San Pablo and Reyes Etla (quesillo and tianguis) ★ 4.4
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.
More food day trips in Oaxaca
Tlacolula Sunday Tianguis ★ 4.6
Tlacolula's Sunday tianguis fills the plaza around the Cathedral of Tlacolula every week with Zapotec valley farmers, barbacoa de chivo and mezcal producers.
Cuilapan de Guerrero (mole village) ★ 4.2
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.
Teotitlan del Valle ★ 4.8
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.
Mitla and Santiago Matatlan (mezcal capital) ★ 4.7
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.
Hierve el Agua (petrified waterfalls) ★ 4.5
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.