Cheap flights to Oaxaca from £409

Declared a Unesco World Heritage Site, Oaxaca is a charming and beautiful example of a Mexican colonial city. Incredibly diverse, Oaxaca has been occupied since 1000 BC by the Zapotecs, the Mixtecs, the Aztecs, and of course the Spanish. This has lead to a city rich in cultural traditions and varied cuisine.

The Spanish designed the city around a central square, or Zócalo, which is one of the most attractive squares in Mexico. Surrounded by grand government buildings and bustling cafes and restaurants, the Zócalo is the central hub in Oaxaca. Leading away from the Zócalo, the city extends outwards in a grid formation. The colonial architecture that lines the streets in Oaxaca is of a unique style, the sturdy green stone structures built to survive the many earthquakes which have beset the city.

Travellers take flights to Oaxaca to experience its rich cultural history by visiting the famous festivals and celebrations that take place in the city year-round. The largest of all the festivals is the internationally renowned Guelaguetza – a celebration of dance, music and Oaxacan traditions.

Oaxaca climate

Oaxaca is hot year-round, with average highs of 25°C in the winter, rising to 30°C in the summer. The winters tend to be warm and dry, and the summer months hotter and wetter, with the rainy season occurring from June through to October. The rainfall usually occurs in the afternoon and is fairly heavy, but tends to last just a couple of hours.

Getting around Oaxaca

Centred around the Zócalo, Oaxaca is a city that is easy accessible on foot. Most of the most popular attractions are within walking distance of each other, and the grid-like layout of the city centre lends itself to getting around easily.

Taxis are regulated by the government but it is advisable to agree the fare with the driver before travelling. A cheaper way of getting to and from the airport is by collectivo, a group taxi, which will take you from the airport directly to your hotel.

What is good to know if travelling to Oaxaca?

• Five miles west of Oaxaca City is Monte Albán, the ancient city that was once the capital of the Zapotec empire. Founded around 500 BC, the city was the political, economic and cultural centre of the Oaxaca Valley. The city was built on a 1600m-high mountain that had to first be flattened, and then the palaces, temples and observatory constructed on top. The oldest building at Monte Albán is the Dazantes, where ancient carvings of vanquished chiefs can be found.
• Oaxaca is a city that has year-round festivals and celebrations. The largest of these is the Guelaguetza, celebrated on the last two Mondays in July. The festival combines music and dance with the traditional worship of corn. Perhaps the strangest festival is la Noche de Rabanos, or Night of the Radishes. Held on December 23, the whole city gathers in the Zócalo where sculptures made from the largest radishes in the crop are displayed. Sculptures can be as detailed as entire nativity scenes.
• The city centre is home to many beautiful churches and monuments, the grandest of them all being the Iglesia de Santa Domingo. The church was built in the Baroque style by Dominican friars over a period of more than 200 years, with numerous restorations eventually shaping its aesthetics today. The church is incredibly ornate inside, one of the highlights being the family tree of St. Dominic over the entrance, where his ancestry is traced back to the Virgin Mary.