After 2 months in Colombia, we passed 9 days in Yucatan peninsula and 7 days in Chiapas. Here is the detail of what we did in Oaxaca (4 nights in Oaxaca and 5 in Puerto Escondido).
Oaxaca is the name of a region and a really nice city. We wanted to visited there the Museo de las Culturas but it’s closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday… Same for Yagul ruins (1h from Oaxaca) opened only Sunday to Wednesday.
Instead we did a Tour for tips of Oaxaca (starting at 11am in front of Hotel Marqués on the Zocalo) and discovered the best “Chocolatin” in Boulenc restaurant.
We stayed at Hostal Pueblo (300$Me per night for a double room and a rooftop).
You have plenty of tours leaving every day around the town, but we preferred to do it alone (need half day in Monte Alban and a full day at Hierve el agua).
Oaxaca de Juarez & Monte Alban
Monte Alban is a very impressive archeological site with magnificent view on the city. Those ruins have been built from 500bc to 500ac.
Hierve el agua
Nice petrified waterfalls in the middle of nowhere, with baths where you can swim.
Note: We waited 2h for the colectivo to be filled in with enough people (12 total). We missed the visit of Mitla ruins because of that…
Monte Alban:
Entrance: 85$Me
Bus: Leaving from Diaz Ordaz 407 – 90$Me with return
Hierve el Agua:
Entrance: 50$Me + 15 for the road access
Bus: From Terminal de 2da clase to Mitla, 40$Me with return (around 1h) and a touristic colectivo 150$Me with return
Puerto Escondido and Pacific Coast
Transportation Oaxaca <-> Puerto Escondido:
280$Me in colectivo Villa del Pacifico (7h40).
Note: if you want to sleep, prefer ADO buses.
Prices:
– Hotel May Flower: 500$Me a private double room
– Food: between 150 and 200$Me a ceviche, 100$Me a coctail, 35$Me a Corona, 160MX a burger
As Mazunte and the beaches around have been reached by Agatha storm, we decided to choose Puerto Escondido, a very nice and enjoyable city by the sea. You have boat tours leaving every day at 7am for 500$Me a 3h discovery of dolfins, turtles and whales (depends on the season).
We finally stood there 5 nights to take a break and visit the beaches around (be aware that there is a LOT the current and swim carefully):
- Playa Principal: Water is not so clear than in the other places, even if it’s quite safe to swim there, but it’s a nice place to enjoy the end of the day.
Direct access from the main avenue (Pérez Gazga). - Playa Zicatela: 3km of surfing beach, with a lot of restaurants with cheap beers (between 30 and 40$Me), it’s not recommended to swim here (and you shouldn’t).
Access from Playa Principal or avenida Del Morro. - Playa Manzanillo and playa Angelita: Full of restaurants with deckchairs but also shadow to lay on the beach, the water is nice and beautiful.
Access by stairs calle Quinta Sur. - Playa Carrizallilo: Full of restaurants and no shadow without them, it may be the perfect beach to start surf lessons but a bit hard to swim there.
Access by stairs calle Focas. - Playa Coral: with only one restaurant in a complex with swimming pool, this one was the most quiet beach, still with strong waves but good for swimming.
Access by shitty but nice walk from the Mirador Las Tortugas or 20$Me by the Hotel Posada Real Puerto Escondido.
