There’s a place deep in Mexico that boasts more riches than the heaviest-hitting cartel boss. But it’s not a cash bounty in the literal sense. The state of Oaxaca — flanked by the mighty Pacific Ocean and the famous Sierra Madre mountain range — is rich in culture and abundant in adventure.
Pick your poison, as Oaxaca has something for the curious traveler in all of us. Myriad options prevail, from uncharted single-track mountain biking to the bulbous barrels of the Mexican Pipeline, plus there’s exotic zip-lining and otherworldly caving. And if a serious adrenaline spike isn’t a bullet point on your vacation itinerary, horseback riding, hiking, bird-watching and other forms of ecotourism are easily within reach.
Oaxaca City
Craving a cultural fix? The state capital Oaxaca City boasts a thriving art gallery scene, local artisans hawking vivid textiles and pottery, dozens of gourmet restaurants and more picturesque old churches than Europe (or so it seems). The fertile soils of the interior highlands also lend towards some of the best coffee farms in Central America … you’ll see how “rico” it tastes upon sampling that first cup. Did we mention Oaxaca is also ground zero for growing agave and distilling tequila’s trendier, smoky sibling — mezcal? And, to be sure, tasting rooms abound.
Are you catching the theme here? Part of what vaults Oaxaca to the top of any “must visit” list is its diversity. The landscape varies, mainly due to the Sierras stretching their verdant gullies down to the Pacific. But there’s also a bounty of sandy beaches, rocky coves, rushing rivers, dusty plains and dense rainforests that house thousands of different genus of plant and animal life.
Surfing
Situated along mainland Mexico’s southern-facing shores, Oaxaca borders the state of Veracruz to the north. Oaxaca City is accessible from Mexico City by plane (one hour, 20 minutes) or bus (five hours). However, if the thundering surf of Puerto Escondido or reeling point breaks of Salina Cruz are your goal, Huatulco airport is comfortably situated equidistance between the two and offers daily routes to Mexico City. Rental cars, buses and taxis are all available for shorter trips as well.
Though, if you’re traveling by bus through the windy, mountainous interior between Oaxaca City and Puerto, be sure to plan a stop in San Jose del Pacifico. Here, you can experience the healing cleanse of a temazcal ritual (an herbal sauna of sorts), sample psychotropic fungi with a shaman or simply kick back on your balcony at 8,000 feet and watch the mystical clouds rise through the lush Sierras.
The Day of the Dead
And if you time your visit around the last week of October or early November, you’re likely to catch two very different, yet equally stimulating, bouts of Oaxacan culture.
The Day of the Dead, aka Dia de los Muertos, is a vibrant festival celebrated all throughout Mexico. But Oaxaca takes it one step further with its ornately rich celebrations featuring elaborate masks, skeleton face painting, fireworks, dancing and parades, all performed in reverence to the return of deceased loved ones. It’s truly a sight to behold.
Trans Sierra Norte
The other is the Trans Sierra Norte, a multi-day enduro mountain bike race that rips through the Oaxacan highlands offering more than 3,000 feet of elevation gain/loss. The trails are thousands of years old and were predominately used to connect local villages and exchange goods, further making the bike event a cultural rarity. Especially since it finishes in Oaxaca City right about the time the fireworks are blasting off for the Day of the Dead fiesta.
And while the enduro’s $3,500 first prize purse might be just enough to cover travel expenses, that hefty cerveza/taco tab and a surf trip to Puerto Escondido, rest assured that a visit to Oaxaca will enrich your soul in a much more meaningful way than any amount of pesos.