The capital city of the state by the same name, Oaxaca is located in a valley below the Sierra Madre mountains. Colonial architecture, archaeological sites, a tranquil atmosphere and one of the best Day of the Dead festivals make it a popular tourist destination in Southern Mexico. At the heart of Oaxaca is its charming town square, Zocalo, where tourists can admire beautiful colonial landmarks like the Santo Domingo church, tour museums, shop for souvenirs and relax at an outdoor cafe. Several archaeological sites around the city can be explored as well such as Monte Alban. Perched on a mountain, Monte Alban was the site of the ancient capital city of the Zapotec inhabitants. A visit here presents impressive views of the valley.
Oaxaca (English: /wəˈhɑːkə/ wə-HAH-kə, Spanish: [waˈxaka] (About this sound listen), from Nahuatl languages: Huāxyacac, pronounced [waːʃˈjakak] (About this sound listen)), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca (Spanish: Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, make up the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 570 municipalities, of which 418 (almost three quarters) are governed by the system of Usos y costumbres (customs and traditions) with recognized local forms of self-governance. Its capital city is Oaxaca de Juárez.
Oaxaca is located in Southwestern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Guerrero to the west, Puebla to the northwest, Veracruz to the north, Chiapas to the east. To the south, Oaxaca has a significant coastline on the Pacific Ocean.
The state is best known for its indigenous peoples and cultures. The most numerous and best known are the Zapotecs and the Mixtecs, but there are sixteen that are officially recognized. These cultures have survived better than most others in Mexico due to the state's rugged and isolating terrain. Most live in the Central Valleys region, which is also an economically important area for tourism, with people attracted for its archeological sites such as Monte Albán, and Mitla, and its various native cultures and crafts. Another important tourist area is the coast, which has the major resort of Huatulco and sandy beaches of Puerto Escondido, Puerto Ángel, Zipolite, Bahia de Tembo, and Mazunte. Oaxaca is also one of the most biologically diverse states in Mexico, ranking in the top three, along with Chiapas and Veracruz, for numbers of reptiles, amphibians, mammals and plants.
It´s always good to visit Oaxaca, a city recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. In March, for example, the jacarandas bloom, emphasizing the greenish of its original quarry stone. Oaxaca is one of the cities where all the historical periods of Mexico shine: pre-Hispanic, colonial, independent, modern, and contemporary are expressed with its natural elegance in every street, colonial building, museum, magical festival, colorful crafts, pre-Columbian ruins, and the many splendorous baroque churches that are to be found in every corner of the city.
Ecotourism, fluorescent lagoons, lush mountains, archaeological sites, colonial treasures, culture, crafts, gastronomy, folklore, parties and many more great experiences will set the tone of your vacation in Oaxaca, the third best city in Central and South America according to Travel and Leisure magazine.
Reference:
1. touropia
2. wikipedia
3. visitmexico
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