6 Day Oaxaca Itinerary from a Foodie Traveler
My husband and I fell hard for Oaxaca. I first learned of this Mexican state after watching Chef Rick Bayliss learn how to make mole in Oaxaca. It quickly became top on our list of foodie cities to check out. We started our trip with 7 amazing days in Mexico City. Then we flew to Oaxaca and had 6 days to explore including local markets, mezcal tastings, cooking classes, top cocktail bars, Michelin-starred restaurants, hikes, and amazing shopping. Yep, we did it all and plan trips down to the hour. Here’s my exact Oaxaca foodie itinerary from an ultra-planner!
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Day 1: Travel Day + Selva + Los Danzantes
Breakfast at our favorite Mexico City hotel followed by a 12:10 pm flight from Mexico City (MEX) to Oaxaca (OAX). Arrived at 1:35 pm.
Our Oaxaca hotel arranged airport transport with a friendly driver.
7:30 pm Dinner: Romantic dinner at Los Danzantes, who just received 1 Michelin star. Order the Mole Appetizer to try 5 moles!
Day 2: Mezcal Tasting + Casa Oaxaca
8:30 am: Delicious hearty Oaxacan breakfast at our hotel (you’ll need it before the mezcal tour!). Order the house specialty, chilaquiles.
9 am – 4:30 pm: Super fun day! We went on a mezcal tour with Mezcal Educational Tours. We visited 3 distilleries, tried pulque, and had the chance to meet the local palenqueros. Very local experience. Highly recommended and was one of our favorite Oaxacan activities!
Local lunch on the tour
7 pm: Dinner at Casa Oaxaca El Restaurante, which is run by famous Chef Alejandro Ruiz. He helped put Oaxacan cuisine on the map. Great Mexican wine selection. Request to sit on the rooftop for great views! Wonderful ambiance.
Overnight: Casa Carmen Morelos
Day 3: Cooking with Mimi + Bar Crawl + Tacos
9:15 am: Delicious local breakfast at our hotel.
10 am – 3:30 pm: Do not miss the best cooking class in Oaxaca with the incredibly engaging and witty Chef Mimi. You’ll learn to make salsa, mole, tamales, and tortillas! And a little mezcal to go around, which makes for a super fun time.
Overnight: Casa Carmen Morelos
Day 4: Hierve el Agua + Cocktails
4:45 pm: Strolled through the colorful town of Jalatlaco which used to be a Zapotec village and is now home to talented artisans.
7:30 pm: Enjoyed tlayudas in a charming courtyard at the appropriately named, Tlayudas Las Ánimas.
Overnight: Casa Carmen Morelos
Day 5: Two Michelin Restaurants + Shopping
10:30 am: Another fantastic local breakfast at our hotel.
1 pm: Lunch at Las Quince Letras. They were awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand award! Tortillas are made by hand on the large comal in the restaurant’s center. Enjoyed a tart at the bakery, Boulenc, after.
6:30 pm: Pre-dinner cocktails (and a little more mezcal) at Mezcalogia.
Overnight: Casa Carmen Morelos
Day 6: Fly Home
10 am: Leisurely breakfast at the hotel.
11:30 am: Arranged transport to the airport through the hotel.
2 pm: Flight back home.
Who Will Love This Oaxaca Itinerary
- Foodies
- City walkers
- Art enthusiasts
- Cocktail bar + mezcal lovers
- Coffee geeks
- Nature lovers
Best Time to Visit Oaxaca
- If you look at this temperature and precipitation chart, the best time to visit Oaxaca is October/November. Temps are cooler and there’s much less rain. I’m not sure why U.S. News states April – May is the best time because that time period has more rain and is very hot.
- We went at the end of November to maximize our PTO days around Thanksgiving and had fantastic comfortable weather. Remember the Day of the Dead is November 1st and 2nd, so expect a lot of crowds around that time. Plan accordingly.
Hotel
- Casa Carmen Morelos (5 nights). Wonderful hotel!
- Here are the best boutique hotels for couples in Oaxaca if you want more options.
Airlines
American Airlines
- We flew with American Airlines connecting through Dallas from Oaxaca to home in the U.S. Total flight time + layover was 7 hours.
- We flew from Mexico City (MEX) to Oaxaca (OAX) with Aeromexico. Flight time was 1 hr. 25 min.
How to Get Around
- There is no way I would drive in Oaxaca City.
- We walked everywhere in Oaxaca City. Transport to/from the airport was arranged through the hotel. No Uber.
Tours
- Making Mole with Mimi Cooking Class
- Hierve el Agua Tour
Dinner & Cocktail Reservations
- Los Danzantes
- Casa Oaxaca El Restaurante
- Las Quince Letras
- Levadura de Olla Restaurante
- Selva Oaxaca Cocktail Bar
What I Would Have Changed
-
Oaxaca has so many incredible restaurants and mezcalerias! It was really hard to choose. We may have overdone it, but we loved every minute. You could certainly cut things out of this itinerary to make it more leisurely.
-
We love great food, but we also love getting outdoors. There was one bike tour I wish we had done on the last full day, but then I would have had to give up the fun shopping stroll.
- I would have loved to have found more time for shopping. There are just so many shops selling beautiful Oaxacan textiles, pottery, and paintings. Next time I want to visit some of the art studios in Jalatlaco and stop in the Tienda Alebrijes Blas to purchase a brightly colored wood-crafted Mexican spirit animal.
I’m Nichole, the author of all the blog posts on Enriching Pursuits. Think of me as your geeky DIY discerning travel friend who dives deep—Google Page 20 deep—to uncover the best ways to enjoy exceptional outdoor adventures and foodie experiences.
My husband and I are experienced snorkelers, day hikers, and casual cyclists who also love delicious street food, an incredible glass of wine, and the occasional Michelin-starred meal.
Balancing full-time careers, we cherish every second of our vacation days and love sharing tips to help you do the same. If this sounds like your kind of travel, subscribe below or drop me a note with any questions—I’d love to hear from you!
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