I took a bus from Mexico City to Oaxaca solo and dove into the rich culture and it did not disappoint! 

The entire trip including transportation, stay, food and activities cost me $150usd!!!

Within 36 hours I had eaten tamales oaxaqueños, visited nearby textile towns and experienced street festivities for día de los muertos. 

Here I’ll be doing a breakdown of costs, where I stayed, where I ate and what I did. I’ll also give tips on safety and what’s culturally appropriate. 

OAXACA

Oaxaca recap

You can arrive via bus or airplane and I experienced both so this is my take. I took an overnight bus from Mexico City to Oaxaca and flew back out via airplane. 

To get around town you can take taxis and book via the uber app or take taxis comunitarios which is shared transportation. 

https://uber.com

Lots of hotels and hostels offer excursions to nearby towns for a very low price that includes transportation. I do recommend booking through them as I did some tours on my own and was warned multiple times I was risking my safety by locals. 

I recommend you book a stay as close to the city center as possible since everything is walking distance. I booked a private stay at a hostel for 2 people for $31. 

Increidble town 30 minutes outside Oaxaca city where wool is hand spun and dyed for  textiles. 

A must visit for the best food in Oaxaca! Top food recommendations: Tamal Oaxaqu

Cost breakdown

One of the top rated experiences in Oaxaca for only $2.50, can't beat that!

Don't miss visiting the textile museum in the heart of Oaxaca City for FREE. Textile making is unique to each region of Oaxaca and this museum breaks that down.

Incredible place for concerts, exhibitions, and classes for FREE!

$5 Oaxaca Tour In Oaxacas city center, you can book a guided bus tour that lasts an hour. For $5 I would recommend this to checkout most major attractions within the city. I recommend booking during sunset for the prettiest views. 

Double Decker Tour Overview

AU Terminal Periferico Oaxaca

Oaxaca International Airport

Hostel Overview

Hostal Mixteco Naba Nandoo

Overview of Teotitlan Del Valle 

Teotitlan del Valle

Mercado 20 de Noviembre 

20 de Noviembre

Oaxaca’s Botanical Garden is the top rated attraction from various travel sites and it’s no wonder why.  A few blocks off the city center, the botanical garden sits on a corner and there is sometimes a line but the wait is no more than 15 minutes. The park fee is 50 pesos or $2.50usd. This can only be toured with a guide and the tour lasts for about an hour. The guides also have hats and umbrellas for you to use if needed.  I recommend adding this to your itinerary during your visit!  #oaxaca #botanicalgardens #mexico #travel #etnobotanica 

Botanical Garden Overview

Botanical Garden

Free textile museum in the heart of Oaxaca The Textile Museum of Oaxaca showcases textiles from Oaxaca, Mexico and the world. There are over 5000 unique pieces and when I visited during high tourist season, I was the only person there. I highly recommend checking it out especially because it’s free!  #oaxaca #mexico #textiles #muesum #travel 

Textile Museum Overview

Museo Textil de Oaxaca

A must visit when in Oaxaca The cultural center of San Pablo is right in Oaxaca’s city center. This 17th-century convent, is now a venue for concerts, exhibitions & classes showcasing Oaxacan culture. Save this if for inspiration on your next trip #oaxaca #sanpablo #culturalcenter #mexico #travel 

OAXACA

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