After two trips in two years to Oaxaca, Mexico (I think we can call that an annual tradition, right?!), I feel confident saying this is a destination that is great for families.
Located in the mountains of southern Mexico, the weather in Oaxaca is travel friendly for most of the year and especially nice and warm during New England’s cold fall and winter months! The food — in restaurants, in the markets, and on street corners — is fresh, tasty, and cheap! And everything is so very affordable compared to many other similar-feeling vacation locations.
Thinking about planning a trip to Mexico? Here are a few highlights from the trips my toddler and I have taken to Oaxaca!
Things to do
Hierve el Agua
Incredible views, pools, and waterfall-like rock formations are just 40 miles southeast from Oaxaca and make for a fun day trip. The facilities are clean and include small changing rooms and bathrooms right by the parking lot and down by the pools. The path from the parking lot to the pools is filled with food and trinket vendors — grab something to eat before heading back.
Arbol del Tule
We stopped by the Arbol del Tule in Santa Maria del Tule on our way back from Hierve el Agua. This tree is said to be the widest in the world! In addition to the tree, you can visit the town’s Mercado Gastronomia (food market) and the Mercado de Artesanias (textile and clothing market).
Cempasuchil Fields
Planted in June and July and in full bloom by October and November, the campasuchil fields are worth a visit! These beautiful orange marigolds are essential for any proper Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration, and the fields around Oaxaca make for a wonderful family photo — no professional photographer needed! If you travel to Oaxaca right before or after Día de Muertos, you’ll see these flowers adorning shop windows, cemeteries, and streets all around the city.
The Temazcal
The temazcal is a prehispanic ritual for cleaning, detoxifying, and purifying one’s mind, body, and spirit. It is an herbal steam bath, during which a healer (curandera) will perform a cleansing ritual to release bad energies from your body. Think a VERY hot sauna in a clay hut with herbs, honey on your skin, and a lot of space to clear your mind, skin, and soul! I wouldn’t recommend this for younger kids, as they would need to stay sitting for an extended period in a hot, steamy hut. But locals do take even babies into the temazcal, so it’s not unheard of!
Where to eat
Mercado de la Merced
The center of Oaxaca — Centro — is full of little food markets that are bustling with activity, fragrances, and really good food. We loved Mercado de la Merced — from the fresh produce stands to the Oaxacan cheese stands all the way to mole dishes and the bags of spicy chapulines (grasshoppers). You can’t go wrong at this market.
A Oaxaca food tour
For some additional help in finding your way around the street food of Oaxaca, try a food tour! These usually last a few hours, so better for families with older children — or for an adults-only excursion, if that’s in the cards for you. There are many different companies that offer tours, so you can choose one that works best for you!
Ocotlán de Morales market
This one is located about 20 miles south of the city, but it’s worth it for one of the main attractions — the Eat with Frida stand. The woman cooking the food, whose family has owned the business for more than 70 years, is Beatriz, and she is always in full Frida Kahlo garb. This would seem to be a tourist trap if the food wasn’t so good!
The many family-friendly restaurants in Centro
If you’ve visited the markets and want a more traditional restaurant experience, there are lots of wonderful family-friendly places to eat in the city!
Where to stay
Centro
The center of the city is full of affordable hotels and is small enough that you could stay in Centro, explore the city by foot, and enjoy everything it has to offer with very minimal additional travel and logistics.
Keep in mind that in addition to all the things you’ll plan to see, you’ll also likely experience a parade or two (possibly one every day!) in Centro, fireworks throughout the day and night, and general merriment in the city and its surroundings. You’ll get used to the noise very quickly!
San Felipe
For a more residential (and slightly quieter) feel to your stay, try San Felipe del Agua — it’s about 20 minutes north of Centro and 100 pesos by taxi. It’s a slightly more upscale neighborhood that boasts some great hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, cheese shops, and my preferred accommodations with Somos Retreats.
