14 Best Day Trips from Oaxaca & How to Visit

Oaxaca truly has it all. The historic center is filled with bustling markets, beautiful plazas, and a lively pulse that can be felt walking along the colorful streets. Visitors flocks to Oaxaca to eat the unique Oaxacan cuisine, visit the top attractions, and to appreciate the ancient artisan techniques of the Indigenous Zapotecs and Mixtecs cultures.

Oaxaca de Juárez dramatically sits snuggly and picturesquely in the Sierra Madre Mountains, both to the south and north. The surrounding valleys invite curious travelers to experience incredible day trips from Oaxaca.

Just outside the historic city center of Oaxaca, find fascinating archaeological sites, worthwhile artisan villages, and some seriously awe-inspiring landscapes.

While it is most definitely worth it to spend a few days in Oaxaca city, don’t miss a chance to take at least a few of these Oaxaca day trips. These splendid day trips from Oaxaca will not disappoint and are some of the best places to visit in Oaxaca State.

Here are 14 of the best day trips from Oaxaca.

Table of Contents

• Popular Day Trips from Oaxaca
• Best Day Trips from Oaxaca to Artisan Villages
• Unique Oaxaca Day Trips to Get “Off the Beaten Path”
• Where to Stay in Oaxaca Mexico
• Places to Visit in Oaxaca Mexico Beyond These Day Trips
• Conclusion | Best Day Trips from Oaxaca

Popular Day Trips from Oaxaca

From the UNESCO World Heritage site of Monte Alban to a petrified waterfall, these are some of the most popular day trips from Oaxaca.

1 | Monte Alban

One of the best day trips from Oaxaca is to the Archaeological Zone of Monte Alban. These impressive Oaxaca ruins are a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its cultural significance.

Monte Alban was inhabited for over 1,500 years by three different Indigenous civilizations. The Olmecs, Zapotecs and Mixtecs at one point all utilized this hilltop fortress. Monte Alban was believed to be founded sometime around 500 BC.

Monte Alban has pyramid structures, tombs, and a Pelota Court (ball). There are remains of raised artificial mounds, which also identifies the sacredness of this sacred site. At its height, Monte Alban was one of the most important cities in Mesoamerica and was home to almost 35,000 people.

The Archaeological Zone of Monte Alban is filled with informative signboards in both English and Spanish. Wander through the site and don’t skip pass by tombs, the most famous being tomb #7.

Follow along the ancient road system to the wide open central plaza. One of the more unique structures is Building J. This building is one of the oldest onsite and looks different than all the rest. Building J is sometimes referenced as the Astronomical Observatory, and some theorize that the structure is mirrored after the Auriga Constellation.

Two of the most iconic views of Monte Alban are from the North and South Platforms. The South Platform is worth the climb up the steep staircase. At the top, be rewarded with some of the best views of both the Monte Alban ruins and the entire valley.

Monte Alban | Entrance Fee for Foreigners: 90 pesos ($5 USD) | Daily: 10:00 – 16:00

The Monte Alban Archaeological Zone has a small museum near the entrance. There are also bathrooms and a small gift shop. There are certified guides near the entrance that offer guided tours. Make sure to always verify credentials if hiring a guide onsite.

How To Reach Monte Albán as a day trip from Oaxaca

Located less than 5 miles on the hillside above Oaxaca, Monte Alban is one of the most convenient day trips from Oaxaca. The sacred site can be visited independently or as part of an organized tour.

From Oaxaca city, two companies provide direct shuttle buses to the parking lot of Monte Albán. These are just direct shuttles and the shuttle services do not include the entrance ticket into Monte Alban.

🚐 Lescas Co. Tours Shuttle Buses to Monte Alban | Roundtrip Cost: 120 pesos ($6.75 USD) | Departure Times: 8:30 – 15:30, every hour on the half hour & return 12:00 – 17:00 on the hour | Purchase tickets in the lobby of Hotel Rivera del Ángel, here | Lescas Tours Website

Another option is to take the tourist bus.

🚌 Autobuses Turísticos Buses to Monte Alban | Roundtrip Cost: 90 pesos ($5 USD) | Ticket Terminal: Mina 501 Centro | Departure Times: 8:00 – 15:00, every hour on the hour & returns 10:30 – 15:30 every hour on the half hour with 16:00 & 17:00 return times

Some visitors opt to take a taxi, which should be around $450 pesos for roundtrip fare. The ride each way should be around $200 pesos.

Monte Alban Tours

Additionally a guided tour is a popular way to visit Monte Alban from Oaxaca. Find everything between half-day guided tours of Monte Alban to full day tours. A majority of the full-day Monte Alban tours include nearby artisan villages like San Antonio Arrazola and San Bartolo Coyotepec.

2 | Hierve el Agua

Hierve el Aguas is by far the most popular day trip from Oaxaca. Hierve el Agua is a petrified waterfall that is found almost 45 miles to the west of Oaxaca near the communities of San Lorenzo Albarradas and San Isidro Roaguia.

The petrified fall of Hierve el Aguas was formed thousands of years ago and are a result of high levels of calcium carbonate in the natural waters. As the mineral rich waters flow over the mountain side, it slowly forms stalactites, which are usually found in caves. Today, there are two falls, the Cascada Grande, the large waterfall, and Cascada Chica, or the small waterfall.

Hierve el Aguas translates to the water boils. However, the waters here aren’t warm and range between 70 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit. There is a natural pool to swim in, but there are two artificial pools as well. As the water is mineral rich, it is said to posses curative properties.

Hierve el Agua | Entrance Fee: 50 pesos ($2.75 USD) | Daily: 7:00 – 17:00

Don’t miss a chance to hike to the base of the petrified waterfalls. The hike takes around an hour and boasts forests and cacti.

Limited Tourism at Hierve el Agua

Hierve el Agua had been shut down nearly a year and seven months due to Covid, but the villages were also upset with the over-tourism that had been happening. In October 2021, it was agreed upon that Hierve el Agua would reopen with a limit of 200 visitors per day. It also banned certain tour groups who were not abiding to the communities standards.

Limiting tourists is a common practice that is becoming more normal. Capacity limits can be seen across the globe from Machu Picchu in Peru to the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador.

Make sure to arrive early to Hierve el Agua or book a guided tour to ensure that you have access to this popular place to visit in Oaxaca.

How To Day Trip to Hierve el Agua from Oaxaca

Hierve el Agua is one of the most popular day trips from Oaxaca, so there are endless ways to get there. The easiest way is via a Hierve el Agua guided tour.

If you have a rental car, you can drive to the site. Be prepared to pay for parking and to depart early in the morning.

There is no direct bus or collectivo to Hierve el Agua from Oaxaca. It’s possible to access Hierve el Agua from Mitla. Once in Mitla, hop in the back of a camioneta (truck) to reach the entrance gate.

3 | Mezcal Tour

Mezcal is part of the Oaxaca culture and is made from agave plants. The process of making Mezcal is unique.

The heart, or bulb of the maguey plant is often referred to as the “piña.” The piña are placed in a ground pit where the heart of the maguey plants are cooked by fire and roasted. The smokiness adds to the distinct flavor of the Mezcal. After that, the juice from the plants ferments and is later distilled into one of Oaxaca’s most beloved spirits, Mezcal.

Mezcal was believed to start over 400 years ago, when the Spanish conquistadors brought distilling techniques to Mexico. However, Pulque can be traced back to Mesoamerica and was called “the drink of the Gods.”

Pulque is different than Mezcal. Pulque is made from fermented sap of the maguey plant whereas Mezcal is more complex because the piña is roasted, ferments, and then is distilled.

In Oaxaca there are tons of artisan and family run Palenques, which is where Mezcal is produced. Many of these Palenques are still using ancient techniques. In the traditional Palenques, some still have the stone wheels that are powered by mules to help mash the piña hearts.

There are many places to visit a Palenque in Oaxaca, but one of the best places to visit for the Mezcal experience is Santiago Matatlan. Santiago Matatlan is nicknamed the “Land of the Mezcal.” Here it’s possible to walk among the agave fields, visit a Palenque, and of course sample the diverse Mezcals of Oaxaca.

Mezcal Tour Day Trips

There are a variety of different Mezcal Tours from Oaxaca. There are larger and more industrial Mezcal producers, but visiting a family run Palenque is more authentic. As the process is quite complex, it’s best to take a guided tour from Oaxaca.

A majority of the guided tours in Oaxaca will include a Mezcal Tour of some sort.

4 | Mitla Pueblo Magico & Archaeological Zone

San Pablo Villa de Mitla, or Mitla is an officially registered Oaxaca pueblo magico. Mitla is most famous for the unique Mitla Archaeological Site and is found in the culturally rich East Oaxaca Valley.

Mitla can be translated to “place of the dead” and was built by the Zapotec civilization. Mitla was thought to be constructed around 850 AD although the exact purpose of what Mitla was constructed for is still debated. Mitla is known for its unique patterns and designed that can be seen etched on the exterior stones of the many buildings. This site was more than likely used as a religious and political hub, or even a palace.

Mitla Archaeological Zone | Cost: $90 pesos ($5 USD) | Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 – 16:00 / Sunday 10:00 – 14:00

When the Spanish conquistadors came, they built the Church of San Pablo on top of the sacred site. The church was constructed from many of the stone buildings that made up Mitla.

Today, Mitla is one of the most visted Oaxaca ruins. There are lots of artisans selling goods both inside and outside the complex. Additionally, the town offers a colorful plaza and plenty of places to sample mezcal.

How To Get to Mitla from Oaxaca

San Pablo Villa de Mitla is easy to reach via bus or collectivo from Oaxaca. There are constant connections from Oaxaca to Mitla.

🚌  Bus Oaxaca to Mitla | Average Fare: $22 pesos / Collectivos Oaxaca to Mitla | Average Fare: $40 pesos | Catch the public transportation to Mitla from near the Eduardo Vasconcelos Stadium here

➜ There are half day tours from Oaxaca that only visit Mitla

5 | Tlacolula Market

One of the best day trips from Oaxaca is to the village of Tlacolula de Matamoros. This is one of the best places to visit in Oaxaca to experience an ancient and authentic marketplace. The Tlacolula Market is said to be the oldest and longest running continuous markets in Mesoamerica and has been a trading hub since the rise of the Zapotec empire.

The Tlacolula market runs daily, but Sunday is the busiest day. On Sundays find over 1,000 vendors spill out into the surrounding streets selling anything and everything.

The Tlacolula Market is definitely a must visit place for those travelers seeking out the best Oaxaca food experiences. There are hundreds of vendors selling antojitos, or little bites of typical street food. Don’t miss the bustling alleyway with all the women selling barbacoa, or slow-cooked goat marinated with seasonings from herbs to spices.

The Tlacolula Market sells everything from food to flowers. Look for artisans selling beautiful tapestries and clothing. The Tlacolula Market is one of the best markets in Oaxaca.

How To Day Trip from Oaxaca to Tlacolula

Tlacolula is located in the East Oaxaca Valley, so it’s easy to hop on any bus or collectivo heading in the direction of Mitla. Tlacolula has a bus terminal near the center of the village.

🚌 Oaxaca to Tlacolula | Average Bus Fare: $12 pesos | Public transportation to Mitla is near the Eduardo Vasconcelos Stadium here | On Sundays the Tlacolula market begins as soon as you hop off the bus

➜ This Guided Tour visit the Tlacolula Market and other local Oaxaca Markets

Best Day Trips from Oaxaca to Artisan Villages

Oaxaca is blessed with tons of local villages that offer unique artisan crafts. These villages near Oaxaca offer everything from pottery, rugs, to hand-painted alebrijes.

These are some of the best day trips from Oaxaca to travel deeper to the nearby artisan villages.

6 | San Bartolo Coyotepec

San Bartolo Coyotepec is just south of Oaxaca. San Bartolo Coyotepec is famous for its unique black pottery. The village has always created clay pottery and the techniques can be traced back to the Zapotecs and Mixteca cultures.

Everything here is made by hand. The clay shaped without a pottery wheel, dried for weeks, and fired in a pit kiln. This has aways been the method here, up until recently.

In the early 1950’s, Rosa Real started utilizing a new method that changed the coloring of the clay pottery. Rosa started polishing the objects just before they were dry and lowering the temperature to create a beautiful midnight black coloring. Many of the artisans in town began utilizing the same technique, and San Bartolo Coyotepec became known its black pottery.

There are plenty of places to find black pottery in San Bartolo Coyotepec. The main market in the village is Mercado De Artesanias De Barro Negro, which is steps off the main Plaza of San Bartolo Coyotepec.

How To Get to San Bartolo Coyotepec

San Bartolo Coyotepec is located really close to the Oaxaca airport, so it’s easy to catch a local bus or hail a taxi. There are also plenty of guided Oaxaca tours that visit multiple artisan villages. San Bartolo Coyotepec is usually included with a guided tour to Monte Alban.

7 | Teotitlan del Valle

Teotitlan del Valle is the perfect village where it’s easy to spend the entire day exploring. Most visitors come to see the incredible textiles that are created in the village. One of the more popular gifts to purchase here are the intricate rugs that can take over 8 months to complete. The process of weaving dates back over a thousand years to the ancient Zapotec culture.

There are plenty of things to do in Teotitlan del Valle. Stop in at least one of the many artisan workshops. Oftentimes there is a demo happening. While the artisan rugs are spectacular, don’t miss Casa Viviana, where they are creating intricate beeswax candles from elaborate molds.

One of the best places to grab lunch in town is at Restaurante Tlamanalli, which is run by Abigail Mendoza and her sisters. This restaurant showcases typical Zapotec dishes and is always busy.

Teotitlan has a bustling local market and the informative Centro Cultural Comunitario Teotitlán del Valle. The Museo Comunitario has an overview of the regional history and is where you purchase tickets to hike up Cerro Picacho.

🥾 El Picacho Hike | El Picacho Hike Fee: $25 pesos ($1.50 USD) | Out & Back Trail | Distance: 3 miles total | Excursion Duration: +/- 2.5 hours

Cerro Picacho is one of the best Oaxaca hiking trails and is a sacred path that includes small caves and endless viewpoints. On top of the hill sits three crosses with stelar views of the Oaxaca Valley.

How to Get to Teotitlan del Valle from Oaxaca

Teotitlan del Valle is one of the easiest day trips from Oaxaca and can be reached via public transportation. Again, hop on any collectivo or bus in the direction of Mitla. There are no direct buses to Teotitlan del Valle. Exit the bus on the main road at the entrance to the town where you can flag down a moto to reach the village.

Along the road to Teotitlan del Valle are multiple artisan weaving shops if you wish to visit one before reaching the center of the village.

🚌 Oaxaca to Teotitlán del Valle | Take any bus or collectivo heading in the direction of Mitla or Tlacolula near the Eduardo Vasconcelos Stadium here | Average Moto fare Highway to Village Center: $10 pesos

8 | Santa Maria Atzompa

Santa Maria Atzompa is a fantastic day trip from Oaxaca that showcases beautiful green pottery. While the barrio does sell other pottery, Santa Maria Atzompa is most famous for the signature green pottery.

The main place in town to visit is the Mercado de Artesanías de Santa María Atzompa. Each artisan has their own stall to display their work. However, if you have a little more time it’s possible to wander through the village and surrounding streets to visit the actual workshops.

Santa Maria Atzompa has a really lovely plaza. Besides the pottery workshops there are a few mezcal shops in town that offer samples.

Santa Maria Atzompa has its very own hilltop ruins a few miles out of town. The Atzompa Archaeological Zone is comparative to Monte Alban, except without all the tourists. There are signboard onsite that assist visitors on a self-guided tour.

If visiting Santa Maria Atzompa on a weekend, stop by the garden restaurant of Barbacoa de Borrego Jardines de Sofía to eat barbacoa.

How to Get to Santa Maria Atzompa

Santa Maria Atzompa is one of the easiest day trips from Oaxaca. There are frequent collectivos that connect Oaxaca to Santa Maria Atzompa.

 🚗 Santa Maria Atzompa Collectivos | One-way Fare: 10 pesos (55¢) | Collectivos depart frequently from close to Terminal Periferico here | Duration: less than 20 minutes

9 | San Martín Tilcajete

One of the best places to visit in Oaxaca is the artisan village of San Martin Tilcajete. This artisan village is famous for Alebrijes, or colorful “spirit guides” that play an important role in Mexican folk art.

Alebrijes are made from wood and are intricately hand-painted with bright colors. Alebrijes were said to be created in the 1930’s by Mexico City native Pedro Linares. However, Oaxaca is home to many artisans who have been influenced by deep Indigenous roots with a brightly colored past. This was inspiring for the village of San Martin Tilcajete and it became a hub for specializing and creating Alebrijes.

San Martin Tilcajete has a beautiful main plaza and a handful of Alebrije workshops that can be toured. Some places even offer workshops to hand-paint your very own Alebrije.

Another great place to eat and see the alebrijes is Restaurante Azucena Zapoteca. This popular restaurant is located outside of town on the main highway. This restaurant boasts delicious traditional food, a spacious outdoor terrace, and an Alebrije handicraft shop.

How To Visit San Martin Tilcajete as a day trip from Oaxaca

Collectivos run frequently from Oaxaca to Ocotlán. The buses depart near the Lineas Unidas vans on Bustamante street. There are no direct buses and you’ll need to exit at Restaurante Azucena Zapoteca.

From the restaurant, either flag down a moto into the village or walk along the road to the village.

There are plenty of guided tours that run to San Martin Tilacajete. This full day tour stops at artisan villages including San Martin Tilacajete.

Unique Oaxaca Day Trips to Get Off the Beaten Path

Here are some different day trips from Oaxaca that see few tourists.

10 | Tule

Yes, many visitors stop at Tule to see the famed Tule tree. The tree is hard to miss sitting in the main Plaza of Tule next to the Santa María de la Asunción Church.

The Tule tree is a giant Montezuma Cypress that is said to be over 2,000 years old. Sometimes the towering tree is referred to as the “Tree of Life,” since many visitors and the children in town claim to see animals “living” in the tree’s massive trunk. Visitors gaze in wonder at the tree’s trunk to spot figures from an elephant to a fish. The Tule tree has a wide trunk that is an astonishing 46 feet in diameter!

Montezuma Cypress trees are also known as Sabino trees and can be spotted throughout Mexico and in many regions of Oaxaca. Some say that the Arbol del Tule may not be the largest Sabino tree in Mexico, but it is the most famous.

Arbol del Tule | Entrance Fee: $20 pesos paid near the church

The Tree of Tule can be seen from a distance, but if you want to get up close to the trunk of the tree, you’ll need to pay a small entrance fee. The beautiful garden in the main Plaza in Tule is worth a stroll.

Most visitors stop in Tule simply for the tree. However, few stay to explore this village in more depth.

One of the best things to do in Tule is eat. There is a food hall with a dozen or so food stalls that is connected to a local artisan market. On the surrounding streets there are plenty of shops selling specialty Mezcal.

The best restaurant in Tule is Restaurante El Milenario. This no-frills restaurant serves up delicious Oaxacan cuisine with some of the freshest tortillas straight off the comal (grill). Try one of the boutique Mezcals or have a fresh squeezed juice. El Milenario serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner Every meal I’ve had here is incredible. The best part is that the food is more than fairly priced and the portions are huge.

How To Get to Tule from Oaxaca

Tule is only a few miles down the road from Oaxaca, making it one of the easiest day trips from Oaxaca. Hop on a local bus or collectivo. The collectivos stop right across from the Tule main Plaza.

 🚌 Oaxaca to Tule | Take any bus or collectivo heading in the direction of Mitla or Tlacolula near the Eduardo Vasconcelos Stadium here / There are direct buses to Tule | Average Bus Fare: $8 pesos

11 | Yagul Archaeological Site

The Yagul Archaeological Site is another fantastic Oaxaca day trip from Oaxaca located in the Tlacolula Valley. The Yagul ruins are fascinating and are barely visited by tourists. The Yagul Archaeological Zone is found right before Tlacolula de Matamoros village.

One of the most significant things to see at Yagul is the extremely well preserved pelota ball court. This ball court is the largest in Oaxaca and only second to the one found at Chichén Itza. There is a self-guided walking trail with a few informative signboards.

From Yagul you’ll be rewarded with some stellar views of the Tlacolula Valley.

Yagul Ruins | Cost: $90 pesos ($5 USD) | Hours: Sunday – Wednesday 10:00 -16:00 | Guide required to tour of the Prehistoric Caves of Yagul and Mitla

Nearby, find the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Prehistoric Caves of Yagul and Mitla. The caves are protected, so they can only be visited with a guide. These caves were believed to utilized by a hunter and gathering civilization that dates back at least 7,000 years ago.

The caves near Yagul and Mitla have cave-paintings and evidence that these groups were  domesticating plants. The Yagul and Mitla Caves indicate a shift from a hunter/gather lifestyle to movement to early settlements.

How To Get to Yagul from Oaxaca

The easiest way to get to Yagul is with a car or a guided tour. This private guided tour includes the Yagul caves, Yagul ruins, and a few more “off the beaten path” stops in the Tlacolua Valley.

There is no direct bus to Yagul. However, as the site is before Tlacolua, it’s possible to pick up a taxi or moto from there.

12 | Cuilapam de Guerrero

Only a few miles from Oaxaca find the small village of Cuilapam de Guerrero. One of the most incredible things to see here is the unfinished Ex Monastery of Santiago Apóstol. This massive church would never have its ceiling completed.

This grand church was built by the Dominicans in 1550’s in hopes that it would convert the Mixtec and Zapotec cultures to Christianity.

In the 1580’s, construction came to a sudden halt. There are two legends that surround the ending of the construction of the monastery. The first involves a legend with the devil himself. The second, a sign of hope. Some say the Indigenous communities fought and resisted the church. Their resistance was so powerful and fierce that the church was left unfinished.

However, the most probable reason construction was terminated was due to insufficient funds.

The structure is fascinating and the main courtyard is massive. When it was built it was meant to hold 20,000 people, which was the entire population of the surrounding villages in the 16th century.

Another more recent event occurred in the courtyard in 1831. Vicente Guerrero a Mexican Revolutionary leader was shot to death by a firing squad.

While the Ex Monastery of Santiago Apóstol is the biggest draw to visit Cuilapam, the pueblo has a nice market and beautiful plaza area. There are lots of food stalls and local people enjoying life. A visit to Cuilapam only takes a few hours, making it a nice half day trip from Oaxaca.

How to Get to Cuilapam de Guerrero from Oaxaca

The easiest way to get to Cuilapam from Oaxaca is to hop on the local bus. These local buses are found near the Lineas Unidas bus station. The Lineas Unidas buses are well known to take travelers south to the mountains of San Jose del Pacifico or all the way to the Oaxaca coastline.

🚌 Zaachila Buses | Company name: Zaachila Yoo, buses white with pink and purple markings | One-way Fare: 9 pesos | Buses depart frequently from the Lineas Unidas mini bus station here | Duration: 35 minutes

13 | La Cumbre Ixtepeji

If craving for some hiking in the Sierra Madre Mountains, head to La Cumbre Ixtepeji. This eco-park boasts tons of mountain biking trails and hiking trails that twist through the lush hillsides. There are plenty of lookout spots and opportunities to get up close and personal to giant agave plants.

The dense forests are truly a delight to walk through.

 Oficina de Ecoturismo La Cumbre Ixtepeji Logistics | Find it here: 68777 Santa Catarina Ixtepeji | Standard Entrance Ticket: $50 pesos per person | Current Hours: 8:00 – 17:00 | Facebook Page

It’s best to reach La Cumbre Ixtepeji with a car, but there are also full day tours to Ixtepeji from Oaxaca like this one. The park is quite large and the more desirable trails lie deeper within the park.

If you drove from Oaxaca, make sure to stop by one of the many cabaña like restaurants that are serving local dishes. In the mountains, the specialty is trout.

14 | Dominican Route

One of the more unique things to do in Oaxaca is follow the Dominican Route. The Dominican route highlights the massive churches built by the Dominica Order. The most famous would be the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, the main centerpiece church of Oaxaca City.

However, the Dominican Order built many churches throughout the middle of the 16th century. These churches were built to try to convert the Mixtec and Zapotecs to Christianity and usually on top a sacred site. Sadly, many of the Indigenous cultures sites were destroyed to construct these churches.

Some of the most dramatic Dominican Churches are found in the underrated Mixteca region of Oaxaca. There are three Ex-Convents found in the Mixtec Alta including: the Ex-Convent of Santo Domingo Yanhuitlan, the Ex-Convent of San Juan Bautista Coixtlahuaca, and the Ex-Convent of San Pedro y San Pablo Teposcolula.

San Pedro y San Pablo Teposcolula is officially registered as one of six of Oaxaca pueblos magicos.

Visiting the three ex convents in the Mixteca region is a long day trip, so it’s best to take a guided tour or visit with car.

➜ This full day tours showcases Yanhuitlan, San Pedro y San Pablo Teposcolula and the landscape of the Mixteca Geopark

Where to Stay in Oaxaca Mexico

If planning on exploring a few of these Oaxaca day trips, it’s best to stay in Oaxaca City, or Oaxaca de Juárez. Oaxaca has tons of tour companies, bus stations, collectivos, and car rental agencies, making it a great place to base and explore the nearby day trips.

➜ Browse the Best Places to Stay in Oaxaca

More Oaxaca Accommodation Options

• Budget | Casa Montaña Oaxaca
• Budget | Hostal Nordés
• Budget | Azul Cielo Hostel 
• Budget – Midrange | Posada de Los Angeles
• Midrange | Hotel Oaxaca Real 
• Midrange | La Betulia Bed and Breakfast
• Midrange | NaNa Vida Hotel Oaxaca
• Luxury | Quinta Real Oaxaca 
• Luxury | Casa Carmen Reforma

More Places to Visit in Oaxaca Mexico

Conclusion | Best Day Trips from Oaxaca

In (not so) short, these are some of the best day trips from Oaxaca Mexico. Many of these Oaxaca day trips are easily connected to Oaxaca via bus or pubic transportation. As these Oaxaca day trips are some of the most popular places to visit in Oaxaca, there are a wide-range of organized tours, too.

The best day trips from Oaxaca include everything from fascinating ruins, UNESCO Word Heritage Sites, bustling markets, and petrified waterfalls.

Oaxaca is a colorful and culturally rich destination that is a highlight on any trip to Mexico. While the city is spectacular, the surrounding valleys, mountains, and villages are worth a visit, too!

Have you been to Oaxaca and taken any of these day trips? Is there a day trip from Oaxaca that you loved and I’m missing? Let me know in the comments below!

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