no longer accessible, but the jade death mask is in the Anthropology Museum in CDMX). The tombstone with its enigmatic depiction — a spaceship? A Maya king traveling to the underworld? — is one of the most discussed images in archaeology.
• El Palacio: The palace complex with its distinctive four-story tower — possibly an observatory or watchtower. Fine stucco reliefs on the walls.
• Templo del Sol, de la Cruz, de la Cruz Foliada: Three temples on a hill with fantastic relief panels. The view from Templo de la Cruz over the jungle is magical.
• Museo de Sitio: At the entrance. Displays stelae, reliefs, and a replica of Pakal's tomb. Worth visiting before the ruins.

Practical Information

• Entrance Fee: 85 MXN. Daily 8:00 AM–4:30 PM.
• Getting There: The town of Palenque is 8 km away — colectivos run regularly (20 MXN). From San Cristóbal: 5h bus (ADO or colectivo).
• Climate: Hot and humid (35°C+, 90% humidity). Go early in the morning!

On the way between San Cristóbal and Palenque are two of Mexico's most spectacular waterfalls — perfect stops for a day trip.

Cascadas de Agua Azul

A cascade of hundreds of turquoise limestone pools stretching over 6 km. In the dry season (November–May), the water is bright blue-turquoise; in the rainy season (June–October), it turns brownish due to sediment — the dry season is clearly better. Swimming in the natural pools is possible. Entrance: 50 MXN.

Cascada de Misol-Há

A single, dramatic waterfall (35 m) plunging into an emerald pool. You can go behind the waterfall — a cave leads directly behind the water curtain. Much less visited than Agua Azul. Entrance: 30 MXN.

Getting There: Both waterfalls are on the road between San Cristóbal and Palenque. Organized tours (from 400 MXN) combine both stops with a visit to Palenque. More flexible with a rental car.

Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast (state of Jalisco) is the more elegant, cultured counterpart to Cancún. The combination of Sierra Madre mountains plunging directly into the sea, an authentic Mexican city center, and a vibrant art scene makes Vallarta special.

Highlights

• Malecón: The 1.5 km long boardwalk with sculptures, street performers, and sunset views. The "Rotonda del Mar" sculpture is the landmark.
• Zona Romántica: The historic district south of the Río Cuale. Cobblestone streets, galleries, the best restaurant scene, and Mexico's most liberal LGBTQ+ district.
• Islas Marietas: Nature reserve off the coast with the famous "Hidden Beach" (Playa del Amor) — a beach in a collapsed volcanic cave. Access strictly limited (permit required!).
• Sayulita: 45 min north. Surf village with colorful streets, beginner waves, and bohemian atmosphere. Day trip or 2–3 nights.
• Whale Watching: December to March, humpback whales come to Banderas Bay. Boat tours from 1,500 MXN.
• Tequila Day Trip: The town of Tequila (Jalisco) is 4h away — organized tours visit distilleries with tastings. From 1,200 MXN.