Food destinations within easy reach of Oaxaca, worth the train, the rental car or the early start.

Food tour to Hierve el Agua

Hierve el Agua, Mitla, El Tule Tree, Rugs, Mezcal Distillery Sightseeing Tour

★ 4.9 (707)11 hoursfrom $54

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Teotitlan del Valle

  • ★ 4.8
  • 30 km east (40 min by car)

Famous for Tlamanalli restaurant with Abigail Mendoza, Reyna Mendoza cooking school, weaving

Teotitlan del Valle is the Zapotec weaving village 30 km east of Oaxaca, home to Tlamanalli (Abigail Mendoza) and El Sabor Zapoteco cooking school with Reyna.

Taxi or colectivo from Centro de Abastos; Highway 190 to Tlacolula, then turnoff

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Mitla and Santiago Matatlan (mezcal capital)

  • ★ 4.7
  • 40 km east (1 hour)

Famous for Mitla archaeological site, 200-plus mezcal palenques in Matatlan, structured tastings

Mitla and Santiago Matatlan are the World Capital of Mezcal: the Zapotec ruins at Mitla and 200-plus palenques in Matatlan running tours and guided tastings.

Tour van or rental car via Highway 190

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Hierve el Agua (petrified waterfalls)

  • ★ 4.5
  • 75 km east (1.5 hours)

Famous for Petrified waterfalls, mineral-spring pools, Comedor Citlaly nearby for tlayudas

Hierve el Agua is the petrified-waterfall site east of Mitla, with mineral pools to swim in and Comedor Citlaly nearby for tlayudas before the drive home.

Tour van or rental car to San Lorenzo Albarradas

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Hierve el Agua and distillery of mezcal tour

★ 4.8 (422)8 hfrom USD 65

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Monte Alban (archaeological)

  • ★ 4.6
  • 10 km west (20 min)

Famous for Zapotec ruins, on-site restaurant overlooking the valley, nearby La Capilla open-air restaurant

Monte Alban is the Zapotec capital ruins 10 km west of Oaxaca, with a museum and on-site restaurant for buffet lunch and a long valley view from the plaza.

Taxi or tour van from Centro; shuttle from Hotel Rivera del Angel

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Monte Alban - Full Day Guided Tour with or without Food - Oaxaca

★ 4.9 (189)8 to 9 hfrom USD 29

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San Andres Huayapam (tejate)

  • ★ 4.4
  • 10 km north (20 min)

Famous for Feria del Tejate in March, ancestral tejate makers, nicuatole, pan

San Andres Huayapam 10 km north of Oaxaca is the tejate village, hosting the Feria del Tejate every Palm Sunday with 88-plus producers of the recipe.

Colectivo from Mercado de Abastos or taxi; tour van during Feria del Tejate

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San Pablo and Reyes Etla (quesillo and tianguis)

  • ★ 4.4
  • 30 km north (40 min)

Famous for Wednesday tianguis, Reyes Etla quesillo origin, mezcal counters

Reyes Etla is the village 30 km north of Oaxaca that put quesillo on the map; the Wednesday tianguis at Mercado Reyes Etla draws the valley producers weekly.

Colectivo from Centro de Abastos or rental car via Highway 190 north

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Tlacolula Sunday Tianguis

  • ★ 4.6
  • 30 km east (40 min)

Famous for Sunday tianguis, barbacoa, mezcal, chapulines, Cathedral of Tlacolula

Tlacolula's Sunday tianguis fills the plaza around the Cathedral of Tlacolula every week with Zapotec valley farmers, barbacoa de chivo and mezcal producers.

Colectivo from Mercado de Abastos or rental car via Highway 190 east

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Cuilapan de Guerrero (mole village)

  • ★ 4.2
  • 15 km south (30 min)

Famous for Mole-paste vendors, Ex-Convento de Cuilapam, Oaxaca tradicional

Cuilapan de Guerrero is the mole village south of Oaxaca, with mole-paste vendors selling negro, coloradito and amarillo by the kilo for home cooks.

Colectivo from Mercado de Abastos or taxi via the Zaachila road

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